The news that Mason Hayworth was dating Diana Hamilton spread faster through the school than the rumour of Natalie Henson's pregnancy scare.

The reactions were mixed, to say the least. Some people were shocked, a select few were in awe, most were horrified. I often heard them talking about it in the hallways.

"Diana Hamilton? Isn't she that fat girl?"

"Why is Mason dating that whale?"

"Wait, we have someone at our school called Diana Hamilton?"

Those were just a few of my personal favourites.

The comments and looks I got didn't hurt me too much. I had Mason and he was worth every mean word that was ever said.

Walking down the hallway, holding his hand, I felt untouchable and so, so lucky. I honestly couldn't believe that someone like him would ever date someone like me. Clearly, the rest of the school couldn't either.

As Mason's girlfriend, I got upgraded to the popular table at lunch, something that I had secretly wanted since the first year of school. Hailee and I sat with them; Mason, his jock friends and the cheerleaders. To me, it was like I had finally reached the Promised Land.

Hailee didn't agree though. She hated sitting there. It was a conversation we had almost every day as soon as we left class. The script occasionally differed, but the general theme remained the same.

"I just don't feel like we are being ourselves," she whined one day as we walked into the cafeteria and towards Mason's table.

"Please Hails, I know you don't like them but please just do this for me. I really like him." It was a huge understatement. It had only been a week, but I had already perfected my new signature with his surname.

"Fine," she said grudgingly as we sat down. I know she came with to support me, a fact I was always grateful for.

Drew, one of Mason's friends, immediately tried to get her attention, as he had every day since we began sitting with them. I always thought that he was quite keen on her, but either she was completely oblivious, or she just wasn't interested. I never brought it up with her, but knowing her as well as I did, I assumed it was the latter.

"Hailee, how are your classes going?"

She looked at him suspiciously, "fine thanks and yours?"

"Great, so today...."

I tuned him out as Mason sat down next to me, making my heart flutter. Whenever he was around me, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

"Hi babe," he kissed the top of my head in greeting. I couldn't help but notice the girls at the table rolling their eyes. I could only imagine the hurtful things they said about me behind my back, but at the time, I didn't care.

"Hi," I smiled back at him, trying my best not to melt at the fact that he called me 'babe'.

He looked down at my lunch and frowned. "You're not going to eat all that are you?" He pointed at my bag of crisps, slice of leftover chocolate cake, two sandwiches and an apple that my mom had so lovingly packed for me.

"I'm hungry," I muttered, losing my appetite. I had been so looking forward to my lunch but the look on his face made me change my mind. Suddenly, it seemed like too much for one person to eat. "Do you want some?"

He nodded and took everything, apart from the apple and one half of a sandwich. A handsome smile replaced his frown as he leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. "That's my girl."

I tried not to let it hurt me, the fact that he had taken my lunch and was now passing it around to his friends, who eagerly began tucking into the food that was meant for me.

But it did. After that, I began leaving half my lunch at home, scared of the judgement I would face from him.

The waiter leads us to our table and pulls out my chair for me. I sit down and look around at the restaurant. It's all dark woods and red décor, the tables lit up by candles with flickering flames. This seems more like Mason's type of restaurant.

"This place is nice." It's not really my style, more upscale than I'm used to. But the ambiance is pleasant and I can tell that Mason likes it.

"It's one of my favourites," he tells me before turning to the waiter. "We will take a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc please."

As the waiter hurries off to get our wine, Mason reaches out his hand and takes mine across the table. "It's so nice being here with you. It almost feels as though the last few years never happened."

But they did.

"I'm glad you decided to give us another go, Di. I've really missed you. Running into you again made my week."

I don't actually remember agreeing to give us another chance. Yes we kissed last night, but I don't recall any apologies for what he did or him asking me what I thought about us getting back together. There was only a mention that we were dating.

Although, I suppose my actions around him make it pretty obvious that I have decided to try this again. I seem to get swept up in him, no matter how much I try to resist. It's no wonder he's taken my compliance as the rekindling of our romance.

Still, it would have been nice if he asked me what I thought about it.

"Uh yeah, it was nice bumping into you too." I mentally prepare myself for what I am about to say. "But Mason, we do need to talk about...before."

The waiter comes back and pours us each a glass before leaving the bottle in a bucket filled with ice next to our table. I take a long grateful slug before realizing that Mason is looking at me with his eyebrows raised. "What do you mean?"

"You know, uh, when we were," I mutter lamely, "in high school."

"I'm afraid I don't really understand, Di." He frowns at me.

"Well," I'm really not sure how to phrase it without offending him. "When we were in high school, you didn't really treat me very well."

"Are you talking about the break up? I'm sorry Di, but I was just a kid back then. A stupid kid. I've grown up now. I've changed."

But the break up was just part of it.

I wonder if he even realised he was being cruel. Maybe the way he treated me was unintentional? He doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about now. I almost feel foolish for bringing it up.

"Things are going to be different this time I swear. No more childish games, Di. I want this, I want you. We're meant to be together."

Damn him, how am I supposed to keep my composure when he says stuff like that?

He picks up our entwined hands and brushes his lips against my knuckles and I realise the subject has been closed. Everything I had planned to say to him has vanished from my head as I look into those damn eyes of his.

Instead, I just nod slightly, hoping that I don't lose myself again while trying to please him.

I pick up my menu and start scanning it, so many delicious sounding things jump out at me. "I don't know what to have, it all looks so good."

He raises an eyebrow at me, "a salad?"

I am stunned into silence at his words. Hasn't he literally just said that he's changed? I realise that I was not foolish for bringing it up. There is so much that still needs to be said, I just wish I had the courage to actually say it.

In the dim light of the flickering candles, he looks younger. The judgement on his face reminds me of the lunch when he took my food and passed it around to his friends. For a moment, I swear seventeen-year-old Mason is looking at me.

But, I'm not seventeen anymore and I won't let him tell me what to eat. I want something creamy and delicious, and the fear of Mason leaving me or looking down on me, is not going to stop me from ordering it.

So I ignore his comment and glance down at the menu again, finally deciding on what I want. "Actually, I think I am going to have the Chicken Alfredo."

You can't tell me what I can and can't eat. You don't control me. Not anymore.

He gives me a look that clearly says he doesn't approve, but obviously decides not to say anything about it. "Oh okay then. That sounds nice Di," he concedes. "I'm going to have the steak I think."

It feels like a hollow victory.

The waiter comes back and we place our orders. Mason looks at me as though confused by my choice of meal, maybe even hoping that I will change my mind at the last moment. But now I am just being stubborn. I want that pasta and nothing he says or does is going to stop me from getting it.

"So, are you still friends with that Hayden girl?" He finally asks after a few minutes of tense silence.

"Her name is Hailee. And yes, she went to Capsicum to study but when she finishes she will be back. In the mean-time I'm living with her cousin Alexa. She's an event planner."

"Ah yes, Hailee. She was always a bit of a strange one." He clearly sees me narrowing my eyes at him and opening my mouth to defend her because he continues before I can speak. "Not in a bad way. Just very quirky and full of jokes. Also terrifying. I know Drew always liked her though."

I had thought the same thing, although nothing ever came of it. "She knows what she wants I guess." It's the reason why she went so far away to study. She was adamant Capsicum was the best Chef School in the country and she followed her passion all the way there, leaving her friends and family behind. "Actually, she's coming for a visit next weekend; it's a short break for her. I can't wait to see her."

"I already had plans with you next weekend," he says gruffly.

"Did you? I don't remember you saying anything about them."

"They were supposed to be a surprise." He picks up his wine glass, his eyes never leaving mine.

For some reason, I don't quite believe him. "Well, we can always do whatever it is the following weekend. Hailee is my best friend. I haven't seen her in months and she is only coming for a couple of days."

He leans back in his chair and looks me up and down. "You've changed since high school haven't you?"

But as the waiter puts my plate down in front of me, I look at the creamy pasta that a few minutes ago I had been so excited to eat. Standing up for myself had felt like a victory, but I remember the look on Mason's face when I ordered it, and my appetite disappears.

I haven't changed as much as I should have.