Incomplete: Revised Storyline

James and Diana

1. Meet in academy, become friends.

2. Grow closer, "best friends", other friends know they are in love but they refuse to admit it. They CANNOT admit it to each other because James' father is an autocratic figure who uses James to further his own political standing by "hooking him up" to the daughter of one of his main financial backers named Angela. James, ever the loyal son, submits. Diana believes James is truly in love with Angela.

3. James' father notices that James is starting to act take an interest in Diana, and falsely claims that Diana is trying to get close just to act as a pseudo-spy by giving false hearsay evidence, because Diana's father is a political rival. James, ever the loyal son, believes him. James starts acting like a REALLY BIG JERK towards Diana, confusing and hurting her. In retaliation, Diana publicly reveals James' childhood phobia, humiliating him. Afterwards, both feel guilty, and it shows, but both are too proud to admit it.

4. James prepares to leave the academy to study abroad. Diana finds out the extent of James love for her from Angela, who has realized James' true feelings, just before he leaves. She understands how committed James is to his father, but confronts him anyway. The confrontation ends in tears, with Angela walking out on James.

5. James leaves, Diana doesn't say goodbye.

6. James and Diana communicate through mail, apologize. They start a relationship.

7. A year later finds them together. Marshall, Diana's friend, secretly harbors feelings for her but is unable to express it.

8. Diana and James struggle through their feelings for each other. Then James' father again starts to interfere, eventually forcing them to break up by playing on James' loyalties.

9. Marshall makes his move, and Diana reluctantly accepts, causing James to become extremely jealous. James grows increasingly resentful towards his father for causing the rift between him and Diana, and secretly supplies information about his father to rival political parties. Marshall, who works for James' dad, tries to befriend James, whom he likes and respects, but James is too jealous to accept. James' jealousy leads him to slander and bad-mouth Marshall, whose work environment becomes increasingly hostile.

10. James' father discovers James' treachery, and in a fit of irrational rage he knocks James out cold and ties him to a post. He is about to whip James when Marshall comes in and tries to stop him. His verbal efforts fail and only incite James' father more, who is so angry that he draws a gun. He is about to shoot James when Marshall threatens to blackmail him using the information he has gained while working under him. James' father shoots Marshall instead, severely wounding him. James manages to get free and overpowers his father, who is sent to jail for attempted murder.

11. Marshall survives and is convalescing in the hospital when he realizes that Diana is still in love with James and brings them together again, possible now that James' father is gone. He then proceeds himself to fall madly in love with Angela, now a nurse at the hospital. All's well that ends well.