C H A P T E R   F I F T E E N
slow burn

aerial:
to get air and land surfing.

Dawson was currently sitting on my bed as I searched through my closet for an outfit to wear this evening.

"What about this dress?" I ask holding up a red floral sundress as he nods in approval.

"I like that one." He responds in the same way as he did to the last several outfits I pulled out. "I think that whatever you wear you will look amazing."

Every little comment he made had the butterflies which reside in my stomach take flight. He had that type of effect on me.

"I'm just going to wear this one then. I'll be right back" I say grabbing the red sundress and stepping into my bathroom.

"Now where are you going? I promise I won't peak." Dawson says with a smirk as he leans back against my pillow with his hands behind his head.

"Oh I find that hard to believe." I say with a laugh as as I close the door and quickly change into the dress.

When I come out of the bathroom I find Dawson holding the picture frame of Crystal and I as he was so fixated on the photo he didn't notice me renter the room.

I take a seat on the bed beside him as I look over at the picture reaching for it as my hand brushes against his.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude on your personal stuff. I assume that's Crystal?" He asks approaching the conversation carefully.

"That it is. This was always my favourite picture of the two of us." I say resting my head against his shoulder as the we look at the picture. "I wish we had taken more together."

"It's nice to be able to finally put a face to who she was." Dawson says gently putting the photo back onto my nightstand before draping his arm over my shoulders pulling me up against his body.

I found myself leaning closer, wanting to feel his lips against mine again until the doorbell rang throughout the house.

I let out a groan before making my way to my feet and downstairs to where I could make out Jessa and Miranda standing behind the door.

"You guys were supposed to text me when you were on your way!" I exclaim opening the door as they make their way inside.

"We texted you twice, we're you busy?" Jessa asks just as Dawson makes his way down the stairs and comes and stands behind me. "That answers that question."

"Get your head out of the gutter Jess!" I respond, my cheeks flaming due to embarrassment.

"I'm Miranda, I've heard a lot about you Dawson!" she says giving him a smile to try and minimize the awkwardness Jessa created.

Walking past them and into the kitchen I grab a couple of shot glasses pouring sound vodka into each. "I need a drink" I mutter grabbing the shot glass and emptying the contents into my mouth, swallowing hard as it burns.

Jessa and Miranda grab the other two shot glasses and take a seat on one of the barstools as the grab the bottle pouring more into their empty glasses.

"Are you guys good to go soon?" He asks leaning up against the counter beside me.

"I'm good whenever, let me just go grab my phone from upstairs." I respond leaving them alone in the kitchen as I run upstairs.

From my room I can make out the three of them chatting, and as I slowly make my way down the stairs I can hear their conversation.

"What are you intentions with Ains, cause you came out of nowhere and swept her off her feet. We don't want you to just be in it short term and having her left high and dry." Miranda says as I can only imagine what she was talking about before.

"We just don't want her to get hurt again, so if all you want is just a good time she's not the girl for that." Jessa pipes in.

"I'm not here to hurt her if that's what you guys are concerned about. I care about her and after she opened up about what's happened in the past that's not even an intention of mine. I'm falling for her too much to even consider it." I hear Dawson saying as I round the corner.

They all turn to face me, Dawson's face tinged red as clearly that wasn't something I was supposed to hear.

"All good to go?" I ask pretending I never heard anything as I sling a cardigan over my shoulders.

Jessa and Miranda quickly get up from their seats as Dawson follows slowly behind not making eye contact with me.

Dawson leads us all to his truck as we pile in. Myself in the front with him and Miranda and Jessa sit in the back seat. He starts up the engine as the music blasts through the speakers.

I flip through the stations until I land a country one. The soft music fills the air as I hum along to the melody of the songs.

Driving down the busy city roads, I watch the streetlights pass us overhead as cars zoom past us on either side.

We then takes turn off the main road that's leads us onto a dirt path. The street lights are now gone causing the path to be illuminated by the headlights from the jeep.

On either side of the road are rows of large tress and bushes. Jessa interrupts the peaceful silence by asking Dawson if he knows where he is going.

"Yeah I've been here several times. This is just a short cut." He says as the trees start spreading out as the orange glow of a fire can be seen between them.

Cars start lining one side of the road as we get closer to the beach. The soft hum of music can be heard in the air as we park in between two cars.

We all pile out of the car before walking down the dirt road Miranda and Jessa walking ahead of us as Dawson's hand finds mine in the dark lacing our fingers together.

As we approach the beach the noise get louder and louder until I could feel the bass pumping through my body. People were screaming and laughing, the music is blasting through a large set of speakers perched on some rocks.

I watch as Jessa and Miranda run into the crowd and disappear from my sight, presumably to find some alcohol.

"Dawson my man." Someone shouts out as they approach us from the crowd. "Good to see you again."

They exchange some sort of handshake before the brunette directs his attention to me.

"This is Ainsley." Dawson says giving my hand a squeeze as well as looking down at me with a smile.

"The names Cody." He responds before taking a sip of his beer. "It's nice to meet you. Not too often Dawson brings a girl to my parties."

"You as well." I say with a smile as my eyes wander around the crowded beach taking in my surroundings.

"Have you seen Garrett anywhere around here?" Dawson asks.

"Yeah last place I saw him was around the beer cooler. I have no clue where he is now though. Chances are he's snuck off with some girl."

He nods before leading me through the crowd in the direction of the coolers. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"Can I just have a mikes hard please." I say as he reaches into the cooler and pulls one out for me as well as a beer for himself. I crack open the can and take a sip.

I hear the beat of my favourite song slow burn start to play through the speakers as I grab Dawson's hand and pull him into the crowd.

How about the girl in black dress and high heels on
Hot as hell, she's swears she just wanna have fun
With her sweet talking, jaw-dropping, show-stopping waist.

I sway my hips along to the beat as Dawson's hand finds its way onto my hip as he leans his head against my shoulder.

"She's a slow. Slow. Slow burn." I sing along to the songs as I let the music take control over my body.

I keep moving my hips and dancing along to the beat until the song finishes playing. His hand doesn't leave my waist as he spins me around and leads me away from the crowd.

"I still have to find Garrett." Dawson says as I spot Jessa and Miranda dancing in the crowd.

"Go find him, I'll go hang out with Jess and Miranda for a while." He nods before I run off to where Jess and Miranda are dancing.

"Ainsss." Miranda slurs. "Dance with us." She says taking a sip of her beer.

"How much did she have to drink?" I ask turning to Jessa.

"Obviously to much." She says with a laugh. "I lost her for a while and when I found her she was like this."

Just then Miranda attempts to turn around as she falls onto the sand as she lets out a loud laugh. "You guys are so tall." She slurs.

I shake my head before attempting to pull her back up to her feet. "Holy shit, you're a deadweight."

Just then a guy comes from behind her and assists us in pulling her to her feet. Miranda's staring at the guy with her eyes wide open as he gives her a small nod before heading back into the crowd.

"Was that just god?" She asks leaning up against my shoulder.

Jessa bursts out into laughter as I lightly hit her on the arm. "I have no clue who that was."

She pouts. "Where'd he go?" I shrug my shoulders before dragging her to an opening on the beach.

I sit her down against the cool sand as Jessa sits beside her. "Where did lover boy go?" She asks turning to face me.

"He went to find one of his old friends, he said that he wouldn't take to long." I respond picking up a handful of sand.

"You guys are cute." Miranda says pinching my cheeks in between her thumb and fingers.

We all burst into laughter as we lean back against the sand and listen to the sound of music drifting through the air.

"What did he say to you guys earlier?" I question hoping Miranda will tell me everything due to the amount of alcohol pumping through her veins.

"I can't remember but I like him Ainsley, and I think that he likes you too. He seems like a good dude."

Yup... she was definitely drunk.

Jessa was throwing her head back, pouring the contents of a can into her mouth as she laid down and sighed.

I looked back at the crowd of partygoers looking for Dawson's navy shirt throughout the masses. I stumble up to my feet taking my empty cans as I leave Jessa and Miranda on the beach.

Walking towards the crowd my vision was blurred as I stumbled on my feet nearly falling into the sand but instead someone steadied me.

"Dawson?" I question looking up at the slightly familiar face.

"Garret, go grab Dawson would you." The man says as I stand up slipping out of his grasp. "It's Cody, we met earlier if you remember?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't even think I drank this much. I'm such a lightweight." I say laughing as I see Dawson briskly walking towards me.

"Jeez every time I leave you alone at a party you get drunk Ains. Next time I can't let you leave my sight." He says shaking his head as he laughs softly. "Where are your friends?"

I point over to the two lumps laying in the sand as we make their way over towards them.

"I'm sorry Daws, I didn't mean to ruin this party for you. It's just I-." I mumble until Dawson stops walking causing me to crash into his back.

He quickly turns around grabbing onto my shoulders gently causing me to look up at him. "Hey stop that. You didn't ruin anything at all okay? I'm not much of a partier anyways, I just wanted an excuse to spend some time with you and your friends."

"Really?" I ask, my voice coming out quiet and weak as I met his gaze.

"Yes really. Now let's get you guys home." He says placing one of his arms under my legs lifting me into his arms as his friends grabbed Miranda and Jessa carrying us into Dawson's truck as the darkness consumed me.

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Word Count: 2130