If that's not enough

 

Rico knew Liv hadn't slept a wink last night. She was full of worry about Ali. She still couldn't get a hold of her. 

"It's not your fault," he told her as they got to high school parking lot in his pickup truck. They'd had a nice Halloween, in the beginning, making jack-o-lanterns at her parents. He was so happy he'd gotten to meet her parents finally. They seemed to be grateful. Although, Liv acted as if she didn't want to be there. Was Ali on her mind, even then?

"You need to stop worrying," he doubted Ali ever worried about her. "I'm sure she's fine." Of course, it took a lot out of him to correct himself. It was true he always had to stop and pause as to who Ali really was. Why was he like this? Even his dad corrected him.

Of course, his dad and Caitlin's mom were staying at Caitlin and Deano's these days, helping out with Hannah. Caitlin's mom didn't leave after all. Thanks to his dad putting Caitlin's mom on a guilt trip. Didn't she want to know her granddaughter?

If only he knew how to take his dad's cue with everything with Liv. He really wasn't sure if he was the best boyfriend he could be, but even when he was it was as if Liv hardly noticed these days. But he couldn't stay mad at her. He grabbed her hand then and she looked down at his hand in hers and she sighed.

"I'm sorry, I really am. I don't mean-" she started.

"I know." He promised he understood. "It's what I love about how you are about...your friends." Rico smiled.

She nodded and gave him a hug. It was like a promise that she would be better. She would be that girlfriend who did appreciate him.

"Holy shit!" When Ali awoke, she knew she was late. It was ALL SAINTS day. She looked at her phone. So many messages from her mom and Liv. She sucked in a breath and looked over at Diago. They were in the backseat of his car.

"Wake up!" She shook him. They didn't even make it to the party. Not even close to the cemetery either. For the first time, Ali let someone have their way. She'd always been reserved with Eric because after all, he'd been the reserved one.

Ali sighed. Yes, it was like an experiment that had really hit the ball rolling. Honestly, even Ali didn't fully understand it. Maybe it was because she wasn't expecting much from Diago, anyway. But WOW. It was very impressive. Diago knew things that Ali was certainly hoping they got back to. But at the moment, NOT TODAY. Ali needed to be at school. She couldn't afford to be absent. 

"Come on, already." She pushed him harder. Finally, he responded with a grin. Ali smiled back. How in the world were they going to work together at the pizzeria now? He could see that Nonnie was always watching them. It was as if she suspected it to happen.

"I have to go to school," Ali insisted. Diago nodded as he climbed over the seat to drive back to town. Honestly, Ali didn't know where they were. Somewhere on an old road in a cornfield.