Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 23:14:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joey Young <untitledlovestory23@yahoo.com>
Subject: Untitled Love Story, chapter 10

Usual Disclaimers Apply

Author's Note:

Hello, everyone. I'm glad to be back and continuing the love story of
Caleb. I would like to reassure everyone that I'm fully recharged and ready
to write again. My small hiatus was just what I needed and now I have all
new storylines and future chapters planned in advance. I'm glad you have
stuck it out this long and I hope you continue to support my stories. But
like I said before, Caleb's story will be told, so hang in there with me.

On a more personal note, I would like to thank my ninja editor, Lisa
Blackburn for her continued aid with my stories. I appreciate the time she
took to edit my story and the continuous effort she divulges to my
writing. Her invaluable support and editing skills have proven useful in my
writing. So thank you Lisa.

And thank you loyal untitled love story readers.

-Joey Young

Untitled Love Story

Chapter 10

"Dante," I whispered pleadingly. "I'm worried about him."

We were driving to school in his new car. It was warm, spacious and had
that new car smell. My chin rested on my legs which were pulled up on the
seat. Dante gently caressed my cheek, while we waited for the streetlight
to change. His hazel eyes were tender. Sudden bursts of green flashed near
his irises making them twinkle. His sharp nose cast a slight shadow over
his chiseled jaw, which was covered in a downing of dark stubble. I loved
his rugged good looks, but lately he had been using it to his advantage,
especially when we argued about Drew.

"Love, I know how you feel," he replied as he shifted the car into
gear. "But I just think it's a bad idea. You should give him more time."

I sighed in defeat and stared at him. He was wearing a tight navy blue
button up shirt, with his favorite pair of shades on the collar. The top
buttons of his shirt were open, revealing his smooth caramel throat. His
hard chest was straining against the texture of his shirt, making it hard
to look away from his sculpted muscles. His hair was swooped up away from
his face in its usual do. I stared until he turned and grinned crookedly at
me. He reached over and lifted one side of mouth, trying to make me
smile. I half smiled at him, but pressed my issue.

"I should go. He needs me," I replied strongly. His face immediately
hardened with disapproval.

"No," he replied calmly and turned into the school parking lot.

He parked next to Justin's car and roughly jerked the engine off. I stared
at him plainly, before unfolding myself. He breathed heavily and grabbed
the bridge of his nose. I watched him surreptitiously, before he suddenly
turned to look at me. His hazel eyes blazed with sincerity.

"Caleb, I don't want to fight," he replied honestly as he stared into my
eyes, "but I just don't want him to hurt you. He's obviously angry with you
and that's making me very cautious. . . I don't mean to sound controlling,
but my main concern is your well-being."

I sighed and rested both of my elbows on the arm rest between us. He leaned
in and caressed my cheek.

"Alright, I don't want to fight either." I whispered as I leaned in too.

He exhaled soundlessly and lightly kissed me on the lips. It was a short
sweet kiss that left electric pulses coursing through my lips. I smiled and
pulled away. I noticed a few students watching us from the parking lot, but
I ignored them and got out of the car. Dante followed and closed the door
behind him. He pushed a small remote, which instantly locked the car doors.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and waited for him to come around to my
side. His bag was strapped firmly to his back as he gently placed his arm
behind me and guided me through the parking lot. The students from before
watched us as we walked to the main building. I smiled in quiet
contentment.

Dante and I had gone public with our relationship since my release from the
hospital. We never actually got intimate on school campus, but we did keep
close contact: The casual brush of my cheek; the relaxed arm around my
waist; or the occasional hand holding. But the school seemed to take our
relationship with good grace I think it was mainly because Dante had become
captain of the soccer team, which elevated his status and popularity. I
didn't know if every girl was jealous, but I think most of the animosity
came from certain girls who continually gave me the stink-eye.

Other than that we were pretty much subtle with our gestures of
romance. But every now and then I would catch the occasional glance of
jealousy or contempt. I was very good at ignoring it, but sometimes I felt
like it was foreshadowing my other secret. If everyone found out I was
dying, what would they whisper then?

Immediately I shook away those thoughts and focused on reaching my
locker. I walked to the main building and saw monotonous amounts of posters
plastered to every available surface. Each one was colored with bright neon
paper and had an announcement printed on it:

			     Masquerade Dance!
			   Saturday, October 23
		    Johansen Mansion, Banquet Hall Two
		     Tickets on sale in the bookstore!
			     Buy Yours Today!

There were little pictures of masks next to each line, which made the title
more obvious. Dante chuckled at the poster and stared at with amusement. I
smiled too, but walked around him into the main building. I moved to my
locker, which was near the middle and meticulously began to open it. I
didn't have to wait long before Dante was at my side.

"So...?" he said casually as he leaned against the lockers. His face was
open and unsettled.

I turned at the tone of his voice, completely forgetting about my
locker. He smiled sheepishly at my attention.

"What?" I asked curiously and waited for him to respond.

"Did you see the posters?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Yeah," I replied perplexed. "The cheap attempt at marketing."

He chuckled, "Well, besides that."

I shrugged indifferently, "Yeah the dance, I know."

Silently, I turned back to my locker and began to open it again. I could
hear Dante shuffle his feet uncomfortably and suddenly it clicked in my
head. Instantly I spun on my heels and looked up at him.

"Wait," I said taking him by surprise. "You're asking me to the dance?"

He shrugged timidly and grabbed my free hand. I watched as he brought it up
to his lips and kissed it softly. I sighed warmly.

"You know it's not fair when you do that," I said with a smile.

He chuckled, "Oh, I know. . . So does that mean a yes?"

I grinned mischievously, "I'll think about it."

He just gently released my wrist and leaned in, making me step back into my
locker.

"I think I can make you change your mind," he said with a crooked grin that
had my heart sputtering.

Suddenly I heard a voice call to Dante. He slowly pulled away, keeping eye
contact. I shook my head with a smile, before turning back to my
locker. The voice belonged to one of Dante's teammates.

"Hey what's up, Caleb?" he said as he spoke to Dante.

I turned and raised a hand at him, "Hey, Brian."

Dante's friends had welcomed his lifestyle without complaint, which I
attested to his superb athletic skills. They never questioned his
relationship or made any crude jokes. They tolerated me and I tolerated
them. It was a mutual agreement that suited everyone just fine.

I slowly switched out my books, while Dante and Brian chatted about the
latest game on TV.

When I was done, I waited patiently for Dante to finish. Eventually the
bell rang, ultimately ending all conversations. Dante moved to my side and
pulled my hand, while Brian avoided the incoming traffic. Dane smiled his
crooked smile and arched his eyebrows.

How does he do that, I thought as he pulled me to my first hour.

"So, did you finish all your homework?" he asked playfully, while he towed
me along. A few students stared at us for a while, but gradually went back
to their own conversations.

"You know I did," I answered him as we got to my classroom. "You were the
one trying to distract me last night."

His grin never faltered as he drew me in close. I smiled in return. He
clasped both of my hands between his and placed them on his chest.

"Are you free tonight?" he asked quietly, while staring into my eyes.

"Well I was planning on visiting the children's wing again," I whispered
back.

He gently caressed my cheek with his free hand, leaving a trail of heat
behind.

"Well I was thinking," he said still whispering.

"You and your thinking," I teased. His grin became more pronounced.

"You're distracting me," he breathed. I comically closed my mouth, making
him chuckle. "Well I was thinking, maybe- and only if you want to-if you
wanted to come have dinner with my parents, tonight."

My mouth opened audibly and I was at a loss for words. Slowly he reached
for my face again.

"Only if you want to," he replied quickly. "There's no pressure."

I gulped and smiled uneasily, "Umm, sure."

He grinned widely, showing his perfect ivory teeth. I smiled back, unable
to help myself.

"Great," he replied ecstatically. "I know you'll love them."

I nodded and pulled my hand back, just as the bell rang. He gently kissed
me on the cheek and bounded off to his own class. He waved once before
slipping around the corner. Slowly I entered my first hour and found my
seat. I shivered uneasily despite the warm temperature.

I wonder if they know their son's dating a boy. I thought as the teacher
started class. He said I would love them, but would they love me? Small
thoughts of doubt gradually began to leak into my head, but I did my best
to shove them away.

I was glad today was a Friday. My classes went by very quickly. My grades
were back on track and my attention span was more focused. I didn't have
the added worry of avoiding two boys. Or of keeping deadly secrets. The day
was simply normal. The regular routine that I always took for granted. I
breathed deeply as everyone filed out of the classroom for lunch.

Lunch was one of my favorite times of the day, because Dante was there. He
had moved back to our table after we made up and had brought along a few of
his friends. Stacey and Justin didn't mind the extra company and neither
did I. As long as Dante was there it was perfect. Justin found new buddies
to talk to about sports and Stacey found another extra curricular
opportunity; tutoring. The guys from the team had her check all of their
homework during lunch, while they talked about the latest game.

I, on the other hand, was fine with just my books and Dante. He kept me in
the conversation whenever I didn't have a book in my hand, but usually I
did. His arm never fully released me throughout lunch, which suited me just
fine. The guys understood our relationship and never questioned it, so it
was a form of mutual respect. All in all, a very promising outlook on the
rest of my school year, minus the other stuff.

However, I did catch myself thinking about Drew. He hadn't attended school
in the past four days. His family said he was sick, but I knew
better. Everyday in class I hoped to see him come in and smile his
trademark smile, but it had not happened yet. Today wasn't any
different. Dante and I walked together to our classroom and sat in our
seats. My eyes would furtively glance towards Drew's desk every minute, but
the bell rang ending any hope of seeing him. I was starting to worry about
him and when I mentioned going to talk to him to Dante, it led to small
arguments.


					~*~

"Stop worrying about him," Stacey said as we lounged on my bed.

Both of our heads were lying off the edge. We stared upside down at the far
wall. We had been talking about school and midterms, when the subject of
Drew came up. I sighed in frustration. Why was everyone trying to tell me
to stop worrying?

Haven't they wanted me to worry all along?

I sighed and grabbed a Twizzler from where it rested between us. She
already had one hanging from her mouth. Dante and Justin were watching the
game downstairs and we were supposed to be studying.

"I'm just saying, what if something happens to him," I said between
bites. "I just want to know if he's alright. It's been four days Stace."

She sighed too, "Are you sure it's safe to be eating like this?"

I ignored her attempt at changing the subject.

"Stace will you help me with something?" I asked quietly, hoping Dante
wouldn't hear me. Her head turned then, making her dark hair swish with
movement.

"Go on," she whispered curiously. I turned my head too.

"I want to go see Drew, but Dante can't know about it," I whispered back
urgently.

"So you want me to drive you, is that it?" she asked calmly. I softly
nodded my head.

She breathed deeply, "You know he won't like this."

"I know," I replied with a sigh. "Which is why I have to go. Just to check
on him"

"It'll be dangerous if you got caught," she replied, still staring at me.

"I know," I breathed. "So, you in?"

She sighed, "Well you're going to have to get Justin in on it too."

I flipped on my side immediately, "What do you mean?"

She turned over too and grabbed another piece of candy. She shrugged
indifferently.

"I didn't bring my car, Justin drove me," she replied as she took a bite of
her Twizzler.

I groaned and roughly grabbed a Twizzler. She smiled winningly, but I
ignored her.

"I want to go today," I replied calmly, not letting her see my
frustration. "Right after Dante leaves to pick up Dario. Then you can drop
me off at the hospital with my mom."

This seemed to put her into action. She nodded once and sat up. I followed
suit and sat up too. We grabbed another piece of candy before putting the
bag away. She laughed.

"Those things are addictive."

I smiled, "That's why I have my own secret stash."

She laughed again and put the bag of Twizzler's back underneath my
bed. After grabbing our books we got up and went downstairs. The boys were
talking casually and flipping through the channels as we entered the
room. I guess the game was over I thought casually. I nodded to Stacey as
we neared the boys. Instantly they saw us and smiled.

They were both sprawled out on both couches. Dante was on the small
loveseat next to the fireplace and Justin was on the longer couch resting
on one elbow. Dante spread his arms in an open invitation that I couldn't
resist. I moved to his lap and sat in it. I curled up into his hard chest,
enjoying the cushion of his muscles. He buried his nose into the crook of
my neck and inhaled deeply. I smiled and nuzzled his cheek, making him
chuckle.

"So who won?" Stacey asked from across the room. I looked up and noticed
she was lying into Justin's side.

Dante shrugged, "My team lost."

"And mine won," Justin replied gleefully making Stacey and I laugh. "Are
you two done with your homework?"

"Yupp," Stacey replied, while playing with his hands.

"You still going to that kid's thing at the hospital?" Dante asked
quietly. I looked up at him.

"Yeah, but just for a while," I replied as I pulled at his collar,
revealing his smooth throat. "They always like to hear me tell stories."

He smiled, "I wouldn't mind either."

I laughed, "Yeah, yeah. You're just saying that."

His hands quickly went to my waist and squeezed lightly. I grabbed them
before he could tickle me.

"What about tonight?" he asked, grinning widely. "You still up for meeting
my parents?"

I gulped uneasily, making his grin widen.

"Of course," I replied shakily. He noticed and drew me to his chest.

"Don't worry, love," he breathed. "They'll be on their best
behavior. Besides, Dario keeps complaining about not seeing you."

I relaxed a little at the mention of Dario. He grinned crookedly.

"Well I do want to see Dario," I replied teasingly. He chuckled and kissed
me on the temple.

"That reminds me," he said and sighed quietly. "I have to go pick up Dario
from school."

My belly flipped excitedly. Now's my chance to check on Drew.

"Okay," I replied softly and scooted from his lap. He got up and looked at
me.

"So, tonight?" he asked unsure.

I laughed, "Tonight."

He smiled hugely, "Good."

He gently leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, before turning to Stacey
and Justin, who were quietly whispering.

"I'll see you guys later," he called to them, getting their attention. They
smiled and waved.

"Later," Justin replied.

Once he left Stacey and Justin got up.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Justin said, voicing his opinion. "In
movies the boyfriend usually finds out and things get messy."

Stacey rolled her eyes, "I make you watch too many chick flicks."

I sighed, ignoring Stacey's comment.

"I just think Drew needs to be checked up on," I replied evenly. "That's
not a bad thing is it?"

Stacey and Justin exchanged a look, before gradually getting up.

"No, I guess not," Justin replied hesitantly. "But if Dante finds out, I
didn't drive you."

I sighed again, "He's not going to find out, cuz there is nothing to
find. I'm just checking on a friend. That's all."

"Alright," Stacey replied nonchalantly. "Whatever you say, Cale."

I rolled my eyes and got up. I grabbed my keys and cell from the coffee
table and headed for the door. Stacey and Justin followed. They moved past
me to Justin's car, while I locked the house up.

Justin's car revved to life and idled in the driveway as I bounded down the
steps. I got in and smelt the familiar scent of Justin's house; cinnamon
and cleaning supplies. I rested into the comfortable material of the seats
while Justin backed out slowly. He barely missed my mom's flowers on his
way out. Stacey instantly began to flick through the CD's Justin had in his
glove box.

We hit the main road without interruption and headed to Drew's house. My
growing anxiety surmounted once we passed over the bridge to Drew's
street. I had to give directions after that but eventually we
arrived. Drew's house was a beautiful structure. It was a two story brick
house with dark wooden shutters and a maroon fence. The house looked almost
like a cottage, except for its porch which wrapped around half of the
house.

Justin whistled softly as he parked, "Nice house."

Stacey nodded silently in agreement. I breathed deeply. My chest
contradicted rapidly with anxiety as I stepped out of the car. They both
watched me as I made my way across the sidewalk and up to the fence.

"We'll be right here, buddy," Justin said as I opened the gate. I gulped
once and walked through.

What will he say? What will I say? I wonder if he's still mad. . . .Of
course he's still mad. Well, I just hope he's less mad. I hope he
understands the decisions I have made and maybe he could support them. Ugh,
support them? It's not fair to him, if I want him in my life. It's not my
decision.

Wow, nice grass, I thought errantly as my subconscious warred with itself.

I reached the welcome rug in front of his door and stood there
awkwardly. Seconds ticked by before I slowly reached for the doorbell and
pressed once on the mechanical button. I could hear the chime of the bell
echo throughout the house. My chest heaved erratically with alarm. What if
it's his mom? Or dad? Would Drew have told them? Would they slam the door
in my face? Or would they pity me for having this condition? What would I
say if it is one of them? What if- But my "what if's" were cut off when the
door opened revealing my last question: What if Finn answered the door.

I smiled uneasily at Drew's younger brother. His wavy bronze hair was
combed back away from his sharp features. He was wearing a muscle tee,
showing off his arms and a baseball cap. He stared at me in surprise and
looked past me to the road like he was expecting someone.

"Hey," I replied awkwardly. The last time we spoke, he was apologizing for
kissing me.

"Uhh, hey, Caleb," he replied and stepped out on the porch, quietly closing
the door behind him.

He crossed his arms and glanced towards the road again. His eyes held
suspicion and something else, I couldn't place.

"Hey, is Drew here?" I asked bluntly. "I need to talk to him. It's
important."

His eyes finally rested on me with astonishment. His eyebrows knitted with
confusion.

"I thought he was with you," he replied bewildered. "He said he was going
to see you last night and to not wait up for him."

I blinked in perplexity, "No, I haven't seen him in over a week. He hasn't
been to school since Monday."

"Oh, yeah, he's been feeling sick," Finn replied coolly. "But last night he
was worse. He wouldn't eat or talk to anyone, and then finally he left and
said he was going to see you. So, when you show up, imagine my surprise to
hear that he's not with you."

He threw his hands up in frustration and started to pace the porch. I stood
motionless, unable to qualm his distress. I watched as he ran his fingers
through his hair underneath his baseball cap.

"Maybe if I went looking for him," I offered trying to pacify his tension.

He stopped mid-step and looked up at me, "But you don't even know where he
is."

That stumped me but I was determined enough to look anyways.

"Well that's tru-" I replied thoughtfully but I stopped mid-sentence and
had an epiphany.

What place would Drew go that only he knew about? A place where no one
would find him. A place he only showed one other person: me. My mind raced
with relief at the idea. Quickly I checked my watch for the time. It was 4
in the afternoon, which left me with three hours before dinner at
Dante's. I could make it, I thought determinedly. Finn noticed my sudden
jolt of resolution.

"What?" he asked still in the dark.

"I think I might know where he is," I replied still heady with the
idea. "But I think I should talk to him alone. Get him back here."

He nodded in agreement, "Yeah, he'll listen to you."

I ignored his comment and bounded down the stairs.

"I'll make sure he comes home," I replied confidently. "Or I'll call you to
tell you where he is."

"Alright," Finn called back as I walked through the gate.

Stacey and Justin were staring at me with confusion as I swiftly shut the
gate. I just hopped into the car and told Justin to head to Johansen
Mansion. He obliged hesitantly and drove to the nearest interstate. Stacey
was quietly reflecting, which wasn't good when it came to Stacey.

"Wait, why are we going to the old mansion?" she asked, proving my thoughts
right.

"Cuz Drew is there, I know it," I replied positively. "Because his family
is worried about him. Because I did this and because I'm going to fix it,
before it gets worse."

She sighed, "But if Dante finds out-"

I cut her off before she could go further, "He's not going to find out. So,
please stop over analyzing this. I'm just going to help bring him
home. Okay?"

I huffed in annoyance. Stacey became silent and she stared forward
soundlessly. Justin drove along without a word except to ask for
directions. The car was hushed as we drove up to the mansion's main
driveway. My heart quickened with hope. This was my only shot at finding
him, so I'd better be right.

"Isn't this where they're going to have the dance?" Stacey asked curiously
to anyone.

"Yeah, I think so," Justin replied indifferently and stared up at the huge
edifice.

"So," I said getting their attention. "I'll only be in there for a while to
see if he's there. Then I'll call his brother Finn and then we can leave."

Justin nodded, "Got it."

I nodded too and got out of the car. They watched as I bounded through the
driveway past the huge fountain in the middle. It was empty, but looked
more ancient and mysterious without water spewing from it. I rushed up the
steps and through the huge doors, hoping nobody would see me and ask
questions.

The hallway looked exactly like it did, when I was here last time. Maroon
carpeting muffled my footsteps and huge metal armors lined the
walls. Statues of heads lied on small tables, making it look like they were
watching me. The sunset color of the walls didn't comfort me as I scurried
through the halls past different banquet halls. They were all empty and
quiet, which only added to my discomfort.

Finally, I reached the door I was looking for. It was an old wooden arched
door with a brass hoop for a doorknob. I instantly pulled on the huge ring,
heaving with all my strength. Drew made it look effortless when he
attempted it.

Eventually the door gave way, releasing warm musty air from behind it. I
immediately walked through and pulled the door shut after me.

The small entryway was dimly lit, but warm, unlike last time. I noticed a
sliver of light coming from above. The light outlined another door, above a
flight of stone stairs. I couldn't hear movement from behind the door, but
my resolve never wavered. I quickly ascended the stairs and effortlessly
pulled the last door open. Warm sunlight blinded me for a moment.

I waited for my eyes to adjust, before I glanced around the room. It looked
the same. All the furniture was covered with sheets, including the bed,
which was used before. I stared up at the huge oculus window above the
room, which allowed bright sunlight to pour into the room. In the center
underneath the warm rays, laid Drew.

I sighed in relief. I found him.

He was wearing a loose flannel t-shirt that barely hung to his lean
frame. The buttons in front were barely closed, showing his hard, defined
chest. He wore baggy pants that covered his bare feet and his golden hair
flashed brightly in the sun. His hair was a messy halo around his delirious
face. I moved forward but stopped when I noticed a bottle of brown liquid
in his hand. He hadn't noticed me, but I managed to speak.

"Oh, Drew," I whispered softly and moved to his side.

I sat near his head and placed my hand on his bottle. I deftly tried to
pull it away, but was met with resistance.

"No," I heard him slur as he groggily lifted his head.

His piercing blue eyes were now muddled pools of blue paint, nothing to
suggest Drew was in there. I sighed and placed his head in my lap. He
sighed too and curled up on his side. His arms were limp and wobbly with
movement.

"Drew?" I asked quietly. "It's me Caleb. We need to get you home. Your
family is worried."

Instantly he moved from my lap and crouched in front of me. The movement
caught me off guard and I shifted away. He noticed my change in position
and smiled cockily at me.

"What? You scared of me now?" he asked smugly and took another swig of
liquor.

I shook my head, "You just surprised me is all."

His smile shifted teasingly and he stood up, taking his bottle with him.

"What are you doing here, Caleb?" he asked annoyed as he staggered to the
vanity mirror.

He stared at himself and took another drink from his bottle. I slowly got
up and moved to the bed. He didn't seem to notice my maneuver and continued
to stare at himself in the mirror. He flexed each arm purposefully and
fully opened his shirt.

He grinned admiringly at his chest and ran his hand over his abs, before
suddenly catching my eye in the mirror. His grin shifted crookedly and he
stepped away from the mirror.

"What are you doing here?" he asked again and jumped right in front of me.

He stared at me completely and waited for an answer. I gulped noisily,
which only made his grin wider.

"I'm here to take you home, because your family's worried," I replied
timidly, but his smile didn't waver.

"No," he breathed, blowing the smell of liquor on my
face. "What-are-YOU-doing-here?"

I sighed and looked at my hands. He chuckled once and took another gulp of
his alcohol. I could hear the liquid slosh around in the bottle. He knew he
had me, but he didn't press. Gradually he shrugged off the rest of his
shirt and threw it to the ground.

"So, what did you come here for, Cale?" he asked mockingly. "To
apologize. To make amends. To tell me you love me, come on. Am I getting
close?"

He moved quickly and stared down at me with a cocky grin.

"Or was it for a little action? Huh, sweetie?" he asked jeeringly. "Cuz I
can do that. But love. . . . Love is a tricky thing with you. People say
they love you, but instead we all end up on a waiting list with you. Take a
number, right sweetie?"

He laughed harshly and squatted in front of me. He roughly shoved the
bottle of liquor into my face.

"Here take a drink, sweetie," he said scornfully. "Then maybe we could have
some fun. I bet your little boyfriend hasn't even touched you yet."

I shoved his hand away and got up. His anger was totally justified, but it
didn't stop me from feeling pain. He followed and walked behind me as I
moved to the dresser.

"What?" he asked sneeringly. "You don't love me? Oh, that's right. You just
rip the hearts out of those you love, then apologize after you've used
them. Isn't that right? Come on babe, tell me I'm right."

"Tell me so I can finally be released. Tell me so I won't have to feel
guilty anymore. Tell me so I can forget all about you and your stupid ass
decision."

He nudged me harshly, making me turn around. He roughly slammed his hands
into the dresser on either side of my head. I cringed at the loud noise.

"Tell me, please," he whispered passionately, his eyes suddenly vulnerable.

I shook my head, "I can't."

His eyes hardened and he leaned in and roughly kissed me on the lips. It
wasn't a pleasant kiss. It was forced and severe.

His lips moved harshly around mine and he'd bite my bottom lip, making me
hiss in pain. His hands held mine behind my back, his bottle forgotten.

I tried to move my head, but he'd forcibly move it in place. My heart was
breaking with every violent kiss and silent tears streamed down my
face. This wasn't the Drew I knew. Who is this Drew? Finally I managed to
free one hand. I moved it freely and slapped it across his face, making him
reel back in surprise. He grabbed the cheek I slapped and stared at me
defiantly.

Suddenly he struck his hand out and made an audible smack across my face. I
gasped in shock. My cheek seared with heat at his slap and I went crumbling
to the ground. I quickly scurried to the door and stood up.

He just slapped me, he just slapped me, my mind kept thinking as I walked
to the door.

His face was a mask of shock and satisfaction. He stared at me boldly and
gestured to the door.

"Just go, Caleb," he said, suddenly sober. "I'm fine. I'm going home."

I nodded and bolted out the door, not daring to look back. My cheek was hot
to the touch and pulsed painfully with each heartbeat. I didn't pay
attention to any of the hallway's many amenities as I sprinted from the
small room. I didn't even remember if I closed the door behind me. I just
wanted to get as far away from Drew as I could. He had never once hit me,
but today he was different. He was purposefully mean to me and I couldn't
help but think that it was all my fault.

The bright sunlight blinded me again as I burst through the front doors of
the mansion. Stacey and Justin were lounging on the hood of the car,
talking. There hands were twined together. They looked up at the sound of
my appearance with curiosity, which quickly turned to concern. Justin
jumped off the hood of the car immediately and bounded over.

"What happened?" he asked alarmed and touched my cheek.

It didn't hurt anymore, which probably meant it wouldn't bruise, but from
Justin's expression I knew it was still red.

"Nothing," I shrugged indifferently and stepped around him. "Let's just
go."

Stacey stared baffled at me, before she directed her gaze to Justin. I
ignored them and got into the car.

"Where is he?" Justin asked suddenly angry. Stacey moved to his side and
pulled him to the car.

I shook my head, "Let's just go. I'm already late."

He gawked at me with annoyance, "What? And just let him get away with
hitting you?"

"STOP!!" I screamed in frustration. "Let's Just Go!!"

His face hardened with disapproval, but he roughly opened the door and got
in. Stacey followed, but for once she was silent with her opinions. I
sighed and rested my head back into the seat. My mind was a puddled mess
that needed to be cleaned thoroughly. I just wanted this day to be over
with, but of course it was nowhere near over.


					~*~

The kids all murmured in anticipation. Stacey and Justin pulled up small
kid's chairs next to me as Josh got ready with his guitar. The children
were all sitting in their beds, eagerly awaiting Josh to sing. Jenny's
parents were outside with two other parents and the pediatric doctor. From
what I could see, it was bad news. Jenny's mom was shaking with anger and
aggressively pointing to the doctor. Jenny was to busy staring at Josh to
notice.

Josh was dressed in street clothes today instead of his scrubs. He wore a
nice button-up shirt, which was tucked into his formal pants. His hair was
combed back away from his face, revealing his boyish features and his
bright green eyes.

Stacey was staring at him fleetingly. I was still amazed at how anyone
thought Josh was that attractive.

But my thoughts were severed by the sound of his guitar strings. The room
instantly went silent as he started to sing. It was a catchy song that I
always heard on the radio, but never had much time to pay attention too. He
sang it on key and at the right tempo. Eventually all the kids began to
sing a long to it, word for word.

I glanced around the vast room and watched as the kids bobbed their heads
with the strum of the guitar. Jenny was delicately twirling her scarf and
singing along with Josh. She smiled every time she got a verse right, which
was often. My heart glowed with warmth at seeing her so happy, but the
image of her mom pointing at the doctor still held my attention.

I scanned the room again, looking for Jenny's parents, but didn't see
them. Eventually I saw them sitting outside the room on chairs, talking to
each other. I immediately got up and moved to the door.

"Where you going?" I heard Stacey whisper as Josh continued singing. I
waved a hand at her dismissively.

I left the room and closed the door behind me. The hallway wasn't
particularly quiet, but I could hear everyone just fine. I walked up to
Jenny's parents and pulled a chair next to them. Jenny's dad looked up in
surprise. I had gotten to know Mr.

and Mrs. Martin over the past few days, especially there little daughter.

"Hello, Caleb," he replied somberly. "Shouldn't you be getting ready to
tell a story?"

I smiled. The kids loved to hear me read them stories.

"Josh has a few more songs to sing, before I read a story," I replied
warmly. I looked to Mrs. Martin who had her head in her hands. "Hey,
Mrs. Martin. How are you?"

She looked up then and smiled distantly at me, "Please, Caleb, call me
Megan."

I chuckled and patted her shoulder, "Okay, Megan. So, how are you?"

Her smile wavered and crumbled.

"We just got our results for the donor list," Mr. Martin replied as his
wife went silent. My heart fell. "Jenny has been pushed back on the list,
putting her at 13 months before she receives a viable heart."

"Oh, Tim," I replied sadly. "I'm so sorry."

I patted Megan's shoulder again, but she didn't respond. Tim was also
silent with grief.

"Isn't there another way?" I asked hesitantly, feeling like I had been
asked this same question a million times. "Another donor maybe or moving
her up the list?"

He shook his head, "The only way we could get a heart is if that person is
a match and donates it within the next few months."

I sighed defeated. If only there was someone close enough, who was dying
soon. Someone willing to sacrifice that much for a little girl. Suddenly it
dawned on me. I was dying soon. The cancer wasn't affecting my heart, just
my throat. Mrs.

Martin said something but I didn't catch it. I was too busy having another
epiphany to listen. The sudden realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My
death didn't have to be tragic. It could be inspirational and
philanthropic. I could help people with terminal illnesses that needed a
donor.

I stood up then and stared through the glass window of the children's
room. Jenny was playing with a bangle as Josh continued to sing. Her puppy
dog smile was endearing and had me hoping to save her life. I looked to
Josh then and noticed he was watching me. I locked eyes with him and
gestured him out with my head. He nodded once before continuing his
song. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were still statues, staring off into the
distance.

I wanted to tell them my plan, but I didn't want to get their hopes up if I
wasn't a match. So I kept silent. After Josh finished his song he walked
out to the hallway. The children groaned in unison, but he reassured them
he'd be back. He eyed me peculiarly as he closed the door behind
him. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were to busy whispering to each other to notice my
conversation with Josh.

"What's up? Did you want to be one of my groupies?" he asked teasingly. I
rolled my eyes.

"Can you be serious for at least five minutes?" I asked annoyed.

His face sobered and he stared at me expectantly. I looked back to Jenny's
parents, before I continued.

"Jenny has been moved down on the donor list," I replied calmly. His face
immediately frowned in disappointment, but I continued. "They can't do
anything for another 13 months, which I can safely assume is to long."

He nodded solemnly.

"And donor matches that are about to die, hardly come along?"

He nodded again, but this time it peaked his interest.

"Well what I was thinking, was to test me for a match," I replied
confidently. "I'm dying within the next few months anyway and to help Jenny
would ease the pain o-"

But I stopped, because he slowly started to shake his head.

"No, Caleb," he replied somberly. "This isn't a sign from the heavens,
justifying your death. It's just an excuse for you to leave."

I rapidly shook my head, "No it's not. It's to give a small girl a chance
at life. It's to bring hope to a family that lost it long ago. I can do
this. I can help save that little girl, from a life of pain and continuous
fighting. Look at her."

I pointed through the window at Jenny who was laughing away with the two
boys next to her. Her scarf was still in her hand.

"I know you care about her," I whispered as Josh stared at Jenny. "And I do
too. So, please all I'm asking is to check and see if I'm a match. That's
all. Then if I am, we can tell her the news together. It's worth a shot,
isn't it?"

He sighed and turned to look at me. I smiled dimly at him, knowing I had
won.

"Of all the things to fight for and you choose this," he replied
dejectedly.

I smiled broadly and hugged him fiercely. He chuckled and hugged me back.

"Thank you," I breathed as he softly let me go.

"You're an amazing person, Caleb Pierce, don't let anyone tell you
different," he replied warmly and grazed my cheek.

"Dante's a lucky guy."

I cleared my throat and stepped out of his grasp. He smiled and nodded to
himself. We both walked back into the room and Josh started to play a new
song. Stacey and Justin stared at me as I took my seat next to them.

"Is everything alright?" Justin asked concerned. I turned and smiled at
him.

"Everything is going to be just fine," I replied vaguely and listened to
Josh sing. Jenny clapped along with the other kids. I stared at her the
whole time, knowing that I would soon be helping her.


					~*~

"Ow, you jerk," I hissed as he missed my vein again. "Don't you know how to
draw blood?"

He glowered at me, "Of course I do. It's just a little hard to do it in a
broom closet."

I stared around the little room. We were both sitting on upturned
buckets. Josh had a syringe-type needle that he delicately inserted into my
arm. I could smell cleaning supplies and the musty scent of an overused
mop.

"Well, I don't want my mom or family finding out," I replied
tersely. "Especially other nursing officials. They'd go straight to my mom
and tell her."

He sighed, "Not all nurses are gossips. Give us some credit."

I considered his comment and kept my eyes away from the blood being drawn
from my arm.

"Well I hope you're not," I replied evenly. "Cuz I want this test to go off
without a hitch."

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, "It will, don't worry. Your lack of
faith is very annoying."

He wiped away a drop of blood and slapped my arm. I hissed in pain and
glared at him. He grinned widely, showing all of his teeth. I rolled my
eyes.

"So how long does this test thingy take?" I asked as I pulled the sleeve of
my shirt down.

"Not long," he replied distantly. "Just need to make sure you're a match
and viable donor. Why?"

"I don't know," I whispered worriedly. "I just don't want anything to
happen to Jenny, before we find out, you know?"

He nodded and placed an arm around my shoulder. I sighed and rested my head
on his chest.

"Don't worry, Caleb," he replied soothingly. "Nothing will happen to
her. And if you're a match, nothing will happen to her ever again."

I smiled at the idea, "I hope I'm a match."

He squeezed his arm lightly, "So do you wanna make out?"

My thoughts of hope and happiness immediately shattered.

"Thanks for ruining that moment," I mumbled and moved out of his grasp.

"What?" he asked in faux shock. "It was just a suggestion."

I ignored him, "You'll call me as soon as the results are in?"

He breathed deeply and nodded his head, "As soon as they're in."

"Good."

I grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, ready to leave.

"Hey, Caleb," he replied seriously. I turned to look at him. "You're doing
an amazing thing for Jenny. You do know that right?"

I smiled at his bright green eyes.

"I know," I replied warmly and opened the door.


					~*~

What do I wear? I thought chaotically as I threw a pair of sweats across
the room. I could dress formally, but that would probably look dumb,
besides I didn't even own any button up shirts. I wonder if it's a casual
dinner thing. Did Dante mention anything about casual? Ugh, what do I wear?

A knock sounded at the door. I stiffened in surprise and stared at the
clock. It was 6:50. Tarter sauce, he was here.

"Caleb, honey?" I heard my mom say through the door. "Dante's here to pick
you up. Are you ready?"

"In a minute," I replied quickly. "Just fixing my hair."

Just fixing my hair? I thought stupidly and ran to the bathroom. I swiftly
glanced in the mirror. Huh, I guess I do need to fix my hair. I quickly ran
my fingers through my hair and hoped for the best. I washed my face and
brushed my teeth, hoping this wouldn't take long. I looked at my appearance
one more time. My face had thinned noticeably now, but the spot had
disappeared from my forehead. My hair was back to its usual do; lightly
brushing my forehead. It was a chestnut color in the bright light and
brought out my chocolate brown eyes.

I breathed deeply and glanced at my clothes. I was still in sweats and a
baggy t-shirt, nowhere near ready. I sighed and walked out of the bathroom,
just as another knock came to my door.

"Mom, I'm not ready, tell him I'm almost done," I said as I threw random
articles of clothes aside. She didn't respond.

I turned to the door mid-throw and instead saw Dante standing in the
doorway in all his glory. He was wearing a nice black polo shirt and some
khaki shorts, which showed off his powerful legs. The polo shirt fit
tightly around his broad chest. The few buttons he had were open, revealing
the hard planes of his upper chest.

His hair was charcoal black and swept upward away from his face. The dark
stubble lining his jaw made him look incredibly masculine in his shorts,
but that wasn't what caught my eye. No, what caught my eye was his bright
hazel eyes, that stared at me amused. The irises were a light brown almost
green in the right lighting. But the edges were a honey color that closely
resembled gold. I stared into his eyes until he spoke.

"Almost done?" he asked skeptically and gestured to my clothes with a grin.

I shrugged, "I can't find anything to wear."

He chuckled lightly and moved to stand in front of me, "They don't care
what you wear and neither do I. What I care about is what I'm holding in my
hands."

His right hand moved around my neck and softly held it in his palm. The
other hand had his cell phone out.

"Your cellphone?" I asked smartly, making him grin widely, showing all his
pearly whites.

"Get ready," he breathed sweetly and pushed me to the pile of clothes on
the floor.

I sighed and grabbed a maroon shirt. Dante had told me once he liked me in
this color. I turned to look at him, but he was turned away, giving me my
privacy. I smiled at the gesture. Slowly I got ready. I put on the maroon
shirt, some dark blue jeans, and my favorite pair of converse. I felt
comfortable and hoped his parents weren't too formal. I walked up to Dante
and turned him around.

He smiled at my appearance and leaned down to kiss me. It was short
butterfly kiss that got my blood boiling. His lips tasted sweet. I sighed
as his hands hooked around my butt, hoisting me up. He chuckled as I
wrapped my legs around his lean waist. Gently he pulled away.

"Don't you want to show up on time?" he asked kindly, but his eyes blazed
with intensity from the kiss.

I shrugged, "We can show up a little late."

He chuckled again and placed me on the floor. He released all of me except
for my hand.

"Come on you," he replied teasingly and pulled me from the room. He glanced
at my shirt again. "I like that color on you."

I smiled and looked down, "I know."

He lightly squeezed my hand and pulled me to the living room. My mom was
sitting in front of the TV flipping through the channels. But she looked up
at our entrance.

"I told you he'd come out if you went up," she said to Dante, who chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled. "Well we're going to go. I'll be back later, mom."

"Kay, bye honey, have fun," she replied and waved us goodbye.

Dante and I quickly descended the stairs and walked to the sidewalk, where
his bike stood. I gazed at it in awed glory. I hadn't ridden it since the
first time and I had been secretly hoping I would. He smiled at me and
gestured me forward. It was dark outside and only the streetlights
illuminated the road. I approached the bike slowly and waited for him to
get the helmets out.

He grabbed his extra helmet and placed it snugly on my head. He chuckled at
my expression, but I ignored him.

"Will you ever teach me to drive this thing?" I asked curiously, as I
grazed the cool metal.

"Maybe, but right now it's too dangerous."

I gazed up at him pleadingly before he put his helmet on. He stared at my
sad expression and shook his head.

"Nope your cute face won't work this time," he replied seriously, but I
could see his resolve weakening.

"Please," I pleaded with him, giving him my best puppy dog expression.

He stared at me momentarily, before his hard expression crumbled. He sighed
heavily and pulled me into his arms.

"Why can't I say no to you?" he asked openly.

"Because you love me," I whispered confidently, making him chuckle.

"I truly do," he replied warmly and kissed me on the cheek. His lips
couldn't reach mine. "Ready?"

I nodded and hopped onto the bike. He sat in front of me and grabbed my
hands, pulling them to his belt loop.

"Hold on," he warned as he started the bike. It revved loudly as he pulled
away from the curb.

I huffed in shock as the bike lurched onto the road. I rested my chin on
his shoulder and stared at the road ahead of us.

My hands grasped at his belt buckle, trying to hold on. I could feel the
hard muscles of his abdomen under my hands, which contracted whenever he
moved the bike. I laughed at the freedom. It was truly amazing to ride
around on this bike, feeling the harsh wind whip at my face. I loved it.

However, it ended just as abruptly as it began. He pulled up to his lavish
house. The huge floor to ceiling windows were covered with curtains, but a
few stray beams of light spilled out. The front lawn was illuminated by
small spotlights that shadowed the plants in the yard. The garage door
opened for us as we drove in. It still amazed me to see the garage open
like that. Ours didn't work anymore, so we mostly used it for storage.

He hopped off the front seat and slid off his helmet, revealing his
brilliant smile. I clumsily scooted off the bike, almost twisting my ankle,
but managed to stand up straight. He chuckled as I tried to unclasp the
straps beneath my chin.

Impatiently I gave up and allowed him to take it off for me. The clasps
came undone for him with ease. I gulped quietly, which he noticed. My hands
were clamped shut, next to my sides. He reached for one and smoothed out my
fingers.

"Relax, love," he whispered soothingly. "I've already told them
everything. There's nothing to worry about."

I nodded, "Uh-huh, sure."

He smiled at my obvious sarcasm, "They'll love you. Stop worrying. Now,
come on."

He immediately started to pull me to the garage door. I wiped my free hand
on my jeans, trying to rid my palms of its clamminess. The moment we walked
through the garage door, I heard light music greet us and a strong herbal
aroma. My body relaxed at the sound and smell, but my mind kept thinking of
possible topics to bring up, if it got awkward. My thoughts kept going to
dinner conversations I had with Stacey and Justin's parents, but they were
all irrelevant.

Dante noticed my preoccupation and lightly squeezed my hand. I smiled
nervously at him as we entered the kitchen. I breathed deeply at the
sight. There were many bowls of ingredients placed around the large
island. Bottles of foreign spices and liquids were placed near the
stove. The kitchen stools were occupied by two adults and Dario. They were
all talking casually; each one was peeling an ear of corn.

". . . Jennifer told him. And while I agreed with her, I thought her morals
were misguided." the woman said, which I could safely assume was Dante's
mom. "I mean it's a marketing business, not some soap opera, where we have
to stay tuned in order to re-"

But Dante loudly cleared his throat, cutting her off. All three abruptly
turned and brightened at our appearance. Dario instantly jumped from his
chair and bounded over. Dante's parents stood up quickly and moved to the
middle of the room.

Dario stopped just before running into me and beamed happily.

"You made it," he breathed excitedly. "I told them you were coming soon."

I smiled, "Hey kiddo."

He laughed as Dante pulled me to his parents. They both held each other in
a parental manner. Dante's mom was wearing dark khakis and a plain V-neck
t-shirt. Her hair framed her ageless face with loose curls and made her
green eyes pop. Dante's dad on the other hand was tall and intimidating. He
wore a polo shirt like his son, but his was tucked in and showed a little
paunch above his belt. He had a very hard, lean face, with a very bushy
moustache, which immediately drew your eye. They both wore welcoming
expressions, or at least I think Dante's dad did, it was hard to tell. I
extended my clammy hand and introduced myself.

"Hello," I greeted formally. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise," Dante's mom replied kindly, her eyes flashed with
intelligence. "I'm Belle Giordano and this is my husband Giovanni
Giordano. Dante has told us a lot about you, hasn't he, dear?"

Dante's dad gruffly cleared his throat, "Yes he has. I hear you have a
passion for cooking?"

I smiled at him, "Yes, yes I do. Dante tells me you have old family
recipes."

He grinned underneath his moustache and clapped Dante on the shoulder.

"He has, has he?" he asked.

I nodded, "He's also shown me a dish. My family loved it."

They both smiled and gestured to the island. Dante pulled me along as we
all converged to the large table. Dante let go of my hand and moved to the
fridge. He pulled out a pitcher of ice-t and served everyone as we spoke.

"Well our Dante is gifted when it comes to food," Belle replied. "But he
won't pursue a career in it. I blame his father, for not fostering his
potential."

I laughed and turned to Dante, who just shrugged indifferently.

"Never saw any use for it," he replied evenly and took a huge gulp of his
tea.

"So tell me Caleb, what's your experience with cooking?" Giovanni asked as
he moved about the kitchen preparing things.

I exhaled loudly and thought.

"Mostly conventional recipes," I replied casually. "The standard
spaghetti. Meatloaf, lasagna, Betty Crocker. Nothing too grandeur."

He nodded approvingly, "That's quite a talent and broad range of
recipes. Most people couldn't make those from scratch."

I smiled sheepishly, "Well I've had a lot of time on my hands and I do most
of the cooking when my moms at work."

Dante grinned next to me and placed his arm around my waist. Dario was busy
peeling ears of corn to comment on the conversation. Belle was cutting
vegetables with a large knife, but she managed to pay attention to what we
were talking about.

"If you don't mind me asking," she replied as she effortlessly cut through
a stalk of celery without once stopping. "Where does your mom work?"

"Mom," Dante chastised as she looked up.

"No its okay," I replied and smiled at her. "She's a nurse at the hospital
in town. She works under Dr. Cater in the Emergency room."

"Oh, I think I did business with that hospital," she mused as she started
on another stalk of celery. "Quite an agreeable business they have."

I nodded in agreement.

"So, what are we having tonight?" I asked Giovanni as he walked back in
with a Styrofoam box.

He grinned broadly and gestured to the box.

"Have you ever had lobster?" he asked curiously.

I shook my head, "Can't say that I have. Why?"

His eyes brightened at my words and he slowly opened the box. He titled the
box to its side and revealed the contents within. Inside on a bed of ice
were live lobsters that moved around freely. I shuddered at the sight of
them, but plastered a smile on my face.

"They, uh, look delicious," I replied nervously, making Dante chuckle.

"Don't worry, they taste better than they look," he whispered into my ear.

I turned then to whisper back to him.

"You're not going to kill them are you?" I asked urgently.

He chuckled again and caressed my cheek, "Don't worry we'll take them
outside and humanely kill them so you won't see anything."

I shuddered at the word, 'kill.'  "Okay," I replied as he and his dad left
the kitchen and went outside.

Immediately his mom ushered me to an open stool.

"Sit, sit," she said as she gestured to the seats. "The boys will cook the
lobster while we prepare the sides."

I smiled and obeyed. I sat next to Dario who was still peeling his corn. He
breathed heavily in concentration. I turned back to Belle and addressed her
fully. She was washing off a bowl of vegetables in the sink.

"What can I do?" I asked encouragingly. She smiled at my enthusiasm and
handed me a wide knife.

"You can cut the vegetables for the salad," she replied and moved on to
preparing the de-eared corn.

Together we all worked in companionable silence. Belle only interrupted the
silence with a few questions. She asked about school and the friends I
had. She asked about Dante's behavior in school and after hearing about his
social status she beamed with pride. Her back never slouched as she whisked
about the kitchen preparing bowls and platters of neatly arranged
food. Dario and I were soon left with nothing while Belle continually
fluttered between the oven and the pantry.

In the end she placed my cut vegetables in a huge bowl along with arugula
for the salad. She baked some store bought biscuits which smelled delicious
and put them in a small basket. The ears of corn were sent out to the grill
with Dante and his dad, where they cooked. The final touch was homemade
iced tea that was set on a huge oval table along with the rest of the meal.

Belle guided Dario and me to the dinner table to wait for everyone. I sat
on the side of the table with two chairs, while Dario took the lone chair
on the opposite side. I fidgeted hungrily as Belle returned to the
kitchen. I eyed the biscuits and salad but refrained from grabbing
anything. Dario seemed to be having the same problem, but his control was
weaker. He broke off a piece of biscuit and offered me a piece.

I smiled at him and took the small offering.

"Thanks," I whispered making us both laugh.

Eventually the boys came back in with the cooked lobster. They moved about
the kitchen making loud clanging noises while Dario and I sat at the table
waiting. I turned to him across the table as he was wrapping a napkin
around his neck.

"Have you ever had lobster?" I asked nervously, making him smile.

He turned his big brown eyes on me, "Yeah, once. It was good I guess."

I laughed shakily, "Oh, okay."

He laughed a quick short laugh and adjusted his bib.

"Don't worry its not slimy or anything. It kinda tastes like chicken," he
commented indifferently.

I sighed and smiled at him uneasily. I turned back to the kitchen and
noticed Dante was walking to the table. He grinned widely at me and
gestured to Dario's bib. I laughed but scowled at him for teasing as he
moved to my chair. His smile widened and he leaned in for a short sweet
kiss. Dario instantly made a gagging noise.

Dante chuckled, "Dude, I wouldn't be saying that while wearing a bib."

Dario shrugged nonchalantly and began to pick at the biscuits again, "Just
save it for later, when I'm not about to eat."

I laughed and pulled Dante to his seat. He obliged willingly and grabbed my
hands, placing them in his lap.

"So, what did my mom let you do?" he asked as he softly played with my
fingers.

"She let me cut stuff with a big knife," I replied with a soft laugh. "It
was cool."

He chuckled deeply.

"I should've told her about your clumsiness first," he joked as his rough
hands slowly rubbed mine.

I scoffed at his accusation, "I'll have you know, I'm excellent at cutting
things. I've only been to the doctor twice."

He burst with laughter, making his whole frame shake with the action. His
parents heard him and peered from around the kitchen wall. I smiled timidly
at them as Dante continued to laugh.

"I wouldn't doubt it," he replied still chuckling.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied smoothly. "So did you kill the lobsters humanly?"

He was still laughing as he answered, "Yes, we humanly euthanized the
lobsters for you. I'm pretty sure that's a first in the house."

I grinned at him, "Thanks."

He sobered and smiled warmly at me, "Of course, love. Anytime."

Gently he stared down at our hands and twined his fingers with mine. The
heat of his hands brought the reassurance of his love. I watched as he
continually rubbed my skin beneath his fingers. His expression read of
something I couldn't comprehend. His tender hazel eyes were silent with
thought as he traced the palm of my hand with his index finger.

"Dinner's served," Belle suddenly exclaimed, interrupting Dante's silence.

I stared at him concerned, but he didn't look at me as his mother placed
lobsters on our plates. Gradually I pulled my hand out of his and placed
them on the table. Dante's mom served us each a lobster and its sides. I
glanced uneasily at the thing with legs on my plate unsure where to
begin. I gulped quietly as I held my fork and knife in each hand. Dante
chuckled lightly and helped me break open the shell of my lobster.

I stared up at his handsome face which was smirking with amusement. He
continued to tear apart my food while I attempted to keep a casual air of
grace for his parents. They subtly ate their food in silence, but stole
glances whenever they could. Dario on the other hand was too busy devouring
his crustacean to notice Dante helping me. I couldn't help but feel
revulsion at the idea of eating something that closely resembled a spider,
but stuck it out anyway.

Finally Dante pulled away from my plate and revealed the light pink pieces
of flesh- like food in front of me. I swallowed uneasily but reached for a
piece with my fork. I speared it easily and popped it in my
mouth. Instantly it burst with juices and released a salty savory taste in
my mouth. I chewed on it thoughtfully before noticing everyone was waiting
for my reaction.

"Good," I lied while chewing through bites. They all smiled in approval
before beginning light conversation.

I on the other hand harshly swallowed the squishy substance and tried not
to think of it as a lobster. I mean it didn't taste bad or smell funny, it
just wasn't something I would enjoy eating. It had a rubbery texture to it
and closely resembled flesh colored fat, so it was hard for me to imagine
it any other way. But I managed to eat half of it, before Dante let me off
scott free.

"You don't have to keep eating it," he whispered as his parents left the
table. "They're gone."

Immediately I spit it out into my napkin and looked up into Dante's
gold-green eyes.

"How did you know?" I asked astonished.

I thought I was hiding it pretty well.

He chuckled lightly, "Every time you take a bite, you turn green. Besides
most people don't watch you the way I do."

I blushed lightly and looked away. Dario was still scrapping at his
lobster, trying to get every last piece off. I interjected before he
started to eat the shell.

"Hey, kiddo, do you want mine?" I asked openly and gestured to my plate.

He eyed me peculiarly, "Why? What did you do to it?"

I laughed and handed him the plate.

"Nothing I swear, just got full is all."

"Okay. . . But you'd better not be lying. Dante's always putting stuff in
my food."

Dante laughed gruffly and threw his napkin at his little brother.  It
landed on Dario's head but he merely shook it off and began to eat the
lobster I gave him. I watched him with familiar amusement and recognized
parts of his movements closely resembled Dante's. Like the way he moved his
hands: swiftly but decisively. And the way he concentrated by scrunching
his eyebrows reminded me of Dante when he attempted a complicated math
problem. I smiled at Dante's little brother before Dante broke my train of
thought.

"Hey, do you wanna go for a walk?" he asked softly as he reached for my
hand.

I smiled at him and met his hand halfway.

"Sure," I replied and stared around in confusion. "But where?"

He grinned crookedly and ran a free hand through his hair.

"On the beach, of course. You didn't think we bought this house cause it
was near the highway did you?"

"No."

"Well let's go, then."

I nodded agreeably as he pulled me up from my chair. His large hands
grabbed my waist and drew me to his chest. Softly but firmly he parted my
lips and kissed me fully, while maintaining his hold on my waist. And just
as soon as it began it was finished. Straightaway he began to drag me to
the back door of the house, where he and his father cooked the
lobsters. Before we went outside he called back to his parents.

"We're going for a walk!" he called to them but didn't wait for a response.

The air outside was cool but comfortable. The smell of rain was in the air
along with the scent of the ocean and the sand.

The back porch was a wide wood planked deck with a grill and a round
table. The table had a huge umbrella sticking out of it and was surrounded
by small chairs. Pots of flowers and plants lined one side of the porch
where I was sure the sun would hit it.

Dante slowly tugged me after him to the middle of the deck, where a
stairwell was barely visible in the light. The opening led away to a flight
of stairs that descended into the dark beach side. The cool air wrapped
around the both of us and beckoned us to the beach. Instantly Dante began
to take off his socks and shoes. I watched him as he rapidly slipped off
each article of clothing before I began to follow suit. My shoes slid off
and hit the hard wooden porch with a loud thump, making him turn.

"You don't have to take off you shoes, if it's too cold," he commented as I
rolled up my socks.

I smiled at him and threw my socks on the floor next to my shoes.

"It's not that cold," I replied coolly and tiptoed to the porches edge.

I peered over the wooden banister and could make out the white foam lapping
at the dark sand. The dark clouds were visible on the waters surface and
were outlined by the moon's light. I gazed up at the clouds as they slowly
moved across the sky revealing the bright moon behind it. It was a quarter
moon that shone brilliantly on the waters edge. It bleached the beach white
and blended the foam with the sand.

I turned and looked back to Dante who was watching me transfixed as I was
staring out over the ocean. I blinked in surprise and smiled timidly at
him. He grinned back broadly and ran a hand over my right cheek.

"What?" I asked confusedly.

He just shook his head and ran his palm over the length of my body before
grabbing my right hand.

"Come on," he said enthusiastically and began to drag me down the steps.

The moon's light helped guide us down the stairs. Dante's hand never left
mine until our feet touched the sand. Within a blur of movement he swept me
up into his arms and slung me over his back, leaving me breathless with
surprise. He laughed exuberantly without having to explain his sudden mood
of exultation. Quickly I squirmed into place on his back as he wrapped my
legs around his waist.

"I hate it when you do that," I grumbled into his ear as I held onto his
hard chest.

He just laughed a throaty laugh and bounded down the beach with me in
tow. He carried me like I weighed nothing, his strides never faltered. We
passed other beach houses but a few were empty during the off
season. Eventually he slowed to a jog and came upon a small grouping of
sand dunes.

"Where are we going?" I asked excitedly as he gently placed me on my feet.

"Shhh, just wait, love."

I comically shut my mouth and grabbed his hand. He grinned crookedly and
pulled me over a small sand dune. On the other side was a shallow bowl that
connected with another huge sand dune, which we walked over again. Several
sighs of impatience and mounds of sand later, we reached a shallow pool
that was illuminated by the moon's rays.

The water looked like silver ribbons that remained motionless as we drew
near. The bottom of the pool was emerald green and had little golden rocks
near the bottom that immediately caught my attention. I totally forgot
about Dante and walked thoughtlessly to the water's edge and reached into
the smooth pool of water.

The water was cool and wet. My hand brightened the water's walls and made
the golden rocks blaze with brilliance. I reached for a small rock and was
distracted by the clear molten look it emitted. The rock fit snugly into
the palm of my right hand and was hard despite its liquid look. I pulled it
from the clear water and stared at it relentlessly.

"You like it?" Dante asked breaking my reverie.

I just nodded unable to convey its beauty or my sudden interest. To be
honest the color closely resembled Drew's eyes and the rare flashes in
Dante's but I could never tell him that. So instead I stared at it
silently. The rock was smooth and cool with little bubbles of air packed
into it. Dante moved to my side and sat next to me near the pool's edge.

"I found this place after I first met you, when I couldn't get you out of
my head," he said quietly. "I was running one day and accidentally found it
when I ran too far from the beach. I heard that the rocks captured the
sun's rays and kept them buried beneath there surface. . . . I think there
called Ember Stones."

"I just thought you'd appreciate it better than most people. And I wanted
to show you something that meant a great deal to me."

I turned then and saw that he was watching me. The rock was still in my
hand as I wrapped it around his neck and pulled him closer. I kissed him
urgently on the lips. His arms immediately encircled me and drew me
close. I fell into him, making him fall back into the sand dunes. He
laughed beneath my lips as we made out beneath the bright moon.


					~*~

I got the helmet off and coughed delicately into my hand. Immediately he
came to my side and created a barrier with his arms. I stared up at him in
confusion, before suddenly realizing.

"Oh," I replied with a chuckle. "It's just a cough, no blood see."

I opened my mouth for him to see, but he just rolled his eyes at me.

"I hate it when you take things so lightly," he growled.

I frowned and moved into his arms, nestling on his hard chest. His arms
encircled me and I felt comforted.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound negligent," I replied quietly into his
chest.

"It's not your fault, I suppose," he said with a sigh and lifted up my
chin. I shivered in the cold night. "Maybe you should go inside; your mom's
probably still awake."

I yawned at the mention of 'inside.' He chuckled and leaned down to kiss
me. It was a slow smoldering kiss that had my heart racing. His warm smooth
lips formed around my cold ones, heating them up. I could still taste the
chocolate from dessert on his tongue, which only fueled my desire for him
even more. Our lips smacked into the cold empty night. We forgot about
everything in that moment. The world fell away for an instant and it was
just him and I. His fingers moved to my hip and run under my shirt.

His thumb traced small circles into my bare skin, leaving hot trails of
passion behind. He gently squeezed my flesh, making me groan with
pleasure. He growled in the back of his throat and intensified his
kiss. His tongue fought with mine and roamed over my teeth, tasting
everything. My head felt light and dizzy from kissing but I didn't want to
stop. He breathed deeply through his nose, before finally releasing me from
his embrace.

He pulled away and gazed at me with a hungry expression. His light green
eyes flashed in the dark night. He smiled crookedly, showing his perfect
set of white teeth. I smiled back timidly and made him laugh exuberantly
with joy. He leaned in again and kissed me lightly on the lips. A spark
surged between us, but I controlled myself. Gently but firmly he guided me
to my house.

"Trudy's probably wondering where you are," he said his voice husky from
kissing. I nodded unable to speak.

He only laughed at my dazed expression.

"I'll be back at midnight, when Trudy's asleep," he whispered into my ear,
before dashing away.

I turned abruptly and hissed back, "WHAT??"

But he was already gone, with a ghost of a laugh. I smiled and turned back
to my house. I walked up the walkway and slowly moved up the steps. Tonight
was a good night, I thought happily as I paced across the porch. My
thoughts were all centered on Dante and the kiss, and I didn't even see
Drew, until he stood in front of me. I jumped back with a start and
abruptly began to descend the stairs.

He stared at me evenly, "I'm not going to hurt you, Caleb."

I stopped mid-step, feeling dumb, "I know."

He sighed and grabbed the back of his neck, "So I see you're still with
him."

That accusation ticked me off. I folded my arms and stared back defiantly.

"Yes," I replied angrily. "I am and it's none of your business."

He shrugged indifferently, "Well I just thought that since you came to
check up on me, maybe you had changed your mind. . . I guess not."

Instantly my anger deflated and my annoyance disappeared.

"Drew," I whispered and stepped a little closer. "If only you could
understand the complexity of this whole situation. If only you could see
how I view our relationship."

I groaned and grabbed the bridge of my nose trying to think of a way to
summarize my chaotic thoughts.

"How can I explain it," I mused out loud.

He waited as I tried to form the right words. His gaze however remained at
my feet.

"This whole situation is . . . is like-like my perfect nightmare." I
breathed in relief.

He looked up at the mention of nightmare. I sighed and explained myself.

"What I mean is that it's perfect because you're still in my life," I
replied selfishly. "That's what I always wanted. I wanted you to be apart
of the next few months, without it interfering with our friendship."

I sighed again, "And that's where the nightmare comes in. When we have to
remain friends, even though you want more.

More of something I can't give, without breaking another heart. You see,
it's a perfect nightmare, but I'm selfish enough to love it."

He just stared back at me evenly. His eyes were no longer sparkling blue
jewels; they were dead lakes of motionless water. He sniffed once and
walked past me to the stairs. I reached out to him, but he shrugged my arm
off.

He turned back then, before the shadows consumed him, "Listen, from now on,
just stay away from me. You got that?"

He didn't even let me answer, before he turned and marched away into the
cold night. My heart felt torn. Should I go after him and explain or leave
him and go inside. I stood there unable to do either, until I heard the
start of his truck and saw him drive away. My throat constricted with pain,
but I roughly swallowed to relieve it. Eventually I went inside.

My mom was asleep on the couch with a small blanket. She looked so haggard
and worn that it only added more pain to my heart. Quietly I moved to her
side and gently woke her up.

"Mom," I whispered and shook her lightly. "Mom, get up."

She stirred and mumbled incoherently. Gradually I hauled her up and to the
stairs. Her feet moved slowly, but finally I managed to get her to her
bedroom. I tucked her in and quietly shut her door. I sighed and went back
downstairs to clean up and lock the door.

Finally when I finished I went upstairs to my room. I quickly walked to the
window and opened it an inch for Dante. I left my bedside lamp on and
slowly began to strip off my clothes. They stunk of lobster and seafood,
which tasted good, but smelled awful. I decided to take a shower before
Dante showed up, knowing that he always smelt good.

The hot steam and warm jets of water calmed my aching muscles and loosened
up my whole body. I was extremely tired and barely managed to finish taking
my shower. I wiped away the excess soap and rinsed off. I didn't even have
the energy to think while I was in the shower, which I usually had time
for.  Tiredly I reached for my towel and got out; my thoughts were muddled
with exhaustion. Today was a very emotionally charged day.

I stepped out onto the mat and cracked my toes on the soft texture. I
yawned widely and tightened the robe around my waist. I moved to the mirror
and wiped away the steam, ready to brush my teeth. Suddenly I saw Dante's
wide grin in the mirror, making me drop my toothpaste and toothbrush. I
jumped at his appearance and abruptly turned around.

"God, you scared me," I replied shakily. "You know that's really creepy."

He smiled, "I love you."

I blushed and stepped toward him, "How long were you waiting to see me
naked?"

He chuckled, "That's right, I've never seen you naked."

I laughed and shimmied the towel down a little further, "What would you do
to see me naked?"

"Hmmm," he mused with a smile and pulled me to his chest. "What about a few
kisses?"

I laughed and tightened the robe, "I already get those for free."

He chuckled and reached for the hem of my towel, "What if I gave you, me?"

I smiled, "Maybe. What do you have to offer?"

Slowly he released his hold on my waist and he reached above his head. He
pulled on the collar of his shirt and yanked it off smoothly. The shirt
slipped out from under my hands and my palms rested on his hard chest. His
muscles were defined and ridged, but only added to his masculinity. His
arms were lean but powerful with strength. Gently he reached for his belt
buckle and unclasped the first hoop.

I stepped away and gulped loudly, making him grin widely. Were we really
doing this now? In my own bed? I could hear the soft metal clink as he
undid his pants. His zipper pierced the quiet with its audible zip. My
heart fluttered as he slowly pulled his pants down, revealing his tight
boxer briefs. His groin bulged widely beneath the dark green briefs,
leaving nothing to the imagination. I could barely make out the helmet of
his dick, beneath the thin fabric.

His eyes never left me as he gently tugged at the elastic waistband. I
gulped again as his hands grazed over his V-shaped line that ran from his
abs to his groin. A thick line of hair trailed his abdomen and disappeared
beneath his briefs. Slowly he pulled his briefs all the way off, exposing
his beautiful cock.

The length was long and it reached over his massive egg-like balls. The
head was smooth and shiny, with warmth. The shaft was veiny and covered
with a dark downing of course hair. The girth was immeasurable. It was
wide, but not too wide. And if I was being honest, it was a little bit
bigger than Drew's, but who's comparing.

He lifted a leg pulling it out of his briefs and his dick slapped lightly
against his other thigh. And he did it again to the other side, but I stood
there unsure what to do next. His whole physique reminded me of
Michelangelo's David, with just a bigger dick.

Ugh, I thought, chastising myself, I'm so vulgar, comparing dick sizes.

Gradually I thawed and moved my arm to my towel. With a slight twist of my
wrist the towel fell away, displaying my whole body. In that moment I felt
self-conscious. I had only revealed myself to one other guy before, so that
left my experience to a minimum.

I looked away avoiding his gaze and quietly held my breath. Slowly he moved
to stand in front of me. I looked up into his gold-green eyes and smiled
timidly. He gulped once and smiled back just as timidly. We stared at each
other nakedly, until finally he reached out and lifted me into his
arms. Gently he carried me back to my bed, switching off the lights as he
went. Swiftly he pulled back the blankets and rested us both on the small
mattress.

I laid facing him as he settled in next to me. Once settled I nimbly
wrapped a leg around his firm waist and scooted closer.

He chuckled and hooked his hand around my smooth thigh. He softly began to
rub it beneath his palms, before he slowly moved his fingers over my
thigh. They traced the length of my body, leaving a blazing trail of heat
and desire on the side of my skin. But that's all he did, nothing more. He
just stared into my eyes, memorizing each detail as his hand softly ran
over my side.

"We're not tonight, are we?" I asked quietly, making his eyes flash gold.

He sighed and continued to run his hands over my body.

"I just want it to be special with you," he replied and moved his palm to
my cheek. "We haven't even gone on a real date yet. Besides it will happen
and when it does, it'll be special. Not on a small bed in your mom's
house."

I laughed, "I guess you're right. I wouldn't want my mom coming in
wondering what all the noise is."

He chuckled and leaned in to kiss me lightly on the lips.

"We will, I promise, love," he whispered tenderly and ran his rough palm
over my supple skin. "By then we'll have everything right. We won't do it
cuz we think we have to. We'll do it because were in love."

I sighed happily, "I love you."

He chuckled and pulled me closer, our bodies touching beneath the blankets.

"I love you too," he breathed sweetly. "Always and forever."

I smiled and buried my face into his hard chest. I sniffed once, trying to
hold back my tears, but pulled away instantly. I crinkled my nose in
distaste.

"You smell like seafood," I replied in aversion, making him chuckle.

"And you smell like lavender," he whispered back and yawned. "Go to sleep,
love. I'll be here in the morning."

"Promise?" I asked stifling a yawn.

He pulled away and stared at me confidently, "Promise."

I yawned and nodded my head. His arms enclosed around me and pulled me
tightly to his chest. I nestled my head into his shoulder and delicately
kissed it. He sighed contentedly and kissed my hair. I immediately fell
asleep in his arms, feeling homey.


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