It was the next Wednesday day already and Rayla was off of work. She went on her morning run. She saw Dante on his run in conversation with someone on his Bluetooth earbuds. She chose to run right past him and avoid talking to him at all, until the date.

She had to buy another dress, later today, anyway. Dante had decided to take her to a less fancy restaurant. So she just needed a simpler, more comfortable dress. Thankfully.

After a few hours of shopping and trying to ease herself, she called Dante telling him she was going to walk there. It would help her know the area better, and be able to find her way back easier, just in case there were any bumps in the road.

Of course, when she started her walk to the restaurant, she realized how far it was from her house. Everything was a ways from her house. Nevertheless, she called him again telling him she'd be a little late. She would be there, but it would just take a little while.

As she walked, she began trying to plan what she would ask and say to him. Specific questions she would need to have him answer. The answers to these questions would determine if this would work or not. Questions such as; Did he appreciate Xadia? Did he even like Xadia? Did he appreciate elves? It would be setting up for a breakup, if he hated who and what she was. She had to ask him.

~RxC~

Coincidentally, this was Callum's day off, as well. But he was going to spend his afternoon differently. There were things he needed to get straight.

Ever since the night before Rayla's first date when they stood in her doorway, he'd been getting strange flashes of what seemed to be memories. Memories with Rayla. These thoughts would flash in his mind at random times in the day, especially in his dreams.

At first, he thought they were fantasy sequences with Rayla, but they always felt familiar in a deja' vuish kind of way. These thoughts or memories or whatever they were, had the same scenery and lighting. They always had red and orange lighting and he and Rayla were there together in a huge warehouse filled with people dancing and talking.

He would remember he and Rayla sitting at a bar and he would be explaining to her what the word "punch" meant on a menu. He would remember dancing with her. She would start dancing to his surprise and she would ask him if he could dance. He'd, at first, just stand in place watching her dance in awe. Then she would suddenly twirl him and dip telling him to impress her if he could dance. He always turned red thinking about it.

Rayla was always wearing a crimson dress, one that fit her figure perfectly, with a pair of black heels and lavender highlights in her normally silky, white hair. He remembered slow dancing with her closer than he'd ever been with her, and he couldn't do anything, but love every moment of it. But it was when he remembered the end of the first dance and she kissed him that he realized that this all felt too familiar. It felt like this had really happened.

It wasn't a peck either. He could almost feel her lips on his when he thought back to it. He'd thought about the highlights in Rayla's hair. They were lavender. He did see Rayla with the same highlights the day after the... Club!!!! She even told him she'd gotten them specifically for it.

That confirmed it.

Either he was going crazy or he was finally remembering the events at the club. The events he really shouldn't have forgotten.

He still got more memories, but he needed to tell someone, someone who was at the club and quite possibly saw, at least, some of it.

More memories flooded through his mind as he gathered his few needs to bring with him. He made his way to the front door to leave, but his name was called out, "Callum!"

He stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Uhhh, yeah?"

"Where are you going? Aren't you off of work today?" Harrow interrogated.

"Yeah, I am. I'm just going to... check something out." Callum replied reaching for the door knob. Harrow would not be too happy to hear about the club incident, so he may prefer he didn't know. Lord knew, how Harrow would react to Callum trying to find out what happened.

"And what exactly do you plan on 'checking out'?" Harrow questioned before Callum could even touch the knob.

Callum looked around for an excuse. "Something I'm gonna be late for!!! See you when I get back. I'll be back soon, Promise!!!!" He raced out the door so that Harrow wouldn't keep him from leaving.

He left to see Soren. He knocked on his door and Soren answered shocked to see him at his house. "Callum? What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you." Was Callum's only response. Soren let him in and they sat in his living room on the couch as Callum attempted to explain.

"I know this might sound a little crazy, but its about the club..."

Soren put his hand in front of him to pause his explanation, the moment he heard the word "Club". He looked around as if someone could've been watching. "Hold on. I can't talk about this. I'm sworn under an oath to not say a word." He stopped and looked around again. He whispered, "Talk to Nyx. She's in the backyard." He pointed his thumb to the back acting suspicious.

While Callum was curious why Nyx should be at Soren's house at this time, it was convenient for him so he wasn't complaining. He came to the backyard to find Nyx lounging on a patio chair with sunglasses over her eyes and a lemonade in her hand. She heard the sliding door open, and she put her sunglasses over her head, "Oh! Hey, Callum, what brings you here?"

"To talk. Soren is sworn under some oath. He told me to talk to you."

"Oh, it's probably about the club, then."

"Yeah, actually, h- how did you...?"

"Because Soren tells me everything. Of course, he's going to tell me that Rayla told him to keep quiet about the club when talking to or around you." Nyx said as if it were obvious.

"Rayla told him to be quiet about it?" Callum couldn't believe it. "Why?"

"Why don't you ask her?" Nyx stopped for a moment, and sighed, "Look, tell me whatever you need to tell me, then I'll spare you the trip to her house for an explanation." She informed him.

Callum explained everything to her. Every memory down to the smallest details of them. He even remembered what happened, before they'd arrived at the club.

Nyx was relatively shocked to know that he remembered any of that, since he'd forgotten it. It was rare for someone to remember what they'd forgotten after getting drunk.

Just to be sure, she asked, "And you're sure this all happened?"

"Yes. Absolutely. Rayla had the same highlights she had in those memories. B-but why did she tell Soren to not say anything to me?" Callum asked almost appalled that Rayla would do that. He couldn't think of a reason why she would.

Nyx scoffed and smirked at him, "For the same reason She's on a date with goofus boy, Doyle, or whatever his name is. The same reason she kissed you at the club, the same reason you haven't said anything to her. You didn't think, people kiss their best friend for the fun of it. Also, the day Carl had asked Rayla out two months ago, Claudia told her to stop pining for you, saying those two, stupid words that's been getting you in trouble, 'Move. On.'"

Someone had to tell one of them, at least, or this would last over a year. It had been almost 7 months.

"Rayla likes me?" Callum asked absently. She couldn't, could she?

"Nooo, she doesn't like you. She loves you. She's been willing to remain friends, because your happiness means that much to her. Do yourself a favor, and pay attention to what she does, where her eyes go when she looks at you, her mannerisms, and what and how she says things to you. Especially, pay attention to the specific way she talks and looks at you. Notice how she doesn't act that way with anyone else, but you. See for yourself, and thank me later."

Thinking back to everything, every moment he and Rayla had, Nyx was right. Besides, there couldn't be a good excuse for her kissing him at the club.

This was just the push he needed. The reason Rayla was putting up with this guy was to move on from him. Because she didn't think he loved her. Gosh, Harrow was right! He was an idiot.

~RxC~

Meanwhile, walking to the restaurant was taking Rayla a lot longer to get done. She felt bad for making Dante wait so long.

Finally the restaurant was in sight... and so was Dante. She was going to wave to Dante, until she saw a young woman walk out with him. She stopped walking to watch. Assumptions weren't something Rayla was one to come to, but the kiss Dante laid on the girl's lips said all she needed to know.

Ouch!

All guilt faded from her conscience. She wasn't jealous, she was just mad and not at the girl he was with. His smooth nature should've been a red flag. He was a player.

She felt stupid standing on the sidewalk knowing he was a player. So she walked up to him so that the girl would see her. She deserved to know that her boyfriend had been playing her.

The girl had turned around to look at him and instantaneously saw Rayla. She paused. Then she walked back to Dante for an explanation. "Who's this?" She gestured to Rayla.

Dante went pink. He'd been caught. "Uh. Kiana! It- it's not what it looks like." He hoped she would fall for it.

Rayla took a deep breath, "Supposed to be his date, To answer your question. I'm sorry about this. I'm Rayla. Under different circumstances, I would say that it was nice to meet you. But given the situation, I won't." She was irritated, but her anger wasn't directed to her. So she remained cordial towards her.

Kiana nodded in a mad, but semi-friendly way, Dante was the person she wanted to strangle. "You've been cheating on me?" She questioned holding back tears.

"She was only a second date, I swear!!" Dante defended pathetically.

"But there were others, weren't there? To think, after 8 months, you what? Got bored of me? Whatever happened to being 'Your Little, Exotic Flower'?" Kiana droned on in shouts.

Rayla slowly backed up, "The only small piece of advice I can give you is dump his sorry, nasty behind. Otherwise, I'm just goin' to leave. You seem like you have things covered. If I stay any longer I'm going to do something I shouldn't." Rayla said blankly. How did she get herself in this situation?

I agreed to a date with an overly smooth guy. I agreed to a second date with him.That's how. She answered her own question in her head.

Just then, Kiana punched Dante. "In case it isn't clear enough for you, This. Is. Over." Kiana grumbled out.

"But, Kiana, wait!" Dante tried to stop her as she started to walk away. He looked at Rayla with a pleading look.

Rayla tried to swallow her anger, It's not worth my time. She thought to herself. But once Dante reached to her hand for help, she forgot it. She turned around, pulled the collar of his shirt, and punched him in the eye releasing her grip. "Did you really think you would get away with a stunt like that? You really must not be very smart!" And she left without another word.

Kiana drove off in her car crying. Rayla felt bad for her. At least, she didn't develop any feelings for him. He dated Kiana for eight months, and she clearly liked him. Hopefully, she would heal from that and be a able to move on.

Rayla walked til' she reached a bus stop. She sat in the bus stop booth, and thought over everything that transpired in the past hour. She found she was somewhat relieved. She dreaded going out, because she could never feel comfortable with him.

This, in a very small sense, was good. But at the moment she felt pretty replaceable. She finally stood and speed dialed the one person who would be willing to drive her home. She walked along the sidewalk watching her own steps waiting for him to pick up.

At last at the third ring, the call was answered.

"Hey, Callum,... um, if I sent you my location, would you be willin' to pick me up?" Rayla requested studying her surroundings.

Callum was shocked to hear from her this early. Uh-oh. Did he leave her again? He'd, sure as heck, be willing to murder him at that point. "Of course, wh- why- where- what happened to your date with D-Dante?"

Rayla sighed, "I'll tell you when you get here, okay?"

"O-Okay, I'll be there as soon as possible." Callum agreed already grabbing his keys and waving to Nyx and Soren leaving out the door.

Rayla texted him where she was and sat down waiting for him. In less than half an hour, Callum pulled over to pick her up. He got out, opened the passenger's seat door for her, and closed it when she got in, then got in himself. They started the drive home and Rayla told him everything about the drama with Dante and his, now ex-girlfriend, Kiana.

It burned Callum that Dante cheated on her. Scoundrel. He hated people like that, he hated him even more for doing it to her. It wasn't any better that he would cheat on anyone else, but he was ready to go to him and give him a piece of his mind. No one deserved that, especially not Rayla.

He bought food for the both of them, and he drove her straight home from there. He reverted his mind to other matters to calm himself down. He dropped her off and talked a little with Rayla and Ethari.

The whole experience wasn't enough to make Rayla cry, but it didn't make her feel very good knowing someone would so easily cheat. Callum hugged her tightly, and reminded her that Dante didn't matter anymore. She had no room in her life for people who didn't care about her. He whispered it in her ear, which made her smile and giggle a little at feeling his breath on her ear.

"Thank you, Callum."

After that, Callum came home. Once home, he could only think about the wretch that cheated on Rayla. He walked in and Harrow was sitting on the couch awaiting his return.

"So! You said you'd be back soon, and you come back seven hours later. Would you call that soon?"

Callum threw his back on the empty couch. "Sorry, today lasted longer than I expected, did you need something? There were a lot of things I had to do, then unexpected things happened that added to it. I wasn't trying to come home so late. Tomorrow, I promise, my full attention will be on staying home. Did... You need me for something?"

"Not necessarily, I wanted to discuss something with you, but you were not home in which to open the discussion. All is fine, it could wait until tomorrow, unless you would be willing to discuss this now." Harrow told him patiently

"Uh, sure."

"Alright then. As you know, you started working at the DMV. Callum, school will have start in a little over a month. I want to have a school celebration, before starting the new semester. A junior-senior prom, the weekend, before school starts once again. I would like for you to help with getting supplies for it and helping plan it." Harrow offered.

"Um,... Well, yeah, I'll help. Sorry, I wasn't home much today. I just... I didn't want Rayla to walk all the way back home after walking there." Callum said sitting down beside Harrow.

Harrow raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Whatever happened to that date of hers? Should he not have been there?" He asked curiously though he could probably guess.

Those were the exact words that made Callum stand up and throw his arms out in the air in reminded frustration. "He cheated on her, Dad!!! Cheated!!!! What- How- why would he do that to her?" His ranting began.