Unfamiliar Territory

As Amelia readied herself for her second date with Dante, she couldn't help but dwell on the fact that Dante seemed nervous about where he lived, and didn't want Amelia driving there alone.

She knew where he lived, and "what part of town it was in," but that didn't bother Amelia; but it wasn't her business to mind, so she let the sweet gesture of Dante picking her up fill her head instead.———————————————————————Dante buzzed Amelia's apartment, and she let him in. As she fluffed her hair one last time, there was a knock on the door.

"Coming!" Amelia smiled as she shuffled to the door. She realized she we still wearing slippers when she opened it. "Hi!"

"Hi.. wow. You're so pretty.."

"Oh my gosh," Amelia blushed. "Thank you! Come in! I still have to change my shoes, and then I'll be good to go!"

"Sounds good!" Dante smiled back.

"Thank you again for picking me up.. again.." Amelia called out from her bedroom.

"Oh! No trouble at all!"

"Okay! I'm finally ready!" Amelia laughed as she walked back into the living room. "Sorry!"

"Don't be! It's all good.."

"Well I'm ready now!" She smiled.

"Okay great! But do you mind if we make a pit stop first?"

"Not at all!" Amelia smiled genuinely.

Several minutes after they left her house, Dante drove Amelia to a part of the city she hadn't been to before.

"Oh.." she started. "Is this your mom's neighborhood?"

"Yes."

"I've never been!"

"Good.."

"Dante..." she turned to him. "You know I don't care.."

"You should.... Not that my people are bad people, because they're not.."

"I know that.."

"But just you, alone? You shouldn't have a need to come here. But we're just making a pit stop at my mom's; she has something I need for dinner. Is it okay if we run in?"

"Yep! But I'm happy to wait in the car... it's only the second date, so I understand if you want me to wait in the car..."

"Amelia..."

"Okay, yes sorry. But I won't force myself into meeting your mom already.." she winked.

Dante finally smiled as he got out of the car and walked to Amelia's side, letting her out. He gently took her hand, and walked as close as he could to her, towards his mom's house.

Amelia moved closer to Dante too, and she caught a glimpse of the smile he had.

"Hola mommy!"

"Ohh! Hola mi hijo! Como estas?"

"!Bein momma, bein! Oh.. Mommy, esta es Amelia!"

"Hola ma'am! Encantado de conocerte..."

"Hola Amelia. Encantada de conocerte también..."

"He oído cosas maravillosas sobre ti.."

"Dante ya ha hablado tan encantadora de ti..."

"Oh.. already?!" Amelia blushed with a smile. "el es un hombre asombroso.."

"Sí lo es. Estoy muy orgulloso."

"Puedo imaginar.."

Amelia leaned into Dante, "that's as far as my conversational Spanish goes... sorry.. I haven't taken it since freshman year of college, when I took Spanish like 6.."

["Hello my son! How are you? / Good mom, good. / Mom, this is Amelia! / Hello ma'am, nice to meet you. / Nice to meet you as well! / I've heard nothing but amazing things about you. / Dante has already been speaking so lovely of you already. / He is an amazing man. / Yes he is. I'm so proud. / I can imagine."]

"That's okay.." Dante chuckled. "I got you."

"Thank you.." Amelia replied as she rested her head on Dante's shoulder.

"Mommy. Se nos dice que vamos a conseguir patatas extra.."

"Bueno. Ya sabes dónde están hijo mío."

"Sí, señora. Gracias mamá."

Dante walked over to the pantry and took out three potatoes, before kissing his mom on the cheek and walking back to Amelia.

"De acuerdo mamá. Eso es todo lo que necesitábamos. Gracias."

["Mommy, we are here to pick up the extra potatoes. / Okay, you know where they are my son. / Yes ma'am. Thank you mom. / Okay mom, that's all we needed. Thank you."]

Dante and Amelia then left her house, and headed back to Dante's car.

"Stay close, okay?"

"Dante.. I'm not afraid of your neighborhood. You know I'm not like that.."

"Amelia. Just... please. It's not you, or the neighborhood, but people here... some of them, aren't respectful to..."

"Outsiders.. who happen to be... white girls?"

"Yes..."

"Okay, well I'm close." Amelia smiled as she pulled herself even closer to Dante.

"Good." Dante smiled as he kissed Amelia's temple.

*Phwwwwwhht, Phwwwwwhht... "hola chica!"

"Ignore them.." Dante urged.

"It's fine. I am.."

"CHICA! COME OVER HERE AND LET ME SHOW YOU..."

"MARCO.. SHUT IT!" Dante finally snapped as he and Amelia got to the car.

"Sorry.. please get in." Dante said to her.

"Dante, I'm telling you. It's okay.." she winked before kissing his cheek and getting in the car.

When he got in the car, Dante leaned over and kissed Amelia's cheek.

"That is far from the first time I've been yelled at.. cat called.. Dante.." Amelia chuckled slightly.

Dante actually managed a chuckle himself, "I know that. But doesn't mean that it needs to happen to you here. But this is why I don't want you coming here alone, okay?"

"No, I get it. And I won't come here without you. I didn't want you to think the neighborhood is the reason, but knowing how badly the catcalling bothers you, I'll only come here with you." Amelia smiled.

Dante smiled and gently grabbed Amelia's chin and kissed her.