The next morning as we got ready to head to the airport, Dante seemed off and on edge. Waiting until we were alone, I asked "what's wrong sweetie? I know something is off. So, what's up?"
"Should I really be doing this? Should I really go see him when I know as soon as he sees you, he'll be in your arms and crying before I can even say hello. Does he really want to see me?" he asked as tears began streaming down his face.
"Oh sweetie" I said pulling him into a hug before I continued "of course he wants to see you. He said so himself and knowing you're there and you're safe will help him too. I know that's not exactly what you wanted me to say but I can't tell you he wants you there for any other reason than that. After today, you can pull back and just give him some space if that's what you think will help him but I want you to keep talking to me. I want to know everything that's going on with you even if you don't want him to know about it. I'm your friend too, don't you forget that."
"I'll try not to. I just don't know if I can be happy to see him knowing how much pain he's in. I don't know how to do this, how to be in love with someone and them not love you back. Or at least not love you the same way you love them. I don't know how to comfort him. I just don't know" he cried against my shoulder.
"Shhhh... It's okay. You don't have to know, you just need to give him the time and space for him to come to you. I promise he will when he's ready. For now just keep talking to him even if it's only in messages on the BeYourself app. I know he wants to hear from you, he wants to know you're there and you care" I told him as his mom came back in the room to tell us it was time to go.
"Okay, we'll be right there" I told her rubbing his back again before I asked "do you want me to drive since we have to take two cars?"
"Yeah, please" he mumbled wiping his eyes again. Holding out my hand, he placed the keys to his maroon Nissan Altima in my hand before we headed out the door.
The drive to the airport was fairly quiet as Dante tried to pull himself together for Harley. As he wiped his face for the tenth time, I said "relax sweetie. He's just going to be happy you're there. Don't worry about the tears and if he asks tell him you were so scared he may not come back."
"Okay" was all he said as we pulled into the airport parking lot . Parking next to his mom, we all got out and i took his hand as we went to wait in the arrivals area for mom and Harley to meet us. Standing there for ten minutes, we heard the announcement that the flight from JFK International had just arrived. Looking at Dante, I could see how scared he was about what condition Harley would be in since none of us had seen him since the accident. Squeezing his hand, I whispered "relax. He's still him no matter what the accident did to him and besides if it had been something serious my mom would've told us." Nodding, his eyes never left the arrivals gate as we waited for them to come through. When I finally spotted my mom, I was confused because I didn't see Harley until the crowd cleared and we saw him in a wheel chair. When they finally made their way over to us, mom said "he twisted his ankle in the accident and has to stay off it for another week so it was easier to have him in a wheel chair than on crutches."
"Oh" I said letting go of Dantes' hand to hug Harley and say "welcome home sweetie" then lowering my voice added "we've all been so worried but I think Dante was more than the rest of us. He's been crying non-stop." Chuckling, he whispered back "well, I guess that just goes to show how much he really loves me." Letting go, I smirked at him as he looked up at Dante who was watching us. When I finally stepped back, Harley decided to try to be himself and said "hey there you. I'd hug you first but I'm not allowed to move so you'll have to come to me" while crooking a finger at Dante. Laughing, I watched as Dante did as requested without a word and Harley whispered something in his ear that made him chuckle before he said "damn you Har, you just had to say that didn't you."
"Well, one of us had to be their normal sarcastic self since we've both apparently been crying for days" he smirked as Dante leaned up to look at him. Mouthing something to Harley, Dante smirked as Harley turned a pretty shade of red that I could only guess what caused it.
"Oh no, they're already at the flirting and making each other blush thing again" I laughed as mom and his family just shook their heads while little Belle climbed up into Harleys' lap and gave him a hug. I heard her sniffle before he said "oh little AnnaBear, I'm alright baby girl. There's no need for those tears sweet girl."
"I missed you HareBear. Mommy and sissy said you got hurt and I got so scared" she sobbed telling us how much she really loves Harley.
"Well, from now on you can keep an eye on me because I'm going to be living with you, mom, and Char. Is that okay?" he asked wiping her tears. Smiling again, she hugged him and squealed "yes, yes, yes. I wants HareBear to come live with us!" As we all laughed, mom said "let's get out of here and get home." Turning, we all walked out to the parking lot to the two cars before mom said "so who's riding where?"
"I think we should give the boys and Char some time to talk on the way back. So, why don't you and Annabelle ride with us" Katherine said. Nodding, mom took Belle from Harleys' lap, taking her and the luggage to Katherines' car while Dante wheeled Harley to the back door of his car. After opening the door, Dante held out an arm for Harley to use to balance himself as he rotated into the backseat. Once Har was inside, Dante gently closed the door before taking the wheel chair to the trunk and folding it. As he placed it inside, I asked "want me to drive still or do you want to?"
"Nah, you can" he said closing the trunk and walking to the passenger door. Taking a deep breath, he got in and buckling in without a word.
Harleys’ POV
Glancing at Char in the rear view mirror, I gave her a questioning look trying to find out what’s going on with Dante. As we drove to her house, Char kept glancing between the two of us until she apparently couldn’t take it any more and pulled over. Putting the car in park, she turned to look at Dante before glancing back at me. Turning back to him, she said “you can’t just say nothing. We both know you want nothing more than to talk to him even if what you really want is for him to be his normal happy self. I know you’re scared and trust me, so am I because once it hits him again we could both loose him to it. Look at me, Dante.” Waiting a few minutes, she reached over and took his hand before forcing him to look at her and said “talk to him while he’s still himself baby. I know it hurts but ignoring him and trying to give him space isn’t helping anyone.” I heard him take a shuttering breath before a tear rolled down his cheek and he whispered “I... I can’t. I want to be supportive but I was so scared we’d already lost him and now I can’t hold it back anymore. Everyone expects me to be the strong one but I just can’t.” As he reached up to wipe his eyes, I gently said “I don’t expect you to be the strong one. I just want you to be you. I don’t want anyone to walk on egg shells or act like I’m broken. Yes, I’m in both physical and emotional pain but I’m not the only one hurting. I know nearly loosing me would’ve torn you apart but you thought you had to be strong for Char and Belle which I’m grateful for. You have every right to be upset and happy right now. So, don’t think you have to be strong for me. Yes, it’ll take time but I’ll eventually be myself again. Until then just keep being yourself, Dante. That’s all I want.”
“God, I missed you so much and then when Char called to tell me you weren’t coming home and why. I just about died inside. I knew I needed to push passed my pain and support Char and Belle but I’ll be honest, after Char fell asleep that night I basically cried the rest of the night. And now that you’re here and I can see for myself that you’re basically fine, all the stress and anxiety just hit like a freight train” he sobbed wiping his eyes.
Giving Char a meaningful look, I said “Dante, come sit back here with me. Please?” Nodding silently, he got out of the passenger seat and made his way around to the rear drivers side before climbing in next to me. Holding out my arms, I waited for him to come and hug me knowing he’d cry when he did. I wasn’t the least bit shocked when he immediately came to me and sobbed rather loudly. Pulling back onto the road, Char did her best to give us privacy and quiet while he dealt with all the pent up emotions running through his system.
Dantes’ POV
The next six months passed with us barely talking as he dealt with all the fall out from loosing his family. Charlotte and I talked regularly enough for me to keep an eye on his progress and I’d see him at school looking like a zombie. Still hiding the abuse from him, I was sure he knew it was still happening but I didn’t do anything to make it more obvious that he was the lover I was talking to prior to the accident.
As I sat in class staring out the window, I realized these passed six months we’ve become more friends than anything else and I wondered if maybe he’d ever have feelings for me even after all this.
“Pfft... he’ll probably never feel the same way about me that I do about him” I thought as I caught sight of he and Char walking across the parking lot laughing. Watching them, I noticed something catch Chars’ eye just as she paused and looked directly at me before waving. Giving her a sad smile, I gave a small wave back before turning back around to fake paying attention yet again. As I sat there just trying to get through another day, my phone buzzed against my leg alerting me to an incoming message. Checking it, I saw it was from Charlotte.
[Char: Hey sweetie, are you okay? You looked really down when I waved to you just now.]
[Dante: Yes... No... I don't know, honestly. Just now as you caught my attention, I realized a few things and they made me incredibly sad. I know he needs time still and that's fine. The realizations I had were that our relationship is more of a traditional friendship now than it was six months ago and I've also realized that he'll probably never have the same feelings for me that I do for him.]
Laying my head against the desk to hide my tears, I let them silently flow free as I waited for her next message.
Charlottes’ POV
“Oh wow, I was not expecting that...” I mumbled as Harley drove down to street towards our house.
“What’s going on, Char?” He asked sounding worried.
“Are you sure you want to know?” I asked as he pulled to a stop at a stop light and looked over at me.
“Is it Dante?” He asked sounding scared.
“Don't worry so much. It is Dante but not in the way you're thinking” I said as Harley began driving again. He was silent for a minute before he said “he's been emotionally distant since the accident and I know it's him trying to give me time but I miss him.”
“Hmmm... I think he's missing you for similar reasons. He realized today that you relationship is more like traditional friends than what it had been before. And I think he’s convinced himself that you don't and have never had feelings for him. I've tried to make sure you're both okay but I don't know that he doesn't feel completely alone now. Maybe you should tell him how you feel about him” I suggested as I watched the side of Hars’ face. Watching his expression change, I sort of knew what he was thinking before he even spoke.
“Char, isn't prom this weekend?” He asked making me quirk a brow at him.
“You want to publicly ask him out?” I asked wanting to make sure we were on the same page. Nodding, he said “he needs to know that I'm willing to risk everything for him just as he's been doing for me. I know he's not ready for me to be a target too but I want to make sure he knows that I'll risk everything to be with him.” Smiling, I said “I guess we need to get you a suit and me a dress. I'll have Grace get Dante one and I'll buy his ticket then all he'll have to do is show up.”
“I'll buy his ticket, just don't tell him it's from me. Let him believe it was you until after I confess” he said pulling into our driveway. As we got out of the car, I asked “so, how do you see this going down?”
“I think the best way to do it would be for us to pick a song and you request it just as he walks in. Then I'll ask him to dance and tell him then” he said as we walked inside. Stopping in the foyer, I said “that's actually a good plan. Now, what color should your tie be?”
“I think it should be an emerald green to compliment his eyes and match his dates” mom said coming around the corner. Leaning against the wall, she smiled and asked “so, are we talking about prom and maybe a confession?”
“That's exactly what we're talking about mom” Harley said with a genuine smile.
“Well then, what's your plan?” She asked genuinely curious.
“We're going to get Dante a ticket and I'm going to have Grace get him a suit. Then I'm going to request a song that Harley and I agree on to play just as Dante walks into the gym. Harley is going to ask him to dance as proof that he is willing to risk everything for Dante just as Dante has been doing for him all this time” I explained.
“Oh, I think that's a brilliant idea. I've already signed up to be a chaperon for the dance” mom smiled.
Harleys’ POV
Heading to the dress shop that afternoon, I started to get nervous that he wouldn't show up. As I tried on yet another black suit, I looked at mom and Charlotte and asked “do you think the jacket is too much? I kind of like the idea of just wearing the shirt, vest, and tie without the jacket. What do you guys think?”
“Let's see it without the jacket” Char said coming out of her dressing room in a gorgeous emerald gown with a slit up the right side to her thigh. Her pink hair was still pulled up in ponytail as I moved to stand in front of her having removed the jacket. Looking me up and down, she said “yeah, I like it better without the jacket” as I reached up to remove the hair band from her hair letting it fall loose around her shoulders.
“That dress looks incredible with your hair down” I said suddenly over come with the fear that he'd say no in front of everyone.
“Sweetie, what just went through that beautiful mind of yours?” she asked putting her hands on my shoulder as a tear slid down my cheek. Reaching up to wipe it away, she asked “are you scared he'll say no?” Jerkily nodding my head, I whispered “what if he doesn't love me anymore?”
“Oh sweetie, that's totally not possible. He's so in love with you he looked physically in pain this afternoon when I saw him in the window” she said gently pulling me into a hug. Confused, I asked “when did you see him?”
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