Chapter 29 – Getting Home
The next morning, the lake house was already buzzing with the sound of zippers closing and suitcases rolling across wooden floors. The smell of fresh coffee drifted from the kitchen, mixed with the pine-scented breeze coming through open windows. Everyone was packing to head back home.
Charlie walked up to Lenny on the porch, shook his hand firmly, and said with a wide smile:
"Thank you for this weekend, man. I had a blast, and I'm pretty sure my family did too."
Lenny smiled back, gripping Charlie's hand tightly:
"No, I'm the one who should be thanking you. Your son saved me and my kids. Plus, everyone here had a great time on this trip."
Erik showed up beside them, dragging his suitcases, and said:
"Well, I really had a lot of fun this time, guys."
Kurt nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead:
"Yeah, it was nice to get away from household chores for a while."
Marcus chimed in, looking a little emotional:
"Well, everyone, time to say goodbye. I admit I'm gonna miss you all."
Rob came over with Glória, arm around her waist, and said:
"It really was a wonderful stay… except for a few things."
Dante approached with Jasmine and Amber, one on each arm, and teased:
"Father-in-law, you still haven't accepted me? I thought we were already family."
Rob shot back instantly:
"Not even if I were dead."
Then he stopped joking, looked at Dante, Jasmine, and Amber, and asked seriously:
"So, what are you three going to do from now on?"
Jasmine answered, leaning into Dante:
"Well, we're going to Pasadena."
Dante gave us money to stay in a luxury hotel while he sorts out some issues with his grandfather. After that he'll come to Pasadena so we can buy an apartment. Then Amber's going to enroll in college, and Dante told me to find something I like too, but I'm still thinking.
Rob looked at the two of them smiling happily and said, voice softening:
"Just keep in touch, got it? Call me anytime you need anything."
Amber said:
"Relax, Dad. We're not gonna disappear off the planet. When our apartment's ready, you can come visit whenever you want."
Rob replied, smiling now:
"I'll definitely visit you once everything's set up."
Dante leaned in and whispered in Jasmine's ear, slipping something into her hand:
"Here, this credit card. Use it to buy a car and return that old junker to your ex."
Jasmine smiled, giving Dante a jealous look, and whispered back:
"Fine. Before we leave for Pasadena, I'll return it, okay?"
Dante said quietly:
"I didn't even tell you the PIN yet: 255022. Don't forget."
Jasmine repeated under her breath:
"255022. Got it."
Dante said:
"Tell Amber too. Two heads are better than one."
Jasmine pulled Amber aside to tell her what they were going to do before the trip started.
Dante said goodbye to Jasmine and Amber with long hugs and kisses, then got in the car with his dad, mom, and sister.
Charlie looked at his son in the rear-view mirror and asked:
"Son, weren't you sad to have to say goodbye to your girlfriends?"
Dante replied, stretching out in the back seat:
"Dad, I can teleport. I can see them anytime. So I don't even have a chance to miss them."
Bella said from the window seat:
"Must be nice having superpowers."
Dante looked at her and said:
"You have them too. The only downside is it's a passive superpower—you can't activate it."
Bella asked, turning to him:
"I do? What's my power?"
Dante answered:
"Well, you have a barrier that stops goth perverts from reading your mind."
Bella said:
"Well… I was hoping for more."
Dante said:
"It's already a great power. After all, having your mind being read by someone else isn't exactly pleasant."
Bella said:
"You talk like you've been through it."
Dante sighed and said:
"Well, your goth emo boyfriend has that mind-reading ability. That's why, even though we went to the same school, I never got close to them. I always used my teleportation to avoid them. I didn't want my mind snooped on. It was only after I awakened my dragon power and got a mental barrier that I started going to school more often."
Charlie, from the front seat, said:
"Son, so that's why you only showed up on test days and then skipped school all the time?"
Dante answered:
"Yup, that was the reason."
Charlie said:
"If you'd told us why, I would've changed your school."
Dante said:
"It's all good now. No need for that anymore."
Dante changed the subject:
"Anyway, we're returning this rental car and going home with my power. I don't feel like spending hours on a plane when we can get there in seconds."
Charlie said:
"Well, now that Bella knows, I don't see why not. I have to work tomorrow—if I can get home early and rest more, why not?"
Sera said:
"Then it's decided."
They returned the rental car and went to a secluded spot behind some trees.
Dante opened the portal, a dark swirling circle in the air, and said:
"Alright, let's go home, everyone."
He stepped through the portal, followed by Bella, Sera, and Charlie.
On the other side, they were already inside the house, the familiar living room greeting them.
Dante flopped onto the couch and said, stretching:
"So, how was your first teleportation experience?"
Charlie looked around the house and said:
"Son, now I understand why you hate cars and any other vehicle. This power… sitting around for hours to get somewhere you can reach in seconds makes no sense."
Sera said:
"Well, we're home. Let's unpack these suitcases quickly."
Dante replied:
"Yes, ma'am."
He took his suitcase to his room.
Once there, he pulled out his phone and texted Alice:
"I'm back from the trip and sending this so you know I didn't forget our plans."
Alice, lying on the couch, got the message. She read it, grinned from ear to ear, and replied:
"Good to know you still remember. Don't forget—tomorrow at school we'll talk more."
Watching Alice spin excitedly on the couch, family shook his head, already used to her personality.
Meanwhile, while putting away his clothes, Dante didn't forget to text Margaret:
"Honey, I'm home."
Margaret, at the publishing house, saw her phone buzz. She was about to get mad at whoever was calling during work hours until she saw it was Dante. She smiled and replied:
"Glad your trip went well, dear. Can't wait to hear all about it. Can't talk much now—we'll catch up tonight at the apartment. Kisses."
Dante looked at the message and sighed. He also remembered to text Marshall, Lily, Ted, and Barney to let them know he was back so they could plan to hang out.
Dante lay on the bed and said:
"Man, so much work… And to think after this I still have to go on a quest with my idiot uncle."
He thought: Well, considering the timeline, I think he's supposed to get attacked by that monster at the museum in the next couple of days. So there's more than enough time for me to go on a date with Alice and then head to Camp Half-Blood to meet him.
Dante thought:
"Hang in there, Percy, buddy. A few beatdowns won't kill you. Worst case, just toss him in a lake and he'll be good as new."
Dante thought:
"Well, let's get some sleep now."
He closed his eyes and started to drift off.