When I got home I flopped onto the couch and placed a hand on my forehead. I felt a bit warm... and I felt my heart flip-flop. "Damn it..." I whispered. Suddenly the phone ring making me scream and jump off the couch. I entered the kitchen and answered it. "Hello?" "Oh hi Armeria! It's mommy!" "Hi mom..." I said quietly. "You scared the crap out of me..." "I'm sorry. Anyways, your father and I are staying late at work so you'll have to feed yourself and behave because we won't be home until the early morning." "I understand," I said. "Have a good night," I told her and I hung up the phone. It wasn't abnormal for them not to be home on time. This happened six of the seven days of the week. I basically never saw them... The thing I hated most was being alone and by myself throughout the night... "I'll invite Kendra over..." I said and I dialed her number. Kendra never got along with her parents. I remember the first time I met her, she was a juvenile delinquent living in the streets and she tried to jump me. I consoled her and we became fast friends. I found out she went to my school but never attended classes. But she started to go and eventually left her gang life and became 'normal'. "Hello?" "Hi Kendra, it's me. I was wondering... can you come over tonight? My parents are working late and I don't want to be alone." "Sure. It's better than staying here with my drunk father!" I laughed. "Okay then." "I'll come over now, be there in a few!" she said and she hung up. After a while she came. And I threw my arms around her. "Yay! You're here! I really didn't want to be alone today!" "Yes I'm here. Is something wrong? You never act like this... What did Dante do?!" she demanded as she places her hands on my shoulders. "He... didn't do anything," I said quietly and I let her go. "I know you're hiding something. Please tell me, otherwise I can't do anything for you." I frowned. I couldn't tell her... I couldn't possibly tell her that I was beginning to feel something much less than hatred for Dante. "Kendra I... I..." I paused. "You what?" "I think I might... be feeling something warm towards Dante. He makes me feel... more protected than what I used to feel..." "So you love him?" "No. I don't. But... I don't hate him... anymore," I said quietly. "I don't hate him. Nor do I like him.