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"Thanks for coming, Luca," my big sister, Mable, said, closing her eyes kindly. "I appreciate you coming to have lunch with me."
I nodded briefly, sipping my cola into my mouth.
She watched me for a long moment. "Have you seen a doctor yet?"
I just gave her an annoyed look.
She threw her hands up innocently. "I know I keep pressing! I'm just worried about you!"
"Worry not," I said then, staring back forward. "I am fine."
She settled back into herself. "But you haven't had a growth spurt in like... forever."
"The doctors said it's normal," I responded.
"Really?" she said then.
No.
"Yes," I replied. "It's a normal condition. It's from stress."
I was so full of shit, I had to resist smiling.
She just breathed out a sigh. "Well, I'm glad that's figured out."
One thing about my sister, she's very gullible.
I kicked out my legs a little as I sipped my cola.
"Are you ready to order?" a waitress said, coming up to us.
"Ah, yes!" my big sis exclaimed. "Luca, you ready?"
I hummed in acknowledgement.
She just gazed back up at the waiter, stating her order so kindly I questioned who she was trying to impress.
But just as she finished with her order, I glanced over her shoulder.
To find Dante seated two booths behind us.
"Sir, you're order?" the waitress asked.
I immediately choked on my drink, spitting it out and coughing profusely.
"Luca!" Mable, watching me worriedly. "Are you alright?"
I put a finger up, continuing to cough before I took a couple deep breaths.
I then put a thumbs up.
Her eyes scanned me. "What happened?"
"Went down the wrong pipe," I responded.
Which... wasn't a lie, really.
Her brows drew together when I sat back up. "French toast with strawberries, please."
The waitress stared before she blinked, clearly focusing on my words and scratched them down into her notebook.
"Right!" she said then. "It'll be right out!"
She then left in the direction that she came.
Mable's phone chimed, and she gazed down at it, scanning the notification.
I took this chance to gaze over at Dante, glaring.
He just kicked his legs up on the table and waved casually.
I kept glaring.
"Sorry about that," Mable said, looking back up at me.
I focused my attention on her then, erasing every speck of anger from my expression. "Oh, it's quite alright. We all are busy, anyway."
"Ah, yes," she said then, smiling sweetly. "Anyways, how's school going?"
I glanced back at Dante who was still smiling at me, and then quickly looked back at her. "It's peachy."
She just blinked and glanced behind her to see what I was looking at.
Dante now was focused on the TV above us, watching it intently, but I knew it was fake.
"What are you staring at?" she said then, looking back at me.
"I just saw a cool painting," I lied, shrugging. "I got distracted for a bit."
She just nodded slowly. "Oh, alright."
The waitress came back then, setting a new cola in front of me. "Your dinner should be out in record time."
She then walked back off.
I kicked out my legs again, trying to dispel the energy.
Her phone chimed again, and she gazed down to it.
She just smiled sweetly. "I'm so sorry. I keep getting distracted, but my boyfriend keeps texting me. His mom's in the hospital, you see... she had some back surgery."
"It's not an issue with me, big sis, don't worry," I told her.
She laughed nervously before looking back down at her phone, typing on it intently.
I looked back at Dante:
What are you doing here? I mouthed angrily.
He kept the smile, his stance lazy. I told you that escaping me is futile, his voice echoed through my thoughts.
It sent unwanted shivers through me, and I just thinned my lips. Stop stalking me, I thought, wondering if he could hear.
His smile remained. Only if I get you a drink.
Dante, I swear to god if you keep this up...
His smile widened. Are you threatening me?
I'm going to take your privileges away.
Really? he said then. And how are you going to do that?
I'm going to get more irate with you, and I will be a living hell.
Ooh... sounds fun. I'll look forward to it.
I just glared that he brushed off my words like I called him a beautiful flower. Dick.
Yes, it's in my pants. And?
That's NOT WHAT I MEANT.
I know what you meant, he responded, chuckling. You're just so cute when you're angry.
I glared sharply.
"Alright, sorry about that," Mable said then, setting her phone down.
I sent him one last look before focusing on her.
"So where were we?" she asked.
"We were talking about school," I explained.
"Ah, yes! How's your major coming along? How are your grades?"
I just smiled sweetly. "Everything is going swiftly."
Hardly.
"Oh, I'm so glad!" She clapped her hands together. "That makes me happy." She gazed back up. "Tell me everything. I haven't seen you in so long!"
I shrugged. "Alright."
Apart from Dante. All parts of him are being erased from this conversation because he has—truly—pissed me off.
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