CHAPTER 3: A SOUP OF FEELINGS

PART 1

“Get out of our town, you black girl!” a boy, about nine years old, yelled at a young Diana of the same age, pulling her hair.

“We don't want people like you here!” shouted the boy's friend, who was also harassing Diana.

“My grandfather was born here; I have the same rights as you!” she retorted, trying to push him off.

“If you won't listen, we'll have to force you and your mother to leave,” he threatened, pulling her hair even harder.

“Let go of me!” she screamed in pain, closing her eyes as the anguish suddenly disappeared.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that the boy who had been pulling her hair was lying on the ground, clutching one side of his face with tears in his eyes.

“Don’t ever lay a hand on her again,” a third boy, who had stepped between Diana and the bullies, warned them.

When the boy who had been watching his friend bully Diana charged at her protector to punch him, the protector ducked, dodging the attack, and then delivered an upward kick to the bully’s chin, sending him crashing to the ground.

“But what are you doing? Don’t you know who he is? He’s from the Lambard family. Do you want to get killed?” the boy grabbed his friend before he could go at him again. “We’d better get out of here.”

“Are you okay?” Diana asked the boy who had saved her as he got up from the ground.

“Yes.”

“You’re bleeding from your lip! And that’s not even from now!” the young girl shouted as she moved closer to him.

“It’s nothing.”

“No matter how good you are at fighting, it’s not always the best solution.”

image [https://i.postimg.cc/gJyf1wXN/1.jpg]

“What movie did you hear that in?”

“Movie? None, it’s mine,” she responded, embarrassed that he had caught her. “What I mean is, I don’t like seeing you fight, and I’d like you to promise me that unless it’s absolutely necessary, you won’t raise your fist.”

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“It’s not that easy.”

“Promise me.” She held out her pinky finger, moving even closer to him.

“Alright.” After a deep sigh, avoiding Diana’s gaze, her friend agreed to the promise. Suddenly, he felt her body press against his, wrapping him in a hug until they both fell to the ground.

“Finally, you’re on vacation. I’ve missed you so much.”

“And I missed you, Andrew.”

When a repetitive sound and several flashes woke Diana from her deep sleep, she saw her brother with a camera in hand.

“What are you doing?” the young girl with jet-black hair asked, opening one eye.

“You caught me.”

“Taking pictures of me while I’m sleeping again?”

“Guilty. You’re just so beautiful, sis.” Zedd approached her to show the photos he had taken. “I don’t understand why you haven’t become a model.”

“Little brother, besides beauty, you need height, which I lack.”

“There are not only runway models; you could also be a photographic model. One day, I’ll become a model and be world-famous, and with what I earn, I’ll buy you and mom everything you want.”

“That’s if you reach at least one meter eighty, though with mom’s genetics…” She stopped mid-sentence when she saw her brother’s tearful eyes. “I’m just kidding, I’m just kidding. I’m sure you’ll make it.”

She ended up cheering up her brother when Diana’s deep, dark eyes filled with tears. When Zedd saw her, he sadly understood the reason for her anguish.

“Have you dreamt about that guy again?”

“Yes. How do you know?” she asked, wiping her tears.

“Whenever you dream about him, you wake up sad.”

“The accident made me forget important things,” she replied after a long silence, staring into space. “Every time I dream about him, it feels like my heart is hurting.”

“If we hadn’t moved to the city after that, there might have been a chance that guy would recognize you.”

“I don’t know. It’s been many years since then.”

“By the way, that guy from the other day. The one who looked like a ghost with his hair in his face.” Zedd gestured with his hands after sitting next to his sister on the bed. “Wasn’t he the guy you talked about so much?”

“Yes, it was him.”

“Are you finally friends? Mom says that since we arrived, you’ve never talked about guys until you met him. She thinks you like him, and honestly… I think so too. Although I know you could find a better match because now that I know him, I don’t know, sis… he’s a bit odd.”

“Don’t worry. Even if I wanted something with him, I’d never have a chance unless he was a guy.”

“A guy?”

“Yes, a guy.”

“IS HE GAY?”

“Why are you shouting?” Diana nervously covered his mouth.

“I’m sorry, sis.”

“Why are you so upset?”

“For a guy you like at eighteen who’s gay.”

Diana looked at her little brother in silence with affection. She couldn’t ask for a better companion and friend than him. Even though he was just a child, Zedd had had to mature quickly due to life's circumstances. And thank God, they always had a great bond. Suddenly, a loud growl from the boy’s stomach pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Are you hungry?”

“A little.”

“Let’s see what’s in the kitchen. Let’s go.” The young girl got up, followed by her brother, bouncing towards the kitchen.