Sweet As Sugar =VLANTE FF=

Sugar (Chapter 13)~Dusty Olive Garden

Dante's POV

Gene and I walk into Olive Garden, it being almost completely empty, "It's like a ghost town..." I mutter to myself. 

My footsteps echo, "Hello?" I call out. 

There's no reply, only the slight echo of my voice. I sigh, and continue to glance around. My breath hitches as a glass falls off a table. There's a small whisper. My fingers mess with the lint that lives in the pockets of my hoodie. I continue to turn my head in each direction. I glance at Gene, a smug smirk tugging on his lips. He doesn't seem frightened at all, which makes me both surprised, and suspicious at the same time. 

"What's that look for?" I ask. 

Gene snaps his head in my direction, "What face?" He questions. 

I give Gene an unamused look, "That little smirk!" I exclaim. 

Gene rolls his eyes, "It's nothing. Come on, let's seat ourselves." My older brother steps farther into the restaurant. 

"But--" I start. 

"No buts. Come along, youngling." He waves his hand a bit, motioning me to follow him.

I hesitantly obey, taking it step by step. My breath quickens as my footsteps get shorter, yet swifter. My senses are on high alert, "Calm down. You'll be fine." Gene assures. 

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding in, "And, 'youngling'? I'm only two years younger than you!" I exclaim. 

Gene sits down in a booth, a bit of dust flying from it, "Details, details." Gene knocks his knuckles on the table, "Waiter!" He exclaims. 

A small figure comes our way, "Welcome to Olive Garden! Today we have BREADSTICKS!" The waitress says 'breadsticks' with an exaggerated voice, "And," The worker steps into the light. 

She has tan skin, caramel eyes and black hair, "Aphmau?" I question. 

She giggles, "Hi!" She waves excitedly, a huge smile on her face. 

"What are you doing? Don't you have classes?" I ask. 

She giggles once again, "Nope! Hehe, Mr. Winklez didn't show up to class today, so we all got to leave!" She answers. 

"It's Mr. Wrinkqles." I correct. 

"Winkles." She gives off a contagious childish grin.

A grin forms on Gene's face as well, it being almost identical to Aphmau's, "I know what both of you boys like, so, I'll be back with those drinks! Brb, BFFs!" She bolts off, the pitter-patter of her feet ringing through out the empty restaurant. 

"'Brb BFFs!'?" I mumble to myself. 

That doesn't sound like something Aphmau would usually say, "I'm trying out this new language thing. My mom wants me to be her homegirl. So, to be a homegirl, you gotta talk like one, yo!" Aphmau informs as she sets our drinks down. 

"Gurl, you don't even know." I whip out my valley girl voice that I've been wanted to use for a while now, just haven't gotten the change to use. 

"GURRRRLLL!" Aphmau shouts. 

I chuckle, then Gene gets up, "If you'll excuse me, I'll be back." He walks off, heading in the direction of the restrooms. 

"I'll be back with your food." Aphmau skips away, leaving me to my lonesome. 

I'm about to pull my phone from my pocket, when I hear someone clear their throat. I prop my head up and see Vylad sitting across from me, "Hey!" I exclaim. 

Vylad smiles, then boops my nose, "'Sup, home boi?" Vylad questions. 

"Vylad, you've been hanging around Aphmau too much." I say as I swirl my straw around in the glass of water Aphmau had fetched for me. 

"She is my not-alone-buddy." Vylad reminds. 

"Touché." I state. Vylad smiles, then we start talking.

But..

One thought doesn't budge from my brain.

What's taking Gene so long?

****

Gene's POV

"Take lots of pictures." I whisper to Aphmau. 

We're spying on Vylad and Dante, "I ran out of space on my phone!" Aphmau whisper-yells. 

"Me too." I reply in a hushed tone. 

Aphmau pulls a camera out of nowhere, "I got you covered!" She grins. 

"Where'd you get that?!" I question. 

"Not important. Vlante. Pictures. Aphmau must take." She starts to talk in third person. Oh, Irene....