A wave of nostalgia came over Dante as he stepped into Neverfail's HQ. The warehouse acted as a home away from home, where Dante could go when things got bad with his mom. There were so many memories. His nostalgia was tinged with dread at the thought of this being one of the last times everyone would meet here.

While Wyatt gushed over the servers towards the back, and Lyle loved messing with the jersey-clad dinosaur, Dante loved relaxing on the couch, where he got some peace. Angie being there next to him only made it that much better. Though, he enjoyed being here alone just as much. Being alone gave him time to step back and think about his life and how he could be a better son and friend.

A good boyfriend. Dante shook his head to dispel the thoughts. How could he be a good anything if he couldn't even figure out what he'd do after high school? When all he's done is desperately cling onto the moments he had with the gand, hoping they would never end when he knew they would?

Dante plopped down on the red couch, bridging his hands together before resting his chin on them. He couldn't keep fighting monsters forever. Skateboarding was fun, but he could never go pro in it. He was good at baseball. He wasn't good enough to get recognized for it, though.

Shit. What was he going to do?

"Dante? Shouldn't you be getting ready for graduation?"

Once again, Dante was disturbed by his thoughts—this time, by Neverfail's benefactor, Max Ross. Dante took in his appearance.

He was dressed head to toe in gear from those old Western movies. A cowboy hat was too big for his head, boots that Dante could hear from a mile away, a brown blazer, and a white undershirt. Not to mention the belt buckle in the shape of a bull's head.

This could only mean: "On your way to another rodeo convention? I never got the big deal with those things." Dante said.

Max waved him away. "I don't expect you to. Anyway, what are you doing here?"

Dante took his phone out of his pocket. "Wyatt told everyone to meet here. Said it was urgent."

Max looked confused. "I didn't get a message."

"He might not have wanted to bother you."

Max seemed to consider that idea. "True, it could have something to do with your graduation tonight."

An all too familiar dread accompanied the mention of graduation.

"You, uh, you coming tonight? To the graduation?"

Max scoffed. "And be surrounded by those mouth breathers? No thanks. Anyway, I just stopped by because I forgot my revolver and lasso." He began to walk past Dante towards the back of the warehouse.

Dante did a double take. The lasso he got, but, "A revolver? What would you need with a revolver?"

Max turned back towards him with a confused frown. "We're cowboys. The cowboys had revolvers. It's for authenticity's sake." He said before moving on.

Max with a revolver. God help us all.

As Max left, Wyatt strolled on in. He set his bookbag on the table before he and Dante did their handshake.

"What's up, Dante?"

"You tell me. What's so urgent?"

Wyatt smirked before checking his watch. "Lyle and Angie should be here in a few minutes. I'll explain to everyone then."

Sure enough, Lyle and Angie turned up a few minutes later. Lyle was gushing about his summer tryouts with UCLA. Angie, on the other hand, was much less enthusiastic about her life post-high school. She only half-smiled as Lyle went on.

Something Dante took notice of.

"Good! Everyone's here!" Wyatt said before walking over to the "explain-y board."

He began to write many ones and twos, along with significant words Dante wouldn't even try to pronounce before returning to the gang.

"So, since we're all graduating, Max and I have been working on a more permanent solution to our 'Cross' problem." He explained.

Angie spoke up. "Is that the reason Crossess haven't been invading as much?"

Wyatt pointed to her with enthusiasm. "Yes! Exactly! Max and I have been working on a firewall that would prevent creatures from the game from entering our world. It's been doing pretty well for something only in the bet stage."

"So, once you guys work out all the kinks, Daventry Hills won't need Neverfail anymore?" Lyle asked.

"That's the idea. We can't fight monsters forever. I know I can't be the only one who wants to move on with their life." Wyatt said.

Dante looked down at their feet as Lyle and Angie sounded their agreement. It's not that he didn't want to move on; he didn't know what he was moving on to. If anything.

"So, what? You called us here to tell us that? Couldn't you have just shot us a text or something?" Angie asked.

Wyatt nodded. "I could have, but that's not why I called everyone here. Since Neverfail is about to close up shop, I wanted us to go on one last hunt together, for old time's sake."

Dante perked up at the thought. One more hunt would make a nice little bookend on this part of their lives.

"Hey, man, as long as it doesn't make us late for the ceremony," Lyle said.

Wyatt waved a hand. "Oh no, the last hunt isn't going to be tonight. With our luck, a level 75 orc would pop up. No, we can do it this weekend if everyone's free?"

Angie nodded, and Lyle had no complaints.

"All right, well, I have to get ready for tonight. The first night of the rest of our lives and all. I'll see you guys later." Wyatt said as he hurried out of the warehouse.

"And I've got to make sure my suit will be ready by five like the lady from the cleaners said. Catch you guys later." Lyle hit a light jog back to his car.

Which left Dante and Angie.

Dante sprang up and headed for the door when the fact dawned on him. "Well, I'll see you tonight!" He almost leaped towards the door.

"Hold it," Angie called after him.

"Sorry, Angie, gotta go! See you!" I yelled back as I bounded through the door.

Angie's POV

Angie sighed irritably as she sat back on the couch. Dante's been acting weird all month. Every time she would come around, he'd disappear. Whenever she tried to talk to him, he would be short and actively attempt not to extend the conversation. Even when they all hung out together, he'd sit as far away from her as possible.

Did she offend him somehow? As far as she knew, she treated him the same as she always did. He didn't reciprocate. Maybe treating him like the same sperg that got his tongue stuck in a hair dryer...somehow, was what made him so distant?

He has changed a lot in the last two years. He wasn't nearly as obnoxious and annoying and didn't do or say gross stuff to get attention. But it was always so hard to get the image of the impulsive, immature kid out of her mind.

Even so, back then, he wasn't all bad. He could be genuine when he wanted to. He talked about keeping his eyes open when kissing a girl to know he's found the "one." That time, he checked up on her when she broke her ankle.

Over the past two years, he's tried to show more of that side of himself. Not so much the Dante who thought he had to perform to get other people to like or notice him.

Maybe he was cold towards her because she still treated him the same. Like she didn't notice or appreciate the person he was becoming. If that were the case, wouldn't he say something or at least hint at it? Dante was plenty of things, but meek wasn't one of them. He always spoke his mind.

So what was it?

She let out another sigh before standing up. Trying to understand Dante's mind was much simpler when he was just a showboat. Oh well, she would have all the time in the world to figure out his problem after graduation.

Graduation.

It felt like someone took the wind from her sails at the thought. She should be excited, but all she could think about were her parent's expectant smiles as she picked the path they had already set for her.

Great.

Her shoulders slightly sagging, she marched her way out the door.