Dina Was Thrilled When She Noticed Cassandra Arriving At The Bowling Alley. She Really Didn't Think That

Dina was thrilled when she noticed Cassandra arriving at the bowling alley. She really didn't think that she would come, or that Mortimer would deliver the message. Regardless, she felt like everything was falling into place. It was even more interesting when she showed up with none other than Malcolm Landgraab - just as Dina had hoped.

"So, Cassie.", Dina whispered as they sat outside on the patio. "Are you and Malcolm a thing?". she asked titling her head to the side.

She could feel Luna's elbow in her side as soon as the question left her lips, but she ignored her best friend to focus all of her attention on Cassandra.

"It's...complicated.", Cassie said quietly, her eyes narrowing as she stared Dina down. "And it's really none of your business."

"Oh, come on! Don't you want to talk about it? It just seems a little strange that you'd transfer to Oasis Springs a month before senior year is over. Why not finish out the year at Willow Creek? Unless....there was a reason why you couldn't."

Luna cleared her throat, which forced Dina to look over at her.

"Cassie, you really don't have to answer her. Dina can be a little....abrasive. It's not the most attractive personality trait, but I promise she means well.", Luna said, chuckling under her breath as she got a glare from Dina. "Did you move to Oasis Springs, or are you commuting like I am?"

"I have an apartment.", Cassie said, her fingertips digging into her jeans. "I'm staying beside you, actually, Dina. I...saw you come home the other night and realized that we're right next door to each other."

This information made Dina feel excited. If Cassie lived next door to her, and her suspicions about her being involved with Malcolm Landgraab were correct, it was possible that he would end up visiting her. It would give her another excuse to try and get to know Malcolm.

"I wish you had told me sooner! I would love to see your place. We should plan a girls night. You, me, and Luna.", Dina said, as she noticed Lilith and Angela Pleasant motioning with their hands for them to come inside with the rest of their friends.

"Cassie, do you like to sing?", Dina asked as she stood up, holding out her hand to her new found friend. "This bowling alley doubles as a karaoke bar! It's awesome. We're going to have so much fun."

Before Cassandra could even answer her, Dina pulled her inside, making her way to the bar to put her name on the list with Cassie.

Cassie and Dina, and the rest of the gang, took turns singing on the microphone for a few hours various songs of all genres. Dina wasn't sure she had ever seen Cassandra laugh and smile so much. She seemed to really be having fun, which Dina was actually grateful for it. If what her father said was true; that she spent so much time isolated away from other people, it would be good for her to spend time out having fun.

Dina took to the dance floor with the girls, only to glance over her shoulder and see Cassie seated at the bar, watching her. She had tried to convince her to come out and dance, but Cassie said she had been born with two left feet and that dancing was not her forte.

She let herself get lost in the music, the rhythm of the song pulsing through her head. It was only when she took a spare moment to herself to look back over her shoulder to check on Cassie that she noticed Malcolm Landgraab sitting there.

This was her moment.

She broke away from the pack, making a beeline for the empty seat. She gently tapped on his shoulder, drawing his attention away from Cassandra for once.

"Is this seat taken?"

"Not at all. Go ahead.", he replied, watching as she stepped up onto the edge to slide into the seat. "Cassie and I were just talking about you."

It was true. Dina still wasn't happy that her mother was dating Don Lothario. His last name felt like the biggest red flag in the world. But, Dina also felt like maybe it was important to be happy for her mother. ` "That's not true, Mama. I am happy for you.", Dina said softly as she stared down at the floor. "I just don't know if he is right for you."

Katrina paused, unsure of how to proceed to answer her daughter's concerns. She could understand where Dina was coming from, but she just wanted to believe that Don was different. He had already proven that he wouldn't blink at eye at her wanting to wait to have a sexual relationship. Didn't that already prove that he might be worth it? She wasn't sure, but she hated the tension between her and her daughters and she wanted to do something to mend that.

"Tell you what, Mija. It's Sunday. Why don't we go to the flea market with Don? So that you girls can get to know him. "

Dina tried to hide the annoyance on her face as her mother suggested spending more time with her mother's lover, but she knew she was just trying to keep the peace between them.

"Fine, but if he says anything I don't like...", Dina's voice trailed off as Katrina moved to throw her arms around Dina and said shakily, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Mama. Anything for you."

"She seems like a very nice girl, Mr. Goth. I enjoyed talking to her", Dina said softly, doing her best to turn on the praise in front of him.

"Oh, no need to be so formal. You can call me Morty.", Mortimer said with a chuckle. "Dina, Cassie has always been very shy and this arrangement was not her idea. She might be defensive at first, but I promise, she could use a friend like you in her life."

"Like me? Why do you say that?". Dina asked, titling her head as she tried to figure out exactly what it was that he was trying to say.

"I just meant that you seem very outgoing, and sure of yourself. Cassie has always been too focused on her music to really try to talk to other people and get to know them. She's also always been a very well....sad child. I fear some of that might be my doing. She gets her creativity from me. But, I just....I wish she could see that there's more to life than being stuck in her room working on writing music. It's her senior year! She should be out with friends enjoying herself before..."

Mortimer's voice suddenly trailed off as he realized what he was saying. It was as though he was about to unravel some big secret to Dina; one that he wasn't supposed to talk about. He chuckled nervously, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry for going on like that. It's just that...you seem very easy to talk to.", Mortimer said, as he stood up off the couch he had been sitting at.

"No apologies necessary, Mr.....Morty.", Dina said, as she stood as well, as she heard her mother calling for her up the stairs. "It was nice listening to you. I'm glad you care about your daughter this much."

Dina couldn't imagine what it was like to have a father that cared this much about her wellbeing. She hadn't spoken to hers in years.

"Tell Cassie that we will be waiting for her at Pin Alley Lounge tonight at 7pm.", she said as she reached out to offer Mortimer her hand to shake, which he accepted. "It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Goth."

"It was nice to meet you as well, Miss Caliente."

"Dina."

Mortimer smirked as his hand lingered in his for a bit longer than he should have. Dina noticed out of the corner of her eye that they were being watched, but she wasn't sure that Mortimer had. She ignored Bella Goth; and she ignored the look of anger on her face as she finally released her hand and began to move away from Mortimer.

"Coming, Mama.", she called finally, as she heard her mother began to try and walk down the stairs to come and find her.

Everything was coming together for Dina and nothing could stop her.

I'll take things that never happened for 500, Alex

Dina let out a frustrated sigh, watching her friend pick at her food. Ever since Luna's mother died, she had been different, and her father seemed to have total control over her and her whereabouts. She was sure that her father had something to do with Luna's absence, but she knew there wasn't much that could be done about it.

"Okay, well....I will just fill you in on all the details.", Dina said as she went about unloading the events of the day to her friend. Dina gave her a blow by blow of the entire situation, and Luna listened with intent. Dina might not have had very many friends, but she knew that she had Luna, and that was more than enough for her.

"So...she brought home some guy that she met at a bar?", Luna asked, titling her head as a puzzled look came across her face. "That's not like your mother. She always seemed so...level headed."

"That's exactly my point! She's not the type to make decision based off of lust.", Dina said, gripping her fingertips together as the anger washed back over her again. "I don't know what kind of magic this Don weaved over her, but she's positively enamoured!"

Luna pursed her lips together as she pondered, hesitating on what she wanted to say next. "Maybe she just really likes him?"

Dina scoffed, laughing it off at the idea. "No, somethings up, and I'm going to figure it out. She obviously isn't in her right mind. This guy has to have something on her. I'm sure of it."

The two girls spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about Prom and the rest of their high school days. Dina was eager for it all to be over with. Her 18th birthday was quickly approaching and, if things continued the way they were going now, Dina would move off to Brichester as soon as the school season was over. She wasn't about to watch her mother make a foolish mistake with a man...again.