C H A P T E R   T W E N T Y - S I X
Safety

deck:
the top portion of a surfboard.

"Dad" I say, my response short. "What are you even doing here?"

He slides into the seat beside my mother as she moves over to the edge of the bench. "I think that's quite obvious. Your mom invited me to join you for breakfast. There's some things we have to discuss".

"This feels like some sort of an intervention. The last time I had a meeting with the two of you together was before I got admitted to the psych ward" I say before taking a sip of my coffee.

"Ainsley enough!" my mother exclaims, shocked that I would bring that up in a restaurant. Her raised voice drew attention to us from other patrons seated near us.

"Your mother is just worried, and she has every right to be".

"Worried about what dad?" I exclaim. "The fact that I've been put through more shit than any teenager should ever have to deal with. A best friend dying, a father leaving. What could possibly be worse than that?"

The two of them go silent at my comment, unsure of what to say.

"I know that it was wrong for me to leave, it wasn't easy for me either having to leave you especially after hearing about what happened to Crystal" my dad says. Since he left this was the first time he ever seemed sorry for leaving, usually he would say it's because that was what he had to do. "Things between your mother and I were tough. I wasn't the man she expected me to be and I knew you both would be better off without me".

At his words my mother gently placed her hands against his arm as if to say it was okay. "It was for the best. We never meant for it to turn out the way that it did however. We were supposed to co-parent but your father got a job he couldn't turn down as you know".

"So he chose a job over me? Just lovely".

The conversation was thankfully halted by the waiter returning with our food as she took the order for my father immediately after.

We sat in silence for a few moments as we began eating. It wasn't until my mouth was stuffed full of french toast that my mother took use of the advantage to speak.

"We're not here to discuss your father leaving Ainsley. There's bigger things than that. Are you sure that you are mentally and emotionally ready to surf and compete again?"

"We don't want to see what happened to you with Crystal occur again" my father adds in.

"You don't get a say in this" I exclaim pointing to my father. "You left. And mom, this is my life. I get to choose what I do with it. If you don't want to support me that's fine, but I don't need your judgment right now either".

I stabbed my fork down into my french toast, letting out my anger as I was trying to contain myself to not cause a scene.

"This is important Ainsley" my mother says sternly as she eyes me over her cup of coffee. "You're not doing this because Dawson pressured you... right?"

At the mention of his name, my grip on my fork weakens causing it to drop against the table with a clang.

"You don't get to mention his name. He has done nothing but supported me throughout this. This was all my idea and not his".

"I don't know about that Ainsley, you only wanted to start surfing again once he came around".

"I didn't come here to be ambushed by your ridiculous little intervention you've thrown" I say rising to my feet as I throw a crumbled bill down on the table. "Enjoy your breakfast cause you just ruined mine".

As I make my way towards the door I can hear my parents telling me to come back and sit down but I don't. I kept walking until I was out of the restaurant.

The rush of cool morning air blowing against my face felt refreshing as it dried the tears that were threatening to pour out.

At this point in time there was only one person who I wanted to see. One person who I knew would protect me no matter what. And that person was Dawson.

My feet were moving before I even made that realization. I was currently walking down the sidewalk that led to the pier.

I was expecting my mother to chase after me, part of me hoping she was actually going to just to show she actually cared about me, my thoughts, and what I was doing.

But that never happened.

My pace wasn't slow, it was fast in an attempt to create as much distance between myself and that restaurant.

Thankfully Dawsons work wasn't too far away, maybe a ten minute walk if that. Nothing was ever far away in the small town of Chancier Cove.

I had kept myself together on the entire walk here, but now standing in front of the store I had to fight back my tears.

I swung the door to the surf shop open and Dawsons eyes quickly met mine.

He was talking to a middle-aged couple, getting them set up for their rentals, but as soon as he saw me on the verge of a breakdown he excused himself and rushed over.

"What's wrong" he says, his hands immediately making their way to my shoulders as he forces me to face him.

I'm aware that the few people within the store have turned their attention towards us as Dawson escorts me to the break room, leaving his coworker to the customers.

I take a seat down on one of the wooden chairs as Dawson closes the door and leans against it, running a hand through his hair as he takes one step to be towering in front of me.

"What's going on?" he questions as he bends down so that he's at my height. His hands reach for mine as he gently gives them a squeeze.

"Well I just came from a lovely breakfast with my mom, and my father..."

"Your father?" he questions making sure he heard me correctly. "Why was he even there?"

"My mom invited him. It was all some attempt to corner me into talking about surfing again. I hadn't seen him in years, but yet my mom thought that I should. She never even asked me first" I exclaim as my emotions overcome me and tears trail their way down my face.

Dawson reaches up and gently brushes the tears off of my cheek. "You're joking, why would she even do this to you?"

"I wish I knew. I wasn't expecting to see him again any time soon. He left and when I saw him walk in those doors it was like the breath was knocked out of me" I responded, my words coming out mumbled. "I was completely blindsided".

"I'm so sorry she did that to you" he says pulling me close as I let the sobs wrack through my body. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

He wrapped his arms around me tightly, in a protective manor as his hands rubbed up and down my back to help calm me down.

Dawson knew a little bit about what occurred with my father, how he left when things got tough. It was one topic I hardly ever opened up about because I blamed myself for my parents failing relationship.

"I'm just so confused. The last I knew my mother wasn't even talking to my father but yet they staged this whole meetup for me".

"I know hun, I know you're shocked, that you feel betrayed. I would too. I know it may not seem like it, but I'm sure your mother had good intentions. She just went about it the wrong way".

"Maybe" I say giving him a small smile as he wipes the few stray tears away. "I am just in no mood to face her currently".

"Well you're in luck that I am done work in half an hour. You can hang out here and then after that we can head back to my place" he says pressing his lips against mine in a soft and gentle kiss which has me craving more.

He stands back up, placing a kiss against the top of my head before making his way out of the break room.

As soon as he left I pulled out my phone to pass the time and noticed that I had several missed calls from my mother, as well as my father.

Ignoring the messages I scrolled through Instagram until I was interrupted by the door squeaking open.

Dawson leaned up against the door, a smirk on his face as I lifted my eyes from my phone to stare at him.

"They let me off early, so how about you and I go get that breakfast you deserved to have this morning. My treat".

A smile finds it's was onto my face. My mood instantly lifting as I stand and intertwine my hand with his.

"You're the best. You know that right?" I question before placing a quick peck against his cheek.

"Now let's get out of here. I've got a girl who I have to cheer up".

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Word Count: 1586