My Taboo Obsession

Chapter Seven: Diana

“So...how was it?” My dad asked immediately I entered the living room. There was a hopeful smile on his face, and I wanted nothing more than to tell him it was productive.

“It was nice. I liked it, actually, but we're still starting out so...fingers crossed.” It was the honest truth, and just as I expected, his smile got wider and he walked forward to hug me.

“I'm sure you'll do great dear,” he paused when my mom came in. She waved at the both of us, and entered the kitchen before I could say anything. “She's been having some cramps, so the doctor prescribed some fruits to help.”

I nodded and walked towards the stairs, my stomach a tight bundle of nerves. If this pregnancy was still causing issues after the last scare, wouldn't it be better to force a delivery or something? The thought of this made me shudder involuntarily, as I remembered my mother's reaction when I suggested it.

“Diana! How can you suggest such a thing?” Her face was twisted into a deep frown, and for a moment, I thought she would faint from the anger. “What if something happens to your sibling? Don't you care about that?” At that point, she stomped out of the room and refused to speak to me for two days.

I wouldn't dream of suggesting that again, even if it was almost two months since that incident. If they forced a delivery now, there was more than a fifty percent chance it would survive.

“How was school today, my love?” Mom's voice cut in, and I quickly pushed a smile out.

“Fine, just the usual.”

“And history club?”

“Fine too.” Except from the fact that I blanked out ten minutes after we started, and kept staring at my history teacher. It didn't help that he stared back too, so much that even Cathy noticed.

“Dad?” I called out. “Are we still exercising today?”

“Sure, my love. I'll go change, while you do same.” I quickly ran to my room, and put on my favourite sport outfit. However, that didn't stop me from thinking about what happened at school less than two hours ago.

After history club ended, Cathy pulled me aside with a coy grin. “What were you guys up to in there?”

“How?” My mind was still a whirlwind of emotions, and at that moment, my best friend sounded very far away.

“With you and Mr. Lucien, of course. You guys kept stealing glances at each other. I'm surprised I'm the only one who noticed.”

Hearing his name sent a shock to my stomach, and I whipped my head to face her so fast. “You noticed? Jeez, I thought it was in my head. I don't know what happened, it was like everytime I looked, his eyes were on me. Did you know he has brown eyes, with little spots of green around the edges? I've never seen anything like–”

“Slow down, Diana. I can barely get what you're saying,” she said, rubbing my back slowly. “But yes, he was looking at you a lot. Maybe, he likes you.”

I quickly shook my head. “That's not possible, Cathy. Look at me, and look at him. He's the stuff of dreams, and I'm just…,” I couldn't let myself finish the sentence, but the differences were obvious. He was a ladies man, while I was the fat and ugly girl.

“Besides, he's our teacher. Nothing can happen, it's against school laws.”

“Our very young teacher,” Cathy said, and winked at me. She opened her mouth to say something else when she looked behind us and smiled again. “I'll see you tomorrow, Diana.”

My face contorted in confusion as she speedily walked away. Why didn't she want us to–

“Diana?” My eyes widened in shock as Mr. Lucien's voice sifted through my brain. He was standing behind me! I closed my eyes, and tried to calm down in two seconds before turning to him with a blank look.

“Yes...Sir?” If I felt anything during the club's session, it was ten times more intense with him standing less than four feet away from me. My stomach churned continuously, and it was a wonder he couldn't hear it. I clasped my sweaty palms behind me, and tried to stand steadily but I was failing miserably. No one had ever gotten this kind of effect on me, not even my first boyfriend of two weeks, Asher.

Once again, he smiled at me and I almost fell right there. His lips looked so…

“How was the club experience for you?”

It took me a few seconds to register his question. “It was beautiful to watch. Umm, I mean, exciting. I learnt a lot today, and I like the people here.” Especially you.

“Mmm, that's good,” he responded with a nod. “I'm happy to see you here, and I hope you'll get along with the other students and this club generally. You have some nice ideas about history.”

“Really?!” My eyes widened at the shrill sound of my voice, and I covered my mouth in shock. “Sorry. I mean, thank you.” I supressed a groan, and tried to plaster a small smile on my face. How embarrassing could I be?

“You're welcome. Have a lovely day, Diana.” There was something about the way my name rolled off his lips. Almost as if he knew and loved the name, and I shook my head. This silly crush of mine needed to be toned down, before I said something foolish.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock. “Dear, are you done?”

Oh, s**t! I totally forgot about the exercises. “Almost done, Dad.”

There was a pause at his end before I heard him going down the stairs. “Okay, I'll be setting up at the back.”

I quickly tied my hair into a bun, and rushed out of the house to the back. Even though being with my history teacher was only a pipe dream, getting fitter wasn't.

I already had a target weight to get, and I was determined not to stop till I reached it. My senior year at Louisiana High was something I wanted to be proud of, and if the only thing I did was lose some weight, it would be a good thing.

By the time I got there, everything was set up. There was a pair of mats, along with some dumbbells and a skipping rope by the corner. A small gasp escaped my lips.

“Are you alright?”

“Dad, I don't think I can raise myself for skipping,” I explained, and he chuckled in response.

“You can. You don't just know it yet.”

“Okay. If you say so, Coach.” He laughed, and started to explain the itinerary for the afternoon when my Mom came out with three water bottles.

“Is there still space for one more?”

“Of course, my love. I have some special exercises for you and the baby.”

As the three of us pulled weights and got around to skipping, my heart warmed. School was usually a means to an end for me, but one thing that made it bearable was the thought of going home. Even if I wasn't loved anywhere else, my mom and dad would always be there.

Along with Cathy who had sent me a message demanding to know what our history teacher told me. “I'll see you tomorrow, Cathy.”