Dante slammed his locker closed as another week at Daventry Hills High ended. No, it's the final week at Daventry Hills High. Graduation was tonight, and Dante could feel the pit in his stomach double in size.

Here he was, getting ready to graduate high school without knowing what he would do for the rest of his life. His future was always a dark tunnel that he saw no light in. Everyone else had a clear path: Lyle would play college ball for the Daventry Pioneers. Wyatt would not only be a year ahead in college but also be interning under Max. Angie...

Angie.

The pit in his stomach doubled in size. Again. Dante had been avoiding her for the better part of a month, thinking that not seeing her would get rid of all the intrusive thoughts he had of her. He didn't know when or why these thoughts sprang up; he knew they were there to stay.

He knew it couldn't have been a crush. Like he had the right or the time to pine after any girl, let alone someone who had everything together like Angie. Besides, she hated him, and he couldn't blame her. He was too...just too much. He was always saying and doing stupid things and taking unnecessary risks. All to ensure no one, especially Angie, took their eyes off him.

Lyle slung his arm over Dante's shoulder, returning him to reality. He wore a massive grin, brimming with confidence and certainty. "You ready for the first night of the rest of our lives?" Lyle exclaimed.

Dante gave a weak nod.

Lyle didn't seem to notice his friend's apprehension. "Dude, Ginger is gonna throw a bangin' hotel after party after the ceremony. You in?"

Dante averted his gaze. "I don't know, there might be a Cross -" Neverfail decided to change the title of monsters crossing over into their world from "leak" to "Cross"—too many piss jokes for Angie's liking.

Lyle laughed him off. "Come on, Dante! There hasn't been a Cross all month! Besides, Max's got that covered for the night."

Dante rubbed the back of his neck in discomfort. Crosses have been few and far between for the past year; eventually, they stopped showing up. Not only was everyone outgrowing Daventry Hills, but Daventry Hills was also outgrowing them.

If that was the case, he could do what he did best. Live in the moment; the future could wait one more night.

"All right. Where's the party going to be? Wait, am I even invited?"

Lyle shot him a droll stare. "Uh, yeah?" I'm inviting you. And I'll text you the address later."

"And you can't do that now because?"

Lyle almost looked embarrassed. "Ginger doesn't know which hotel it's going to be at yet."

Dante couldn't help but laugh at that. "She set up this party without even knowing where it would be? We might as well get Steve Schmidt to throw another one at HQ."

"I thought of that, but this is important to Ginger. Her chance to prove she's not a dumb blonde."

"How do you know that?" Dante asked.

Lyle's look of embarrassment clung to his face, but there was another emotion there: Dante...

...couldn't...quite...

"You two are dating now, aren't you?" He came out and asked.

Lyle's index finger flew to his mouth. "Not so loud! We don't know what we are yet and don't want anyone putting labels on us."

Dante could understand that. "Right. You won't hear another peep from me."

If this were a year ago, Lyle would have looked mortified; Dante's inability to keep a secret wasn't exactly, well, a secret.

Now, he just sighed gratefully. "Alright, thanks. I'll recommend a few places to Ginger and make it sound like her idea."

Dante chucked before the two shared a handshake and departed.

Dante headed for the exit until his phone started vibrating.

Great.

Wyat: HQ. URGENT.

So much for the party.