Prologue: Part 3 of 23

Dante finished his second cigarette, and started a third, still trying to resist the acrid scent of pot that was calling to him. "Sure, I'd love to go." Dammit. He had been trying not to sound too enthusiastic. /You'd *love* to go? Man, that was bad,/ he thought, blushing the slightest shade of pink. Quickly he changed the subject, so she wouldn't notice him blushing. "So.. You're the guitarist, right?"

" Yeah, but I sing sometimes when Allein - Our singer - doesn't show. I don't have have his amazing range, but .. " She shrugged, suddenly modest. Though she was proud of her band. One of the best prog/metal bands on the scene. A small smile given as she finished the cigarette, noticing his tension. " Uhm. Did you want to get out of here? This party's run its course, I think. "

"Actually, getting out of here sounds pretty damn good. I know of a pool hall nearby. Do you wanna shoot some pool?" He couldn't believe himself. This was almost like asking her on a date. He realized it basically *was* asking her on a date. /Oh man, Dante. You've really gone in way over your head. She's out of your league, man.../ It was true. Most girls thought he was just another grungy, jobless pothead. The pothead part was true. 'Was' being the keyword.

She was slightly taken aback by the offer, but she was pleased. Was it a date? If not, well, she didn't mind. If so .. well, wow. He was really cute. She looked away with a smile, and raked her fingers through her bangs. " Yeah, sure, let's do it. I haven't played in ages. "

He almost didn't believe his own ears. She had said yes? Slowly it registered in his mind that she had indeed accepted his invitation. Was it a date? He didn't know. Maybe she thought it was just a friends thing. Well, for now he would go with that. "Did you come in a car, or do you need a ride?"

" Depends, you got a car? " She smiled at him, chuckling. Actually came with another friend - though she didn't see Lux. Probably with some guy in the bathroom. Shrugging her shoulders, adjusting her leather jacket over black tanktop.

He smiled back, totally transfixed by this amazing young woman. "Yeah, a Jeep, actually." He took a couple drags off his cigarette to try to distract himself, then looked back at her. "You wanna go now, or....?" His voice trailed off; he was at a loss for words. Just looking at her made him dizzy. He had a really good feeling about this one, though he couldn't say why.

" Let's go now. Something tells me it won't take long for this party to get busted. " Nodding towards Chris who'd just turned up the stereo, blasting Metallica. Normally, she'd be enthused, but his grandma was next door. And she was a veeeery cranky woman. She slowly rose to her feet with a smile, offering him a hand up.

He took her hand, chuckling. After she had helped him up, he looked toward where she'd nodded. Chris could use a few party tips. Dante guessed he'd failed How to Throw a Good Party 101. The number one rule was to make sure your neighbors weren't the type to call the cops on you. After taking another drag off his cigarette, he said softly, "Shall we?"

" We shall. " A grin and a wink given - still holding onto his hand and gently guiding him up the stairs. No one seemed to notice their departure, and she was thankful for that. Once outside, she dropped his hand, and pulled her hair back, tying it up. " Ah. That's better. It was so loud and stuffy down there. My mom's gonna wonder where the hell I've been. "

Dante inhaled the clear air - or what a normal city person would call clear - and took the final few drags off his cigarette. He silently wished to himself that he had a responsible mother to worry about him. Shaking his head, he pointed to a dark green Jeep. "That's mine." He used the magic button, which unlocked the Jeep doors, and led her towards it, still not believing he was going out with such a beautiful girl.

" Nice car. " Following him and making her way over to the passangers side, and opening the door, sliding in. Checking her lace-up combat boots, giving the laces a little tug, before leaning back and buckling herself in.

"Thanks, he said, patting the hood of his baby and getting in on the driver's side. He started up the engine and pulled out of his spot on the side of the street, heading west toward the place he had earlier mentioned. "So... how good are you? I haven't played in a while either, but I used to be pretty good."

" Well .. I like to think I'm pretty good .. If you've ever heard Dream Theater, John Petrucci's my idol. " Nodding to herself, allowing a small smile. " He's fucking amazing. " Sinking into a moment of silence, gazing out the window. Thinking about the next show, silently going over the covers they were going to do do. Rush and Dream Theater.

He had never heard of Dream Theater, and didn't want to admit it. He also didn't want to tell her he had been talking about pool. But, he did play guitar, and so he kept going with that conversation as he guided the car towards the pool hall. "My idol would probably be Kurt Cobain," he admitted. "Him or Eddie Van Halen."

" I like Nirvana. A lot. I get so much shit for it, but prog-rocker's are snotty. " He probably didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but she'd explain if he wanted. Yeah, she had a one-track mind sometimes. Once she got going on the subject of guitar, it was hard for her to stop. She loved it that much.

He was amazed at how much they had in common so far. "I get shit from all my friends about liking Nirvana. And I strongly believe Courtney Love did him in...." They were nearing the pool hall and would be there in a few seconds. Which would give him a few seconds more to decide if this was a date. He would have to make his decision on how she acted. Only if he thought she thought it was a date would he consider it a date. Talk about making sense.

" Yeah, there's so much evidence, I can't believe that people see otherwise. " She shook her head in disdain, and looked down at her hands; thin and small, idly toying witht he silver ring around her left middle finger. Biting her lips, half-wondering the same, though unsure just of what he thought.

He realized that she was probably wondering the same, but didn't know how to ask her what she thought. It would be too awkward, he decided. Better to just see how things went. Then maybe he could *really* ask her out, depending on how the night went. Sometimes he loved himself. They came to the pool hall, and he pulled into an unoccupied space. After shutting the engine off, he looked at Astrid. "Ready? I'm pretty good, you know." He grinned.

" Great, 'cause I suck. " Grinning back at him, biting her lip before unbuckling herself and hopping on out, shutting the door behind her. Bouncing a bit as she waited for him do get out, popping her knuckles. She was okay at pool, a little nervous to be playing against him, though. Licking her lips, tip of her tongue toying with the hoop that looped over her lip.

"Aww, c'mon," he said as he got out and shut his door, locking the whole Jeep with the magical handheld button on his keyring. "I'll teach you to kick ass." He grinned and jerked his head toward the entrance to Night Haul, the pool hall that was most alive at night. "Let's go inside." Somehow he didn't think he would be able to even teach this girl, she made him so dizzy. He probably wouldn't be able to line his shots up right, nevermind show her his secret technique.

She never really went here - too many people she knew from school. Yeah, the public school they went to made her nervous - the kids from it, anyways. Swallowing her apprehension, following him inside and fishing out her wallet, hoping she had enough cash left from the last gig they played and got paid for. Gnawing on her bottom lip, staring at the back of his head, studying his hair. Looked really soft .. Shaking her head, and looking down to see how much cash was in her wallet.

When they entered the pool hall, he nodded at the guy sitting at the counter, who had nodded at him. He used to come here pretty often, after getting plastered at the bar across the street. Or after getting stoned in the alley. Take your pick. That's how it used to be for him, and probably would be again. Very soon, actually. From his back pocket he took out his wallet, paid for the two of them, then put the wallet back. Before Astrid could protest, he said, "My treat."

" Oh -- are you sure? " She blinked up at him, fingertips in mid-pluck, the money waiting. Tilting her head slightly, before shrugging and slipping her wallet back. He paid, so .. wouldn't this be considered a date? Chewing on her bottom lip again, following him in, before she suddenly grinned and poked his side. " So! Ready to kick my ass? It'll be easy. "

He grinned back, looking at her with stars in his eyes. Stars he hoped she didn't see. He couldn't remember the last time he had liked someone this much. And they had just met. The good feeling increased. "Sure, I'm ready. You rack," he said, grabbing two pool sticks and heading over to an unoccupied pool table. His stomach was doing little sommersaults. He was nervous, but in a good way. He couldn't remember ever feeling so elated.

Making a face, and setting the balls up. That much she remembered from years of her dad playing in bars. After a minute or so, the table and balls were set up. She reached over, taking a stick from him, and chalking the tip up. " Who breaks? "

"You can, if you want." He chalked the tip of his stick, as well. Yeah, he couldn't remember ever feeling this elated. Not even being drunk or high had made him feel this euphoric. Maybe it was true that you could still feel good without using a drug. Whatever it was, he liked the natural endorphins he was feeling. And he realized that they probably were on a date. He *had* paid. But for now he would stick to his, 'no harm, no foul' plan.

" Okay, okay. " Scrunching up her nose, before she shrugged off her jacket, and setting it down on a chair nearby in her view. Leaning over the table, stretching out her arm, and balancing the stick carefully, lining up as best as she could. Tip of her tongue poking out subconsciously, before she aimed - and took a shot, breaking up the ball. Miraculously hitting in a striped ball, she straightened up. DIdn't see the number, but oh, well.

"Nice," Dante said, cracking his knuckles and then got ready to make his first shot. "Hmm.... 2 ball, erm... side pocket..." He lined up the shot and took it, sending the cue ball towards its target. The blue ball spun towards its pocket, then stopped, just short of making it in. "Told ya I was rusty," he grinned, moving so she could take her shot.

" Yeah. Whatever. " She snickered as she watched quietly, before moving to lean over and taking a shot, and missing. Rolling her eyes, leaning slightly on the table, before bouncing back a bit, fiddling with her ring again. " Told you I'm bad. My dad played pool a lot, but I never picked up on it. More interested in music. "

"Sorry. Next time I'll let you pick the outing." He blinked. Had he really just said that? 'Next time'? He leaned forward to take his shot, hoping she wouldn't notice the furious shade of red on his cheeks. This time when he lined up the shot, he made it in. "Well, maybe not so rusty." Color back to normal, he straightened up and let her move in.