Chapter 3

Dante wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep, but when he finally woke beneath the warm afternoon sun, the first thing he noticed was the heat, and the second was the jacket draped over him.

He looked down and realized Adrian had placed his jacket over him sometime during the morning when the air had still been cold.

Dante turned his head and found Adrian sleeping beside him, leaning against the hood of the car, his arm resting loosely near Dante’s side. His expression was peaceful, completely different from the person everyone at school talked about.

The boy who failed.

The boy who disappointed everyone.

The boy who lost everything.

Away from the school and its rumors, Adrian looked like someone who had finally found a place where he could breathe. Careful not to wake him, Dante slowly sat up and realized Crescent View Hill had grown crowded while they slept.

The quiet cliff from early morning had transformed into a popular sightseeing spot. Tourists walked along the paths, taking pictures of the view, while families gathered around the edge to admire the scenery.

Westbridge might have been a small town, but it was surrounded by mountains, lakes, and endless fields of greenery. During summer, visitors always arrived for the festivals and attractions.

Crescent View Hill was one of the town's most popular spots, so their little nap on the hood of a car had attracted more than a few curious stares. From a short distance away, Dante noticed a little boy watching them with wide, curious eyes.

"Mom, are they friends?"

The boy's mother quickly pulled him away, leaving Dante to wonder if sleeping on the hood of a car with someone had somehow turned them into a tourist attraction. He glanced beside him, found Adrian still fast asleep, and, despite himself, smiled.

"Wake up, Harrington."

No response. Dante crossed his arms.

"Adrian."

Still nothing. A small grin appeared on his face.

"Wake up, pretty boy."

Adrian's eyes fluttered open, and for a few seconds, he simply stared at Dante as though he'd forgotten where he was. Then he blinked, and recognition slowly settled across his face.

"Dante?"

"Congratulations. You remembered your own name."

Adrian rubbed his eyes.

"What time is it?"

"Past noon." Adrian sat up quickly.

"What?" Dante laughed.

"You slept through half the day." Adrian looked around at the crowd gathering nearby and groaned.

"Great. Now people probably think I'm crazy."

Dante shrugged. "People already think you're crazy."

Adrian looked offended.

"Wow."

"I'm joking." Dante laughed.

"You're terrible at comforting people."

"Yet you keep inviting me places."

Adrian smiled. "Maybe I like being insulted."

"That's concerning."

Adrian laughed, and just like that, the strange morning carried on. After packing everything away, he drove farther down the road as the scenery slowly gave way from quiet hills to wide, open fields, and Dante watched it all pass by.

"Where are we going now?" Adrian's smile immediately returned.

"You'll see." Dante narrowed his eyes.

"That answer usually means trouble."

"Trust me."

"That's exactly what someone causing trouble would say."

Adrian only laughed. Half an hour later, they pulled into a small fruit farm, and Dante could only stare at the enormous watermelon Adrian carried back to the car.

"You bought that?" Adrian nodded proudly.

Dante looked at the watermelon. Then at Adrian.

"Why?" Adrian opened the trunk.

"Bucket list." Dante sighed.

"Of course. Bucket number three, have a watermelon-eating contest." Andrian laughed.

Dante should have expected it. The list wasn't just a piece of paper to Adrian, it was a promise to stop wasting time and finally start living.

Later that afternoon, they ended up at a quiet beach on the edge of town, settling onto an empty wooden dock where small boats were usually tied. Adrian spread out a picnic cloth before pulling a knife from his bag, earning an impressed look from Dante.

"You planned everything." Adrian looked up with a grin.

"Obviously." Dante shook his head, unable to hide his amusement.

"You really take this list seriously." the smile on Adrian's face softened.

"More than anything."

After cutting the watermelon into thick slices, Adrian placed them between them on the picnic cloth. The moment Dante saw the grin on his face, he already knew exactly what was about to happen.

"No." Adrian blinked.

"No?" Dante narrowed his eyes at him.

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The one you get right before you do something ridiculous." A mischievous grin spread across Adrian's face.

"We're having a competition." Dante laughed.

"You're challenging me?"

"Yes."

"You do remember I told you I'm good at sports."

"Watermelon eating isn't a sport."

"It is today." Adrian shook his head, clearly amused.

"Ready?" Dante picked up a slice and smirked.

"You're going down." Adrian only smiled.

"We'll see."

The moment they started, the competition dissolved into complete chaos, with Adrian laughing through huge bites until watermelon juice covered his hands and face, making it nearly impossible for Dante to stay focused.

By the time they finished, both of their shirts were stained red, and as Dante dropped the last slice and leaned back, he couldn't help thinking that the boy everyone believed was broken seemed to be the one enjoying life the most.

"I won." Adrian stared at him in disbelief.

"No."

"Yes." A suspicious look crossed Adrian's face.

"You cheated." Dante burst out laughing.

"How do you cheat at eating?"

"I don't know," Adrian said with complete confidence, "but you did."

"No, you just lost." Adrian placed a hand dramatically over his chest.

"This betrayal hurts." Dante rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh again.

"You challenged me."

Adrian's smile returned without hesitation. "Still worth it."

Dante looked at him and, for a moment, forgot to answer. Adrian wasn't wearing the confident smile everyone at school knew; he was simply, genuinely happy, and somehow, that version of him was impossible to look away from.

"Well, well."

The familiar voice shattered the moment. Dante turned to find Vanessa Collins standing a few feet away, one of Westbridge High's most popular girls and, until recently, one of Adrian's closest friends.

She stood at the edge of the beach in designer sunglasses and an expensive outfit that practically demanded attention. Her gaze drifted between the two of them before a slow, cruel smile spread across her lips.

"Look who finally found a new friend."

Adrian's expression shifted almost imperceptibly, but Dante caught it immediately. This wasn't just some random girl. She belonged to the part of Adrian's life he rarely talked about, and as Vanessa crossed her arms, the easy atmosphere between them vanished.

"I never thought I'd see Adrian Harrington hanging out here like this."

Dante looked at her.

"And I never thought I'd see someone spend so much effort trying to make an entrance."

Adrian looked at Dante in surprise before a laugh escaped him. Across from them, Vanessa's smile disappeared, her expression darkening almost instantly.

"Still arrogant, I see." Dante shrugged.

"Still annoying, I see."

Adrian covered his mouth, clearly trying not to laugh. Vanessa's gaze flicked between the two of them, her expression growing more irritated by the second.

"You two really are pathetic." She looked at Adrian.

"Don't you miss being around people who actually matter?"

For a moment, Adrian said nothing, and Dante caught the brief flicker of pain that crossed his face, like an old wound had been reopened. Then, just as quickly, Adrian smiled.

"No." Vanessa blinked.

"No?" Adrian shook his head.

"I think I'm good."

And in that moment, Dante realized Adrian was no longer chasing the life he'd lost. He was choosing to build a new one instead, and Vanessa could only scoff.

"Whatever." She turned away.

Before Vanessa could turn away, Adrian casually reached for a piece of watermelon rind. The second Dante saw the look on his face, he knew Adrian was about to do something ridiculous.

"Adrian."

"What?" Adrian narrowed his eyes.

"Don't." Dante blinked, wearing the most innocent expression he could manage.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Adrian let out a quiet sigh and shook his head.

"You're unbelievable."

A second later, the watermelon rind landed perfectly in Vanessa's path. She took one step, lost her footing, and fell with a loud splash into the shallow water beside the dock.

For a heartbeat, the entire beach went silent before Dante burst into laughter, quickly followed by Adrian and even a few nearby onlookers. Moments later, Vanessa emerged from the water, completely soaked and absolutely furious.

"You two are dead!" Adrian grabbed Dante's arm.

"Run."

"What?"

"RUN!"

Still laughing, the two of them sprinted down the beach while Vanessa shouted after them. For the first time in a long while, Adrian Harrington wasn't running from his past, he was running toward a memory he'd never forget.