CHAPTER TWELVE

Hey Diary,

It's me again—obviously. Who else would it be? It's my diary, right? I bet you're probably the only best friend I've had throughout all my reincarnated years.

Anyway, Kyle has been acting a little strange lately—like he's avoiding me or something. Do you think I should talk to him? No, right? I should stay aloof. The guy should always make the first move. That's right.

Then, out of nowhere, I had another flash of Eric.

Ugh, there's this guy... I think his name is Eric? Or Raiden? I don't know, I'm confused. Wait... Rederick! Yeah, that sounds better. I think Velvet might be right because I do feel kind of attached to him or something. But she's wrong about Kyle not being meant for me, right? I mean, we just started dating a week ago! She's talking nonsense on that one... right?

Ugh, I feel like screaming—aaaaaaah!

Great, Kyle's calling me. What timing.

"Hey!" I answered.

"Rockie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I've been avoiding you, but... I think I need space."

"You need space? What do you mean? What kind of space?"

"Rockie, please..." he sighed.

"No! If this is about Rederick, it shouldn't be because I've never even met this guy in my entire life!" I argued, sounding like I was in some kind of debate competition. Yeah, kind of like an argumentative essay—only, orally.

Before I could say another word, he hung up.

Wait... did he just hang up on me?

Well, that was rude, wasn't it, diary? I need to go see him.

I grabbed my phone, dropped my pen, and went straight to my wardrobe. I put on the blue crop top Kyle got me, paired it with my black cargo jeans. And yes, you're probably wondering—where's the yellow? My sneakers, of course. Yellow sneakers are a must.

I threw my backpack over my shoulder and left my hair down because—if my memory isn't failing me—Kyle once said he liked it that way.

Time to take out my power bike. Yep, the one Mom got me when I was 13 and I never used.

"Oh, honey bear! You're riding your gear! Should I be worried or happy that you're finally using your birthday gift after three years?"

Mom said, her voice laced with surprise.

Seriously, do mothers always have to exaggerate everything?

"Secrets are timeless, Mom," I replied, and rode off.

I parked in front of Kyle's house and knocked. No answer. I pushed the door open and walked in.

On my way up to his room, I rehearsed my speech:

"Hey, Kyle!"

No, too awkward.

"Hello, Kyle."

Ugh, too formal.

"Wassup, Kyle? Are you cool or hot?"

Oh gosh, that was stupid.

Before I could think any further, I found myself standing right outside his door.

"Just knock. He won't hit you or anything," I told myself.

But instead, I decided to open the door without knocking.

And then...

Oh. My. God.

Yeah, I was totally going to freak out.

Diana was in bed with Kyle. My boyfriend.

So, she slept with him. Wow. That was... way off.

"Hey Rockie, you didn't tell me you were coming over," Kyle said, scrambling to put his clothes on.

Oh, so if I had told you, would you have hidden her under the bed? Like in the movies?

"Is this what you call 'space,' Kyle?" I asked, my voice sharp.

"Um... Rocks, I'm sorry."

Diana's voice cut through the awkward tension.

Oh, she has really done it this time. I could smash her head against the rocks—seems fitting since she likes rocks so much.

"Sorry for what exactly?" I snapped. "For sleeping with my boyfriend, or for bullying me since the very first day I took my first breath?"

"None of the above," she replied smugly.

I stared at her blankly, waiting for an explanation.

"Rocks, I'm sorry you had to find out this way," Kyle muttered.

Diana smirked. "Well, Kyle's my boyfriend now. You were just a game. A little plaything he had fun with. Did you actually think someone like him—popular, amazing Kyle—would ever fall for a geek like you?"

She walked over to him and kissed him. Intensely. Right in front of me.

Seriously? Geek Rock? That's the best she could come up with?

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Geek Rock," Diana sneered, stepping closer, like she was ready to fight me or something.

I crossed my arms and smirked. "Nope, I think you're the one who should be ashamed, Diana. Because you're the one standing here naked in front of a guy—not me."

Her face flushed red.

"Looks like you've got less shame, Diana," I added, grinning.

She frowned. "Less shame, D?"

"Yeah, it's short for shameless Diana. Fits you perfectly, don't you think?"

I stood tall. "You can call me whatever you want—Rock, Rocks, Geek, Dork—whatever. You know why? Because none of those things are actually shameful."

I glanced at Kyle one last time, and suddenly, I remembered that suspicious message I'd seen on his phone the other day.

I wanted to pounce on him like Tom would on Jerry. But instead, I just let it slide.

Who needs him anyways?