chapter 11 • together.
988 Words
In Dana's mind, she had no expectations of what Avi's reaction would be after she said yes to him but her smile dimmed at the look on his face.
She found herself wishing he'd move back or let go of her hands when a wicked grin covered his chiselled facial features. Maybe it was only in her mind, but something lurked beneath his gladness.
"Do you want a drink?"
"Yes," Dana breathed out, thankful for the space he’d give her when he left. "Oh, just a Coke, please!" She blurted out with wide eyes when she remembered they were at a party. No alcohol for her.
Avi shook his head, a smirk tugging up his lips. "I'll be right back. You can sit anywhere you want. Come." He put his hand around her waist, leading her back into the disarrayed room, stopping to close the terrace doors, before leaving the room.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Dana settled into the black sofa next to the kingly bed. Her heart had begun to return to its normal pace.
Suddenly apprehension swept over her, causing her to chew on her fingernails. Had she made the right decision? Why did she feel so unsure? It had to be because he was always all over her. Perhaps, space was all she needed.
He was just always too touchy.
Dana’s head soon began to lull to the side, her eyes urging her to close them. She adjusted her body to lay down on her side on the couch.
Avi would be back soon, she ought to get some rest before they went back to the party. So she closed her eyes.
As she lay on the edge of sleep, a last thought crossed her mind. If any of her old friends saw her and Avi, they would never believe that she had managed something like this. After all to them, she was only Dana—quiet, boring and forgettable.
••••
An overwhelming sensation of heat enveloped Dana. Sweat covered her face and ran down her neck, her clothes feeling like too much weight on her body.
She opened her eyes, squinting at the sight of white sheets and the sunlight streaming into the room. As she tried to stretch her body, she was met with opposition. She blinked several times, realisation dawning on her that it wasn't just the sheets suffocating her, Avi's body heat was too.
Wait, what time is it?
Her eyelids continued to flutter as she harriedly pulled her phone from her skirt pocket, her eyes flickering to and away from Avi's manly frame stretched over the bed.
11:46am.
What?
She'd already missed half her classes for the day! There was no way her parents would see the class attendance, right?
Pulling herself out of the comfort of the bed, Dana walked across the room to open the terrace doors. Cool air from outside fanned her skin, causing her sweat to evaporate. She closed her eyes, calming her mind. After all, it was only one day of school she'd missed, she'd still be doing just okay at the end of the year.
Relax.
"What are you doing?" Avi's deep, groggy voice sent a wave of excitement through her body, making her feel giggly.
"Nothing. Waiting for you to wake up actually."
A lazy smile stretched across his lips. "Come here."
Dana giggled again before walking over to him. He took her hand and in a flash, pulled her into the bed, enveloping her in his arms.
He laughed, his eyelids fluttering close. "I hope you slept well," he mumbled into her hair.
Dana let her hand rest on his broad chest. “Yeah, I did.”
"I wouldn't expect less, you were asleep before I came back in," he quipped with a teasing smile, his gaze locked on hers.
Dana's cheeks warmed. "I just got really sleepy."
"Well we'll have enough time together tonight, we're meeting with a couple of friends at Davenport beach. You can come right?"
Dana bit back a squeal. She was invited again to hang out with them. With a grin, she replied, "sure."
A chaste kiss on her collarbone and he got up. Dana put her head in the spot his had been, watching him; the creases in his black long sleeve shirt; the short distance his long legs covered before they were in the bathroom.
She laughed into the pillow. There had been no reason to be scared last night. So what if he was intense, she had to get used to it, and quick. This was the happiest she'd been all year, she couldn't do anything to mess it up.
Not long after, the bathroom door opened and Avi stepped out, his bearing alert with all sleep induced slowness gone. "Come on, let's go."
It made Dana perk up too.
A couple of minutes later, they were out of what Avi had told her was the Manolo's mansion and in his Mercedes.
Once he was driving, she worked up the courage to speak, "so who exactly is we? You said we're going to the beach."
He brought the car to a halt in front of a red light. His hand rested on the hand brake, the other rubbing his jaw. "Talia, Lian, Archie might come... Our friends from around." He finished, turning to look at her.
"Sounds like fun," she said cheerily, yet her fingers were jittery. Just how many people would be there?
"Yeah. It’s not as loud as the house parties," he paused, putting the car back in drive as the light turned green. "But there's more drama, funny enough."
"What kind of drama?"
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "The kind that happens when teenagers come together in the dark."
Dana snorted. "That's not very specific."
He shrugged, a hint of a smile of his face. "Guess you'll just have to wait and see."
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