Season 2 Chapter 19: Back to Normal
"W-what? Y-you like me?", I stammered with uncertainty of the situation. I could see the desperation in the Da Vinci's eyes. She was serious about what she was saying. "Exactly how long has this been going on, Da Vinci?"
"Ever since I first met you. At first, I admired you alot for sharing the same interest and opinions as me. Every night since then I started growing feelings, feelings I'd never felt before.", Da Vinci said her right eye tucked behind her floppy right ear. "It was then I came to the conclusion that I had feelings for you. I didn't wanna say anything to you about it because I was afraid of upsetting Dolly, but now you're alone again and I was curious if...you wanted to be with me?"
How do I say this to her without making her feel bad? If I know Da Vinci she can be sensitive, so I need to watch what I say to her. "Da Vinci, Here's the thing. You're a creative and gifted kid, but I'm gonna have to decline your offer."
"Huh?", She muttered sadly.
"It's not that I don't like you or anything. Its because there are many factors that come to play if we were to be together like you want.", I calmly told her. "Maybe if you were a couple years older and I wasn't dating Dolly, than of course I'd be more than willing to give you a chance. I just can't though, I hope you can understand?"
Da Vinci didn't utter a single word. I heard her quietly sobbing trying to hide the tears that was now streaming down her face. "I'm so foolish! Why did I think you'd feel the same way for me?", She turned her face away from my own and took off crying while hiding her face.
"Wait! Da Vinci! Come back!", I called out, but unfortunately it was too late. "Damn it..."
"Aaron! There you are. We've been looking all over for you dude!", Dolly's voice filled my eardrums. I turned my head to find her and...Spike. Sudden Dolly pulled me into a loving embrace, something inside of me forced me to hug back. I guess I'm not as over her as I originally thought. "I've missed you so much!"
"Uh huh.", I said sarcastically. I then attempted to get out of the hug, but found out Dolly was clinging to me tightly.
"Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere.", She spoke into my ear still keeping me contained in the bear hug. "I gave you the chance to explain yourself when that husky, Dana framed you. To be fair I deserve the chance to explain myself as well, Don't you think?"
"Yeah, you're right.", I shamefully admitted.
At last she let me go. I hope since Spike is here he's gonna apologize instead of rubbing in the fact he kissed my girlfriend last night. "What happened last night is not what you think dude. I tried to explain to Spike that the both of us are together, but then he kissed me. You came in at the wrong time and I couldn't explain to you in time of what really happened.", She carefully explained. "But don't be upset with Spike, it's my fault for not making him aware of our relationship.
I believe her, I couldn't count how many times in the past Dolly has reminded me of how strong her love was for me. She'd always tell me she would never betray my trust. So therefore, I don't want to accuse her of lying after giving her side of the story. After all everything she said did add up. I noticed her look at Spike as if he was supposed to say something as well.
"Aaron, I apologize for kissing Dolly. If I had known about you two ahead of time I would've never even dared myself to do it dude.", Spike spoke solemnly before approaching me. He balled up his fist and held it out towards me. "Hopefully you accept my apology and we can start over as friends."
I'd be a total ass to not forgive them both. I nodded and gave him a forgiving, welcoming smile. "I forgive you.", I nodded.
I accepted the bro fist and noticed the giant scar that went across his chest, "Nice scar, How'd you get it?"
"Shark Attack. That's how I got this.", Spike answered showing me the necklace around the collar of his neck. It adorned three individual shark teeth stained in blood, presumably his. "How'd you get yours?"
"Well...I kinda made my mom upset and she cut me across the face with a kitchen knife.", I reluctantly replied. Of course like any sane person Spike looked more severely concerned and than l expected him to be. "Don't worry, It's a long story. Anyways, Dolly there's something I need to tell you."
"I'm all ears."
"Ok, How do I start this? Umm...So before you two arrived I was talking to Da Vinci. She told me some...Interesting news to say the least.", I mentioned.
"Uh huh...", Dolly slowly nodded. "So what'd she say exactly?"
Here goes nothing then. I hope Dolly's reaction isn't bad as I think it might be. "This may come to you as a shocker, but Da Vinci had admitted that she's had a huge thing for me ever since I first came around. I wasn't sure what to think at first, but everything she said sounded pretty genuine."
Dolly occausionally nodded every now and then and was oddly calm. "Y'know I'm not surprised. Me and Dylan kinda had a hunch she liked you. A little too much for my taste, but I didn't wanna accused my sister for crushing on ya.", Dolly said. "And Lemme guess, you tried to explain to her you weren't interested and she took off?"
That was...very accurate for a guess. I guess Da Vinci must be known to do this when she gets really upset. "Pretty much. I tried to tell her in the nicest way possible, but she got upset anyways. Then she started rambling to herself about how stupid she was for thinking she had a chance with me. Then before I knew it, she took off crying.", I answered. "We gotta find her Dolly. The last thing I want is for her to get all depressed and hate me forever."
I knew how sensitive Da Vinci was and I was careful with my choice of words. Seems no matter what I said she would take it the wrong way regardless.
"I guess I'll leave it both to then.", Spike awkwardly said. "Uh...Talk to ya both later."
After that, he was gone. I guess I might've understood Spike from the beginning due to jealousy. Maybe we can get to know each other better sometime. Then I remembered the matter at hand.
"Aaron, You ok?", Dolly asked in concern.
"Huh? What? Oh yeah I'm fine! We shouldn't waste anymore time.", I suggested. "Let's go find Da Vinci."
Once on the beach we found all the pups having fun and doing what they usual did here. I was even able to see Dylan and Summer in the distance sitting on a picnic blanket conversating with one another. I told Dylan they'd hit it off, and he didn't believe me.
"What's up you two lovebirds?", I jokingly greeted them.
"A-Aaron!", Dylan yelped blushing. Summer merely giggled at Dylan's response to them being called "Lovebirds". "Is there something you two need?"
"Yeah Dyl. We're searching for Da Vinci. Have either you or Summer seen her around? We have to find here before she gets herself into danger.", Dolly asked.
Dylan shook his head, "No not really. Why do you ask? Did something bad happen?"
"Da Vinci is upset with me.", I sighed shaking my head. "And before you ask it's a long story, but like Dolly said we need to find her before she does something seriously reckless."
Summer then got to her feet, "Then we'll help ya find her. Right Stargazer?"
"U-Uh y-yeah sure!"
Aww! She even gave Dylan a nickname. These two really do make a cute couple. Kinda reminds me of me and Dolly when we first met in High Paw High. "Then it's a plan then! Maybe we should ask the puppies to see if they've seen her.", I quickly suggested.
The four of us made our way further towards the shore. We decided we'd confront all of the puppies first. Maybe one of them know of Da Vinci's location "Hey Pups!", I called out excitedly getting their attention.
Upon seeing me they made a beeline straight for me. I was tackled to the ground by the affectionate puppies and brought into a very, tight, warming hug.
"Aaron, You're ok!", Dizzy smiled.
"We were so worried about you.", Dee Dee commented.
"Yeah!", The rest of the pups agreed.
"I'd never leave you all.", I spoke softly scratching some of their heads and they let me up. "Also, I'm in a state of emergency right now. Have any of you guys seen your sister Da Vinci around lately? Dolly and I have been looking all over for her."
"We haven't.", Dizzy and Dee Dee shook their heads.
"Haven't seen her.", Delgado answered.
"I've been busy with my studies, so I haven't really talked to her lately.", Dawkins said.
"Meditation requires no distractions.", Deepak randomely stated getting confused looks from me and the rest of his siblings. "That means I haven't seen her either."
I crouched infront of Dorothy who was playing in the sand. She gave an adoroble smile once she locked eyes with me. "Hey there Dorothy. Have you seen Da Vinci?", I asked.
"Mhm Hmm.", She nodded. Dorothy pointed in the direction of dark looking cave on the far side of the beach. It's the same cave I've seen Da Vinci enter a couple of times.
"Thanks Dorothy.", I grinned.
"This cave is mad creepy. You sure Da Vinci is in here?", Dolly questioned making sure that she kept close to me.
"Yeah? Why would she spend her own free time in such an unsettling place.", Dylan agreed occasionally making sure to examine his surroundings.
"I'm one hundred percent sure she'd be here. Sometimes she'd bring me here so we can paint together and talk.", I added. "She's in here somewhere, I guarantee it."
"Wait!", Summer whispered. We all stopped in our tracks. "Do any of you hear that too?"
Standing still I took in all the sounds that could possibly have been hidden among the silence. Then what must've alerted Summer entered my ears. The sound of crying from a young female. It's gotta be Da Vinci!
"That's her!", I whispered to the others.
I silently motioned them to follow me. We began quietly strolling through the cave's tunnels following the noise. The sound itself was now only inches away. I peered over the corner to find Da Vinci in the fetal position, sobbing to herself.
"Da Vinci..."
She lifted her head from off the ground turning her gaze in our direction, "Aaron...Dolly...Dylan...Summer. Why did you four come here?"
"We came here for you Da Vinci.", I spoke in a sooting manner.
"We know you're upset, but let us talk to you.", Dolly added in agreement.
"What's the point in doing that? You two probably despise me. I was in love with Aaron for so long, Doesn't that bother you Dolly?", Da Vinci cried while blue tears streamed down her snout.
"Sis, You're not the only one of our many siblings that like Aaron.", Dolly mentioned. "Dizzy and Dee Dee love him to death, The Triple D crush on him sometimes, and even Roxy and all the other girls talk about how lucky I am to be with this big lug right here. I don't blame you for liking him like I do, Aaron is just that much of a likeable guy."
I casually blushed by her comment and chuckled. "But they know there is someone out that will love them like I love Dolly.", I added to Dolly's previous statement.
I then reached out to Da Vinci and brought her into a hug. Dolly soon joined in on the affectionate hug. "So you don't hate me?", She asked in surprise.
"No we don't Da Vinci.", Dolly replied compassionately. "We love you."
"We could never hate you, but you did give us quite the scare.", I told her with worry. "Oh! There's something I've been making for you ever since you made me this really neat Bandana."
I reached into my back pocket and clutched a small item in palms, "Close your eyes."
Da Vinci clenched her eyes shut. I then proceeded to clip on the small item and led Da Vinci to a small puddle. "Ok, now open your eyes!"
A grin spread across my face seeing Da Vinci's reaction. She let out a loud gasp upon seeing a light pink bow that matched her bandana had been clipped onto her left ear. I used one of those non-piercing clips. "So what do you think? I thought I'd give you something as a reminder of our friendship."
"Thanks Aaron.", Da Vinci said hugging me tightly.
"No problem."
"We should head back to everyone else before they get worried.", Dylan suggested and we all nodded in agreement.
"I heard there was a new diner being built around here. Anyone wanna check it out?", Summer asked.
My stomach loudly grumbled just at the thought of food. I haven't eaten in awhile now that I thought about it. "I'm down to eat.", I answered chuckling.