HIGH SCHOOL DIARIES (A Tale Of Love And Deception)

Maxandra's voice was firm as she stood in the grand living room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her husband, Charles, stood beside her, his face a mixture of concern and resolve. Lamia stood before them, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, eyes wide with disbelief about the shattering news .

"You will not go out again without informing us, Lamia," Maxandra said, her tone unyielding. "Do you understand me?"

Lamia's heart sank. The warmth from earlier in the day, when he had been with Damian, was rapidly fading. "But… I made a new friend," Lamia pleaded, his voice cracking as he looked between his parents. "I really like him. 'Like' is an understatement for what I feel for him right now."

Maxandra's face paled, her eyes narrowing as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "No…" she whispered, almost to herself.

Charles stepped forward, placing a firm but gentle hand on Lamia's shoulder. "Lamia," he began, his voice soft yet full of authority, "you're a gift to us, to your family. We cannot let anything happen to you. Remember, you're the future of this empire. The entire family lineage rests on your shoulders. I promise, when you're older, you'll understand."

The weight of his father's words crashed down on Lamia, a deep, painful ache blooming in his chest. He blinked back tears, refusing to show weakness in front of them. Without another word, he turned and bolted up the stairs, ignoring his mother's call after him.

Maxandra exchanged a worried look with Charles as he stroked her hair tenderly. "I'm concerned, Charles," she whispered. "What's so special about this boy that's making our son act like this?"

Charles silenced her with a soft kiss. "Don't worry, my love," he said, his voice soothing. "Our son is destined for greatness. He'll be the greatest leader this world has ever seen."

But Maxandra still felt the nagging worry gnawing at her as she watched Lamia disappear from sight.

Lamia burst into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. His massive room was the epitome of luxury, filled with ornate furniture and rich decorations that most children could only dream of. The centerpiece was his colossal king-size bed, adorned with deep blue silk sheets that shimmered under the dim light. Above it, a crystal chandelier dangled elegantly, casting delicate, flickering shadows on the walls. To one side of the room stood a grand dresser made of polished mahogany, and towering above it was a huge, dominating mirror framed in gold.

But tonight, none of this luxury brought Lamia comfort. His tears flowed freely now, hot and stinging as they dripped onto the silken fabric of his bed. He ran a hand through his soft, dark hair, his mind racing. The words of his parents echoed in his ears, but all he could think of was Damian.

He shuffled to the window, gazing out at the moonlit gardens below. The soft rustle of the leaves in the breeze did little to soothe his turmoil. His thoughts were consumed by memories of the earlier afternoon: the way he and Damian had laughed, whispered secrets, and promised each other they'd be friends "always and forever." His heart clenched at the thought of never seeing him again. I can't leave him…

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Lamia quickly wiped at his tears, but it was too late. The door creaked open, revealing Maxandra, her beautiful face softening at the sight of her son's devastation.

"Oh, baby…" she whispered, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.

Lamia's voice was thick with emotion as he turned away from her. "Please, Mom… I can't stop seeing him. I've never felt like this before about anyone…"

Maxandra's heart broke at the sight of him. She had never seen her son so affected by anyone. But she had to remain strong. This boy... Damian... he's from the lower class, she thought, and here she was, tearing them apart. For his own good, she reminded herself.

"I know this is hard for you, sweetheart," she said softly, approaching him. "But… I have some bad news. Grandmother has called for us to return to Scotland immediately. It's an emergency."

Lamia's eyes widened in shock. "What? No!" he cried, his heart shattering even further. "That means I'll never see Damian again… I can't go, Mom. Please, you can't do this to me!"

Maxandra's resolve wavered as she saw the desperation in her son's eyes. She tried to comfort him, but every word she spoke seemed to make his pain worse. "I'm sorry, baby, but it's important. Grandmother needs us…"

Lamia's cries filled the room, but Maxandra knew he needed time alone. After pressing a kiss to his forehead, she quietly left the room.

Lamia's mind raced as he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His heart pounded in his chest as he came to a single conclusion. I have to see Damian.

His parents had heightened security after his earlier outing, but Lamia was determined. He couldn't leave without saying goodbye. He waited until the house was silent, the halls dark and still. The guards patrolled outside, but they didn't know all of the house's secret passages like he did.

Slowly, Lamia crept to the back of his room, where a small hidden door lay behind one of the large tapestries. He gently pushed it open, revealing a narrow passageway that led directly outside, past the usual checkpoints. With his heart pounding, he slipped through the passage, careful not to make a sound. Once outside, he darted through the shadows of the gardens, slipping past the guards stationed at the perimeter gate.

The cool night air whipped at his face as he ran, faster and faster, his only thought being Damian.

Meanwhile, Damian lay in bed, his eyelids heavy as he prepared to fall asleep. But a sudden noise outside his window jolted him awake. His heart skipped a beat as he sat up, listening closely. What was that?

Tentatively, he climbed out of bed and approached the window, peering through the cracked glass. His breath caught in his throat as he saw a familiar figure standing just outside. Lamia?

Damian rushed to the door, opening it to find Lamia standing there, breathless and wide-eyed. "What are you doing here?" Damian asked, concern lacing his voice. "You shouldn't be out this late…"

Lamia took a shaky breath, his heart still racing from the sprint. "I had to come. I had to see you, Damian. My parents… they're taking me away. To Scotland. I don't know when I'll be able to come back."

Damian's heart sank. "Scotland? But that's so far…"

"I know," Lamia whispered, his voice breaking. "I don't want to leave you. You're my best friend."

A quiet, bittersweet smile crept across Damian's face. "I don't want you to go either… but you should head back. Your parents might be worried."

But Lamia shook his head, tears glistening in his eyes. "No. I'm staying. At least for tonight. Let's spend one last night together."

The moon shimmered over Raven Hollow, casting its silver light on the small town. Lamia and Damian wandered through the empty streets, the quiet night enveloping them in a peaceful stillness. They ended up at a small clearing just outside of town, where they could see the stars twinkling overhead.

They sat together on a fallen log, their laughter and whispered words filling the air. It was in these moments that Lamia felt free—free from the expectations of his family, free from the pressures of his future. Here, with Damian, he could be himself.

But as they played and laughed, Damian accidentally stumbled, his face brushing against Lamia's in a fleeting moment. Their lips met in an accidental kiss, and Lamia's cheeks burned bright red with embarrassment. He quickly pulled away, but Damian only smiled, his own heart fluttering at the unexpected moment.

Before they could dwell on it, Damian suggested they perform a trick he had learned as a child—one that he hoped would make Lamia smile again. He picked a small, withered flower from the ground and held it in his hand. "Watch this," he whispered, closing his eyes.

To Lamia's astonishment, the flower began to bloom, its petals unfurling as if Damian had breathed life back into it. Lamia gasped, his eyes wide with wonder. "Damian… you're special. I knew it."

But Damian only shook his head. "No, Alexis," he said quietly, still using the name Lamia had asked him to. "This is strange. It might be dangerous."

Lamia smiled, brushing his fingers against Damian's arm. "You're amazing, Xavier," he teased, using the nickname he had given Damian. "Let's see what else you can do."

At Lamia's urging, Damian performed another trick, this time focusing on a dead tree nearby. He raised his hands, closing his eyes again, and moments later, the tree began to creak and groan as its branches stretched upward, as if awakening from a long slumber. New leaves sprouted from the branches, and the tree was whole again.

But as they marveled at the sight, neither noticed the shadow lurking nearby, watching them with a sinister smile.

The figure whispered into the darkness, "It's time."

Eager for adventure, Lamia turned to Damian, his eyes bright with excitement. "Come on, Xavier, let's go look for the monsters in the Black Forest."

Damian smiled at the nickname. "Why are you calling me Xavier?"

"It reminds me of my childhood hero in Scotland—Master Xavier. Since you're my friend, I thought I'd call you that."

Damian chuckled. "Alright, but about the forest... you know monsters aren't real, and it's night already."

But Lamia was insistent, his voice pleading. "My knight in shining armor has magic, so we can't be afraid of anything."

Damian finally agreed, and the two of them ventured into the dark woods, laughing and playing under the moonlight. Lamia plucked a single rose, handing it to Damian. "Take this, Xavier. It's for my knight."

Damian's eyes sparkled with joy, but their moment was shattered by a sudden, booming noise. Two huge men burst from the shadows, grabbing Lamia with furious strength.

"No!" Damian shrieked, reaching for him, but it was too late. Lamia was dragged away, his voice screaming into the night.

"Alexis! Alexis, please come back!" Damian cried, his voice raw with desperation, but Lamia was gone.

The night fell silent, save for the haunting echo of Damian's sobs.