Diamonds in the Rough: VOL. I

six

Diego stood next to Dallas brushing his teeth. "You sure you got everything? I mean if you want to leave your clothes you can. You'll be coming back next weekend."

"Dad I already told you I would bring clean clothes. I don't want to wear the same stuff every time I come over."

"Maybe I should buy you stuff. Then you don't gotta bring two bags on Friday." Diego suggested looking down at him.

"You would buy me stuff?"

"I paid for everything this weekend." Diego laughed. "Of course I would buy you clothes. I need to get your room together too. That way you'll like being in there." He shrugged. "You can text me this week and tell me stuff you want in your room. I'll get you some clothes Friday while you with me."

"Okay." Dallas agreed with a smile. "I had fun with you dad."

"You didnt think you would?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. Diego smiled.

"I didn't think you would." Diego admitted with a smile. "Dad could be boring. This was fun. Even when Landyn came to the arcade."

"Yeah." Dallas smiled. "Alright I'm ready to go." He put his toothbrush in the plastic ziploc bag he carried it in.

"We going have to get you a new toothbrush too."
Dallas frowned. "Why I like my toothbrush?"

"That's spreading germs putting it in that bag and stuff. Don't worry you'll have that one at your mom's and a new one here." Diego reassured him. Dallas shook his head.

"No I only need one toothbrush. If I have a toothbrush here then you'll think I want to live with you."

"I don't think that." Diego frowned.

"Then I don't need a toothbrush. Toothbrushes stay at your home. And this is not my home."
Diego stared at him. "Relax Dallas. I know your home is with your mom."

"And Landyn." Dallas corrected him. Diego licked his lips.

"Whatever yo. Just get your shit ready so you can go." He turned away from him. Monica had warned him that Dallas was autistic. She explained that he wasn't a fan of changes in his routine. But he had figured that Dallas didn't feel he was a change in his life. Until this moment. He couldn't lie he felt some type of way.

But Diego was learning a hard lesson of biting his tongue. Dallas met him at the door. "I shouldn't have cussed at you. Dad is sorry."

"It's okay. Mom said that sometimes it's hard for change. She would also tell me to say sorry because of what I said about this not being my house. It's my second house. You can get me a toothbrush." He twisted the strap on his book bag.

"We can compromise Dali. If you don't like the idea of having a new toothbrush. Then you can bring yours and take it back home. That helps to remind you that you'll be going back home right?"
Dallas lifted his head. He nodded it aggressively. Diego smiled. "Then you can bring it. But we gotta change the bag to a toothbrush case."

"Toothbrushes have cases? Those small things? I always lose those in the sink." He frowned.

"Naw. It covers the whole toothbrush. After we grab you some breakfast we can stop and see if they got one in the store close to your school."

"We can't be late. I want to go to the store though. Can I get some snacks for me and my friends?"

"Yeah." Diego grabbed his keys. "Let's go so you don't end up late." They stepped out of the house and over to his car. Diego helped Dallas to get his bags in before putting him in the back seat. Landyn had warned him that if Monica caught whiff of Dallas riding in the front seat she would have a fit.