"Lea?" Bella questioned with distaste. She disliked Lea. She thought Lea was a rather rude and conceited girl. But maybe it was because she was just mad and protective, not wanting Lea to get to her boyfriend. She didn't ask any more questions as they quickened their paste and felt Dante tug her to the door.

She smiled as she walked in first, looking around the busy pizza parlor. There were a total of fifteen tables in the restaurant. Ten were taken up while two still had to be cleaned. Two people stood in line at the register, ordering their pizza while a guy walked over to the pick-up counter for his to-go box. "So what kind of pizza do you want to split? Or we can do half and half?" Bella asked as they got in the hardly-moving line and she turned to Dante with a smile, holding both of his hands.

Dante flinched at the way Bella sounded when she said Lea's name. It made him automatically nervous, like she knew he'd lied to her. But apparently, she'd forgotten of her quickly since she mentioned something else a second later.

"Well, you already know I want chicken pineapple with hot sauce." Dante said, answering Bella and smiling into her eyes. He slowly let go of her hands, since they were beginning to get sweaty, and he stood next to her in line. The guy behind the register smirked at Bella slightly, as if to say, "Hey, babe." Dante rolled his eyes at the guy who had to be at least 23 years old.

Bella cringed in a playful way at his taste. They both knew how much of a picky eater Bella was when it came to toppings on her pizza. "Half on half it is," she said with a giggle as she brushed off the cold feeling when Dante slowly let go of her hands. Oblivious of the guy behind the register, she looked up at the menu's toppings list. "I'll stick with the ranch with broccoli and mushrooms I guess," she said with a smile as she then looked over at Dante, finally realizing how the guy behind the register was looking at her. She felt creeped out. So as a defense mechanism, she wrapped an arm around Dante's, hiding slightly.

Dante glanced at the man. He was still looking at Bella as he handed them a pizza five minutes later.

"Hey, guy. Blink much?" Dante laughed as he guided Bella to one of the booth tables. The man's eyes seemed to follow them around the room. Dante could see him continuing to stare in his peripheral vision as he ate. After he finished his first slice, he stood, told Bella he'd be back, and walked to confront the man.

"You come here often?" Were the first words out of the guy's mouth. "Um... yeah." he said slowly. "Is that your sister?" he asked, gesturing toward Bella. "No, that's my girlfriend, and I'd appreciate if you wouldn't stare her down like she's a piece of meat." he said, biting his lip as he finished talking. "Her? Oh honey. I was staring at you. I just, I kinda thought you weren't with her." the guy said. Dante's eyes widened. He couldn't've thought he was gay, could he have? Dante nodded no. "I'm straight. Sorry, bro." was all he said as he walked back to his girlfriend. He couldn't believe how many people seemed to be attracted to him lately! Colleti, now this pizza guy, and there had been that one chick last week that smiled at him in the grocery store. He felt like laughing. Knowing that he was that much in demand made him feel elated.

Bella had her eyes on Dante the whole time as she nibbled at her pizza. He seemed sort of upset about the whole staring issue the pizza guy had. "Everything okay, sweetie?" Bella asked as she took a sip of her Pepsi, her eyes narrowed in on Dante as he watched him sit down. "You seem upset," she said as she took her un-greasy hand and placed it upon Dante's. She glanced back at the guy and noticed a few others in the room looking their way. Guys and girls. It suddenly made her feel self conscious.

"Amazing what Summer does to people," Bella mumbled as her face went red and she looked down at her half-eaten pizza. Deciding to change the subject, she shook it off and smiled at Dante, taking her hand back so she could grab onto her Pepsi bottle. "So do you think we'll get to go to prom this year?"

Dante chuckled, still finding the cashier and the other girls funny. "I'm not upset. Y'know, that cashier basically just asked me out." he said, barely able to get the words out through his laughs. He finally realized that everyone was looking at them. Being the macho guy that he was, he instinctively said, "What y'all wont?" he asked, causing a few people to turn around and others to turn their looks but continuously glance at their table.

Bella nearly chocked on her bite she had just swallowed down. She never had to face a problem like that before where a gay guy was interested in her boyfriend. To hide her shock, she took another bite of her pizza, but chewed slowly and awkwardly this time due to the fact that the ones who were staring at the two caused her some discomfort. She loudly gulped down her piece. "As much as I hate to say this but...can we, like, hurry up and eat so we can go elsewhere?" She didn't wan to sound rude or push or a complainer, but it was really bothering her. She thought maybe they can just go to his or her house and just watch a movie.

"Uhm, okay." Dante said. Bella seemed urgent. He shoved his last medium-sized slice of pizza down his mouth at once, grease lightly dripping down his chin. He swallowed it whole like a shark, then wiped his hands and face in his napkins. "What do you wanna do? We got a whole day together, you know. Hey! Maybe we can go down to Dino's and watch that movie Transformers! It's got action for me, love for you, comedy for everyone! He's also got every Tyler Perry ever made, and he has Friends season 2 on DVD." Dante began. His head was rushing from the pizza. He gulped his soda and continued. His eyes were navy with excitement. "Or we can go to the park? You wanna go to the park? It's romantic there. Y'know, sitting side by side on the swings, watching the clouds in the sky..." he said, gazing into dreamily Bella's eyes.

Bella couldn't help but giggle at Dante. He was being so cute. He was always that way whenever he got excited like that. "Whoa, sweetie, slow down. I'm up for anything. It's whatever you want to do. But we gotta stay organized. What do you want to do first?" she asked in a giggly voice as she took her last bite of her pizza, wiping her hands and mouth with her napkin and then taking the last long sip of her soda. She wished she had days like today everyday.

"I know! We can go to my house first. By now, everyone should be gone. I've got Season 1 of Jersey Shore on DVD. We can watch it. Or we can go to Dino's and watch Friends. It's your pick, babe." Dante replied as he stood to throw his trash in the trash. He returned shortly. "Although, I think Colleti is supposed to be at Dino's so you probably don't wanna go anyways." Dante said, a slight sadness in his eyes. The idea of spending time with his best friend and girlfriend was bliss. They balanced eachother out enough that there was no stress for him. "Although, that's only a fifty fifty chance of her actually being there. They just started hangin' out yesterday." Dante said, trying to persuade Bella. He looked into her eyes again, this time more alluringly, well, what he considered to be alluringly. It looked like he was trying to shoot lasers from his eyes.

He was trying to be alluring. It was cute. She smiled. She needed to think about what others want sometimes. She nodded her head. "We can go to Dino's. I honestly would rather watch Friends rather than Jersey Shore..." she murmured as she got to her feet and took his hand. "But if she's there, I'm going to be jealous--just so you know," she said as she thought about it. She didn't want that girl anywhere near her boyfriend. She was hoping that Colleti and Dino were going to hook up so she wouldn't have to worry about it. She was so sick of worrying. It caued problems. Lots of them.

As if on cue, Dino's phone rang. It was Dino. He answered quickly. "Huh-llo?" he said. "Hey, Danny. Uh, listen. You wanna, maybe, do a double date thing later this week? If it'd be okay with Bella..." Lea Colleti said on the other line. "Oh! You and Dino are dating now?" Dante asked, kind of excited. There was no way that Bella could get angry if Dino was dating Lea. "Uhm, actually, Lea, we're going to Dino's in a few minutes. You wanna watch tv with us?" he said, glancing at Bella. "Oh, well, you wanna go out after? I don't just wanna watch tv." "We're actually in the pizza place now. Maybe another time. Anyways, see ya there." Dante said before hanging up.

He looked at Bella, kind of scared of what she'd say. He knew she heard the conversation. "I'm sorry. I know I shoulda asked you if you would care, although, I had to be polite!" he said, defending himself before he was even accused.

Bella just smiled and scoffed softly, shaking her head slowly. "How many times have I said not to say sorry? You say it too much," she said in a kind voice as she pressed her lips to his cheek quickly. "I don't mind, really." And even though she somehow did, she just wanted to go with the swing of things and make sure that her own boyfriend, who she loved with all of her heart, was happy and satisfied with things. She didn't want him to feel bad about anything whether missing out on something or worrying about how she felt about things. Most of the time, she found herself asked if their dates and hang-outs could be moved to a different time, which Bella had no problem with but always managed to feel somewhat disappointed. Nonetheless, she just had to remind herself that this will always happen during relationships. Bad feelings would have to be there to balance out the good no doubt.

Dante stood slightly. "You ready to go?" he said. He glanced at his watch. It was finally 4:00 pm. They could probably plow through about 6 Friends episodes before it was too late to be out. And he really was excited to be around Dino and Coletti, anyways. He was eager to make them him and Bella's 'go-to couple', the one couple they could talk to and hang out with all the time. Dante threw his things in the trash and waited for Bella to stand.

Bella got to her feet and smiled, nodding her head as she tucked a strand of fallen hair behind her ear. She gave Dante a small and shy smile as she slid her hand into his, hoping he'd be okay with it. She walked out of the restaurant, feeling the pairs of eyes burning into her back until they were finally out of site. Bella sighed and closed her eyes for a moment as they walked. She then opened them and looked up at Dante. "Do you love me?" she suddenly found herself asking. She immediately regretted that being that she knew well enough that it was a far-more-forward-than-comfort-zone kind of question.

Dante stopped walking once again and felt his hand start to shake and become clammy with sweat. He dropped Bella's like it was on fire. He knew that he was in love with her, but he'd never actually said it out loud. Well, he had, just not to anything living. Except the flowers Bella had once given him. He'd told them. But they didn't count.

Dante grabbed Bella's hand again and took a deep breath, ready to face his fears. He knew people told people they loved them all the time. Even when they didn't! He should be able to do it, especially since he actually loved the person he was going to say it to! He exhaled slowly, then began.

"I think I, uh, I uh, I love, you, um, B." he stuttered. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt the fakeness, the doubtfulness that his voice carried when he'd said them. He hoped Bella hadn't noticed.

(Sorry it took a while to reply! Things have been stressful and busy :( )

Bella sucked in a breath, feeling her heart sink. Sometimes, you need to put your foot down, she heard her one friend's voice ringing in her head as she thought back to when her friend talked to her about Dante when they first began to go out. Dante's her first boyfriend, but her friend was already experienced, giving Bella instant advice.

She thought back to Dante quickly dropping her hand when she asked Dante if he loved her. What was that supposed to mean? And then he took it again...and stuttered out words. "I-if you...love me, then why can't you say it to me while looking in my eyes and being able to say it easily?" she asked in a sad voice.

Dante scratched the back of his neck and quickly tried to think about things to change the subject to.

He could talk about the tv shows he'd watched last night, but he knew that she probably hadn't seen them.

He could talk about Dino, but he didn't have many new things to say about him.

He could talk about the party at Lea Colleti's sister Maria's house, but he didn't know if Bella had been invited.

There was a long silence as Dante thought about things to say. He felt his hands and forehead begin to sweat. "I know I love you. I'd marry you if I could but, well, y'know, we're under-aged and all." he said reluctantly.

(I'm really sorry I've been slow with my replies lately! My mom and I are throwing a big baby shower for my sister so I've been molding chocolate, making party favors, looking for gifts and door prizes, plus school! But I should be good for this week!)

Bella was completely angry with herself. The last thing she wanted to be in her first relationship was a whiny girlfriend. Let alone someone who was picky and paid attention to too many things at once. That was the kind of girlfriend she was feeling like at the moment. She knew that Dante was trying. She also knew that this was both of their's first relationship. Things were going to be tough, awkward, and unsure of how to handle. She had to keep reminding herself that .

She sighed. "I'm sorry if I seem picky and whiny. I hate feeling like I'm like that. I'm sorry," Bella murmured as she leaned over and pecked a small and passionate kiss on Dante's cheek for endearment, to lighten up the mood. "Like I've said before...I'm just scared you'll leave me or something." she felt her face heat up and her voice shake. The last thing she wanted right now was to appear vulnerable and weak.

Dante listened closely to the words coming from Bella's mouth. Uh-oh. Red alert time. She still didn't know about Deena Margo, his ex-ex-ex. And Gina Thompson, his ex-ex, and Carrie Martin, his ex. Bella didn't know anything about his love life before they were together. Sure, he'd been single for over a year and a half when he first even met her, but she didn't have to know about them. He had a feeling that'd be a bad thing if she was feeling the way she was.

"We'll be together forever! We'll get married some day, have 10 kids, live in our trailer, I'll work at a factory, our oldest, LaVonda, will have kids when she's 15..." Dante started. He laughed at his own fantasy, imaging it all. In truth, though, he could never imagine his actual wedding. He just knew it'd happen some day.He squeezed Bella's hand as they got to Dante's street. He spotted Colleti's old outdated Honda in front of the driveway. That meant Colleti and her sister was there.

Bella couldn't help but smile a huge, dopey smile as she listened to his silly fantasy. It was adorable and cute, but not something she'd want to happen. "Forever?" she whispered as she walked up close to him and rested her head on his shoulder. 10 kids? She feared of having 1 to begin with. And living in a trailer wasn't exactly apart of her dream life. Maybe a small one-floor house or an apartment. And she would one Dante to work his dream job. But then again, if working at a factory was his job, then that'd be fine. Whatever would float his boat of dreams.

Colleti was here. She wasn't sure how she'd be able to handle it. But she knew that for Dante, she could handle it.

Dante walked up to Dino's porch and opened the front door, which was always unlocked. The TV was on in the livingroom. Dino's family dog, Bull the Pit bull, greeted him at the door. "Yo Dino. Where you at?" Dante asked, walking fully into the house. "Kitchen." Dino shouted. Dante walked into the kitchen slowly, amazed at what he saw. Kerri "Kitty" Colleti was standing beside the fridge, wearing the most skimpiest pair of shorts and a tight t-shirt that was cut off right above her belly-button.

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"Hi, Dante. Long time, ain't seen ya? Whose this chick? Ya girlfriend?" Kitty asked, a flirty tone in her voice. Leah looked at her sister and frowned. She'd told her about a million times that Dante was her crush. She didn't have to start battin' her lashes at him right in front of her and his girlfriend. But of course, Kitty hadn't seen her staring, so she continued. "Y'know, You look alot older since the last time I seen you. You 18 yet?" Kitty asked. Dante nodded 'no'. Kitty turned back toward the fridge and went back to looking for a good snack. Now, it was Lea's chance to get him to notice her.

'Should I poof my hair? Should I just say hi? Or should I talk to the girl?' she thought confusedly as she glanced at Dante. She had to hurry and choose something. She chose the easiest option. "Hey, Dante. Don't mind Kerri. She's just a little bit of a floose." Lea said. Kitty turned from the fridge, her face in a shocked expression. Dino and Dante laughed as Kerri rolled her eyes and pulled a soda out of the cooler. Lea sighed and poofed her hair, happy to be at ease.

Bella had absolutely no denial of the fact that she felt so out of place. She had been here a few times before, but each time was the say. Colleti was always present, occasionally with her sister Kitty. But as usual, Kitty was simply dressed like a slut, which was the first word that came to Bella's mind. But her face deeply reddened at her self pity for feeling so bitchily judgmental. Her hand that held Dante's tightened slightly, hoping to get his attention. She simply felt so invisible in the presence of this group. Her looked down at her feet, afraid too look at absolutely anything else. Then her eyes wandered over to Bull. He was so adorable. Pit Bull was one of her favorite dog breeds. You wouldn't think Bella would be a dog person, but she was. She let go of Dante, and crouched down as Bull trotted over to her. She smiled and gave him a full, short pet.

"You guys have, like, no food here. Hey! Wanna go down to 31 flavors?" Kerri said, slamming the fridge door. "Who calls it 31 flavors anymore? This isn't the 90's." Dino laughed, smacking Kitty's butt. Dante could see that Dino was in obvious heaven. "Yeah! I want some. I want some bad. Okay, the more I talk about it the more I want it we have to go now." Lea said. "Oh really..." Dino said, mainly to Dante. Kitty punched his shoulder. "Stop bein' nasty. Anyways, Dante, Dante's friend, you wanna go?" she asked, moving over a little so she could look at the two while she said it. "I wanna go!" Dante whined. Bull howled at the sound.

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Lea smiled, excited to be around the crew. Kitty was keeping Dino busy while Bull was keeping Bella busy. It was perfect! She decided to make another move. "Hey, Dante? What's your favorite flavor?" she said flirtatiously, batting her lashes and pursing her lips. Dante blushed and looked away. She poofed her hair again and continued. "I like popsicles. Bubblegum popsicles. People think this is weird but I like to put sprinkles on 'em." Dante nodded, looking down at Bull, not wanting to make eye contact. "I like King Cones." Dante mumbled. Lea pouted and folded her arms across her chest, angry that he wasn't giving her the time of day.

Bella watched the scene with wide eyes. Was she seriously considered Dante's friend? That really angered her. And the fact that she didn't even seem the least interested in Bella's existence. And not to mention that she was flirting with Bella's boyfriend! Who does that anymore. What a mistake. She should have never come here in the first place. She sighed and crossed her arms for a moment, thinking things over. She should go for a run, prepare herself for the school's cross country team this year. Summer was almost over anyway.

She tugged at Dante's arm to get his attention. "Hey sweetie? I'm going to head home. I need to get in a run before it gets too late. Go on and have fun with your friends and text me later?" Bella asked as she moved so she stood in front of Dante, able to get up on her tip toes and peck him on the lips. She looked to see if anyone would acknowledge her leaving as she felt like she should wave to them, but she just turned her head back around and walked out of the house to head home.