Chapter Thirty One : Kissing Booth

I slipped on my shoes, not bothering to untie them beforehand and walked out the front door. The morning chill made my body tremble as I began the treacherous walk to school. I watched in the corner of my eye as Dakota walked across the street, staring at the concrete below him before slowly turning his head to look my way. I averted my eyes, staring straight ahead of me, pretending I wasn't just staring at him.

"Hey." I could tell by the sound of his voice he was walking behind me, trying to catch up to match my pace.

"Hey." I said, not looking at him.

We walked in complete silence, but I wasn't angry. It was more of a comfortable quietness having him beside me. It had been so long that I'd almost forgotten we used to do this every morning. It wasn't clear about what we were but when was it ever? Our friendship was all over the place, a thought I tend not to linger on. Whatever happened, would happen. That's the kind of friendship we've always had, sweep it under the rug and all is forgotten.

We made it to school with twenty minutes to spare before class.

"See ya." Dakota smiled at me as we headed into different directions. I gave him a half smile before going to my locker. Even though we weren't exactly talking, I felt that things were going to only get better between us, I had hope for it.

"Luka." I turned around, coming face to face with Michael. I chuckled nervously before taking a step back.

"Hey, sorry about that night."

"No, it's fine. I actually wanted to talk to you about that."

"I like you, but I know you're uh.. distracted. So whatever is going on between you and Dakota, I hope it turns out."

"Thanks." I nodded, knowing what he meant by that and I couldn't help but feel bad.

"We're still friends right?" Michael asked, looking up at me.

"Of course."

"Alright, well.. see ya." He said as he walked away from me with a somber smile. I'd only ever seen Michael as a friend and seeing him hurt made this feeling at the bottom of my stomach worse for not being able to like him the way he liked me. But at the same time I knew it wasn't my fault, it was the way it was meant to be.

"I'm excited." Gemma said as she sat beside me on the bleachers.

"For?"

"The fundraiser."

"What fundraiser?"

"For the football team, didn't coach tell you?"

"Not a word." I said, exasperating a sigh of annoyance before digging into my lunch.

"Mind if I join?" I looked up to find Dakota standing in front of me with a smile on his face, squinting his eyes slightly to block out the sun.

"No." I shook my head one too many times as I moved over for him.

"I'm gonna-" Gemma trailed off before tailing it across the field. The tension in the air only grew thicker after her departure, making it uncomfortably silent. I twiddled with my thumbs, looking anywhere else except at Dakota who I could feel was staring at me.

"Coach is having some sort of fundraiser." Dakota said as I looked up at him.

"Yeah, Gemma told me."

"Anything else she tell you?"

"No."

"I broke up with Eva.. again. We were never really dating anyway." He trailed off, looking down at his shoes.

"Sorry." I muttered, unable to say anything else.

"I realized that night, that she's not a good person to be around, not if I want to get better."

"That's great. That you want to get better, I mean." I said as I gave him a half smile, hoping that he'd keep to his word this time but I couldn't help but think that he'd only go back on it sooner or later, that's just the way he was.

After practice, it was complete chaos as the school began setting up stands for the fundraiser. Popcorn and cotton candy scents drifted in the air of the school field. It was a small event, with food, games, fundraising booths and they even blocked off some of the street for rides. It seemed a little much for a school outing but this town loved football more than anything, probably more than Canadians loved hockey. And out of all the booths Dakota and I could've been assigned to, it had to be the kissing booth with a big red sign right on top making it a little hard to miss. I groaned in frustration as we both sat side by side with a long line of elderly women who seemed too excited for this. It was only a kiss on the cheek, but I didn't know how many more sloppy wet kisses from elderly women I could take as they repeatedly ruffled my hair afterward, telling me how I cute I was. Dakota on the other hand, loved the praise, hell he was enjoying himself.

"Gemma, this is your fourth time in the past hour." I said to her as she walked up to the booth.

"This is once in a lifetime, baby." She said with a wink as she waved a bill in front of me. I grabbed it from her hand, shoving it in the cash register box. She leaned over and I turned my cheek, feeling her lips against my skin, lingering for a moment. Before I could peck her back, Dakota put his hand against my mouth.

"Next."

Gemma pouted, walking away with crossed arms like a kid who couldn't get their favorite candy. I shoved his hand off of me.

"You can't just next people." I said with a chuckle. He shrugged, only smirking at me in response.

"Hi, boys." I could feel my eyes almost, automatically roll to the back of my head at the sound of Queenie's voice as she walked up to the booth. That usual shade of red on her lips and the cherry top to match, paired with denim shorts that were too small but again, who am I to judge? Even if it did look like she grabbed them from the children's section of a store. She pulled off her sunglasses and leaned over the booth, resting on the edge.

"What do you want Queenie?" Dakota asked, obviously annoyed as I busied myself with the next person in line, another elderly lady but I'd take an elderly lady over Queenie any day.

"Whatever you're selling." She winked at him and it was hard for me not to notice.

"You know, now that Eva is out of the picture, we could-"

"Can we just get this over with." Dakota said, staring her down but she didn't seem phased by it. She handed him a bill and he reluctantly took it, tucking it away with the rest of the money. It was only a kiss on the cheek right? What could be the harm in that.

Queenie turned her head and just as Dakota leaned into to kiss her cheek, she turned back, crashing their lips together, for a fleeting moment they're lips touched. Anger rose inside of me at the sight of them but it wasn't long before Dakota sprung up, knocking his chair over as he wiped his lipstick stained mouth with the back of his hand.

"I love fundraising." She said as she winked at me before walking away, sliding her sunglasses back on her pale freckled face and I knew she'd only done that to spite me. She knew that when it came to Dakota, I lost myself. But this time I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"She is all kinds of evil. Hot but evil." Dakota said as he wiped his mouth with a wet wipe. I glared at the back of her red fiery head of hair, it bounced up and down with every step she took.

There wasn't any point in lashing out at her or making a scene, because that was what she wanted, she loved the attention any one gave her. And I would never give Queenie anything she wanted. I looked ahead at the next person to find coach standing in line, waiting.

"Oh god, coach don't tell me-"

"Get your head out of your ass De Angelis, I'm here to collect the money." Dakota chuckled and I shoved his arm in annoyance. I sighed in relief as I took out the bills from the money box and watched Coach stuff them into a small zip up pocket bag.

"Making us a lot of money boys." He said before ruffling each of our heads with a huge grin.

Our booth was closed and only the stands and rides were open for leisure. I was drained by the time we were done, who knew getting and giving kisses would be so much work. I wanted to go home right after we were finished, daydreaming of sleeping in the comfort of my bed but Dakota insisted we go on the ferris wheel together. As much as I refused, I gave in as soon as he begged me with that puppy eyed look he did when he wanted something. I was having second thoughts as we climbed into one of the cabs, feeling it teeter back and forth as I sat down.

"Just don't look down." Dakota said with a grin, plastered on his face.

"Right." I said rolling my eyes as I buckled myself in. The ride started and I felt fine, so far so good right? Until we reached the top. That's when my new found fear of heights came to light, I felt dizzy as I looked down below, watching people scurry back and forth like ants. I thought I'd break Dakota's hand if I squeezed any harder. As we descended down I felt more at ease, it wouldn't be long until the ride was finished.

But God had a plan. The ride came to a sudden stop with Dakota and I stuck near the top. As if having to sit in the hot sun almost all evening, being kissed by elderly ladies and watching my best friend swap spit with a snake wasn't enough.

"Great." I said as I closed my eyes shut, not daring to look down. If I did, it wouldn't be long until I fainted.

"Just enjoy the view." Dakota said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I slowly opened my eyes, first one then the other, peaking out at the sky that was beginning to set with hues of pink and orange. I never realized how beautiful a sunset could be.

"I meant me." Dakota said as he grabbed my chin, turning my head to face him, gazing into my eyes the way he usually did as the sun reflected off his stunning hazel eyes that engrossed me and made my stomach churn with nerves. His freckled stood out a lot more, as he leaned in closer towards me. It was like I was seeing him again, before any of the parties or the alcohol, the part of him that he momentarily lost. Before he could get any closer, the ride started moving again, startling me. I grabbed onto the rails for balance but that didn't help with the dizziness I felt.

"That was fun." Dakota said with a smirk as we exited the ride.

"Right." I chuckled.

I sat on the opposite side of Dakota, digging into my fries, not realizing how hungry I was as I stuffed my face. Carnival food was always the best food, nothing could ever beat it. Alright, maybe my moms cooking.

"I think those old women like you." Dakota said with a smirk, motioning behind me. I turned around, unsure whether they were the same women from earlier. I shuddered at the thought of seeing those red wrinkled lips closing in on me like some horror movie that I couldn't get out of.

"Hey boys." Alex said, sitting beside Dakota and wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Some of the other seniors on the team surrounded us, helping themselves to my fries that I barely had a chance to eat.

"What?" Dakota said curtly, shoving his arm off of him.

"When did you become so hostile, buddy?" He chuckled. I could tell by the sound of his voice he'd downed a couple cold ones and I wanted to tail it out of there as soon as I smelled the liquor on his breath.

"I have a couple beers with your name on them." Alex said with a smirk.

"No thanks." Dakota said, standing up and motioning for me to follow him. I nodded, shoving past the seniors that were leaning against me like I was some post stand. I could hear Alex's foot steps behind us as Dakota grabbed me by the wrist, quickening the pace but they easily caught up, blocking the path in front of us. It was going to be hard getting away from him, seemingly fixed on getting Dakota to drink with them.

"Come on, Dakota. Just one beer." Alex said, grabbing him by the shoulder. I stared at him not uttering a word, wondering what'd he'd say and if he'd resist the temptation. I couldn't decide for him this time like I always had, keeping him out of trouble and watching out for him. This time he had to make the decision. For a moment, I knew he wanted to say yes but then he looked at me, searching my eyes before averting his attention back to Alex.

"Not tonight, Alex." His face scrunched up in confusion, unable to understand what Dakota was telling him.

Dakota grabbed my hand as we walked across the field and started walking home, leaving everyone behind us. He glanced over at me with a huge smile on his face that I couldn't resist returning, I could see how happy he was just by seeing that smile, it lit up his face and made me feel warm seeing him so pleased with himself. I knew it wasn't always going to be easy for him, I knew there would be set backs to this but as long as Dakota had me and I, him, things would turn out okay.

A/N vote, comment and tell me what you think! i personally loved writing this chapter, i think it was a tiny milestone for Dakota, so I hope you enjoyed! :)