Little Mafia Boy - Chapter 23: Chapter 23

{Dylan}
Mikhail was over at Dylan's apartment laying in his bed. He was texting on his phone so Dylan assumed he was talking to Nico. His phone was directly over his face with his arms stretched out. Dylan silently prayed to whatever God was out there to let the phone to fall down and smack him in the face.
He was a little annoyed at Mikhail for choosing someone like Nico to be his boyfriend. Dylan figured mikhail could do way better. He didn't like the idea of his best friend dating a Mafia member. It didn't sit right with him. Then again, it wasn't his place to intervene. He knew that much. Mikhail looked happier now than he had since they first met. The smile on Mikhail's face was very pure and genuine. Also, if he had to be honest, Nico wasn't as bad as Dylan thought. It was just that Nico's personality was shit with him but was different with Mikhail. Somewhere very, very deep inside of Dylan was a little relief that Nico was there for Mikhail. Nico was the strong pillars holding Mikhail up for a lack of better words. Now, would he ever say those words out loud? Definitely not. Especially not to Nico's face. He could already picture the jerk being an ass about it and hoped that day would never come.
"I know you're in a new relationship, hell, your first relationship really but I don't fancy being ignored, man." Dylan said looking at Mikhail through the mirror.
"Mhm."
Dylan rolled his eyes, "I'm moving to Vegas." He said knowing that Mikhail wasn't even paying attention so it wouldn't matter what he said from there on out.
"Great."
"I'm becoming a merman. Gonna be in tanks and stuff."
"Awesome."
"Then I'm moving to Atlantis."
"No way."
"I'm going to learn the ways of the mer-people and become their king."
"Waah, congrats."
"I'm pregnant."
Mikhail nearly dropped his phone on that last one. He turned his head and glared at Dylan, "What? Now I got to marry you off to some trucker that knocked you up? Can't wait to explain that one to your grandparents."
"Oh. Ha. Ha." Dylan said dryly and turned around. "He finally speaks but all I hear is sarcasm. You've been on that damned phone for an hour. Your conversation with your boyfriend can't be that interesting"
"Sorry." Mikhail flinched, feeling guilty, and put his phone on the dresser away from him. "Alright already. I'm done, okay? I'm all yours. What did you need?" He asked with a small smile.
Dylan groaned, "I need you to help me pick out my outfit."
Mikhail looked questionably at him and asked, "What? Are we doing the whole gossip talk as I dress you? Want me to braid your hair too? We can even paint each other's finger nails."
"I like my nails turquoise. If you paint anything other than my nail, you're dead to me." Dylan joked back.
"Now who's being sarcastic?" Mikhail stood up reluctantly and headed to his closet. He was rummaging through his clothes carefully, looking thoughtful. "So," he asked suddenly as Dylan was contemplating going out to buy contact lenses so that his glasses wouldn't fog up from the cold. Though, he didn't want to risk them falling out of his eye. Also, they scared the crap out of them. He didn't like putting plastic in his eyeballs. "You're serious about Max then?"
Dylan stopped everything he was doing and slowly turned to look at Mikhail, who hadn't stopped his task at hand. "What?" He asked out quietly.
"You don't have to hide it. Nico told me about the deal you two made."
"Ugh, seriously? I was kind of hoping he would keep that between the both of us. You think he told Max?" Dylan questioned.
"Doubt it. You've seen Max overreacts. He'd probably be really pissed if he found out. I doubt Nico wants to deal with a pissy sixteen year old. Which, by the way, is underage."
Dylan clicked his tongue quietly. He was tired of everyone throwing Max's age at him. He understood that nothing serious could really start between them yet. At least, not a physical relationship. Max still had a lot of things to work out on his own before Dylan even contemplated asking him out. What with whoever had beat him to a pulp and left him out to die and his side activities, Dylan doubted getting too serious right off the bat would end well. He understood that Max just needed time to find himself first. As well as Dylan.
Yes, he was aware that sex was apart of any relationship but it's not like he was dying to take the kid's underwear off and have his way with him immediately. Besides, Dylan still wasn't too comfortable knowing that Max had slept with multiple men, possibly women, in strange places for money. He knew he had to let it go but that was a lot easier said than done. It weighed down in the back of his mind always. Dylan had to work through a few things before he got absolutely serious about Max. However, he was going to wait until Max turned eighteen to finally make a decision. Since tonight would be a new year, only two years were left for them both to make a decision.
Would they stay together or evidently break apart? Would their story have a fairy tale ending or would each go their separate ways and live with different people. Dylan didn't know but he was willing to wait it out and see for himself.
"Touchy subject?" Mikhail asked taking clothes out from the closet and walking them over to the bed. He straightened them out neatly and looked at Dylan. "You don't have to explain. I was just a bit curious."
Dylan sighed again, longer this time. "Nah, it's fine." He said running his hand through his hair. "I'm willing to wait." He saw Mikhail's shocked expression and corrected himself quickly, "I'm not saying I'm in love with Max. I just... There's a connection. I can't help but like who I like. Yes, the age is a problem at the moment. I understand that. I'm not an idiot. There's a lot of factors I have to think about if I want to prevent from hurting Max in the future. He's been through a lot, you know? I don't want to go half-assed into a potential relationship with him and I also don't just want to give up. Listen, we're just friends for now.. Well, probably lower than friends by Max's standards. Maybe more than strangers but less than acquaintances. Ugh, the point is that I still have a lot to think about."
Mikhail looked like he was taking everything in that Dylan was saying. Dylan realized he probably made no sense. Hell, it made very little sense in his own brain. However, Mikhail being his best friend, smiled softly "Okay. I get it." He nodded.
"Really?" Dylan. Asked a little in disbelief, "because even I don't and I'm the one that said everything just now." He admitted.
"That's why I'm your best friend. I just made sense of your rambling." Mikhail said. "Here. Wear this." He had picked out. A simple pair of jeans that were worn out purposely on the knees. A long coat and a simple black shirt underneath. To top it all of a grey scarf.
"My knees are going to be freezing." Dylan pointed out with a frown.
"Shush. You'll be fine. What's a little cold to wow-ing Max with your hot looks?"
"What? No way- wait, you think I'm hot?" Dylan asked with a smirk and a raise of his eyebrow.
"Well, you're not horrible to look at." Mikhail said with a shrug.
"Ugh, you're such a smooth talker." Dylan said in mock defeat. "Fine. I'll wear that." He said and went to pick up his clothes off the bed.
"Well, I learn from the best." Mikhail said with a laugh.
Dylan scoffed lightly and took his clothes over to the bathroom so he could shower before it got even later. As Dylan was closing the door, he saw Mikhail on his phone again with a wide smile. Dylan rolled his eyes and shut the door. He was seriously hoping they would come off their honeymoon phase soon.
* * *
Dylan had brought his camera. He had figured that he could take a few practice shots here and there while he was out. He had it hanging around his neck and placed one hand protectively over it. It belonged to his dad before he died and is one of his most prized possessions. He breathed out into his hands to prevent them from freezing. "I can't feel my knees." Dylan and Dan were walking towards the festival. Mikhail had gone home because he said he needed to pick something up and that he would meet with everyone at the festival. Dan met up at Dylan's house and they arrived together.
Dan laughed beside Dylan. He had seriously regretted going with the ripped jeans Mikhail chose. His steps were like that of a newborn deer learning to walk for the first time. "Are you dumb? Why would you wear those? It's still technically winter and the snow hasn't fully melted yet."
"Ask Mikhail. He thought these would look good."
"Yeah, they look good with your outfit overall but, still, jeans that weren't ripped would have been just as fine."
"I'll keep that in mind." Dylan said with a nod.
They stopped at the entrance and Dylan had a chance to wipe off his glasses and take a good look at Dan. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but she looked different than usual. She had her hair in a messy bun, but it looked cute. A few strands were left in front of her face and curled. Her make up looked more natural today. She wore thick, black leggings and a dress that went a little past her knees that flowed whenever she moved. She also had on a coat, scarf, and a backpack. Dan hated carrying purses so she carried a backpack with everything she needed whenever she went out. She said it was more efficient than a tiny purse.
"What?" Dan asked looking creeped out by the fact that Dylan had been staring at her.
"No, nothing." She glared at him in disbelief, "It's just that there's something different about you." Dylan said narrowing his eyes at her. "Did you lose weight?"
"Nah, I don't have time for that. I love food." She said with, what sounded like, a nervous laughter.
"What a shame." Dylan joked.
Dan clicked her tongue and kicked Dylan's shin. He groaned and bent down to grab his leg in pain, "Ass. You're not supposed to say that to a girl."
"Yup, won't happen again." He said rubbing his shin with care. "I've learned my lesson."
A few minutes passed of friendly banter between the two. Dylan always found it comfortable to be around Dan. She had always been there to help him when he needed help with any problems he had. As guilty as he felt, he often went to Dan first before Mikhail since Mikhail had a lot on his plate and didn't need the extra baggage. Both Mikhail and Dan knew the same things about him but Dan had found out first on most topics.
Dylan looked down the street and saw three figures walking their way. "They're here." He said getting really nervous all of a sudden. He stood up straight and fixed his scarf and then placed both hands on his camera.
Dan looked over and smirked, "Yup." She took out her phone and Dylan looked over her shoulder. She was texting Mikhail to see where he was at and how long it would take him to get there.
Dylan looked up and couldn't look away from Max's gaze. They were staring at each other so intensely that Dylan had forgotten where he was for half a second. Max had on a coat and jeans. Really, it was a simple outfit but Dylan couldn't help but think Max pulled it off completely well. It was the first time for Dylan to see Max in something other than baggy clothes and worn out jackets. Well, second if he counted the time Max was in Dylan's clothes. He even looked a bit older than his actual age. Which was a bit dangerous so Dylan had to bring himself back down to planet earth.
"Where's Mikhail?" Were the first words that left Nico's mouth. No 'hey' or 'how's it going'. Dylan wasn't really expecting anything different but it would have been nice to hear something else for a change.
"Hm," Dan said as her phone went off, "That's him," she put her phone to her ear and asked, "Where are you? Huh? An accident?" Everyone looked alarmed, even Max looked a bit curious. "Oh, that's good. Okay hurry up. Bye."
"What happened?" Nico asked immediately as soon as Dan hung up.
"Everything okay?" Sera questioned with her eyebrows furrowed.
"What did he say?" Dylan asked.
"Can we go get food?" Max said which made everyone go silent and stare at him, "Right, probably not the time to ask about food." He said in realization and corrected himself, "You said there was an accident?" He tried to sound concerned.
Dan cleared her throat bringing the attention back to her, "There was an accident a street away. Police were blocking the path so Mikhail had to find a way around. He said he's almost here."
Dylan saw that Nico, Max, and Sera shared a look with one another. To Dylan it looked like they were talking telepathically. Nico shrugged softly and shook his head and then Max and Sera went back to normal. He was curious and wanted to ask but he knew Nico wasn't going to tell him anything so he just stayed quiet instead.
Dylan looked over at Max who was kicking small rocks around. "How are you feeling?" He asked Max with a gentle gaze.
Max looked up to confirm that Dylan was talking to him, "Ah. Yeah, good. I should be fine as long as I don't move too quickly."
"I'm relieved." Dylan said letting out a short breath. "Your text messages are so vague so I wasn't completely sure you were alright."
"My text messages aren't vague."
"I asked how you were and you sent me the emoji of the girl wearing a red dress. What the heck does that mean?" He asked shaking his head.
Max rolled his eyes, "It meant that I was perfectly fine that I even felt like I could get up and start dancing. Duh."
Dylan glared at Max, "I was supposed to know that how?"
Max shrugged slightly and looked away like a child who had just gotten scolded. Dylan sighed softly and weaved in and out of everyone's conversations while they waited for Mikhail. It wasn't anything interesting at all. School, college, food at the festival, what time the fireworks started.
Dylan really felt like he would fall asleep any minute but he finally noticed Mikhail jogging over. "Hey! Sorry!" He said breathing heavily. Mikhail didn't do sports or worked out so it was obvious he would be tired from a short jog.
"Damn, Mikhail. We almost turned into frozen skeletons out here." Dan said as she already started moving towards the festival beside Sera.
"Literally." Dylan said trying to warm up his bare knees. Max and him walked behind Dan and Mikhail was with Nico in the back.
"I needed to get something, here." Dylan looked back to see Mikhail giving Nico a pair of red gloves.
"You brought them." Nico said with surprise.
"Well you told me to." Mikhail shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets, "I didn't want to deal with you sulking like a baby if I didn't bring them."
Nico laughed and said, "You do know me Mikhail. I'm touched."
"They're just your brother's gloves. Quit being so weird about it."
Dylan saw that Nico stuffed them in his pocket before he turned back to the front so he wouldn't bump into a pole or a random person. He didn't understand their relationship. Then again, he thought that he wasn't supposed to. As long as Mikhail was happy, Dylan wouldn't get in between them. He thought that Mikhail and Nico were fine moving things at their own pace. Even though they were supposed to be dating and Mikhail had been totally obsessing over Nico through text, Mikhail wasn't the type to suddenly become very 'cutesy' in person.
"So, I say we all split up." Nico said getting everyone's attention. "We'll meet up by the beach once the fireworks are about to start. Sound good?" He asked.
Mikhail had a feint blush that creeped onto his cheeks, "Yeah." He said looking away with a smile threatening to appear.
"I'm fine with that." Dylan spoke up, wanting to talk to Max alone since he hadn't had a chance to since Max left his apartment.
"Don't care. As long as someone buys me food." Max said stubbornly with a frown.
"I'll buy you the whole festival if it'll make you smile." Dylan told Max.
"Im keeping you to that."
"Ah, ugh, sure." Dan said seeming reluctant to be alone with Sera. Sera only nodded and looked away towards the stalls.
"Great. In an hour. Keep your phones on just in case one of you idiots get lost." Nico said putting an arm over Mikhail's shoulder, "See you kitties later." He quickly dragged Mikhail away and Dylan soon lost track of them in the crowd.
"We'll be going too." Dylan said waving at Dan and Sera and pulled on Max's jacket to get him moving.
They were walking in the opposite direction that Mikhail and Nico had gone. "Stop pulling me." Max said and yanked his arm away.
Dylan dropped his hand and sighed softly, "Are you mad at me?"
"What? No? This is just how I always smile. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No. No problem here." Dylan said with a smile, "though I would prefer if you'd talk sweetly to me."
"The hell are you going on about? The day I talk sweetly to you is the day I'm on my death bed, stupid."
Dylan should have been offended, but he wasn't. He rather liked this side of Max. Dylan would have found a sweet and kind Max much less interesting. He thought that if Max was a shy, good kid then he would have been much less intrigued by him when they first met. It was Max's way of pushing him away that left Dylan wanting to know who Max really was. Even then, Dylan didn't really understand who Max was as an individual so far.
He only knew the side of Max that would do anything to protect Nico. Even take multiple beatings to keep Nico safe. The side that pushed people away when he felt they were starting to break down his walls. He knew the Max that didn't know how to express himself so he used sarcasm and insults as a shield.
Dylan laughed and Max looked at him like he had gone insane, "Jeez, what are you laughing now about?"
Dylan just found Max's moods comical. Though, if he told Max that then Dylan was sure he'd get mad. So, instead, he said "I thought of something that amused me."
Max narrowed his eyes at Dylan and shook his head, "I don't even want to know." He said and then started looking for the food stalls with a lot of focus.
Dylan couldn't help but smile warmly as he looked at Max. Ever so often, Max would look really cute over simple things he liked. He was smiling as the smell of food started getting closer. He looked like a puppy following his nose. Dylan took the opportunity that Max was distracted to take a picture of him.
Max turned his head quickly to look at Dylan and asked, "Did you just-?"
"No."
"Delete it." Max said with a scowl replacing his smile. "I don't want you doing weird things with my picture."
Dylan pouted his lips and asked, "What do you think I'm going to do with it?"
"I don't know. Just, something weird for sure. Make sure you delete it."
"Fine." Dylan snickered. He wasn't going to delete it but Max didn't need to know. "What do you want me to buy you?"
"You said you were going to buy the whole festival for me." Max said with a slight grin as he kept his eyes in front of him. "First, I want that." He pointed at a stand that was selling churros.
So, Dylan bought some for him. They were cut up into miniature pieces and put in a bag. After that, Max wanted pizza scones. They were good and Dylan thought Max would be satisfied with that much. Boy, was he wrong. Max had him going to every single stand to buy nachos, tacos, finger foods, etc,. Dylan could practically see the money flying out of his wallet. Though, Dylan didn't really care about his money as much as he did seeing Max enjoying himself.
They were sitting down on a bench that was in front of a tree. The festival crew had placed multi colored lights on the tree to make it more festive. Max had wanted to sit down for a while since he was still injured and walking around for a long time began to hurt him.
"I'm glad you decided to come." Dylan told Max.
"Yeah, well, I didn't come for you." Max said kicking the dirt around with his foot.
"I know." Dylan agreed, "You came for Nico. I've known that but I don't care because the one you're spending time with right now is me. Not him."
"No shit. It'd be real awkward if I was with him right now. I wouldn't want to be the third wheel. Even I know when I'm not welcomed somewhere."
"You're always welcomed by my side, though." Dylan told him. "I'll never push you away. I'll wait for you even if you don't like it and find it annoying. Until you're ready, I'll be right here with open arms."
Max froze. He seemed to be thinking about what Dylan said with furrowed eyebrows and then looked at Dylan, "Don't say that. I might do something stupid like believe you."
Dylan smirked and said, "The reason I'm telling you is so that you do believe me, Max. I'll wait however long it takes. Two years. Three. Ten. No matter what's awaiting in the future for us, I want to let you know that I'll always be on your side."
Max scoffed and shook his head with disbelief if his voice as he said, "You're truly an idiot, aren't you? Stop being so sentiment all."
"Yeah, so I've been told." Dylan chuckled.
"I suppose I'm an idiot, too. I've got no room to judge you." Max said running a hand through his hair, "If you.. If you're really serious about me. About us. Then I guess I'll try to think about it more seriously from now on.
Dylan looked at Max with surprise written all over his face. He smiled as he thought that Max was trying hard to move forward. He realized that Max didn't want to be bound by his past any longer.
It was time to start fresh. For both of them.
"Hi." Dylan said sticking his hand out to Max, "My name is Dylan. What is yours?"
Max frowned with confusion as he stared at Dylan. It only took him a few seconds to understand what was happening. Dylan was giving him the new start Max needed. Max actually laugh and took Dylan's hand, "Max. Have I met you before?"
Dylan smirked, still holding onto Max's hand. "I don't think so. I would have remembered someone as breathtaking as yourself."
Max scoffed and was the first to drop Dylan's hand. "That was ridiculously cheesy." He said and broke out into a laugh.
Dylan laughed alongside Max and nodded in agreement, "but I finally got to see you smile and I didn't have to buy the entire festival to accomplish it."
Max stared at Dylan with a warm smile and then stood you, "let's go. Don't think I'm letting you off the hook so quickly." He said already walking off.
Dylan breathed out a small laugh. Things were finally moving forward between the two of them. Dylan figured that if things kept moving like that, their future didn't look as bad anymore.
"Are you coming?" Max yelled at him as he motioned for Dylan to go with him.
"I'm going! Wait up!" He stood up and ran over to Max with a goofy smile he just couldn't get rid of.
{Dan}
Mikhail, Nico, Max, and Dylan all went their separate ways. They agreed to meet up again when the fireworks were about to go off so that left plenty of time for her to have a proper conversation with Sera. After they actually had Sex, it was a bit awkward between the two. Only a tad bit. Sera didn't seem as nervous and flustered as Dan was but Dan had already figured it was going to be like that.
Sera looked perfectly fine with what they had done. Of course, Dan was as well, but she had hoped they would have clearly defined what they were. Instead, it felt like nothing had changed at all. They hadn't talked afterwards because Sera got an urgent call from Nico telling her to go back immediately. Sera apologized but Dan understood. The Mafia was kind of her job and responsibility. Dan couldn't just selfishly demand for Sera to put her first. Especially considering they didn't know much about one another. Though, she would be lying if she said she wasn't hoping for Sera to stay and cuddle with her.
"About yesterday-" Sera started suddenly but Dan got flustered and interrupted.
"You don't need to apologize! I understand!" She said quickly, "it was- you had to leave."
Sera looked down at Dan with a kind smile. Though, Dan could see the hurt in her eyes. "Yeah. Business as usual." She said walking over to a few stands but wouldn't stop at one. Dan had noticed that Sera was acting even more distant than usual.
Dan let out a soft sigh and walked a bit behind Sera. Dan looked at all the different people being happy at the festival. It was starting to get dark so the lights lit up the way. Food, mini games, face paint, and free photo station. There was so much to experience but Dan couldn't exactly get into a festive mood.
She kept wondering if Sera regretted what they had done together. Dan, for one, sure as hell didn't. She thought that even if Sera decided never to see her again, she would be fine. That the memories they made through the past couple weeks were enough for her. However, a part inside of her knew she wouldn't be satisfied with that little.
She hated to admit it because it would make her situation too real but she had fallen in love with Sera. That wasn't going to change so easily. Especially after Dan let Sera see her in her most vulnerable state.
Sera kept texting someone on her phone which made Dan feel a little crappy. Like, sera preferred being somewhere else with another person rather than with Dan. The full hour in which they were given to hang out together was almost up and they hadn't enjoyed the time at all.
There was nothing to see at the festival that interested either of them so they decided to wait at the spot by the beach where everyone would meet up first. "Hold on." Dan said unable to continue the silence.
Sera stopped in the sand and turned around to look at Dan with a questionable look. "Hm?"
"Do you regret it?" Dan asked bluntly suddenly gaining the confidence to be direct. "Did you hate what we did?"
"No!" Sera said looking flustered at Dan's question. "What gave you that idea?"
"Well, you haven't said more than a full sentence to me in the last hour we've been together. I feel like you're avoiding me. You've been on your phone the entire time." Dan told Sera.
"I'm sorry if I gave you that impression." Sera explained, "I just- there are other things on my mind right now."
"Like?" Dan asked. Sera immediately shut her mouth and and looked away. Sera wasn't willing to say anything else which angered Dan. "If you don't tell me anything how am I supposed to understand what's going on in your head?"
"You're not meant to." Sera told Dan with a strong look. "I don't want you involved in this."
"In what!?" Dan shouted although she hadn't meant to. She was suddenly glad they were by the beach where only a few people were around fires. They were separated away from the other people so because of the distance and the waves sound wouldn't travel very easy. "In the Mafia? I've been through more crazier situations. If you think I'm afraid, I'm not."
"I'm thinking of your safety. Can't you understand that? If you get involved with me..." Sera said with a strained voice.
"You should have thought of that before you slept with me! Do you think I can just get rid of these feelings for you? It's not that simple! I can't just wave a magic wand and get over you. Even if there was such a thing I would never use it. I'm neck in deep and there's no getting out." Dan said confessing her feelings to Sera.
"You can do so much better-"
"Cut the crap!" Dan interrupted. "I don't want 'better' I want you. You don't get to decide what's best for me."
Sera looked away with a pained expression. "Yes, I do. Especially when you're going to make a mistake with your life. What we did.. I don't regret it but it's not going to happen again. It was a one time thing. I use people to get what I want."
"God. You're so full of shit." Dan said, exasperated, "You're wrong." That's not who you are. You're kind. You think of everyone around you. You process everything throughly before making even a single step. That's who you are. I've realized that these past couple of weeks of knowing you. You try to close yourself off but every once in a while I see sadness reflected in your eyes." Dan said making a handgun and pointing it at Sera's heart, "I've already decided I would open up what you've locked inside your heart. I'll break the lock open myself if I have to." She said dropping her hand and placing it at her side.
Sera had on her pain expression again as she looked at Dan. Dan hoped that what she had said got Sera to tell her what she had in her mind. Even if it was a small minor detail.
Sera opened her mouth to speak but instead of her voice, Dylan's voice was heard. "Oh! You two are the first ones here? You should have started the fire." He said rubbing his hands together.
Dan stayed staring at Sera without moving to see if Sera would talk. Sera was the first to break away as she looked at Dylan and smiled a very fake smile, "We have nothing to start the fire with. We were hoping you did."
"We didn't come across any firewood. Let's hope Mikhail and Nico did."
Dan shook her head and felt like she was going to start crying. Not out of sadness but frustration. She felt like nothing she did or said would get through to Sera.
Max looked at Sera and Dan and asked, "Did we interrupt something?"
"Huh?" Dylan asked and looked closer at the situation he had walked in on, "Shit! Sorry!"
"No, you didn't." Sera said quickly, "Don't worry about it."
"You say that but-" Dylan said looking at Dan who had water already filling her eyes.
Dan wiped her eyes and smiled bitterly, "It's nothing. I'm fine." Of course she wasn't fine but she didn't want New Years ruined because of her.
"Yo!" Nico said walking over and dropping something in the middle of everybody. "We brought the firewood!" He said looking proud of himself, "What's up with this mood?" He asked looking at everyone. He took a step back and held onto Mikhail's hand.
"Apparently nothing." Max shrugged nonchalantly.
"Ah, is that so?" He was staring at Sera but Sera refused to look at him directly. "Here, start the fire." He said handing the lighter over to Max.
Max sighed but did as he was told. Dylan bent down to help him. Sera looked around and made an excuse to leave. "I'll get rocks." She said and left.
Dan was glaring at Sera's back as she walked away. She wondered why Sera was acting so distant. She hated it.
"This firewood sucks. Don't you have lighter fluid?" Max asked in frustration that the wood wouldn't catch on fire.
"No?" Nico said, "Where the hell would I be carrying it?" Mikhail laughed slightly and Max rolled his eyes. "Here." Nico said reaching into his pocket, "burn these." He took out a pair of red gloves.
Mikhail grabbed his arm and pulled it back, "You can't burn those! They don't belong to you."
Nico clicked his tongue and tried to reason with mikhail. "If Eli gave them to you, he obviously didn't want them back."
"Yeah, but-"
"Those belong to Elisha? I'm burning them. Gimme." Max said reaching up and snatching the gloves away from Nico. It took a bit for the to catch on fire and then Max put them under the stack of wood.
"and that, lady and gentlemen and Nico, is how we start a fire." Dylan said. He stood up and wiped dust off of his hands from stacking the wood.
Dan sat down in the sand just as Sera came back with stones to put around the fire. With help from Mikhail, they both put rocks neatly in the sand. Everyone else sat down as well. Sera and Dan were across from each other. Mikhail and Nico sat across Dylan and Max.
"How much time till the fireworks go up?" Mikhail asked leaning against Nico. Nico had his arm on Mikhail's waist keeping him close.
Dan checked her phone and set her backpack beside her, "Fifteen minutes." She wished the fireworks were over already. Dan just wanted to go home and sleep off her worries. She didn't want to deal with anybody else for the rest of the night.
"We should buy sparklers!" Dylan said, "It will waste some time as we wait."
"Do they even sell any?" Dan asked running her finger in the sand.
"We saw some on our way here." Mikhail confirmed. "We should go buy some."
"I'll go. You stay here where it's warmer." Nico told Mikhail as he pet his head gently and stood up.
Mikhail blushed slightly and said, "You're going to carry them by yourself?"
"It's only six sparklers. My arms won't fall off." Nico pointed out.
Dylan stood up, "I'll go with. You should buy more stuff while you're over there."
"I'm not going with Glasses."
"Take Dan." Sera said speaking up for the first time since she left for the rocks.
"What? I'm not going." Dan said stubbornly.
"Just go with them. We don't want these two killing each other." Sera said and it seemed like to Dan that she was trying to get Dan to leave.
"We don't?" Max asked which earned him a playful kick from Dylan. "Right. We don't."
"I'm not going." Dan stressed out. She didn't understand why Sera was trying to get her to leave. She understood it was sort of awkward now but Sera wasn't even being subtle about it. She saw the curious look Max was giving the both of them but ignored him for the time being and kept her eyes on Sera.
"Fine. Fine. I'll go with Glasses!" Nico sighed loudly. "Jeez, you're all annoying... Except for Miki." He added. He bent down and kissed Mikhail quickly, "I'll be back." He said and then grabbed Dylan by the collar and pulled him away towards the stands. As they walked away, they were arguing and Dan was glad she didn't go with them. She was already in a bad mood. The last thing she needed was Nico and Dylan arguing in her ears making her mood worse.
The air around Mikhail, Max, Sera, and Dan wasn't a pleasant one. Mikhail and Max didn't get along in the first place and with Sera and Dan in an argument that left no one to talk. It felt like an eternity passed between them but it had only been about three minutes.
Sera was the first to break the silence, "How far was the firework stand?"
"Oh, uhm, about three or four minutes." Mikhail answered her.
It was quiet again as no one made an effort to speak. Sera's phone got a message as checked it. She sighed softly with a shaky breath and threw her phone into the fire.
"What the hell, Sera?!" Max asked as he watched the phone's screen cracking from the heat. It started smoking and showed a black screen.
"Did you drop it!?" Mikhail asked worriedly and stood up as he tried to look for something to fish her phone out.
That wasn't the case. Dan had watched her intentionally throw it inside. She couldn't take her eyes off of Sera yet she couldn't comprehend what happened next.
Sera was standing closely behind Mikhail with a gun pointing at his back. "Sera?" Mikhail asked taking a big gulp with fear on his face. Max stood up looking ready to tackle Sera to the ground. Dan was the closest and thought that she could tackle Sera's legs and take her down.
"Move and I'll shoot him." Sera said with determination in her voice. Dan couldn't believe she was actually serious.
Max clicked his tongue and said, "You're working for Elisha." It sounded more like an accusation than a question.
"Sera... Why?" Dan asked with a frown.
"I told you to leave, Dan. You should have listened."
"What are you planning?" Mikhail asked with a shaky voice.
"Shut up." Sera demanded. With her free hand she reached into Mikhail pocket and threw his flip phone into the fire. If even for a second Dan was glad to see that phone go. "You two. Do the same."
"Have you gone insane?" Max questioned her. It was obvious he was trying to stall for time. "Nico won't forgive you."
Dan thought she saw Sera flinch when Max said that. Sera yanked on Mikhail's hair and brought the gun to his neck, "Hurry the fuck up, Max."
Max hesitated for a second but did as he was told. Sera looked at Dan, almost begging her to do as she said so Dan also tossed her phone into the fire.
"What do you hope to accomplish? Why are you doing this?" Dan asked her.
"Behind-!" Mikhail started but sera put her hand over his mouth and pressed the gun harder into his neck as to remind him of the threat.
Dan looked over to Max just as he groaned in pain but soon was hit with the same excruciating pain on her shoulder. It felt like she was being tased. She fell to the floor unable to move. The pain was so unbearable that she felt she was losing consciousness.
Sera smacked the back of Mikhail's head with her gun and caught his falling body. She started barking orders at strange figures that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Max still seemed to be conscious but unable to move as he was using very colorful vocabulary to describe Sera.
That was the last thing she witnessed before she fell into an abyss of nothingness.