Season 2 Chapter 16: Not Good Enough
I softly hummed a random tune while fiddling with my guitar. For some reason I just felt like keeping to myself today. What would be a greater place to do that than the beach? Besides the beach would only stay this quiet and mellow until the party happening later on tonight.
What party you ask? Well it's supposedly a party without the invitations and it's gonna be taking place here on the beach. To be honest I've been contemplating on whether to ask Dolly out so we can spend some time together.
"Hey Aaron.", Dylan greeted from behind me and sat down in the sand right next to me.
"Sup Dylan."
I didn't break my gaze from the instrument in my grasp. "Sunset looks great huh?", He asked with an anxious chuckle.
"Mmm Hmm.", I nodded.
Dylan cleared his throat awkwardly and scratched the fur behind his left ear. I could tell he was nervous for some reason. Has he come here to tell me something?
"So have you and Summer hit if off yet?", I asked breaking the silence.
"O-oh yeah!", He stuttered stiffening a blush. "We've had our moments ever since you "helped" me a couple days ago. What about you and Dolly?"
I blinked and finally took my eyes off my guitar. "Umm...Ever since we came here she's been hanging out a lot more with Spike lately, but Da Vinci and everybody else have been good company for the time being though."
"Huh? That's odd. If there's anybody she likes hanging around it's you.", Dylan said with disbelief. He then gave me a suggestive look as if there was something he wanted to tell me, but was afraid to say just that. "You don't think Dolly is-"
"No!", I grunted in anguish as my body started turning into a crimson red tint from head to toe. "Dolly and Spike aren't secretly seeing each other behind my back."
"I'm not saying they are. I'm suggesting it's best you check in with Dolly and Spike tonight just so you can get confirmation from the both of them that nothing is going on.", Dylan explained. "Besides Dolly is reckless, but she still cares and loves you. She makes that fairly clear when you two aren't together."
My anger ceased and body changed back to it's original hue. In the moment I knew what he meant hence causing me to calm down with a newfounding sense of understanding. "Alright.", I silently muttered as I got to my feet. "Anyways, I'll talk to you later. Tell Summer I said Hi."
-Dolly-
Dolly and Spike sat side by side observing the beginning sunset. "Y'know, How long ago was it when we first met?", Spike abruptly asked.
"Heck I don't know, Seemed like forever ago when we first came across each other.", Dolly rolled her eyes playfully. "Just as I beautiful as I remember it."
"Not as beautiful as you.", Spike slyly remarked with a smirk.
"Uh Thanks.", Dolly nervously grinned.
"Pssh! Dolly! Over here!", Dylan called. Dolly followed the voice of her brother with her eyes, scanning the forest behind her. She eventually found Dylan tucked away in a group of bushes waving her down. "Dolly we gotta talk, this is urgent."
She nodded, "Hold on Spike, Dylan wants to talk with me."
She stretched hard before getting up and heading to her brother that was currently waiting for her in the forest. Once concealed by the many trees and shrubs she found Dylan patiently waiting for her. "Wassup Dyl, Whatcha wanna talk about?"
"Have you told Spike that you're in a relationship with Aaron yet?", Dylan questioned.
"Well...no, but I'm just waiting for the right time to tell him.", Dolly said currently unsure of the situation.
"You shouldn't Dilly-Dally with this any longer. I'm starting to notice that you spending so much time with Spike is beginning to take a bad toll on Aaron.", Dylan mentioned.
Dolly ultimately in the end felt guilty knowing that Aaron might've possibly held the thought in his mind that she was purposely skipping out on him to hang out with Spike. "I've only been spending this much time with Spike so he wouldn't feel bad once I informed him about me and Aaron.", Dolly explained sadly. "But if it'll make Aaron feel better I'll tell Spike tonight during the party."
"It's best you do that before it's too late.", Dylan warned. "You don't wanna do something that's irreversible or could potientally damage your current relationship with Aaron."
With that finishing statement which held a lot of truth Dylan took off. Presumably to hang out with Summer or do something else. Dolly sat there thinking deeply about what her brother told her. She then turned her gaze to Spike who was currently lying on his back basking in the remaining sunlight and sighed.
-Back with Aaron-
I gazed into the mirror staring at my reflection. Dubstep music blasted from the outside seeping under the motel window of the room I stayed in. The floor vibrated and thumped beneath me with every bass drop. Sucks the beach party is about a mile away from the motel.
"I know DJ's having a blast out there.", I joked with nobody and awkwardly chuckled to myself.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
I suddenly looked in the direction of the door and wasted no time to answer it. Upon unlocking the door I found myself face to face with a smiling Dolly. "Hey dude!", Dolly excitedly greeted pulling me into a friendly hug, her tail wagging profusely behind her.
"Hey Doll.", I blushed hugging back. "You've finally decided to come around huh?"
"Heck yeah! I couldn't leave you hanging during an awesome night like this.", She smirked nudging me with her elbow. "Come on! What are we waiting for?"
She took my hand into one of her own and lead me away from the hotel and towards the beach while the music got louder the closer we got. Honestly I'm glad I'm going to have some fun at the party, but overall the best thing about this was the fact I'd be able to hang out with Dolly again after what seemed like forever ago.
There was a massive crowd infront of the DJ booth. Of course DJ was taking charge of the music, he's an expert when it comes to the musical arts. Tables alligned with a sorts of snacks and drinks were on the sidelines. Not a single human in sight though and I can already feel the stares burrowing into my body.
"Don't stress yourself about others staring. Just have fun and enjoy yourself.", Dolly reassured as she then prepared to leave me by myself.
"Wait! Hold on where are you going?", I asked concerned.
"I'm just going to take care of something real quick, I'm gonna come back don't worry man!", She said disappearing into the crowd.
After that, I awkwardly shuffled around not having any clue of what to do. "I hope she isn't gone for too long.", I thought while trying my hardest to ignore some of the stares that I was recieving.
"Aaron? Is that you?", A familiar voice asked from my left.
I blinked several times to make sure I was seeing clearly. Before me was Dana Reece, the husky I had met awhile back. She wore a beautiful red short red dress that covered most of her body, along with high heels on her paws. She's honestly the last person I'd expect to see here. "Dana? What're you doing here?", I asked smiling giving her a hug.
"I have family here in Cornwall. This my last day before I go back to Camden.", She answered. "Also, What happened your eye? How come it's just fine? The last time we talked you were still wearing an eyepatch."
I chuckled bashfully while rubbing my head, "It's a long story."
"Is Dolly here with you?"
"She was, but she told me that she had to do something.", I shrugged then noticed how much time went by. "It's been awhile I thought she'd be back by now."
"You need help looking for her?", Dana asked.
"No I've got it all covered. Knowing her she probably got distracted with whatever she was doing. Otherwise It was nice talking to you again after all this time Dana.", I smirked.
"Same here.", She then left before giving me a goodbye wave and winked. "See ya next time Mr. Daniels."
-Dolly-
"Where is he? Where is he?", Dolly repeated in her mind as she surveyed everyone that passed her. As much as she wanted to get to partying with her BBFF aka Best Boyfriend Forever she had to reveal the truth to Spike.
It was then in that moment she was pulled aside by someone she couldn't quite see in the crowd. Fortunately for her it was Spike that had grabbed her. "Dolly I was just looking for you.", He said
"Yeah...Me too.", Dolly muttered.
"Wanna get outta here?", Spike asked.,
"Yeah, but we need to talk about something.", Dolly told him. She wondered how'd she be able to explain this to him without breaking his heart. Before Aaron was ever in the picture it was obvious to everyone that there was some sort of chemistry between the two. "There's something I've been meaning to confess-"
Dolly was hushed by Spike who softly pressed a finger into her muzzle. "There's something I've been meaning to confess to you aswell Dolly."
She brushed his hand away from her mouth. "Listen Spike, I'm-Mpmh!", Dolly was cut off as she felt her lips collide with Spike's. She felt so wrong doing and terrible for allowing this to happen. Dolly quickly pulled away catching her breath.
"I love you too Dolly.", Spike lovingly muttered.
"Dolly...", Dolly turned her head to see Aaron completely devastated. She didn't even need to guess if he had saw what had just occured between her and Spike. His face said it all.
"Aaron it's not what you think!", Dolly begged.
"Here I was thinking that I was stressing myself out for nothing, but I should've listened to my gut. I should've read the signs that this was gonna happen.", He looked at her, his eyes glossy and his face wet. "Have fun."
"Aaron! Wait!", Dolly called, but it was already too late and he'd taken of in a fit of sadness and rage.
"What's his problem?", Spike cluelessly asked raising an eyebrow. Dolly was upset by how clueless he was of the situation, but it was her fault that she didn't inform him sooner.
"He's my boyfriend Spike! That's what I was trying to confess!", Dolly exclaimed. "Now he most likely thinks I'm over him now. This is so my fault!, I should've said something to you sooner and now Aaron's probably has lost all trust in me."
-Back to Aaron-
I pushed open the door to my room and slammed it shut. "How could she do this to me?", I wailed clenching both of my fists. I stared at form in the mirror to see two curved horns protruding from my forehead, my teeth were jagged and sharp, my fingernails had turned into claws, my eyes were pitch black and souless, and my skin was glowing a bright red.
"Oh God! I'm turning into that thing again!", I thought in utter horror.
I rushed into the bathroom and took off all my clothing leaving only my underwear. I grabbed the shower handle putting the turning it to cold water and waited for the tub to fill up.
Without sacrificing another second I dunked my entire body into the tub with the freezing water. I sat in the tub and watched as my body slowly reverted back to how it originally looked. Once everything was back to normal I put my face in my palms and began to uncontrollably sob.
Why would Dolly betray me like this? Was I not a good lover and friend? Was I not good enough for her?