Avery's POV
My eyes stung as I let myself float to the top of the water with a close-mouthed smile on my lips.
As soon as my head broke the surface of the water and I managed to make sure I wasn't gonna drown, I stuck my tongue out and shouted at Dawson. "Suck it, loser!"
He stumbled to the edge of the shore with his shirt already off and he was smiling largely at me, letting out a small laugh. Probably at the fact that my hair was stuck to my head like a wet rat and my makeup was dripping down my face, but who knew.
I kick my legs up and swim backward and away from Dawson.
As I was running here, part of me began to get really anxious. Cause I mean, it was Dawson. There was a lot that could go wrong here and that would be really fucking unfortunate. But then I dove in the water like I gave zero fucks. And eventually Dawson showed up and it all was really...calming.
Plus, what's the worst that could happen? I somehow get a UTI? Okay well actually that would suck ass but like it would totally be worth it.
I feel Dawson's warm hands grab my hips and pull me from floating, into his arms and chest. And then he kissed me.
Honestly the first time we kissed, well actually made out but like technicalities, I thought that was some sort of euphoric, kiss of a lifetime shit. Ya know, like it was like one of those movie moments where the first kiss is fucking magical. But no, cause I've come to realize it wasn't the moment at all. Dawson just knows what the hell he's doing. Cause every time I kissed him was exactly like that, if not better.
So here I was, having spent the last 5 minutes of my life trying my best not to drown while practically getting it on with the dude in a dirty lake. How romantic.
Dawson pulled away and swept a piece of damp hair from my face. And he was looking at me, he was looking at me really weird.
I slide my hand from the back of his neck into his hair and tilt my head, not saying anything but debating exactly what I wanted to.
But then I just said fuck it, mentally of course. "You wanna go back up to our room?" I said quietly, slightly out of breath.
Dawson looked at me hesitantly, unsurely. "You sure you want that Avery? Cause you know we don't have to."
I just shook my head at him. I loved how sweet he was, but sometimes a girl just wants to get fucked, and right now was one of those times.
"I know that, and you're the fucking sweetest for making sure. But I want to, King. Have for a while actually," I add in with a playful smirk at the end before grabbing his hand, kissing him one last time, and swimming off.
***
Who knew making shapes out of the textures on the ceiling at sunrise could be so entertaining?
Carrot on steroids, baby sloth, and what appeared to be some sort of snowman orgy.
I'd been up all night, never being able to fall asleep. Which was actually surprising cause I was so fucking exhausted...no need for an explanation as to why exactly...
Maybe it was more of a mental block. There were literally so many things running through my mind and part of me was still high off of adrenaline from last night. So all night, I was just thinking. About Dawson. About me. About us together. About...everyone really. Main focus being on Dawson and our 'relationship', if you could even call it that.
We weren't dating necessarily. We'd gone on a single date. And we'd made out, a lot actually. And now we've even gotten to the point of hooking up together. Although I wasn't sure if that was the right term to fit whatever this was. Maybe it was more than just hooking up? Or maybe it wasn't because we weren't technically in a relationship. We weren't dating yet.
Why the fuck do labels and relationships and people have to be so fucking complicated?
Not saying I missed the time in my life where Mona was the only person I had in m life in that sort of way, but it was a hell of a lot simpler than having to figure out this. Labels and relationships and feelings. It was all very gross. And I was in no way used to it.
Would it be so ridiculous to wanna just kiss Dawson and all the time and go out but never have to talk about it? Probably. But in my head, it seemed like the best plan.
I sigh and grab a small throw pillow, pulling it over my face and screaming into it, very lightly though. Didn't wanna wake Dawson and see how any of this would play out.
So I decided to finally get up and go get some food downstairs before he, or anyone else, could wake up.
Except for apparently I was wrong cause two people happen to already be awake and quietly eating cereal on the couch.
Mona looks over to me and nods to say 'hey', still chewing on her cereal. She looks back down but only for a quick second before slowly lifting her head to look at me again. And in that moment, I know she knows.
"I WAS RIGHT." She yells at me, tossing her cereal down on the coffee table, making a couple drops of milk fall over the edge, and then scramble over to me, tripping a bit in the process. "You didn't even make it 12 hours." She says smirking and wiggling her finger in my direction.
"How the hell do you do that?" I questioned her astounded, my jaw dropped slightly.
"I'm your best friend, stupid. I know everything. Even before you know it, I know." Mona says trying to keep her giggles in.
"Plus," Eva pipes in from her spot on the edge of the couch, "you didn't do a very good job hiding the hickeys."
My hand slaps my neck quickly in an attempt to cover them. "Fucking Dawson, I told him not to leave any of my neck," I mutter only making Mona look to me with a weird look in her eyes.
"Does that mean you let him leave them somewhere else?" She asks teasing me by making a stupid fish kissing face and thrusting her hips afterward.
I pick up a pillow off the couch and toss it at her, but Mona being the stubborn little hoe she is, doesn't stop. "You didn't answer my question Avery." She says smiling while speaking in a sing-song voice to mock me.
"Can I please have some food first M?" I ask yawning. I was totally planning on avoiding this topic for as long as I could.
"Oh yeah sure. I bet you're starving. Having been up all night doing the devil's dance and all-"
"You did not!" Sawyer says entering the room, her blonde hair tangled and in messy waves and tiny pieces of mascara flaked beneath her eyes. She had on an unbelieving smile.
Part of me was always worried Sawyer would secretly judge me or Mona or whoever for our decisions involving both our romantic and sex life because of what she wanted, but she never did. Her high standards and respect for everyone remained the same regardless of such personal decisions.
"Oh, she did," Eva says high-fiving Mona who was now sat next to her again.
"I'm surprised it took you guys this long in all honesty," Sawyer admitted sheepishly, rubbing at her neck with her pale cheeks now glowing pink with a soft tinge.
"Those fuckers are both too stubborn," Mona adds pointing at Sawyer with her spoon. "Thank god it didn't take any longer though. Cause now Callum owes me 20 bucks." She adds with a proud smirk.
"You bet on me?" I ask astounded. Since when was my life some gambling shit? I mean, I would totally add to that bet or any bet happening if I was aware but that's not the point.
"Yup." She admits with no shame. Wow, she and Axel were perfect for each other. Shameless yet lovable bastards.
"Now..." Mona started letting her eyes glare at me intensely. "Go get your food and come back and be ready to spill. Cause I know you wanna Aves." Then she smiled and used her foot to push me in the direction of the kitchen.
***
Axel was in the middle of trying to lick Keegan's face when Mona leaned over to me and whispered "you ever think about how he's actually gonna be a parent soon and he does stuff like that?" She asked me chuckling at him.
"To be fair it is a dare," I tell her grabbing the beer Dawson offers me with a smile. He takes a seat next to me but on the couch whereas I'm on the floor.
I feel his leg hit me lightly so I look up at him and see him motioning for me to sit between his legs.
I glance over to Mona and see her smirking while subtly making obscene gestures with her hands.
I slap them lightly and she just punches my shoulder in return and ends up moving across the room to sit with Axel. She gives me a teasing look again to infer that that was her giving us our 'space'.
Dawson ended getting up almost an hour after I did this morning, and surprisingly enough, things weren't as awkward as I expected. They were like normal, just with us having been a little closer than before. Just a little of course.
"You think he'll actually do it?" Dawson asks referring to Keegan who was currently debating if he should drink the raw egg in front of him.
"Oh totally," I mumble. Keegan was a lot of things, but a pussy? No. No, he was not.
And just like I predicted, he shakes his head and closes his eyes, tipping back the cup while holding up the middle finger to Axel.
"Told you," I say smiling at both my win and the disgusted look on Keegan's face as he looks like he wants to gag, but of course, he doesn't.
Right as Keegan looks like he's just about to be ready to tackle Axel to the ground, being cautious of the pregnant Mona sitting with him of course, the doorbell rings.
"This is some horror movie type shit," Callum mumbles before begrudgingly getting up and walking to the door. "If I die, know Avery was my favorite!" He shouts from the foyer area just seconds before pulling the large wooden door open.
No one bothered to respond to Callum and his joking antics because there was a random man in his early 40s at the door. At least, he was random to almost everyone else in the room. Other than me and maybe Mona of course.
"Dad?"
***
GUESS WHO FINALLY UPDATED AFTER A WHOLE ASS MONTH? THIS BITCHHHH.
Anywaysssss, it's actually so great to FINALLY have finished and posted a new chapter, like this is extremely relieving. I had so much home and family and friend and school stuff, it was actually crazy. Plus, I forgot what a bitch writer's block is.
On the bright side though, there's gonna be so much coming up (probably??? I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time honestly lmao) so like I guess that's exciting.
Side note/question thing: I'm attempting to create a playlist that reminds me of the book or characters and I'm STRUGGLING (more than usual) so like if anyone has recommendations that would be great