Little Talks

Right after the show, Jonesy and Spencer started to load the van back up. They were going to drive it back to be store away and head back to school, having only come for the show. Dante and Nix helped load the last of of the stuff and the other two drove off.

"Better prepare for the fans." Nix elbowed Dante in the ribs. "I'm heading back to the guest house." she said, "I want to get cleaned up before the bonfire. Can't catch the kind of people I'd want to date smelling like a gym bag."

Dante rolled his eyes, "I don't think we made that big an impact." he shrugged. "But yeah that's true." he said plugging his nose in a teasing way, "Might need two." he joked, getting him a gut punch for his efforts.

Dante also headed back to the guest house, grabbing a quick shower and changing into a short sleeved hoodie and joggers.

"Hey Dante." a random female voice said, from behind him.

"Uh..hi." he said, turning to see 5 girls. "Nix was right..." he thought, "What can I do for ya'll?" he asked.

"So... want to come to the bonfire with us?" one of them asked.

They had all gotten closer and were sort of circling him. "This must be how sealions feel..." he thought. "I was already going so..." he wasn't allowed to finish his sentence.

"Great!" yet another one said, "See," she turned to the fourth girl. "I told you those two weren't dating."

The fourth girl stuck her tongue out, "Doesn't prove anything. He's a rockstar, I've seen Almost Famous I know what rockstars do." she stated. "So I might still be right."

"Dating who?" Dante cut in.

"Green girl" The first one said, "You two have the chemistry of couple so we just figured you two were dating. But then we talked about it and figured you'd not play songs like you did if you two were dating, so you must be single."

"Right..." Dante said.

--

About twenty minutes after getting to the bonfire, Dante had grown tired of their chattering, questions about music (and their bad taste in it), and several other topics that he wasn't even sure why he was there if that's what they were going to talk about. Dante vanished from the small group.

Dante let out a big sigh as he strolled down the beach. From where he was no one could see him but he could see the bonfire. Trick of the light.

Some distance down the beach he spotted someone sitting in the sand. Dante approached them. "Hey everything Okay?" he asked.

Jocelyn let out a startled yelp.

"Yea..." she said, "everything is fine..." she sniffled.

"Doesn't sound fine." He plopped down onto the sand next to her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, "we can just sit if you don't but I need a break from the party." he told her.

"You're not gonna be like the others are you?" she asked him.

Dante had no clue what that meant. "Like the others?

"Yeah..." she said. "I got convinced to come here to this party by someone, then the day we got here, He's not talked to me since. I thought I liked him. I wanted to tell him. But all he's done all weekend is talk to other girls and left me to just fend for myself after I told him I wasn't used to being around people like this." she began. "and then when I was waiting for a chance to talk to him at the bonfire. Maybe the lightness of the whole thing would ease everything, but he was talking to that girl Blossom. So then I came here. Away from the bonfire so no one would see me cry."

"If he's treating you like this, even if he doesn't mean it the way it seems. He's still not considering how you feel. And if he's more worried about pretending to be a player, and is actively hurting you. He isn't worth your time." he told her. "You might find him cute but if his priorities are shit you're just going to get hurt over and over. Reminds me a bit of my old man." Dante went on. "See my mom was a beauty queen. Very pretty lady, right. Dad attractive enough to make a good looking kid." Dante chuckled, letting her know it was a joke, "but see he's got the insides of a troll, ugly and mean. Well he always thought himself a solid 10. Long painful story short he cheated on my mom A lot. Because he always wanted to trade up the the newer model, I'm not saying this guy is that much of a bustard, I'm just saying don't get hurt by someone who'll leave you the first chance they get after a girl they think is pretty smiles at them."

---

another 20 minutes later

After talking for nearly half an hour

"Burr." Jocelyn said. "I think we should head back. It's getting chilly."

"True." Dante said. "Here though." he pulled off his short sleeved hoodies and handed it to her. A thin shirt under it.

"Thank you." she said slipping it on, with their height difference it was nearly a short dress on her coming down over half way to her knees.

With that the two walked back. Not seeing Nancy on the way.