It had been two weeks. Two weeks since Diana joined the army and now they were preparing for war. She had been so busy with the preparation that she had forgotten all about Calhoun. The first week was very tough for her, she was the target of a woman who thinks she has eyes on her man. The idea still sounded amusing to Diana, appalling even.
"D! Hurry up and let's head out," Julitta called. "You have been sitting in the same position ever since, do you think you can perhaps try getting up?"
"Haha, very funny," Diana muttered. "I'm just worried about Coco."
Julitta rolled her eyes. "Coco is safe. He will be at the campgrounds with us, just not with you."
"Also, did you know that Jasyn is planning to have you fight up front?"
Diana scowled. "That shameless beast."
"You could say that..." Julitta laughed.
"I wonder what could be so funny to you both." Came Yolanda's snappy voice. "Oh wait, since you both are bitches, I bet everything sounds funny."
Diana ignored her, tapping Julitta to do the same.
"I can't believe he would do such a thing too! I guess he wants me to fight beside him."
Julitta chuckled. "If only he could read your mind right now!"
The two of them laughed, totally ignoring Yolanda who stood there, burning with anger.
She stomped her foot on the ground, earning their attention again.
"Get dressed and hurry out! We don't have all day to wait for you." Yolanda snapped. "Especially you, baby mama."
Diana scoffed. "I'm better than you, Yolanda. I do have something my baby's father could want me back for. But you? You have absolutely nothing to offer, which another girl can not offer to the man you wish to claim."
"Worst, you are a petty human. Men don't like petty women, they like strong women. Women who could stand and control the crowd without having to be snappy or yell out till their voices break."
"Women who could rule when they can't, who can fight beside them and they won't have to worry about an arrow hitting her."
"Such women can attract every kind of responsible man. And you are none of those, Yolanda. You are still proving to be a liability."
Yolanda's face turned red with anger. She hated being insulted. And she considered teaching from someone who she believed was beneath her to be an insult. Diana was beneath her. Sure she was strong, but it didn't mean that she could easily beat her up, it also didn't mean that Diana had the right to educate her.
"You must know so much about men." She snapped. "Is it experience? Perhaps you have been with so many men that you have so much knowledge about them."
Diana shrugged. "At least that's enough proof that if there were two men and two of us, we can rest assured that the two men will come for me rather than go for you."
Yolanda turned to leave. Her palms were balled into fists, her face was red with anger and she desperately tried to suppress it. Hence, she had to leave.
"Just hurry up and come out." She growled as she walked out.
"Diana...." Julitta called. "I think you have successfully made it into her black book."
"That will make you the subject of her constant attacks."
"Cute," Diana replied. She zipped her trousers and buckled her belt. She put on her boots and zipped them up.
"Let's head out."
"Your hair, Diana." Julitta reminded. "Pack it up and tie it properly. Here let me help you."
Diana moved away from Julitta's hand. She packed her hair by herself and tied it firmly. Her hair was long so if anyone got a grip of it in battle, she would either have to cut it off to escape, or she could allow herself to get beaten.
Once she was done with the hair, she stood up and beckoned on Julitta to follow her out of the changing room. By the time the both of them walked out, they saw that everyone else was ready. Jasyn watched them walk lazily to their lines. He wanted to speak but he didn't want to offend Diana.
"Comrade Julitta and Comrade Diana, be careful to not arrive late next time." He yelled out. "Due punishments will be given if there is a repetition."
Julitta saluted at him while Diana kept her gaze on him. Her pride stemmed from the fact that she could not be removed from the army except for Eugene's requests for it. And she was confident that Eugene needed her for something so he wasn't going to be letting go of her any soon.
Jasyn called the instructions out to the soldiers and gave them their weapons. Just as Julitta had said, Diana was going to be lining up front. She smirked. The other soldiers had mixed reactions. Some were surprised that Jasyn put a new soldier up front, others weren't because they knew that she had proved her capacity.
They marched into their various vehicles and were driven to the forest where they camped. Diana was in the same tent with Julitta and a few other females. She got to figure out that they were in Yolanda's group and yet they weren't loyal to her.
"You are the new lady who beat Yolanda up, right?" One of them asked. "I'm Tisha."
"Hello, Tisha. I'm -"
"Diana." Tisha interrupted. "I know. I would like for you to teach me a few skills which you used. I have never seen such moves in hand combat before."
"Oh," Diana said, surprised. "It's rather a common thing where I come from."
"Well... Where do you come from?"
Diana stared at the girl. She couldn't trust anyone, yet she didn't want to lie. The girl did seem an honest person too.
Tisha could feel her reluctance. "Hey, it's okay if you want to keep it a secret. It's not like I woulda told anybody to. But I totally get it."
Diana smiled. "I'm from Wisteria, and yes I do want to keep it a secret. So can you do that for me?"
"Yup! Your secret is safe with me!"
"What secret?" Another one asked, coming into the tent. "What secret are you keeping?"
"Oh... Well since you're my best friend, I will tell you. But you must keep it a secret too." Tisha said. Diana was dumbfounded. The girl had just promised her that she wouldn't tell anyone, how could she be telling someone else right in her presence?
"Tisha you-"
"Calm down, Diana!" Tisha said, waving her off. "Fifi, Diana makes beautiful pies! She said she would make one for me when we return from this battle!"
Diana chuckled. "You brat!"
Fifi gasped. "I have a thing for pies! You must make some for me too!"
"Guys... Well, girls... We have a huge battle ahead of us. It could last a long while. Thinking about food isn't all that necessary now."
Tisha smiled guiltily. "you're right, we're sorry. So what do you propose we do?"
"Since everyone trains in the day, we could train at night."
"I doubt Jasyn would approve of it," Fifi said. "Last time Yolanda tried it, he embarrassed her greatly."
Diana smirked. Doing something Yolanda was embarrassed for, knowing that Jasyn wouldn't dare to embarrass her, was something worth doing well.
"Oohh, you have this I'm about to do something evil kinda smirk on your face," Tisha exclaimed, inching closer to her. "What have you planned?"
"Well... Jasyn wouldn't embarrass me. Besides, I could just tell him we could also use it as a means to keep watch just in case there happens to be a spy amongst us." Diana shrugged.
"That is brilliant!" Fifi exclaimed. "Oh, where is Julitta? She has to come to hear this."
"Julitta?" Fifi ran out, calling the girl out. Tisha followed suit, to find Julitta. Diana shook her head. The girls seemed too young to be in the army. Why were they there in the first place? They even acted childish around her. As if she was some sort of celebrity or a goddess that had to worship.
Tisha and Fifi set out to find Julitta, covering the ground quickly. Meanwhile, Theodore seized the chance to talk to Diana, who was alone in the camp tent. He approached her slowly. Diana had initially thought it was one of the girls but when she didn't hear their clamoring, she turned quickly.
"Theodore!" She called in surprise, finding him there. "What brings you here?"
"I only came to say hi and see how well you were settling."
Diana was skeptical. "Oh well I'm fine and I'm settling in well."
Theodore nodded. He walked to a small mattress that lay on the ground and sat on it. Diana wasn't exactly comfortable with his presence. It was as if he had been waiting for Fifi and Tisha to leave before coming in.
"So Diana... How do you find the army? Do you enjoy fighting?"
"Somehow, yeah," Diana said. "It helps me ease out pent-up frustration and anger."
Theodore's brows went up. "That's the first time I'm hearing someone give this as a reason to join the army."
"Well, there's always a first for everything," Diana replied.
"Yeah." Theodore nodded. "So... What and what about the army piqued your interest? What exactly made you join?"
"I did already tell you, Theo," Diana said, staring him straight in the eye. "As for why I joined? Let's leave that till Eugene can answer it."
"Eugene?" Theodore asked. "What has Eugene got to do with this?"
Diana couldn't understand why Theodore was suddenly interested in asking her about her background and interests. She was initially hesitant, but Theodore's friendly demeanor put her at ease.
As they talked, Theodore began to feel a connection with Diana, and he realized that he was starting to develop feelings for her. However, he knew that he had to be cautious, as he didn't want to jeopardize his friendship with Tisha and Fifi. After a while, the girls returned, having successfully located Julitta. Theodore bid Diana farewell, promising to talk to her again soon.
"Commander Theodore," Fifi called, blushing slightly. "What are you doing here, alone with Diana?"
Theodore smiled softly. "I was passing by and thought to see how well you all were settling. I believe it's the first battle for you both as well."
"Yes, commander," Tisha answered.
Theodore smiled at the girls but had no emotional attachment to them. Diana observed the interactions and began to feel envious of the attention he gave them.
Julitta observed the jealousy and she smirked a little. She would be happy if Diana and Theodore became a couple. At least, one of them could be happy.
"Commander Theodore, shall you only smile at Fifi and Tisha and not Diana and me?" Julitta suddenly asked. Diana's eyes widened a little and she glared at Julitta who winked secretly at her.
Theo chuckled. "I have spent time talking with Diana, I guess it's just you then... But this isn't your first battle, and you have fought alongside me, haven't you?"
"Does it matter?" Julitta asked.
"Alright, Julitta, how are you faring? Are you settling in well? I hope you can coordinate with your comrades not to make things hard for Diana."
Fifi smiled jealously. "Commander Theo must care so much about Diana. She's at the center of his talk."
Theodore smiled. "She is new and although she showed real strength and perseverance during her tests, I still think it's too early for her to be put in the front row during such a hot and fierce battle."
"It's a position for commanders and their assistants. This could cause an issue among the other commanders. Xavier had expressed his concern as well."
"It's not like I'm not capable," Diana murmured. Theodore heard her but the others didn't. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.
Someone approached their tent and entered without knocking or clapping at least.
"Who are you?" Diana asked.
"Diana, commander Jasyn said I should inform you that someone is here to see you."
"Me?"
"Yes. I don't know who exactly it is but from the voices I heard, I could tell it's a man."
Diana paled instantly. If it was Calhoun who had found her, where could she hide now?