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JESS is wearing black leather shorts and a blue tank. She has curled the ends of her mahogany hair. I run my fingers through my hair, still thinking about what happened at my house.
‘How, do you do it?’ I ask Jess.
‘Do what?’ She stops applying eyeliner to her eye.
‘Get with guys and dump them.’ I feel my shoulders slump.
‘Hey, if I didn’t do it, they would do it to me. So, I’m safeguarding my heart.’ She shrugs. It makes total sense. ‘For someone who lives with a bitch like Sam, you sure don’t know much.’ She continues to reapply the eyeliner.
‘I never want to be like her,’ I mutter.
Little do my friends know that Sam sells her body, not for the fun of sex but for her drug habits.
‘Okay, I’m done.’ Jess turns from side to side, studying herself in the huge mirror on her bathroom wall. Her hair is half up and half down. The top part is teased, and sits nicely on top and then flows down her back.
I finish applying the mascara and look in the mirror. I am wearing blue skinny jeans and a grey tank. Jess says that my eyes stand out even more. My platinum blonde curls are out and tamed. I like to frizz it because it not only adds volume but it looks much better.
‘Jess,’ her mum calls out.
I swear this girl has a perfect life. She lives in the best part of Butler because her dad is the town mayor. Her brothers are drop-dead gorgeous and can rock anything they wear. She even has a Pomeranian, which is the cutest little pup, I have ever seen. But if I were to get a dog, I would go with a husky with blue eyes or maybe one with two different colours. Now that would be cool. Jess walks back into the room, looking all flustered.
‘Damn, that guy is tasty,’ she says.
I look at her and raise an eyebrow questioningly.
‘The boys are here,’ she answers.
I nod and follow her down stairs.
‘Bye Mum,’ she calls out.
‘Bye honey, and be safe,’ her mum calls back.
‘Goodbye Mrs Saunders,’ I yell as Jess drags me out the door by my wrist.
‘Ouch, that hurt.’ I look up and my heart feels as though it has stopped beating. Dakota walks over in jeans that hang nicely on his hips. He is wearing a black buttoned-down shirt. The top two buttons undone. His hand reaches up, and he slides his fingers down my face. My heart flutters as soon as Dakota touches me. An electrical current starts thumping frenetically in my chest.
WOW, this guy is H.O. double T.T HOT.
‘You ready?’ he whispers, and the rough edge to his voice sends a thrill down my spine. I watch his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he swallows. I bite my lip and nod. He leads me to the back seat of the SUV.
I slide over on the seat as Dakota jumps in. Jess has taken the front seat to show a lot of skin. That’s all a part of her game plan. Dakota pulls his face to mine, and we touch our noses together. I lean back and look into those beautiful green eyes. His beautiful breath washes over my face and is filling my lungs with, honey and warm summer breezes as I inhale the scent. I hear someone clear his throat and we pull back from each other. For a moment there, I thought it was just us in this car. Dakota wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer to him.
I jump when my phone buzzes as we turn the corner on the street Parker lives on. I see a text message from Jess.
J: So, it’s really nothing?
Me: Complicated :/
Parker jumps in, and Sienna climbs in after her.
The Pickett's farm, which used to be a farm for crops, is just on the outskirts of town. No-one farms here anymore since they moved their house to a greener scenery, which is a kind way of saying that they left town. This place has become a hangout for the teenagers of Butler, especially after game days of playing football or basketball for the local teams against the other schools. The barn, which is painted red, has a dance floor if you wanna dance. How cliché. Why don’t they paint them green, pink or blue? Heck, if I had a barn, I would paint it yellow.
I sit on a log by the huge bonfire that has a mattress in flames on top of it. It could be highly dangerous to burn a mattress, but who cares when the flames are this high!
Sienna is drinking down beers like this is her last day in Butler. She is wearing a cute slim fit blue dress that is slimming; Parker has spent most of the night pulling Sienna’s dress down and standing in front of her when she sits as Sienna is showing a little too much.
Something is up with Sienna.
James walks past. He is giving Lisa a piggy back ride. ‘Lisa, why you no come around anymore,’ Sienna’s drunkenly slurs.
Lisa jumps down off of James’ back. She straightens her clothes and walks over. She sits down next us.
‘So, what’s up with her?’ she asks as she points her thumb towards Sienna.
I shrug my shoulders. ‘Beats me.’
‘Do you think it’s a guy?’ Lisa asks, and I look at Sienna.
Really, could this be over a guy?
Is the brains of the group ready for that?
‘Do you really think so?’ I ask Lisa, who smiles.
‘Remember Parker when Dean started dating?’ we chuckle; she was the same.
‘Shit,’ I mutter.
‘Who’s the hot guy with his tongue down Jess’s throat?’
‘That hottie, is Dash,’ Sienna slurs.
‘And this one, who is walking up to us like right now?’ Lisa asks.
I look up and see Dakota walking over with a bottle of water. Well a few bottles actually.
‘Don’t look at him or Ava will kill you with her death stare.’
‘Really? Parker,’ I say.
She nods her head.
‘So, he’s fair game?’ she asks.
I bow my head 'cause the thought of Lisa and Jess being with him makes me feel sick, and my voice will give that away. They can get anyone they want. They’re both gorgeous brunettes.
Dakota hands out the bottles of water to us, and he takes a seat next to me.
‘How thoughtful,’ Lisa quips, and I know that look she is giving him. It’s her— I-want-to-bang-your-brains-out, look. She holds her hand out in front of me.
‘I’m Lisa, by the way,’ she purrs and bats her eyelashes at Dakota.
He nods his head and shakes her hand. Lisa tries to hold on, but he releases rather quickly.
‘Sorry, I didn’t quite catch your name,’ she says to him.
Dakota places his hand over mine and squeezes it.
‘I didn’t give one,’ he replies.
Dakota stands up and pulls me along with him. I have to run to keep up. He walks at a fast pace towards the barn.
‘What was that about?’ I ask.
‘She walks in with I’m assuming is her boyfriend, and gives me gaga eyes.’ His nostrils flare as he paces in front of me.
Ah, okay. This is kinda weird, but did he check her out or something. The way he is acting is just ... Dakota puts his hand on the back of my neck and pulls me closer. He leans his head down and touches my nose.
I kinda like it.
It’s sweet. And makes me feel special.
His strong arms glide around my waist as we start swaying.
It’s slow and sensual.
He tucks his hand in mine and holds it close to his heart, then he dips me back and his flicker yellow in the dark.
He leans in to kiss me.
I freeze. Do I pucker my lips?
Keep them in a straight line?
Do I wet them with my tongue?
Oh God, why haven’t I kissed a boy yet?
This-is-so-awkward.
Dakota stands us upright again and places a kiss on my forehead. The heat from his kiss sears through my skin.
‘Ava,’ Dakota says so seriously. ‘Have you ever kissed someone before?’
My face heats. Dakota breaks out all his dimples in a breath taking smile. ‘Angel, I’d be glad to teach you how to kiss.’ Dakota leans his head down. His lips are about to touch mine. My heart beat starts beating faster.
‘Ava, I think it’s time we take Sienna home,’ Parker calls out. Her hand is on Sienna’s back. I look over at her and see Sienna bending at the waist, leaning on a tree. The sound of her vomiting is louder than the music pumping in the barn.
* * *
DAKOTA
I put my hand at the base of her back as we walk out of the party with her friends, Sienna and Parker. My hearing seeks Dash out. He is on the dance floor, talking in Jess’s ear. I pull my phone out of my pocket and send him a text.
Me: Can you give us a ride home?
I hear his stupid woof sound for messages as his phone gets my message.
Dash: Sure.
I lean my arm across the backseat, and Ava snuggles in closer. Her sweet scent is subtle and glorious and I concentrate on it so much, it overrides every other smell in the area. Parker is holding Sienna’s hair while she leans half out of the car and gulps down water. I can see Dash walking towards us as clear as the stars in the night sky. His eyes widen as they look at Sienna. Dash walks faster towards the car. His hand reaches out and touches Sienna on the shoulder. Does Dash like Sienna? I thought he had a thing with Jess. My eyebrows knit together in confusion.
‘Sienna, are you all right?’ I can hear the distress in his voice.
I shift uncomfortably on the seat. Doesn’t anyone else pick up on that?
‘Never better,’ Sienna scoffs. ‘Oh no.’ She groans. Sienna leaps out of the car and runs to the nearest tree, she vomits up the water she just guzzled down.
Dash and Parker both walk over to comfort Sienna.
‘Go away,’ Sienna yells.
Dash hovers and Parker hands Sienna some more water.
Ava sighs and I pull her tighter into my arms.
I lean my nose into Ava’s coconut smelling hair. I like the way she feels in my arms.
Parker makes her way to the car. Sienna follows and resumes her position, she sits with her head in her hands on the edge of the seat.
The car moves as Dash leans against the side.
‘Is everyone in the car already?’ Jess asks as she finally catches up with Dash. He moves away from Sienna. Dash massages his temples as he walks around to the drivers side. After he climbs in he adjusts the mirror so that he can watch Sienna. I know his loyal arse won’t tell me what’s up with him and Sienna. So I try to ignore what’s going on. Dash starts the car up before Jess gets in the passenger seat.
The trees flow past as we head back into town. Dash drops Sienna and Parker both off at Parker’s house. My time with Ava is almost up and I don’t want to let her go, but I have to. It wouldn’t be right to her or me.
I grab a hold of Ava’s hand and thread my fingers through hers. I rub my thumb over her knuckles. A warm feeling spreads through my body.
Dash drives to Jess’s place.
Jess crosses her arms and pouts.
Dash leans over and kisses her cheek. ‘I’ll be right back,’ he whispers in her ear.
I know he just doing that because I’m taking my sweet time with Ava. He doesn’t understand how much she means to me. I rub my eyebrow. She means something to me.
When did that happen?
Jess grins as she climbs down from the car.
I lean away from Ava. I run my hands through my hair. I care about Ava, but I’m supposed to marry Katzé.
Ava turns to look up at me. She’s as pretty as the stars are on a night like this. And now I know that, I need her in my life.
We stop out the front of her house. Music pumps and the windows vibrate with the noise. Ava looks at the house and sighs.
‘Will you be all right, going in there?’ I ask, even though I know, with all my heart, that I don’t want her to go. Ava doesn’t move from the seat. She wraps her arm around her middle.
Ava opens the car door and climbs out.
I follow her.
‘Hey, Dash— I’ll catch up with you later,’ I say, while closing the car door.
Dash smirks before driving off towards home. He will most probably walk back to Jess’s place after he drops Jackson’s car off.
Ava stands there staring at her house. I can’t help but pull her into my arms. Her body softens against mine.
‘You don’t want to go in there— do you?’ I ask.
Ava shakes her head.
‘Do you wanna come back to my place?’ I know Jackson won’t mind but will Ava?
Ava leans back.
‘I feel stupid for feeling this way. Sam’s parties aren’t that bad, its just that when they happen every night its hard to take.’ Her eyes prickle with tears.
My hands cup her face.
Her plump lips look inviting. As much as I’d like to kiss her, I can’t. Not— yet. I’ll give her some space, she may not want me to kiss now after coming back here, now while she seems a little vulnerable. I will wait until she’s more than just some girl who I care for.
‘You don’t have to come with me,’ I say. I rub her cheek with my thumb.
Ava swallows.
‘It will be better than staying here,’ she finally says.
My heart soars, and I want to howl it to the world. Ava is coming home.
We walk hand in hand down the road towards my house. The one at this end of this street that used to be abandoned.