Chapter 31 – A Conversation at the Bar
After school, Dante was driving home with Bella. He looked at her looking frustrated and asked:
"What's wrong? Why do you have that face like you just got rejected?"
Bella answered:
"It's Edward. He keeps avoiding me all the time."
Dante sighed and said:
"Bella, you know what I said about vampires. They see humans as food. So for a vampire to have a human by his side is the same as a lion having a piece of meat next to it. He's probably staying away from you for that reason. And honestly, I don't see what you find cool about him."
Bella replied:
"Brother, you're a guy. There's no way you can see him through the same eyes as mine."
Dante said:
"And you're right. Because I only see a coward. A coward so big that he doesn't come close to you to get to know you and also doesn't walk away. Even if his worry is hurting you, I only see a coward who doesn't want to move forward but also doesn't want to give up."
Dante looked at Bella, who stayed silent, and said:
"I'm not trying to give you a moral lesson. I'm just saying what I see. And what I see is him playing with your feelings without giving you a clear answer, whether that answer is yes or just no. He's not willing to choose either one."
Bella finally said with a weak smile:
"I know. But I really can't let it go. I really can't leave it aside until I have a final answer."
Dante looked at her and said:
"Just know you can ask for my help anytime. And if this idiot mistreats my sister… well, we'll have the first man to step on the sun. Or, in this case, the first vampire to step on the sun."
Bella looked at Dante and said:
"Thank you for caring so much about me, brother."
Dante smiled and said:
"Well, since my big sister isn't very smart, the only thing left is for her little brother to take care of her."
Bella smiled when she heard that.
They finally got home.
After dinner, Dante opened a portal to an empty alley. He entered the bar and saw Ted, Marshall, and Lily.
Dante sat with them and said:
"How's it going, guys? How did you enjoy these days?"
Ted answered:
"Good to see you, man. So, how was the funeral?"
Dante said:
"Everything was cool. Then we had a reunion with my dad's old classmates and their families. Well, it wasn't exactly a party, but it was still a relaxed, fun moment."
Marshall said:
"Those vacations sound like they were a lot of fun. I'd love to be part of something like that."
Dante then ordered a beer from the waitress while looking at Lily and asking:
"So, where's Barney? I didn't see him here. Is he chasing some girl?"
Lily answered:
"When is Barney not chasing some woman?"
Dante said:
"Well, that's a good point. And that reminds me… sorry, guys, I'll never be able to introduce my family to you."
Ted asked:
"Why so suddenly now, man?"
Marshall and Lily also looked at Dante wanting to know the answer.
Dante answered:
"Well, it's because I also have women in the family and my older sister is really beautiful. I'm not even a little bit interested in having Barney near her. The only distance I think is right for him to be from her is knowing they're on the same planet."
Ted, Lily, and Marshall went quiet. After all, if it were them, they'd make the same decision. After all, Barney is their friend, they like him, but there are some limits they can't give up.
Ted also thought about his own sister and decided he'd avoid as much as possible letting Barney get close to her.
Dante then said:
"And that beautiful girl Ted is into? What happened?"
Dante saw Ted's face get weird. He looked at Lily and Marshall, who told him what happened.
Dante sighed and said:
"Ted, saying 'I love you' for real? That's not a word you should say just like that, especially to a woman you're just getting to know. I haven't even said that to my girlfriend. It's not because I don't love her, it's because that word is too important. Saying it just like that, especially to someone you just met, only makes you look like a foolish, emotional guy."
Ted, with his face on the table, said:
"You think I don't know? I regretted it the second after I said it, but the damage was already done."
Dante asked:
"So, any plan to fix the situation?"
Marshall answered:
"Ted is throwing a party to invite Robin. Then they can talk. You should come too, Dante."
Lily said:
"Are you crazy, Marshall? After Ted made so many mistakes on the first date with Robin, you want her and Dante—who looks like he stepped out of an action movie—to be in the same place?"
Ted said:
"No problem, guys. Dante has a girlfriend, right?"
Dante answered:
"Relax, Lily. I really have zero interest in Robin."
Lily said:
"That just makes it worse. It'll increase her competitive spirit. She'll end up hitting on you and completely ignoring Ted."
Dante said:
"Well, you're right about that."
Marshall looked at Ted, then at Dante, and said:
"Well, Lily's right. Better to avoid competition. Ted has no chance."
Ted said:
"Hey, guys, I'm right here. You're talking about me."
Marshall looked at Ted and asked:
"So you think you have a chance? You want Dante to go and be in the same place as Robin?"
Ted looked at Dante—blue hair, golden eyes, tan skin, muscular body, polite and kind—and then looked at himself.
Ted said to Dante:
"It's better if you don't come, buddy. Sorry."
Dante smiled and said:
"No need to apologize. After all, it's not like I'm giving up a woman I like for someone else. And I can't go anyway. Tomorrow I have a date with my girlfriend."
Dante banged his head on the table in frustration while saying:
"The problem is I have no idea where to take her."
Lily and Marshall: you guys can help me? After all, you're the couple in the group.
Lily said smiling:
"Oh, how I've waited for this moment to talk couple stuff with friends."
After a few hours at the bar, Dante said goodbye to everyone. He opened a portal and appeared in Margaret's apartment.
He saw she had fallen asleep on the couch in her work clothes.
Dante smiled, took off her clothes, put on her pajamas, carried her to bed, and covered her with the blanket. He kissed her cheek and said:
"Good night, dear."
After Dante left, Margaret opened her eyes and whispered:
"There's no way to stay mad at this idiot."
She closed her eyes and slept.
Meanwhile, Dante opened a portal to his room and face-planted onto the bed.