Not Just Another Boy

Chapter 8

I woke up the next morning with 4 unread messages. All from Tom.

From: Tom <3

Hey babe, i am so hungover, no idea what happened last night, lol :p

Ten minutes later

From: Tom <3

OH MY GOD MICHAEL JUST TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IM SO SO SORRY

Ten minutes after that

From: Tom <3

DIANA HOLY SHIT SO SO SORRY PLEASE ANSWER ME DI

then, one more

From: Tom <3

I love you Diana. Please, if you are willing to give me another chance, meet me at your school car park at 3:30, i'll pick you up and we will go to Skerton Cafe. I know you might think I don't deserve another chance, but please, you can come and shout at me for as long as you need if that's what you want to do. Seriously, as long as i can see you. I love you. So much...

xxxx, Tom.

I realized a tear started rolling down my face while I read that last message. Then, a whole flood of tears came. I hadn't given much thought to what had happened last night yet, because I was so angry last night it wasn't even funny. Now, i realized i had broken up with Tom, and probably embarrassed myself hugely in front of his teammates ( i slapped him for god's sake!)

I heard a knock at my door. I snuffled up my tears and said in the strongest voice i could manage "come in".

Mum burst into my room. "I heard you crying, what's wrong?" she said, crawling into my bed, and wrapping me in a hug.

I told mum everything. The whole debacle of last night. She listened, she cooed, she hugged me tighter and tighter, then when i finished, she sighed deeply.

"My dear Diana, that's terrible! Tom seemed such a gentleman when I saw him the other night, and now..." she trailed off, looking into the distance.

I sniffed, and grabbed a tissue from my bedside table. "It's amazing what alcohol and a lot of testosterone around guys can do" I replied, then blew my nose.

Mum smiled sadly, and asked me if i still wanted to go to school. I replied I did, and started getting ready. Mum realized that school would keep me distracted from Tom and said "school might be good for you." so, i combed my hair, yanked up my skirt, put on a shirt and socks, then put some makeup on.

When i went out to breakfast, Angela was sitting at the dining table.

"Hey!" she said, smiling at me.

"How was last night?" she asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

Angela had really warmed to Tom. Since our fight a few months ago, she's met him a couple of times, and she has grown to adore him just as I do. She still says she is "wary" of him though, and if I told her what had happened last night, she would just say "Told you so."

"It was great!" I lied, mastering a smile. Makeup helped. A lot. I ddn't look so ridiculously sad.

"I'm so happy for you!" she said, smiling.

I poured myself some cereal, and decided due to lack of spoiling my lie, i wouldn't say anything further on this topic.

I went and sat next to Angela with my cereal bowl, trying to get through my cereal quickly, or I would be late to school.

Then, i saw something i really didn't want to see at that moment. A magazine, called "Skerton Weekly" was on the table in front of Angie. The cover boy was Tom Wright. He was smiling, his dimples fully on show. His blonde hair messy, his blue eyes piercing. I had seen this photo before. In fact, it was my phone screen saver. The headline was "Lancaster FC has a sparkle in his eye for that special lady".

My eyes widened in disbelief, and i snatched the magazine.

I flicked through it viciously to find the article. Then, I found it.

Lancaster FC Captain Tom Wright is living the dream. Captain of Lancaster FC, wanted by hundreds of girls, and, he is soon to jet off to Manchester to commence a career at Manchester FC.

I caught up with Tom and his latest trianing session, where we talked at length about his career, love life, and dreams.

Me: Hi Tom!

Tom: Ello!

Me: So, you've got to be loving life at the moment...how would you sum up your life in one word right now? 17 years young...Captain of Lancaster FC. Finished school... just football, fun and girls right?

Tom: One word? well, i would say blessed. I'm not certain that i am where i am right now because i am insanely talented, but I am driven, hardworking and mostly just blessed with good luck i guess! And not "girls" in plural, there's just one girl for me.

Me: OOOOOHHH!? Who is this girl? Would we know her from anywhere?

Tom: Well, her name is Diana. She's beautiful. She's a miracle. She makes me a better man. I'm around much older guys at the club, so I kind of have to act mature when I'm there, but she's the only girl i can be myself with! I love her loads, and I'm happy she puts up with me really!

Me: OH! Are you a romantic boyfriend?

Tom: She kind of sweeps me off my feet a bit to be honest! I try to be, I suppose. I just shower her in compliments. She's my north, south, east and my west. She's my world.

Me: So, you're heading off to Manchester soon with Diana then?

Tom: If she'll come! I wouldn't go with me! ha-ha. She's a very strong and independent girl, i love that about her. She understands I have to work a lot, so she's great with stuff like that. Hopefully she'll come. We have been talking about it. so yeah. I'll let you know how that goes.

Me: Well, thanks for talking to us Tom, its been a lovely interview! I know you have to go and train some more, I can hear your coach from here in the change rooms!

Tom: Yeah, well Coach is a tough coach. it's good though. He pushes you to your limits. "Nothing is possible if you set your mind to it" he tells us. He's a great man. Thanks for interviewing me.

I gasped. Well, if a smoother guy was to be found  than Tom Wright, I would want to know about it.

About 10 minutes ago I was angrier than ever at him, now, I was almost on the verge of tears about his sweet interview. He called me his life. He said I was his north, south, east and west. He said he loves me. He was willing to tell everyone.

I picked up my phone, and decided to put him out of his misery and text him back...

"You're an idiot, what you did last night was terrible, but i understand you were drunk, and you weren't yourself. I still love you, and hope that after slapping you, you still love me. See you at 3:30 sharp."

I thought carefully before sending it, but then, i shut my eyes and did.

He replied within a minute.

"I'm the biggest idiot on the planet. I deserved a pounding last night if I did what Micheal said I did! Of course I still love you, you're such a feisty babe <3"

I couldn't help but smile.

Jeez, this guy messed with my feelings.

And he would until the end of time.

I got my school bag, and shoved the magazine in there. I suppose I wanted to keep it with me. Then, I headed off to school.