Sittting In a Tree...

The rest of the event was full of talented up-and-comers looking for the practice they needed for the bigger shows they dreamed of. Dante sat with his date, his mind wandering off to the words she said. Were they about him? Did she mean more to him than what she was letting on? He hated guessing. He often wished he could just peer into people’s minds. It would make things much easier. It’s the anxiety of a crush that makes things exciting too, he feared. He deep down wouldn’t want this any other way. He thought about the warmth he felt whenever he thought about her. Something he hadn’t even felt from his ex. The need to talk to somebody. To check up on them constantly. Something beyond a crush. Or at least, for now. Dante just had to make sure she felt the same.

The show ended, and after a change of clothes, Imani came out in simple jeans and a tank top. Bags in hand.

Dante smirked. “You look even better now.”

Imani once again rolled her eyes like earlier. “Now you’re lying.”

He shook his head. “You could wear a clown suit and I’d still call you cute.”

“So you’re a good liar?”

Dante laughed. “I’m good at telling the truth.”

After another laugh escaped their lips, the duo began walking off, heading out deeper into the beach, being sure to take their time getting to the bus stop to head home. By then the sun reached its golden hour, leaving the waves infused with the warm yellow as it thrashed around, pounding the sand at random times. They were walking along the sidewalk, but Dante wanted a closer look, so he gestured for Imani to follow him, walking on the sand to see the sun closer.

“Damn,” Dante said as he reached the shoreline, seeing the tide slowly rise, hardly hitting his feet. “What a sight.”

Imani followed, humming in agreement. Seemingly at the same time, they both sit down, looking out at the lake for a while. Both with thoughts rushing as they sat with their shoulders touching, knees bumping. It’s the closest they’ve been. Dante looked at her and began to speak. “What made you wanna sing that?”

Imani cocked her head to the side subtly. “Huh?”

“You heard me. I know the waves ain’t that loud.”

She sighed as he looked away for a moment. “I… Well… I’m scared.”

“Of?”

“It’s hard to say. I’m scared of a lot of things, Dante.”

“What fear made you sing that song, then?”

Imani paused as she played with the sand using her feet. “Abandonment.”

Dante but a face of grimace, accidentally opening an old wound. “I’m sorry. We can stop talking about it…”

“It’s cool,” She gave him a weak smile. “I think I trust you enough anyways.”

“Who left you, If y-you don’t mind me asking…”

Imani nodded as she thought of the question. “Well, I can say quite a few. Some were self-inflicted, and some were just because they wanted to. My dad and my ex were big ones. Dad was an ass. I didn’t know him long, but he just left when I came home from school one time.” She shook her head as she thought of her father. “Then there was my ex. He flooded my head with all these promises. ‘I won’t leave you,’ or ‘I’m better than your dad I promise.’ What a load of it.” She gritted her teeth. “I just hate the thought of it. Relationships. But I want one so bad. I hate it so much.”

Dante blew air from his nose, thinking of what to say. “I can’t tell you I know what you’re going through because I don’t. I can’t imagine it. But I know you’re stronger and better-willed than anybody I met before. When…” Dante mentally blocked himself from saying the words, causing him to pause, but for Imani, he forced them out. “When my brother passed, I didn’t handle it well. It took me years to find it within me to even call myself Yung Miro without breaking down. Hell, even now it’s hard to say this to you but–”

Imani rested her head on Dante’s shoulder, fully trusting him. He paused, feeling not only the weight of her head but the guilt she held within her. She sighed as she got comfortable, allowing Dante to continue. “B-But I won’t promise you anything, Imani. I’ll just show you.”

Imani nodded. “I hope so, Dante.”

The golden hour was ending, so the duo wanted to spend the rest of the time having actual fun. They went to the nearby park and played like they were kids again, playing question games to pass the time, learning about their other hobbies, their favorite colors, and most importantly, the music they listen to.

“Well,” Dante started. “I listen to rap and R&B mainly, but I get with a little 80s music from time to time.”

“Yeah? Like what?” Imani asked.

“I mess with Men at Work heavy.”

“Ooh, me too! Favorite song?”

Dante tapped his chin as he sat on the swings. “Overkill.”

Imani nodded. “Nice, nice. I like Who Can It Be Now? a lot.”

Eventually, they reached the end of their date, leading them to the bus and ride the way home. Imani’s words on the beach rushed through Dante’s head like a missile. He hope that her fear of abandonment could be conquered, but with mental problems, you never know. All he could do is prove to her that he was here to stay and hopefully make those lyrics happier.

Imani’s stop was coming up first. She got up looking at Dante with a smile. “I had fun.”

Dante nodded. “So did I! Who doesn’t love dates on the beach?”

She giggled, looking at her date sweetly. “Let’s do it more, ok?” She moved to plant a kiss on Dante’s cheek leaving him speechless as the bus stopped. “What, no wisecrack?” She asked as she walked away, leaving Dante with a big, surprised smile on his face.

It was safe to say the date was successful.