After Paradise: Book Two • jb

Chapter 3

I stared at Diana as her eyes screamed of concern. I didn't know what to say, or what she was going to tell me. All I was thinking was, please no more problems.

I have had enough problems for a lifetime in under twenty four hours only. 

"Oh my God!" She suddenly burst out as she came up to my face. I didn't understand why she looked so worried about me until I could feel her cold hand on my nose, and I had to scrunch it up so I wouldn't start whining due to the pain. "What happened?!" 

I stood still as her eyes slowly landed to her father's face instead of mine. I pressed my lips together, ready to get the blame for something I hadn't done. That's just how this family works, I've noticed.

But Scott was quiet as Diana figured out what could have happened by herself and she gasped once she had confirmed her own thoughts, without asking neither of us. I guess you didn't have to ask though, it was only me and her father here. And why would I hit myself? I don't even know if that's possible.

"That's so sick of you," She spat at her father. I wanted to tell her to calm down, and that it was okay. It didn't even hurt that much. It'd be a slight lie, but it's worth lying to her about something so stupid if it would get her to be calm instead. "Why did you-"

"Stay away from that boy." Scott scoffed back at her. I could see Diana's puzzled face, you could basically see the question mark within it. "He's nothing but trouble."

"Interesting." She huffed sarcastically, her arms crossed over her chest like she was about to make a point. I knew for a fact that when women start to talk with sarcasm, that's when you should get scared. You could practically just kill yourself, so she wouldn't have to do it for you. You're going to get killed anyway. "That's exactly what mom told me too."

You shouldn't listen to them, they don't know what they're talking about Diana.

"Maybe because we have a point with it?" Scott hissed. His voice reminded me of the old times in Toronto. The stay away from our daughter because you nearly killer her- memories. The fact that they were still holding onto that is ridiculous. We were twelve.

"Can you please leave us for a minute dad, I have to talk to Justin alone." Diana mumbled, her gaze meeting the floor in a dismissing way. I couldn't crack the relationship she had with her parents. They acted sweet towards each other, but it was a different kind of sweet then when we were younger. 

Scott mumbled something but then quickly walked past us whilst cursing underneath his breath quietly for himself. I stood there, waiting for her questions to begin. I didn't have to wait that long.

"What happened?" She continued to stare at her feet, not daring to look at me all of a sudden. I didn't know why.

"It's okay." Was all I said in reply.

Diana frowned and looked up to me. "No, tell me."

"I said some things he didn't like, he asked me if I were a man and then he punched me. Only one time, it's not that big of a deal." I mumbled back to her, ashamed over the fact that I had basically lost a fight. I would never not fight back, before. 

I was excited to see Scooter and my family. My friends and team. I think that the time away has really changed me to the better when it comes to my attitude. Surely, I could have chosen another place than that hell hole of a supposed to have been a paradise but I really think that my attitude and perspective have changed. Today, a man hit me, I didn't fight back. It's a big step of getting out of this arrogant-fever that everyone around me has been talking about.

I couldn't wait to see what Scooter would say about me. If he would be proud that I made it through the competition, and then won at the end as well. I had no bad news.