THE TALK WITH DANTE

After everything that had happened the day before, it was finally the next day. Birds were chirping outside and the smell of rain was in the air. Nattie rolled over in her bed, she definitely wasn't ready to get up that morning. She hadn't been able to sleep well all night, her mind kept on wandering back to the conversation she had with David. She had never seen him that way before. Yesterday's drama had definitely carved a soft spot for him in her heart.

David, convinced by advice from Nattie, had decided to wait until Dante was sober before he would talk to him. He wasn't going to rush into things anymore. All he had to do was take things slowly and if they blew up in his face, he would stop, rethink his steps and try again. One thing he was sure of... He wasn't going to give up on his brother, most especially now that Dante needed him the most.

It was a Friday and they weren't going to spend much time at school anyways so Nattie dragged herself off her bed and went to the bathroom to get ready. She was glad she had talked things out with David, so now she could focus on school. "Oh yeah, school!" She thought as she remembered what had happened with Ava and Maddie at the cafeteria the day before.

Now more than ever she couldn't wait to get to school, she wanted to get to the foot of Maddie's sudden attraction to Ava. She picked up her phone and texted Cassie, for the 100th time, "MIA once again?" Cassie hadn't responded to her texts all night, and her calls weren't going through. "Maybe she had too much fun last night" Nattie said with a giggle. She got ready and headed down for breakfast.

Cassie got home exhausted, and went straight to bed, she wasn't asleep tho, she just laid there staring at the ceiling smiling from ear to ear. She just couldn't believe what had happened. Yeah she knew it was coming a she had imagined it a thousand times already, but something about last night just made it amazing. She turned over and found her phone dead in her purse, she plugged it in and was about to go to sleep when Mac barged in.

"Cinderella returns home, good thinking of you to come home before the clock chimed." He joked "Ughhhh, not now Mac. I'm tired, I need to go to bed." Cassie said covering her head with her pillow. She really needed to sleep and Mac's nagging wasn't helping. "Get out of my room!!!" She screamed as she pushed Mac out and locked the doors, he didn't stop laughing as he yelled through the crack, "now make sure you get some sleep, don't stay up all night fantasizing about your Prince Charming."

Later that day after the first few periods It was time for lunch Nattie and Cass had met up at the cafeteria and were waiting for Maddie. Nattie spared no details as she filled Cass in with what happened the day before. "You think Maddie like Ava!!!" Cassie said with here eyes wide open. "Shhhhussshh, don't let anyone hear you. I'm not saying I'm sure. But something was different about Mads yesterday, I could tell. She was all jittery and a bit too lively for the Maddie I know."

"I know what you mean" Cassie laughed, " do you think we should ask her about it? Don't you think it's a bit too soon. I feel we should just watch for now. You Know... Like undercover spy's." Just as she was done talking Maddie walked in and looked around, she seemed optimistic and then all of a sudden the smile on her face faded back to the old menacing look they all knew and loved. Cassie and Nat looked at each other and stifled a giggle.

"Hey Cass, Hey Nattie. What's up? " Maddie said placing her food tray on the table. "Hey Cass, are you good now? Nattie told me you weren't feeling too well yesterday." She said playing with her meal. "Yeah I'm good now. Sorry I didn't text you" They sat and talked over lunch for a while. Everything seemed to have gone back to normal. So when they were done with lunch they headed out for the rest of their classes.

After school ended for the day, David and Dante headed home. Both of them biked home very quietly. No word was spoken between them both. To be honest, David didn't know what to say. He didn't want to seem like he was coming off strong and scare Dante into not wanting to talk at all. When they finally got home, David was about to head in to his room when he stopped, turned around and said. "Dante, Do you mind, I kinda wanted us to talk for a bit"

Dante swallowed hard "what is it this time "He thought "sure why not, since when did you have to ask before talking to me" He said as he sat on his bed taking off his shoes. "Uhmm Dante I just wanted you to know, that uhm I'm here for you. No matter what. It seems cringe, I know but I just wanted to remind you that, you don't have to go through anything alone. It hurts me to see that we are growing further and further apart from each other and I don't want that. You should know I am and will always be your brother so you can come to me anytime, an day and for any and everything. Okay?"

Dante was quiet for a while, he had never expected this from David. Though, he was glad, and more or less relieved. He took a deep breath, looked up and said "Thanks Bro, I'm sorry for making you feel that way." He looked down and continued "but I do have to tell you something.... "