Loving and Learning

First Flighting Part 3

Elvira cut off her own thoughts. She didn't want to jump to any conclusions. She looked up at the clouds as they gathered more as she put up the blanket. She walked up to Dante, a smile on her face.

"So Dante." She said.

Dante faced her, he put up a bored expression in hopes of deterring her.

"It's probably gonna storm here soon, you wanna come back to our place and we can put on scary movie. I can get chewy snacks as well." Elvira said.

She leaned a bit towards him.

"Sure, I see nothing better to do while the world is ending." Dante said flatly, even rolling his eyes for good measure.

"Great." Elvira said.

"Crud, this is not working. I'm being too soft. Portia was right." Dante thought.

Elvira's seemed to regained her pep in her step as her tail wagged. Dante knew he had to think of something.

"W-wait." Dante said, trying not panic.

Elvira looked back at him, confused.

"We....can't remember, I'm not allowed to be around that stuff anymore." Dante reminded.

"Oh yeah, that's right. Well we can watch the sequel of the movie we watched yesterday." Elvira said, unfazed.

Dante didn't respond. He seemed out of ideas.

"What's wrong with you?! Do you want to hurt her! Is that why you're being so passive?!"

"N-n-no." Dante said.

"No?" Elvira said.

Dante was so focused on his thoughts he had forgotten Elvira was standing in front of him. He looked up at her in a panic.

"N-no! I mean I can't, I-I uh....I got..." Dante stuttered.

He was so panicked, he was struggling to think of an excuse. He lowered his head in thought, looking at the ground. Elvira could feel her worry return.

"Dante, I'm starting to think you aren't ok? Please if something is wrong, tell me." Elvira said gently.

"You're a terrible friend if you are hesitating this much to make her leave!"

"She...just....wants to help."

All this inner turmoil and uncertain what to do was now making Dante feel frustrated and he clutched his head.

"Dante!" Elvira called out, reaching her paw out to him.

"I'M FINE!!" Dante snapped, brushing her paw away.

Elvira flinched back in shock, looking afraid.

"You have no chance to ever be with her."

Dante breathed slowly in shock and tried to calm himself down. His body felt like it was malfunctioning as he felt his heart sink looking at her distressed face.

"I'm ok....I don't need to talk...everything is fine, ok Elvira. Things have been better for me. Like I said I don't need anymore emotional support, I don't ne-"

Dante stopped, knowing what he was about to say. His heart was racing and his paws were twitching, he was struggling to say it, he didn't want to. Elvira was so much more than a friend to him, she had done so much just being the first to ever willingly listen, to accept him, befriend him. She was the one for him, and he was giving all that up. All he wanted now was to protect her and he couldn't even say the words to do so.

But as he saw Elvira's face looked down with a realization, he saw he didn't have to.

"Are....you saying that....you don't need me anymore? That all I am is some emotional crutch for you?" Elvira asked, looking disappointed.

"No! You are more than that! I can't stand doing this to her!" Dante thought.

"Ye-I m-mean no, it's n-not...that. I-I just." Dante stuttered.

He wasn't prepared for what happened next.

"Then what is it!" Elvira yelled angrily, getting up close on his face, glaring at him.

From the field, Juday lifted his head at the commotion and looked on.

Dante felt his body droop. Seeing Elvira so upset and angry was both heart-breaking and scary. He couldn't blame her though, but he didn't feel prepared for this, he honestly thought Elvira would just be sad and leave.

"I-I....ughh." Dante stuttered, sweating harder than ever.

"You have been acting weird all day! First you don't show up and I have to go get you! You seem like your bored and don't want to be here, but then at times you seem ok. You are giving me a lot of mixed signals and you need to tell what's going on, now!" Elvira demanded. 

"It's....complicated E-Elvira. I-I can't tell you." Dante said.

Elvira took a couple steps back and sat down, taking a deep breath, with the most serious expression Dante had ever seen on her. It was jarring.

"Dante..." Elvira said.

Breathing heavily again, he can see her trying to refrain from her face looking sad.

"Are we friends.....or do you...sigh...want me to leave?" Elvira asked.

"No!!! I don't want you to leave!!" Dante's thoughts raced.

"So you don't really love her?!"

"I-I don't kn-" Dante cut himself off.

Elvira sat silently, waiting for an answer. He couldn't stop looking into her beautiful eyes. He didn't have the heart to crush her.

"Say it already!!"

As if making a decision for him, Dante felt his trembling body suddenly run in the opposite direction of her without a word. He was panicked, scared, sad, and lost. All he felt he could do was run, away from everything.

Back home.