Like the out-of-nowhere gentleman he was, Dastan drove back to my house and opened the door for me and Jem. While Jem just ran around the alley for the garage, Dastan and I stayed behind at his truck.

"So what do you want to do today?" he asked.

"You're not gonna bully me into anything?" I asked with fake surprise. He gave me a goofy face that said he didn't appreciate that, but I giggled instead. "Uh, I don't really don't know."

Really, I didn't care. As long as Dastan was being remotely considerate towards me, I didn't care if we were watching paint dry.

"Wanna watch some movies?" he asked. I shrugged.

"I don't really know what's out in theaters—"

"No, no, no. I meant movies at home," he chuckled. "There's no way I'm taking you to the theater."

I shuddered with self-confidence issues. Was he embarrassed of me? I slightly looked down and he nudged my arm for a second.

"It's because there, I'd have an urge to make out with you or something," he assured with a turn-up of his nose. I could imagine Dastan bringing tons of girls into the dark theater room only for him to make a move early on and make out with them for the rest of the time. However, with our closeness right now—as he towered over me—I actually wanted to go to the theater.

However, he stepped back from me and I heard a car pull up from the alley. Sebastian had the window rolled down to his self-fixed car and had shades on. He didn't even need to wear them for me to register his disappointment about me standing with Dastan.

"We're gonna go to the movies and go to the bowling alley and go..." Jem started to list. I guess the theater is out of the question now.

"Dad didn't say when he and Veronica would be back," Sebastian informed.

"Sweet, no curfew," Dastan cheered. I slightly laughed as I faced him and then looked back to Sebastian, who scoffed.

"He didn't leave any money on the table, so good luck with being broke," Sebastian added and then drove off. Is it me or is he always in a pissy mood when Dastan was around?

"He acts like I'd let you pay," Dastan snorted.

"I paid for pizza and the zoo," I reminded.

"That's because Jem was there and I didn't want to argue with you," he said.

"Argue about what?"

"On whether this is a date or not."

***

"This is what's going to happen. You insulted him and he's pissed. You're secretly scared of him and questioning when exactly he'll come after you. After a while, it'll become a game and then you'll start falling for him because who wouldn't? Well I'm here to tell you that it's not going to happen because it's impossible to happen, alright?"

We had agreed to disagree all night about this being a date or not, but as we were on our way home from the DVD store (only Dastan Vega would buy ten DVDs instead of rent them) I kept thinking of what Mickie said the first time I really talked to her.

Is it really impossible for me to fall for Dastan? Maybe she wanted it to be, or she was hinting that no one ever truly did—besides herself. And then I remembered when Nik said that Dastan and Mickie had never gone out. So she was really the one stuck in the friendzone no matter how affectionate she could act. Well, maybe? After all, I had seen them make out. However, something else had me worried.

"Warden, I asked you a question—"

"Have you ever dated anyone before?" I asked him. No. I did not ask him. I blurted it out of him with no self control.

"Uh, that was...unexpected," he commented. I raised an eyebrow. "It's complicated."

"How so?" I asked, curiously.

"I haven't ever had...a connection or trust with someone to actually date them, but I have 'gone out with' a lot of girls," he admitted. 

"And still no connection?"

He looked over to me with rich brown eyes.

"None," he said in a single breath. Great to know my arising feelings wouldn't be returned. "It's strange though. Like with you and Mickie."

"Oh?" Great. Mickie.

"First, I want you to know that going into our date today, Mickie has never been my girlfriend," he started. So. He thinks this is a date. Two people alone and the male paying isn't a date, Dastan. I sighed. Not of his opinion, but of his lie about Mickie. "But I can't deny that I do have a lot in common with her and it's socially acceptable for me to be with her, however I don't have that...attraction to her unless I have a lot going on."

"Meaning what?" 

"Meaning that, I'm gonna regret saying this, but making out with her makes my problems go away, and..." I didn't interrupt him with words. It was my pathetic laughter that did it. I noticed he pulled up to my house and I couldn't do anything else but want to run inside and laugh at this day. And not in a joyous way. So as soon as we stopped, he started to chase after me when I leapt out of his truck. "Wait. Let me finish—"

"Why? So you can still feel as if your...friends with benefits thing is justified as you still sleep around?" I asked pathetically. "If that's the case, then I have no reason to hang out with you the rest of the day, nor do you have the right to say this is a date when we both know how you want this to play out."

"You didn't let me finish," he said, reaching to touch me, but then his hand snapped back to his side without me even stepping back. His eyes cried in desperation, but I only glared at him.

"Angela? Vega?" a voice of Nik said, stepping out of the apartment building. He looked between us and instantly caught the tension. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing—"

"Just waiting for Dastan to leave so he can go hook up with Mickie if there's too much stress I give him," I sneered.

"Stop being so—"

"Vega wouldn't do that," Nik defended.

"Thank you..."

"Because he's too damn selfish to pull in someone to add to his drama," Nik added, receiving a glare from Dastan and me. He had proved today that he wasn't selfish at all. Stubborn, yes, but not selfish. Nik stepped over to me. "Don't waste your time. Cheyenne's in there waiting to rant for another twenty minutes about her Proliator fantasies. Is your brother home?"

"He just left before we did," I informed. Nik nodded once and then started to walk away, smacking shoulders with Dastan. I turned to walk inside to talk to Cheyenne and then Dastan jumped in front of me before I reached the elevator. I nearly growled. "What are you doing?"

"You didn't let me finish," he said with dark eyes. "I may be that way with Mickie, but with you—"

"I'm different?" I accused, narrowing my eyes. Memories of the Proliator etched itself back into my brain and then I looked around and stepped away from him, even though that was in the opposite direction of my original travel path.

"You are different," he whispered.

"Why? Because I'm the first girl you don't want to make out with?" I muttered, discouraged.

"No...because you're the first girl I finally feel that connection with," he said. My eyes met his. "I don't need to kiss you or do anything with you to let go of my problems because when I'm around you, I don't have any. But Hayden and Nik in the way, I'm sure you can't see it this way."

Well actually...

Before I could finish that thought, he stepped out of my way and gestured for the elevator. When I pressed the button and stepped inside, Dastan kept his gaze on me the entire time.

***

"Where have you been!? I needed you here hours ago!" Cheyenne said, rushing to hug me as soon as she opened her door. And there, it took her hours to explain what exactly happened last night.

She was drunk (of course) and she still insisted on driving home. However, she was out of control and fell asleep at the wheel, yet when she was about to drive off of the bridge, Proliator stopped her car. He told her that she should've sobered up before she drove and she was in shock an awe to do anything. He moved her car to the street and then he carried her home. That's when Cheyenne's memory started to waver. She swore she saw the Proliator confront Sebastian as he left the house, but that would be completely ridiculous in her mind.

But in mine, not a chance. The Proliator said he knew Sebastian, but he hinted that it wasn't a good relation. Naturally, I just sat there and let her rant about it without her even realizing my sadness from what happened with Dastan. I was mostly bummed that my good mood from this morning was ruined.

"So how did you get home?" Cheyenne asked me.

"I got a ride from—oh. You mean the party," I replied. "I got a taxi."

"Oh good," she sighed. Yeah...I wish she had followed the same good behavior instead of risking her life and others'. "What's up with you today?"

"I'm just tired," I lied. The reason as to why I was humble wasn't because I was tired, but there's no doubt about me being tired.

"Oh..."

"I've been out all day and Nik caught me outside and said you wanted to talk about last night, so—"

"You can just go and take a nap then. Sorry for keeping you awake," Cheyenne allowed.

"It was no problem," I sighed, standing from her bed. I made it back to my house and saw Dastan sitting cross-legged in front of my door. I sighed. "I'm really not in the mood to—"

"You promised me the rest of the day," he recalled.

"Well you promised me—"

"Me," he finished. I stayed silent, wondering what he would say next. He stood up. "That's what I'm giving you. Yeah, I screw up sometimes, but at least I'm being honest and trying to make up for it."

I unlocked my door and walked in. I made my decision.

"Come in if you want, but don't expect me forgive you so quickly," I told him. He grabbed my waist and placed me against the wall.

"That's fine. I keep my expectations low with you anyways," he whispered. I scoffed and then walked around him. As I walked up to my room, I told him how to play the DVDs, but I would be up in my room, changing into my pajama bottoms and falling asleep. Two minutes after my head hit the pillow, I was being carried some place and I didn't have to open my eyes to take a guess.

"Can't you tell that I was sleeping?" I mumbled as I felt the couch beneath me.

"Can't you tell that I want to watch movies with you?" he asked.

"Fine," I grumbled, only because his gesture was cute...and that I was probably going to fall asleep here anyways. I opened my eyes to see the Dreamworks title sequence. Of course he was a child enough to watch Shrek first.

Dastan sat on the couch, but I grabbed a pillow and placed it on his lap. He didn't even move at that. I laid my head on the pillow and curled up next to him without a word. All he did was put his arm around my waist. His touch, there, gave me energy enough to keep my eyes open and finish out the movie...and the sequel...and the third...and fourth...but after seeing "How to Train Your Dragon" on the screen on our fifth movie, that's when I fell asleep.

***

When I woke up, I was in my own bed. How I got there, I wasn't able to tell you. I looked over to my alarm clock and it was only nine o'clock. My phone chirped from the pocket of my pajamas as if knowing I woke up.

Dastan: Sorry I left early.

I called his number.

"It's fine," I told him. I heard his breathy laugh. "What?"

"Your voice after you wake up is so cute," he commented. "But you know, you didn't have to call me."

"Oh," I muttered. "Well you must be busy so I'll let you go."

"I'm not busy at all," he informed. "Hayden is here just—"

"Hayden?" I asked like an idiot. I completely forgot about him. I'm sure he hates me more now that I blew him off—in defense of my brother, yet I still spent the day with Dastan. "Could you...not...tell him about today?"

"Too late for that," Dastan notified. "Uh...he wants to talk to you."

"No. Dastan, don't—"

"So you choose my best friend, huh?" Hayden said. I thought y'all were just punching bags.

"I didn't choose him, it just sort of—"

"Angela, do you realize how stupid that is?" he hissed to me. What? "He doesn't want you."

"That's enough, Hayden—" I heard in the background.

"See?" Hayden asked. "He won't want you like I do. Yet you're going to sit there and make up some lame excuse in order for you to be a complete hypocrite."

"That's it—" I heard Dastan growl and then something smashed before the phone call was lost.

He doesn't want you.