Vivid Memories

Chapter 21

Penny, all the way from Washington state, traveled to my place and she decided to help me look - in her words and not mine - look pretty for my date. Penny is one hundred percent the best friend I do not deserve I mean, yeah sure she's a rich girl who can afford to do this, but she didn't have to at all. I think she's overcomplicating the situation though. Honestly, I still didn't know how to feel about him. Sure, Dante was sweet and nice and gentle. He's such a great guy and his eyes are beautiful like the sun and the moon. His lips...

God, I need to stop fantasizing about him. 

I told Penny to do what she wished with me. From my makeup to what I'll be wearing. I saw such an exciting expression from her face. I trusted Penny and it was the least I could do while she's here. She did say, however, she did not know what kind of style or girl Dante liked. I haven't told her that Caitlyn and him dated, because she might try to make me look like her ex and a) that is such a bad idea and b) no way am I going to look like Caitlyn at all. Not in my life.

In the meanwhile, I texted Dante to meet at nine, as Penny said. He took his time in replying (like he read it, saw it, saw his reply bubble go big and small several times and then he replied).

We were talking about what we did during our holidays in the time I was getting ready. Penny found it so sweet that Tyler traveled from California to her home state for a week and they did things that were nice and some things which I cannot say, but I can just 50 Shades and anyone who was listening can then understand what they did. Penny actually admitted she was able to come here because Tyler was heading home anyway, but even so, she would have come here for me without him.

Yup, sisters before misters.

Dante was picking me up around eight-thirty. Our movie was around about 9 anyways. It was eight already and Penny just finished. (She started around half-six and how here we are.) She decided to make me wear what Dante and she bought for me at Christmas. She also gave me a fishnet which had a length from my waist to my ankles. God a white hoodie crop top, a waist fishnet and then ripped jeans with black and white trainers. I guess you could say my style is black and white.

Eyeliner, pink lipstick, pink eyeshadow, concealer and some other shit that I usually don't wear unless I had some sort of event to go to like prom or something. She really went all out. I looked so different like I was another person.

Penny smiled and almost teared up. She was looked like a mother looking at her child graduate college even though her child got told she wasn't going to amount to anything. I wasn't that ugly, right?

There was a knock on the door. Opening it up, I saw Dante. He was wearing a blazer, with a white-colored shirt and ripped black jeans and trainers. But what I couldn't seem to take my eyes off was his face. He... He removed his fringe. His heterochromia was clear in view. His hazelnut eye on his right and his grey eyes in his left. There were a nervous look and smile on his face.

"Hey," He greeted. "You look great."

"Yeah, you too," I replied. God, it was still awkward. "I, uh, love your blazer."

"Thanks," He replied, examining me. "I see you wore what Penny and I got you. You look... amazing."

"Thanks!" Penny popped her head out from the window. "I worked hard on her!"

"Penny!"

"I want her back before midnight Dante!" Now she's acting like a mum.

"Alright Penny, I get it," He chuckled and waved at him. "Let's go, Avalon."

So we got into Dante's (I say Dante's, it was more his Dad's car) Jeep and got to the cinema. Neither of us spoke much in the car. Just radio and for some annoying reason cheesy love songs. I feel like fate wanted to say something, but we both chose to ignore it. I never knew Dante could drive, but I'm glad he can.

We didn't have the faintest idea of what movie we were going to watch, so we stood there, just thinking about it. Maybe we looked like we were on a date or maybe a couple of besties. Who knows?

"What about the rerelease of Weathering With You?" He asked me, somewhat unsure. To be fair, it was an anime and I had no clue why it was in the cinema, but hey, you do you cinema.

"Uh, sure?" I replied. I had no objections. If he wanted to watch it, why not? Besides, I wasn't really interested in some of the other films.

So we got our popcorns, snacks, and tickets. Dante paid for all of it, despite my objections. He insisted since his family gave him money to do so. He swears he's not rich but good lord, have you seen what he owns?

We finally sat down in the film and watched it. We didn't much again. But I was thinking about Dante. He must have cut his fringe off for me. He never had a reason to remove it, until I kept asking him to do so. Dante... He's trying his best for me.

After the movie, Dante and I talked about how much we loved the film. He and I never watched it before, so it was a treat. It was so interesting, plotwise and character-wise, but even so, the movie's animation was to die for. I can see why he likes anime.

"This was such a fun night," Dante laughed and we were walking back to the car. "Ah... Thanks for tonight."

"I should be thanking you, Dante," I replied, chuckling. "You paid for everything. You didn't have to."

"Well, consider it my treat."

"Speaking of which, why did you cut your fringe?" I asked, stopping in front of his car. "Like, didn't you say you wanted to hide it?"

"I thought about myself and you," He blushed softly and looked away, before looking back at me with a satisfied expression. "You wanted me to be honest with myself, and how I hiding my fringe was denying who I was. So... My New Year's resolution was to openly accept my eyes and my appearance because I don't want to deny who I am anymore."

"Dante..."

"And you Avalon," Dante walked towards me and I could feel my face going slightly red. He touched my face the same way he placed his hand on my cheek after our first kiss. "I don't think you should do what I did. I don't know why you put makeup on. You... You look better without the makeup. You're naturally beautiful."

He blushed redder than I before he looked away and placed his hand away. He smiled and chuckled nervously before heading back to the car.

"I-I'll drive you home, Avalon," He smiled again, his face was so satisfied, but I could tell he wanted to kiss me again, or maybe that's what I wanted from this situation. I don't know anymore "I'm glad you had fun. I think that's the highlight of my evening."

Dante...