Heartfelt

Knowing

{Joe}

"Has anyone seen Dianne?"

I haven't seen her since the headteacher took her out of English this morning, so now I'm really worried. I swear if she's been excluded for being distracted then I'm going to walk out.

"Joe. Earth to Joe? Hello."

Wafting away the hand that's clicking in front of my face I sigh.

"Oh we've got him back. Anyway, no, none of us have seen Dianne. Didn't she get sent out in English?"

"Yeah, and then the headteacher came and got her, she took her stuff and I haven't seen her since."

Everyone's faces fall. I know what they're thinking, I'm thinking the same thing. We don't really know why Dianne ever left for that long, we all kind of shrugged it off- if she wanted us to know then she'd tell us, if not then it didn't matter to us. However now I'm worried that she's not going to be back for a while again now, especially now she's been taken out by the headteacher. I thought her rebellious days were way behind her. Maybe there's some stuff she isn't telling me, but I'm not going to press her. What I am going to do, I decide, is go to hers later, to make sure she's okay after today- she did seem pretty distracted in English, and I can't think why.

~~~

{Dianne}

Just as I'm about to put Emelie to bed for the night there's a knock on the door. Who comes to my apartment at seven o'clock on a Tuesday night? Who comes to my apartment at any time on any day? No one, that's the answer.

Holding Emelie securely, her head resting on my shoulder, I make my way to the door, praying that I look half decent and not how I feel. Opening the door I automatically put a smile on my face,

"Hi can I help yo- wait, you?!"

He stands and looks at me shocked,

"Nice to see you too."

A smile plays across his face,

"Can I come in?"

"Oh, yeah, sure, sorry..."

Only once he steps in does he notice Emelie fast asleep on me, her having been partially hidden behind the door before. A look of confusion crosses his face, and his brows furrow as if he's in an attempt to figure it out. I don't think he will.

Gesturing to the sofa, I make a two sign with my fingers, before going and putting my beautiful Emelie-Rose into bed.

"Goodnight, sweet dreams darling."

Gently I kiss her forehead and then tiptoe out of the room, closing the door softly behind me. Then I turn to the living room, to where Joe's sat. I'm not sure what explanation he's come up with for the situation, but I'm also certain it's not going to be right. What if it is right? Again, I'm almost certain it won't be. What do I say to him- 'oh yeah by the way that's my child'. He'd leave and never come back. Although I do sort of want to tell him, I want to be able to confide in someone about this, someone who actually cares and who's job isn't to say they care. Aware that I've been stood here for at least two minutes straight, I will my feet forwards, into what I'm sure is going to be one of the most awkward conversations of my life.

"Joe..."

I start as I walk into the room. He looks up at me from the sofa, drawing me in with his piercing blue eyes.

"... I-I'm going to tell you something, okay. Something that no one knows. But you have to promise to tell no one, and I really mean it. You can't tell anyone- it would change how they see me, the way they treat me. Everything, and I don't want to be treated differently."