A Dance with Destiny

Chapter 11

Mattheo sat in the quiet of his room, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across his bed as he leaned back against the headboard. The party felt like it was a lifetime ago. His thoughts kept circling back to Diana, her laughter, the way her eyes had softened when they spoke, and that kiss—one that still lingered on his lips. It wasn't like him to dwell on something so fleeting. He had always been the one in control, the one who never let his emotions show. But with her, it was different.

His friends had noticed the change in him, too. Blaise had teased him relentlessly, asking if he was "falling for the shy Greengrass girl," while Theo had simply raised an eyebrow, knowing there was more to the story. Mattheo had brushed it all off with a smirk, but deep down, the idea of being with someone who didn't care about his reputation, who saw him for who he truly was, had stuck with him. It was tempting. And he couldn't ignore it.

Mattheo's fingers hovered over his phone, hesitating as he thought about what he wanted to say to her. He knew it was a risk—he knew that if he pushed too hard, he might scare her off. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to see her again. To know if what they shared was real or just a passing moment.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't want to let this slip away. He didn't want to be another guy who had fleeting moments with her and then disappeared, leaving her wondering what could have been.

So, with a sigh, he unlocked his phone and typed out a message.

"Hey, it's Mattheo. I know this is random, but I was thinking about last night. Would you like to grab coffee sometime? We can talk more. I'm not going anywhere."

He read it over, unsure if it sounded too casual, too forward, or just right. He knew that Diana wasn't like the other girls he had dated, and he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. He wanted to make it clear that he was genuinely interested, but he didn't want to pressure her.

He hit send, then leaned back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He waited.

The minutes stretched on, each one feeling like an eternity. What if she didn't respond? What if she wasn't interested in him at all? The thought gnawed at him, but he tried to push it aside. He had taken the first step, and now all he could do was wait.

It didn't take long for the familiar ping of a new message to echo in the room. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly grabbed his phone.

"Hey Mattheo, this is a little unexpected... but I'd love to. Coffee sounds great. Let's do it. When are you free?"

A smile tugged at his lips, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt a weight lift off his chest. She wanted to see him again. She was willing to take the risk, too.

Mattheo quickly typed back, trying to keep the tone light but excited.

"How about tomorrow morning? I know a quiet little café, away from all the madness."

He hit send before he could second-guess himself, and when the message was delivered, he found himself feeling a rush of anticipation. He hadn't expected it to feel this good—this real—but somehow, it did. Diana was different. She had no expectations of him. She wasn't swayed by his status or his reputation. She just wanted to get to know him.

A few minutes later, she replied.

"Tomorrow works. I'll be there."

Mattheo stared at the message, his pulse quickening. It was happening. He was actually going to see her again.

He let out a long breath, leaning back into the pillows with a satisfied smile. He wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, he was willing to find out. And whatever it was, he would make sure he was ready for it.

The next morning, Mattheo found himself standing outside the café, hands stuffed in his pockets as he waited. The early morning air was crisp, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, and the streets were quiet. He liked it this way. It felt different from the usual chaos of parties and expectations.

He spotted Diana walking toward him, her blonde hair shining in the light, her steps a little more tentative than usual. She looked just as cute as she had the night before, though she was dressed in a more casual outfit today—a simple white blouse paired with a skirt and boots. He couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth as she approached, her eyes scanning the area until they landed on him.

"Hi," Diana said softly, offering a small, nervous smile as she stopped in front of him. "This place is nice. I'm glad you picked it."

Mattheo smiled back, his nerves settling slightly at the sight of her. "I figured you'd appreciate something quieter. Less... chaos." He gestured toward the door, letting her go ahead of him.

She smiled as she walked past him, her shoulders relaxing just a bit as she entered the café. The air inside was warm, and the smell of fresh coffee filled the room. They found a quiet corner by the window, away from the few early-morning patrons.

As they sat down, Mattheo looked across the table at her, his heart pounding slightly. It wasn't like him to feel nervous, but with Diana, everything felt different. He didn't know what would happen, or if this was just another fleeting moment in time. But as he looked at her, he knew one thing for sure.

He wanted to find out.

"So, coffee," he said, his voice a little lighter now that they were settled in. "I guess this is where we start getting to know each other, huh?"

Diana's eyes twinkled as she leaned forward, her voice playful. "Yeah, I think so. Let's see if we can figure each other out."

Mattheo chuckled softly, leaning in too, the connection between them growing stronger with each passing moment. This was just the beginning, and for once, he was excited to see where it would take them.