Namesake

Dante didn't exactly love his name. Only because it was so unusual, so there were always comments made. There's no further discussion required when you're Jim, Mike, or Bill. He was used to the quips and queries by now. Teachers were the worst. First day of every semester, when they got down to Dante, everyone would then most certainly hear about his most famous namesake, the author and philosopher from the Middle Ages. Dante heard it all ad nauseum, tired of it, that's all.

Occasionally, Dante daydreamed about being a Matt, or a David, or Freddie was good. He promised himself he'dd do something about it some day, no offense meant to his mom's uncle who was so named. No big worries. Some things you just live with, like semester first days, Dante thought. Sitting down into the desk chair, he looked around for friends, always better when you go a whole semester with buds in your class. Then, Dante took a folder out of his backpack, setting it down before him. It had his full name in block red marker across the top. He looked at his watch.

"Dante? Your name is Dante?" He heard the unfamiliar voice to his left, but didn't even look up. Here it goes, he thought. "How did you get such a cool name?" This time, the voice was like silk thru sand, sweet and kind, toned warmly with friendliness. Dante looked up to see the most lovely face, a gang of brown curls framing bright eyes and smile. This was possibly the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

"I just love that name!", the angelic new girl went on. "Thanks. I've always liked it."