[TRIGGER WARNING AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER]

The incoming Skype call from Guard-In-Training-56 caught my attention, and I logged out of the chatroom where we were the only ones online and accepted the call, watching the screen digitalize. I looked into the face of who I recognized as Dante from his profile on the chatroom. I smile, "Hey! How are you?"

He grins as well, "Hey, Nicole! I'm good, you?"

"I'm fine. Could be better."

A strange expression crosses his face as he says, "Hey, last time I looked at my keyboard, I noticed that 'u' and 'i' are always together."

I giggle softly, "You're an idiot."

He chuckles in return, "That's my specialty."

"So, what have you been up to?" I asked him, resting my chin in my hands.

"Nothing much. My brother dragged me to a party."

"What happened there?"

"Well, it wasn't long after the party started when a bunch of people were getting drunk—including myself—and it ended up with myself having an unintentional affair with some stranger."

"Oh—well—um—that's awkward," I remarked nervously.

A strange feeling gave way inside of me. I realized it was small twinge of jealousy. But how could I be jealous? I barely know this guy!

Deciding to change the subject, I began, "Well... how do you think Lucinda is taking the news of her family member passing away?"

Dante shrugged through the frame, "I don't really know, but I feel bad for her."

I nodded, "It sounds a lot worse than she implied. In all honesty, I know what it's like to lose a loved one.

"You do?"

I let a sigh release my mouth before beginning, "Yeah. My mom died when I was little. My father raised me alone. It's always been the two of us. But he's fallen ill and I fear his end is approaching."

"Oh... I'm so sorry..." He said, regret filled in his voice.

I smiled slightly, "It's okay. I just know my hair comes from her. My father says I look a lot like her."

"What was your mother's name?" Dante asked quietly, averting his gaze from the computer screen.

"Lyrica," I answered, wiping away a loose tear that escaped my eye, "I've always loved that name."

"That's beautiful."

I smiled nervously, "Sorry, I'm a mess."

"Don't be sorry. I should be the one saying it. I brought it up."

"No, no, it's okay. I'm the one who's an emotional wreck," I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, forcing a smile, "You did nothing wrong."

In his efforts to comfort me, he said, "Don't worry. It's normal to be like this at the mention of a relative who passed."

"Thanks for listening," I breathed, "I don't have the opportunity to talk to many people in the first place."

"Don't mention it," at these words, my heart fluttered. I looked down at my hands sitting in my lap, wondering what this feeling was. Could it be that my feelings were drawn to the fact that he was so understanding and considerate?

"So..." I began, "Just out of curiosity... Are you in a relationship?"

"No. Why are you asking?" He playfully inferred.

Another nervous smile made its way to my lips, "No reason."

"Are you sure?" He interrogated further, and I noted even more playfulness in his tone.

"Well..." I drew off the word in a playful manner.

"Well," he chuckled, "It's not your fault all the ladies fall for me."

I laughed, "Yeah... I bet..."

"I know," he laughed softly as well.

"Keep up those pick-up lines. Maybe you'll stay reserved for me," I joked, my hands fiddling with my shorts out of the shot of the webcam.

"Well, you know I'm irresistible. Hershey makes a million kisses a day, I'm just asking for one," he planted a smirk on his face as I laughed.

"I'd take more than one."

"Oh really?" He questioned, and I nodded curtly.

"Mhm."

"I might just let that happen," was what I last heard from him before my phone started ringing mid sentence. In front of Dante, I answered the call from the unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Is this Ms. Von Ronsenburg?" The man on the other side of the phone asked.

"Yes, sir."

"This is the Cancer Clinic of Scaleswind. Your father came in for his appointment today, and we discovered a tumor in its mid-stage of development."

"W-What are you implying?"

"Ms. Von Ronsenburg, I hate to break this to you, but your father was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme."

"I'm sorry, could you classify?"

"He... He has brain cancer, ma'am."

I began to tear up as the man continued, "Your father is required to be put under an induced coma for the chemotherapy to begin. He'll be under special watch during the time he's here, beginning tomorrow. You can visit in the morning before noon, when the procedure begins. This decision is entirely up to you, but seeing as you are the only family he has, I would suggest visiting."

"O-Okay... T-Thank you, sir," I ended the call, letting the tears finally fall down my cheeks like a silent waterfall as I stared absentmindedly at my keyboard, my mouth dangling open slightly.

My father. My chances of losing him are at a greater chance now.

Dante's voice, faint through the computer screen, brought me back to reality, "Hey, is something wrong?"

"No..." I started, but realizing the show I put on suggested otherwise, and my emotions turned towards anger, "Oh hell, what am I saying? Yes! Everything's wrong!"

"What happened?!" Dante asked, panicking, "Are you alright?!"

"My father..." I choked out, "H-he was diagnosed with brain cancer."

"I'm so sorry! Do you need anything?"

"I-I need friends... in my life away from the computer. But that'll never happen. N-Not to me."

"What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, "I might as well tell someone I know I can trust... My father—he's the mayor of Scaleswind. Mr. Von Ronsenburg is my father." It could have been obvious from my username in the chat, but the fact that it could of just been someone using his name for inspiration could've been a possibility.

"What?!" He exclaimed, "He's your father?!

I nodded curtly, "Y-Yeah. After high school, when he became a part of the city council, I transferred schools and lost all my friends. I've been lonely ever since. But please, don't tell the others..."

"I promise I won't tell."

I began to wipe away the trails the tears made on my cheeks, stopping when I said, "You'll have to visit sometime."

"I can visit now." His words stunned me.

"H-huh?!"

"Yeah. I can come over there like, right now."

"I-I can't let you do that," I said softly, "Not for me... Not for anyone like me..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I-I'm just a weird, lonely freak who has no friends and loses everyone she loves..."

"No you're not!" He exclaimed, "You're a lovely girl who's kind and considerate of everyone's feelings."

I smiled softly, unable to stop myself from saying the next words, "I like you, Dante."

"I like you, too, Nicole."

"No," I continued, "I mean, I like you."

"W-What?"

I began to explain what I meant, not thinking clearly, "Even during middle school, no one has ever taken me seriously. I've never met anyone so patient and selfless as you... I know we haven't known each other for as long as I wish we have, but... I guess something about you just... clicks."

When he continued to stare down in silence, unable to respond, I realized the mistake I made, "I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything!" I began to move my mouse to end the call, the last words I heard from him being, "Wait, Nicole!"

The call ended, and I began to take deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself down. I made a mistake. A huge mistake. I never learned my lesson.

A failure. This guaranteed I was what I knew I was. I drove everyone away from me, never succeeding at keeping someone special in my life.

In my mind, the only thing that could end the pain was more pain. I needed to discipline myself.

My day finished with taking apart a razor blade, playing my arm like the strings of a violin.