Chapter 3 - Goodbyes and Good Greetings

The rest of Dante's summer was really bleak. His mother had banned him from going outside so he was basically jailed in his own home with playing bankers with Ophelia being his only source of entertainment. And he loved Ophelia, really, but there's only so many times you can play bankers until it gets plain repetitive. It would be interesting if bankers was anything like cops and robbers but no, they just pretend to be working at a computer at a bank all day and exchange gossip about the other stuffed animals that are also working at this imaginary bank.

As if things didn't get worse, Dante's father successfully enrolled him at Laronda's. Although it seemed super last minute to allow a kid in, his parents did the classic thing of 'Shhh..just take my money and let my kid have your education.' The only main highlights were when these men came into the house to take all of Dante's belongings to the school. "It's to set up your dorm room." Amara explained, helping one man with Dante's dresser. "That's dumb." Dante huffed outside his door.

"It's not dumb, it's productive. It's so that when you get there you dorm will be ready for you." Amara replied as she carefully walked down the stairs balancing Dante's cream white dresser while the boy followed from behind. "Will I be sharing a dorm, Mother?"

"Possibly," His father answered from behind, lugging two suitcases behind him "But if your not comfortable with that, it can always be re-arranged." He hinted while pulling out a crisp, bright green 100 euro note whilst winking. Dante just huffed more, why did they have to do that? That kind of nonsense is why he has no friends.

After that episode, the only thing he had in his room was his bed, a few Korean Drama posters and his work desk.

The day before his send off, he got the uniform for the school in the mail. It was another boring day of bankers when it arrived. "What's that?" Ophelia asked from her crib when Dante took the beige parcel and brought it over to her.

"My uniform.." Dante muttered, inspecting the school symbol on the face of the package. It was a type of diamond with wavy lines coming out of each corner. In the middle of the diamond, a yellow-almost golden like- twinkle. When he ripped the package open, he was very disappointed. The uniform included a juniper green jumper with a white, buttoned-up shirt and a grey and green striped tie. The trousers were an iron grey trousers with matching socks and leather shoes. The jumper had the same symbol as the package so Dante figured that was the school crest.

"It's ugly." Ophelia spoke up.

"Very ugly." Dante agreed.

"What school wears green?"

"And has a crest like you're working at a weird tech company!"

That made Ophelia laugh, which relieved Dante. Their banker games have been getting quieter and he was worried she was mad at him for leaving. Suddenly, Amara came in and told Dante that Boedrick had been calling his phone for ages now. "He wants to do a face-time." she said before ordering Dante to pick up his uniform and go to sleep. "The bus will be here by 5am sharp, you don't wanna be too sleepy to miss it."

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"What do you want?" Dante asked at his desk, face-timing Boedrick. He was wearing his house robe, the only thing he had before bed as his dad stupidly already packed his pajamas.

"I wanted to say sorry again, I know you already forgave me but I can't help but feel a little bad."

"Don't."

"You didn't get into trouble did you? That'd be awful! Well actually it'd be what we wanted. But still, you didn't get into TOO much trouble? They heard you out right? They listened?"

"They never listen, Boe."

"But...they did this time, right?"

Dante sighed. He never told Boedrick about Laronda. "I'm going to boarding school."

"WHAT?!"

"They didn't listen. They just shipped me away now I'm no longer under their control. I tried, but they didn't listen. They never listen, they never listen!" the last 'never listen' was almost a shout but Dante didn't care if his parent's heard him, they wouldn't actually listen to what he said.

"I'm so sorry Don, this was my plan, my stupid plan."

"No, don't take blame for MY actions. Just try not to miss me too much."

"BUT I WILL!" Boedrick sobbed. He was always the more emotional one out of the two.

"Don't do that, or I will hang up." Dante threatened.

"What are you talking about?" Boedrick blubbered. "I'm not doing anything!"

Dante just sighed. "I'll call you when I reach the school. Don't worry, that school won't last a week with me." He said it like it was a brag before disconnecting from a wailing Boedrick.

He couldn't sleep. He wasn't sure if it was anger or nerves keeping him up but around 7pm (yes, his parents really sent him to bed at 6pm) Ophelia walked in with her wool blanket. "Dante, are you up?"

"Unfortunately."

"Can I sleep here tonight?"

"Why?"

She didn't answer. Ophelia just crawled into his bed beside him and closed her eyes. Dante figured she had a nightmare, or worse: didn't want to believe he was leaving. It sucked that in the morning, thanks to his really stupid plan, he'd have to leave his only real friends for a whole year. And many after that.

Dante didn't sleep that night

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"I'm awake." he muttered at the crack of dawn. His mother nodded and pulled Ophelia out of his bed. As she did, Dante planted a kiss on her forehead and changed into his ugly uniform. His dad was saying things like "It'll be fine!" and "Think of it as an adventure!" along with, "We are only doing this for your own good!" his mother was less optimistic

"Don't tag the school wall this time." She also gave him his phone. "Only call when you need to."

"Gee, thanks Mum."

Great goodbyes.

As Dante walked out of the driveway, he caught the view of the school bus and everyone in it. The bus was a light blue with spray-paint vines surrounding the text: Welcome, drafts. Drafts? Weird. The kids were just as bizarre. Most were gawking at his house, him, and back at his house with absolute amazement. Some were pointing at him and whispering to their bus mate. Then there was one sharpening his knife. Wait, WHAT?

He got on the bus, but nobody paid him attention. Just his house and supposed riches. As usual. He sat near the back at the last seat beside a girl by the window staring at his house. "That's mine, y'know?"

The girl whizzed around and inspected his face. As he did hers. She had frizzy blonde hair and freckles dotted all over her cheeks. Her eyes were a dark brown. She had a blue hairband with yellow stars attached and Dante also noticed she was the only girl that wore the boys trousers instead of the skirts. Odd, but whatever. He continued to make small talk.

"My name's Dante, what's yours?" No answer. "Look, no offence, but I think you stole my look." Dante joked gesturing to their identical uniforms. The blonde just whizzed back to looking out the window. Okay, rude. He thought, regretting this choice and wanting to move seats.

Just then, a girl popped up from the seat in front them. She had the same colored eyes as the blonde, but they looked nothing alike. This girl had tan skin, clear face and hazel brown hair tied into Dutch plaits. "Aw jeez, calm down frizzie, buzzcut here was making a joke!" Buzzcut? I like it. Frizzie just scowled at her and plaits replied with a smirk. "What he meant was your wearing the same thing! Like a uniform?" she turned her attention to Dante. "That IS what you meant, right?"

"Yeah of course!" Dante replied holding his hands up. "Purely a joke."

Plaits smiled at him and held out her hand. "Kimmy."

Dante shook it and returned the smile. "Dante."

A third girl popped up beside Kimmy. "I'm Izzy, here to keep this one in line." she also took Dante's hand while nudging Kimmy with her shoulder. Izzy had red wavy hair with sky blue eyes. When Dante looked closer, he noticed she was wearing purple eye shadow. It suited her.

"The anti-social one here is Bernie." Kimmy snarked while waving her hand in front of the blonde's face. "Earth, to Bernie? Are you alive?" Bernie confirms her existence by swatting Kimmy's hand away from her face, making Kimmy giggle. Izzy's eyes lit up as the bus drove down the motorway. "Aren't you all excited? I mean, we made it to the FIRST DOME! When we get there, we'll be standing on ancient history!"

"First dome? What-" Dante was interrupted by Kimmy calling Izzy a nerd and Bernie subtly agreeing.

"So, buzzcut," Kimmy asked "Was that a holiday home you were stomping out of or do you actually live there?"

"Nope, I really live there. And I was NOT stomping." his answer was deflected by all three girls disagreeing. "Nope."

"You were definitely stomping."

"Like a toddler."

"Wow," Kimmy said. "That house looked incredible."

"I've seen bigger." Izzy shrugged casually. Dante was astonished. He'd never heard THAT reply before. This Izzy girl, she's cool. "What makes you believe that?" He asked jokingly

Izzy raised and eyebrow at him. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm an Eclipse."

"A what?"

Izzy had a look of shock while Kimmy burst out laughing. Even Bernie was looking at him strangely. Why are they judging ME? Dante thought I'm not the one who just called themselves the moon!

Izzy's look of shock was soon replaced with a smile "Good to see someone NOT scared of me for once."

"Should I be scared?"

"No, not at all. I'm glad."

Dante's depression soon faltered as he just had a good time talking with his new friends. Ah, what the heck? If these guys are his new classmates then maybe this year won't be so bad.

Then it happened.

It was fine, everything was fine. Once they were on the country road, they were alone and it was peaceful before it happened.

The driver swerved at the sight of an oncoming stray deer. The force was so powerful, the vehicle skidded onto the right before crashing onto the grass beside it. The blue bus rolled down a green knoll and got turned on it's side. It all happened so fast, the last thing Dante heard was the sound of the other kids, and himself, screaming. The last thing he saw was nothing but a blur as the bus rolled off the road and dropped on it's side.

Then it was black and silent.