It All Started With A Diary

Hi! To get started, I wanna say — No, this is not a 'he likes her so he steals her diary' or 'he's trying to get her attention' type of plot. Don't expect it. The simplicity is expected of stories like this, but it's not in mine.

ANOTHER thing that I will address is: Do not expect a major turnover in my character's developments within the first 10-15 chapters of the book. There's a lot of chapters for a reason.

Now. Without further ado...I hope you guys enjoy my story loves! 🤍

I REMEMBERED THE first time I watched a romance movie. It was sappy, but still romantic nonetheless.

I still had the image drawn in my head. The girl had drowned in her tears, while her boyfriend packed his clothes after they had gotten into a big argument. They continued to ignore each other for weeks, only to get back together after realizing their love could not be replaced. I remembered asking myself, 'Who would put themselves through that much pain just to be with someone else?'

Then, I was a little kid. But months ago, I received my fresh taste of love. Not one of the breathtaking, die for you, heart slamming against my chest ones. No, it was something entirely different.

The last time I'd seen my mothers' knockoff smile, it was in front of the judge. That day was one of the best ones I'd ever experienced. Everything seemed to be fresh. Seeing my fathers' arms open wide for me as the judge declared custody. Hearing my mothers' objection. Hugging Ryland for the first time. Watching from a car window as we drove away from my hell.

I appreciated every effort the two of them made, but my mind had concluded something long before then.

It was all just a joke.

The ridiculous quotes schools plastered over the wall, the standards movies and books set that were too high to even dream of. The temporary smiles and laughs, the idea of such things as happy families and relationships.

All a joke.

A terrible joke on mankind that others--like myself--didn't find as funny.

My family had let me down far before a relationship ever could. It was all a repeating pattern. I'd convince myself that after middle school, perhaps I would be able to reinvent myself and the image that I see.

What a joke.

One thought was perched in my head as I set eyes on the new high school I would be attending for the remaining school year. I chuckled. Perhaps, forgiving those who had hurt me in the past would have kept me from attending here.

"Breathe, Kimberly, everything will be fine," I consoled myself.

My brown hair began to take shots at my face as I started to walk toward the entrance. Without glancing up from the concrete below me, I continued to the doors.

I cursed as my glasses tumbled down my face. Through my earbuds, I could hear the few snickers and side giggles. I felt my teeth almost piece through my bottom lip as I increased my speed to the door. I need to get them fixed, I grumbled at myself as I attempted to hurdle my books neatly and fix the falling glasses.

Then, it happened. Like an earthquake perpetrated the school, I was on my knees before I knew it.

All the objects I had been carrying surrounded me like an unfit puzzle. A continuous throb carried throughout my entire lower area.

Especially my ass.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath.

My cheeks were shaded red. The stares that I already managed to conjure in the total three minutes I'd been here was impressive.

"The dummy couldn't pick up her head long enough to even walk right," a female voice commented.

"Good one, Natasha," another female praised her insult.

Even with my emotional bearings scattered, I managed to glance up in enough time to place a name with the disembodied figure.

Natasha's physical looks were beautiful, though they were useless without an inner beauty. And, I could tell that was something she lacked.

The pretty girl stood there with her arms crossed over her chest. Her brown, sleek hair was cut evenly to the beginning of her back. She had the brightest of blue eyes to go along with it. Her flawless, creamy complexion didn't come close to my oily skin.

Their hair was cut to an even length and styled. I couldn't begin to compare. I had given up on my looks a while back when things were different in my life. It had been months, but I still wasn't able to adjust properly.

I settled for my dull brown eyes, my slightly overweight body, and my unattractive face. Even if it did bother me-as it did some days-there was nothing I could do about it.

"Did she trip over her feet?" I heard the snicker from the same direction the last insult had come from.

I scanned the section Natasha stood in with careful examination. They all fit in the critique for beautiful, rich, stuck up, and popular. The only thing that differed was their choice in outfits for the day and the variety of eye colors and hair color. Their clothes looked like a luxury that I could never dream of affording.

I decided to settle on a white blouse and a pair of jeans that were beginning to fade away. Back in Illinois, I would usually sport a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. But, my dad wouldn't settle for it on my first day of a new school. My upper body was at least considered formal, but I just couldn't throw away my trusty sneakers.

Through my earbuds, I could still hear the tainted laughter. I held my books together as if they would shield their hurtful advances.

I didn't have anything back there that I would miss in Illinois, except for one thing. That was school. I had no friends there either, but they didn't bother or insult me if I left to the library for lunch, or sat on my own every day. And, I was beyond fine with that.

I looked up to see a rather tall man walking my way. He was red in the face, resembling a baby who would soon throw a fit. "Enough! Why isn't someone helping this young lady instead of laughing like a bunch of animals?"

"Are you alright, Kimberly?" he asked as he offered a smile of confidence.

Slowly, but surely, I removed my gaze from the fresh green grass. The man's expression offered his apologies, which I took with a small smile.

"I am Mr. Collision, and I will be your principle your senior year. I do apologize for my students' behavior," he said with a sincere expression.

I only nodded in response, my voice hidden alongside my confidence. My throat came in close to the Sahara desert for dryness.

Eventually, I found the voice I was born with.

"Thank you," I said.

The outside of the school had cleared now, thanks to the principal. My confidence lifted as I saw the students leave the area. I looked around, blinded by the beautiful display of the school.

Aging trees shielded the school from any sunlight that raged down onto it. The grass underneath was low cut. The orange and black school itself was huge, the building stretched until you came into contact with the considerable football field behind it. The place was definitely taken care of and tended for.

As my eyes continued to roam the near surroundings, my eyes landed on a certain someone in the parking lot. A very attractive someone, at that.

I looked over him with close examination.

His sun kissed body was built out of muscle, not too much, but enough to make someone think twice about stepping up to him. His neck was decorated with a great number of tattoos, along with his arms. I watched as the one summer wave of air blew his jet black hair back from his forehead. He had that fresh bed hair look that seemed to work on attractive men. As if his appearance didn't already bless the public enough, his face looked as if it were crafted, or custom-made by a Roman god. His cheekbones were held in the perfect position along with his slightly crooked nose. Everything about his looks were just perfect.

I stared far too long.

His eyes caught mine, luring me into the darkest stare in history. I captured a glimpse of his eyes, which were close to a warm espresso, with cinnamon specks in the middle. It was as if a Hershey's caramel candy bar had melted into his eye color and contracted a color that was specifically created for him.

I felt my cheeks grow heavy with a blush. I anchored my attention back to my dirt stocked sneakers.

Immediately, I began to squirm in my spot under his intense stare. I cursed my stupidity. Why did I have to look at him for so long?

Questions of doubt weighed me down in my head. I continued to bite down on my lip as if it would make him look away.

"Miss Wrighton?" The principle's voice called to my attention.

I looked at him, an expression cursed with discombobulation. "Oh, y-yes sir?"

Some of his teeth were missing, but I still didn't miss the gentle smile he still created. "There's quite a wonderland in that mind of yours, Kimberly?"

For the first time since I arrived in town, I smiled. "Yes, sir."

He pointed to his isolated office. "You should go ahead and head to your classes, if you need help my office is just right there," he offered.

I thanked him, again. With the schedule pressed against my sweaty palms, I began to scurry to my first class of the day. Before I fully was inside, I heard Mr. Collision yell with a voice of disdain, "Get that cigarette out of your mouth right now, Kade, and get to class, son!"

I turned to see Kade's eyes concentrated on something or someone. Then, I realized the something he was staring at, was me.

Okay.

I graveled at my heart as it jumped in my chest. I methodically fiddled with the paper in my hands, praying that it would help prevent a panic attack.

I picked up my feet as another bell rang, which I guessed signaled you were late. To my accursed favors, I just couldn't seem to find my class. After an awkward conversation with a teacher, I managed to find my first period.

I walked into Mrs. Lillian's class with the cold piece of paper in between either finger.

Mrs. Lillian showed a look of disinterest once I entered her classroom. Thank God that she wasn't making me introduce myself.

I walked through the isles, counting down each step I took. I continued alarming myself of the consequences that would take place if I managed to embarrass myself, again.

Of course, I never listened to myself.

As I attempted to take another step, it didn't take long to realize my backpack was caught on the edge of the desk. I mentally slapped myself in the head, the red hue in my cheeks darkening.

I managed to yank the old strand away. As if it were that easy, I told myself. My books and journals fell from the bag, weighing me down even harder.

Kneeling, I hurried and threw the books into my backpack before I humiliated myself even further.

Through my scolding, I could hear the laughter from the group of girls behind me. In hushed whispers, obnoxious giggles, and side-eye glances, they continued to taunt me in their group.

I sat in the back, isolated from everyone else. I immediately pulled out my earbuds, again.

My clean-shaved number pencil decorated m the paper in a design that only I could describe. The panic that was beginning to creep up on me settled in a comfortable spot as soon as the lyrics of May I Have This Dance blared through my earbuds.

I was on the verge of finishing my version of Cheshire the Cat when I felt someone drop down in the seat next to me. I jumped in surprise, looking over at them with a flabbergasted expression.

"What you drawing there?" the high-pitched voice girl asked me.

I had a good reading of her appearance from the corner of my eye. Her blonde bangs fell over her white eyebrows. I watched as her perfectly manicured nails tapped against the table in front of us. Her clothes were obviously in the new fashion style that was currently trending.

I shrugged my shoulders in response. I knew that she wasn't trying to be friendly, but more ignorant than anything.

I went back to sketching my new piece as she continued to manage quick glimpses of it. My version of Cheshire Cat sat on an abandoned tree limb that stretched from the corner of the paper.

"Mhm. Put some makeup on and you'll have yourself a twin," she insulted.

I watched as she stood up and walked back to her group of giggling friends. I reacted with the clench of my pencil, my white knuckles beginning to hurt as I watched her.

I bit down on my trembling lip, her words going to my heart. A good amount of invisible thorns tore through my heart as their constant laughing hit me like a bow and arrow.

That was one of the worst pains of them all. Silent tears.

That terrible ache in the back of your throat. That clench of the eyes you had to hold to prevent the tears from spilling. That was the worst.

As class carried on, the girls continued to taunt me, as did some of the people around them. The teacher didn't do a thing if she even noticed it.

Only a year left.

***

The day passed by at an agonizingly slow pace. I had been called names, looked at funny, and laughed at so many times that I had stopped paying attention.

For the teachers that didn't care about their students' education, I only put my earbuds in and focused on my small drawings.

Just as I thought things wouldn't grow any worse, the lunch period came.

The students hurried in large groups to the cafeteria, while I lingered behind. Once I stepped into the lunch room though, I felt the overwhelming pressure of socialism kick at my introverted personality.

"Yeah, I think I'll just eat outside," I whispered to myself.

I turned around and pushed through the cafeteria doors. With my eyes down, I walked quickly to get outside. I jumped as I felt my face collide with a wall

I immediately stepped back, feeling someone loom over me in both height and weight.

"Whoa," I said in a daze of embarrassment.

"Can you watch where you're going?" a deep voice said with a rude tone.

I slowly raised my eyes in anticipation.

Kade.

His chocolate drop eyes stared at me with what looked to be annoyance. "Move." His expression was blank, the definition of unreadable.

I was frozen in my spot. I was not trying to fall into his looks, but there was something about him that was so familiar.

"I'm giving you one more chance, move the fuck out of my way," he warned me.

I snapped out of it quickly then. I didn't care how hot he was. If his personality didn't match his beauty, then I wouldn't even associate with him.

His smirk fulfilled his entire face. He tilted his head to the side, his midnight black hair going along with him. "Alright then, this only makes things easier for me."

What?

With that, he walked past me with a grin of the devil on his face. In a confused heap, I continued my quest to the outside. I decided to sit underneath a vacant tree.

As I began to sketch out the Mad Hatter's hat, Kade's words still pondered at the edge of my mind.

"This only makes things easier for me."

I frowned as I repeated the words. I had no possible idea of what he meant. I wasn't sure I wanted to find out, either. Someone with the likes of him would only make or break me, and I only wanted to graduate without any issues.

I unzipped my bag, in search of the thing that held my insecurities and my secrets. My diary.

Even though I was one year away from being an adult, that journal was my everything. It was a place where I felt safe to express my true feelings. Where I was at my most.

Usually, I never tried to show my diary in public, but sometimes I needed to express myself. And, right now, I needed to have a moment with it while I had the chance. I groaned once I realized I had to dig deeper than I was intending.

After minutes of searching and digging, I began to worry. Something was not right, at all.

I lifted my bag upside down, dumping out the contents. Still nothing.

This was a joke. It had to be a joke.

I felt a fresh set of tears begin to bake in my throat at the thought of my diary being lost along with my past. It had taken years to come out about my past, even if it were on paper.

I packed my things up, trying to hurry before the lunch bell rang. I hurried to every class I had been to today, asking the teachers if they had seen a small black journal. They all responded with a no, to my disappointment.

While trapped in my thoughts on where it could be, a loud bell began to ring throughout the entire school. I glanced up with a curse of anger.

I encouraged myself to breathe through it and pray that I would find it. It couldn't have gone that far since I had only been at the school for a few hours.

The rest of the day passed behind me in a daze, my mind constantly wandering off to where my diary could be. I could already feel my heart squeezing in my chest so tightly, that I found it hard to breathe with a normal rhythm.

Finally, the last bell sounded out. I pushed past everyone, on the verge of tears as I tried my hardest to leave as quickly as possible. I took every step with a close examination of my surroundings.

I began a walk on the sidewalk, my steps at their slowest. I felt my anger turn into a rage as I felt the first droplet of rain drop on my head.

Of course, today was the day I hadn't worn a hoodie. I thought it weird that it decided to rain in the summer, and on one of my worst days, of course.

With a head storm of frustrations, I placed my earbuds inside my ears to escape reality.

Through the loud music, a loud crack of thunder signaled for me to speed up. I sighed as I felt the distance to my home get farther and farther away.

I yelped in surprise as I heard a loud horn behind me. I jerked around in a quick motion to see that the car was heading right for me.

I found it funny that whenever humans saw dangerous situations on tv, or read them in a book, they always said what they would do and would not do. In reality, when in situations of danger, you either freeze up or scream.

I went with both options.

With a scream, my body was frozen in paralyzation. At the last minute, the sports car slowed before coming to a complete stop.

I was a deer caught in headlights. Since the windows were tinted, I couldn't place the car with a face.

The driver let down the window. I was dumbfounded as I saw it was Kade. "Get in."

"You almost hit me!" I shouted at him.

"Well then," he paused, his lips hanging lazily in a smirk. "Don't walk with your earbuds in, and that wouldn't happen now would it love?" I wanted to slap the arrogance off of his face.

My mouth was open but I closed it. He wasn't even worth my time. I placed an earpiece back into my ear. I wasn't going to catch a ride with a stranger, not one that seemed to hate me anyway. I would catch the Flu before I got inside the car.

A loud, crackling scream through the air, alarming me of my stubbornness. Another wave of rain came from the sky, completely drenching my already wet hair.

"Maybe one ride wouldn't kill anyone," I convinced myself.

As soon as I was seated, I felt a wave of heat hit my face. Basking in the warmth, I leaned closer to the source.

I could feel his eyes weighing me down as I rubbed my cold hands together. "You know I've never seen you around here before," he began a conversation.

I felt an eyebrow perk at him. "Because I've never been here before."

"Yeah, I can tell by the way you acted at school," he brought up the subject of school, one I didn't want to talk about.

"Okay," I said with a quiet tone.

With one hand on the steering wheel, he turned his head towards me for a moment. "Not much of a talker, are you?"

"Silence can mean a lot between two people," I stated, my eyes on the wet window. "Besides, I'm an observer."

"That's fair."

Without speaking another word, I leaned back into the seat. I stayed silent for the remainder of the ride, counting each sign I caught through the rain-blurred window. So far, eighteen.

"What's your name?" he broke through the silence.

"Kimberly," I responded in the voice of a whisper.

"Oh well, Kimberly," I didn't like the sound of my name on his tongue. "You shouldn't be so mean to me, love." I cast a confounded look at him.

I gathered enough confidence to steal another glance at him. "Why is that?"

He turned the wheel in one hand then caught it in the other as he pulled to the side of the road.

When he reached over to my side, his hand grazed past my knee. I smothered a gasp of surprise, my back painfully plastered against the car seat.

Kade glanced up at me with a crooked smirk. "Relax, love."

He reached into the glove department, pulling out a small book. A black book.

My diary.

"So you see, I came across this beauty this morning when someone was being a little too clumsy," his laugh was deep, but I felt no humor.

My heart picked up so quickly that my brain had to backtrack. My life story, my fears, my successes, my failures, everything was in there. And, this evil, conniving, arrogant asshole had it.

I was dreaming.

My eyes never left that journal. "Kade, this is not a joke," I warned very slowly.

Kade glanced around the car, the back then behind him. "Do you hear any laughter? I don't."

"Give it back to me," I warned, though we both know my threat held no danger to him.

He pouted, bottom lip out. "No, I think I'll keep it for a while."

The barrier that concealed my tears threatened to fall in a matter of seconds. The different possibilities of what he would do choked me with fear.

I tried to snatch it, but there was no hope. "I'll call the cops."

His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Over a journal."

I faked arrogance. "It's my property, you'll have to give it back."

His brown eyes ripped my facade down piece by piece. "Love, my mother controls this entire town," he chuckled, shaking the journal at me. "But it's cute that you think anyone would even try to stop me."

I didn't say anything. My body was shaking from the shock, but I couldn't come up with anymore threats. He was in control, for now.

"Now, let's talk about deals," he suggested with a grin so big that Cheshire the cat would envy it.

I decided to stay silent, eyes perched atop my clenched fists. I waited for him to continue speaking.

"You do what I say and I'll consider giving this piece of shit back to you."

"But, if you decide to be a little smartass like today and not do as I say, then let's just say you won't enjoy your time here, love," his threat was loud and clear. "Be a shame if you spent senior year like that."

"I'm not having sex with you or any of your buddies, Kade," I cleared up.

Kade snorted, his fingers lining the top of my journal. "Sorry to break it to you, but I wouldn't sleep with someone that looks or acts like you in a million years," he insulted with a laugh to follow.

His words went to the heart. It only mixed in with the other insults I had endured today. I knew that I was unattractive, but hearing it from someone still hurt. I tried to tell myself otherwise.

"So, do we have a deal?"

I weighed down each of my options carefully. And there was truly no other way. My chest weighed down with stress as I imagined every single one of my entries being in the hands of Kade.

"Okay," my voice broke at the end of my response.

I quickly jerked my head to the side. I sniffled in frustration as I glared through the window.

What did I do to deserve this?

Nothing. If it was because I didn't move from my spot today, then he was ultimately a child. Who would go as far as exposing someone's personal life? It had to be something else, but I didn't care right now. I only cared about getting it back into my hands and out of his.

My heartbeat drummed in my chest as I thought about all of the things in my diary. All of the secrets. All of my life, I never had anyone to talk to, so journaling had been my outlet. I was allowed to unapologetically, be me. Now that was gone.

I directed him to my house in the quickest manner. All I wanted to do was get home and focus on my homework or a new book. It was the only thing I could do right now

As soon as he put the car in park, I yanked my door open. "See you soon love." He winked at me, before I jumped out of his car so fast I almost fell.

I closed the door without another word. The cold rain prickled my skin like needles. I didn't expect to feel it, though. I was numb at the moment, from exhaustion, from fear, from everything.

No one was home, which I suspected of. My brother, Ryland was working or in his college classes. And, my dad should still be at work.

The mornings were the main time I got to see them. Even back in Illinois, we managed to have breakfast together nearly every morning, if not every morning.

I made my way to my room, dropping my wet bag onto the wine red carpet. Immediately, I grabbed my book.

But even as I read, my mind couldn't escape today. Or how I mistakenly dropped the bag. Or how I've ruined the rest of my senior year. Or how a stranger has my journal.

My mistake.

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Hi guys! This is my new story and I really hope y'all enjoyed it! The book is already completed and published on Wattpad, too! I'll be publishing it here as well! See you in the next chapter 🤍