The Tumultuous Dana Clarke

chapter 10 • “I like you.”

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you, Mom?" Cora watched their mother, worry lines etched into her forehead. 

"I'm sure, Cora." Her mother shook her head good-naturedly. "Besides, my Uber will be here soon." 

The sun had nearly set completely, night falling on their little suburbia. Dana sat on the plush cream couch, watching her mother rummage through her purse.

"Oh look, he's here." Her mother said after pulling out her phone. 

She kissed Cora on her cheek, "don't work too hard, sweetie." 

After she walked over to Dana and wrapped her hands around her. "I'll be back soon, okay honey?" 

"Okay, mom." Dana mumbled into her hair. 

The three women walked out the front door of the Clarke household and in a matter of minutes, Dana's mother was in the car and on her way. 

Dana turned into the house and had begun bounding up the stairs when Cora called out to her. "What's going on?" 

"Nothing!" Dana yelled before shutting her room door. 

••••

Fours hours later, Dana felt a sense of déjà vu when her phone rang again, making her heart skip a beat.

This time it was Avi. 

"Dana? I'm outside, on your street."

"Okay." Dana said shakily. 

She adjusted her short denim skirt and slipped into her sandals. After exhaling, an attempt at calming her nerves, she shut the door behind her. 

Walking down the stairs, Dana silently prayed Cora wouldn't keep her from going. In the living room, her sister was on her laptop, the white light from the device reflecting on her pale face. When she looked up, she blinked rapidly before the corner of her lips quirked up into a smirk. "You going somewhere?" 

Dana rubbed her arms. "Yeah, there's a party." 

"Look at you!" Cora gushed. When she said nothing more, Dana breathed a sigh of relief. "See you." 

"Yeah," Cora said before her eyes were back on her laptop screen. 

Dana couldn't believe her luck. Everything was working so well for her! As she opened her door, she was met with the sight of Avi looking as handsome as ever as he leant against his sleek Mercedes. 

He had on faded jeans and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up in his usual fashion, as well as his black loafers. She could already smell his fresh, aqua scent. 

A smile slowly spread across his face as he eyed Dana from her face down to her legs. He rubbed his chin as he walked over to her. When he held his hand out to her, Dana's heart fluttered. 

Bashfully, she walked to him, taking his hand. He twirled her around, a full grin covering his face, then with his eyes never leaving hers, he spoke, "you look beautiful." 

Dana giggled. "Thank you." 

He chuckled, opening the door for her to get in. "Let's go, before I eat you up." 

Dana entered the car, her cheeks flushed. Her mind felt blank, her entire being high on the anticipation of what the night would bring. 

•••• 

The car ride had lasted about twenty minutes and had been full of Dana avoiding Avi's eyes, Avi who'd looked away from the road and at her at every few seconds. 

As they neared the modern-style house, Dana could hear the loud bass of the hits being played. She began nibbling on her nails, shivers running her body as she wondered what the party would be like. Was she even dressed okay?

Everyone would be drinking for sure, would she have to as well? She grimaced at the thought. Alcohol tasted horrid. 

Avi opened the door, holding his hand out to her. She took it, cringing. Her hands were sweaty and shaky. 

Avi's green eyes locked onto her grey ones. "Don't worry, it'll be fun." He winked and then put his arm over her shoulder, pulling her body close to his. 

Red solo cups were strewn across the lawn, the music blaring out through the wide open doors of the house. From what Dana could see, the party had extended outside. Some of her age mates were moving to the fast beat. She grimaced at the sight of a redhead screaming in the face of a boy, the veins in her face popping out. 

Avi pulled her closer to him and led her up to the doors. A wave of heat hit her before they could even enter the house. Her wearing her off-the-shoulder top was probably the best decision she'd made all week. 

Strobe lights danced across the floor along with the people in the house. Avi had her hand in his as he led her through the mass of sweaty teenagers. Dana's eyes darted all over the room, trying to find Leila and her friends. 

She first saw, in the more reserved area of the ground floor, Lian grinding on Talia atop a wooden coffee table. The two girls were laughing hysterically, Talia making a show of spanking Lian's ass. 

Dana felt like she was getting whiplash. Everything seemed to be happening around her so fast. The blaring music, the people dancing. She squeezed Avi's hand subconsciously. 

He raised her chin up with his free hand, a frown on his face. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She smiled. He'd looked so happy talking about the last party he'd been to with Leila, she didn't need to be a downer because of some noise.

"Let's go upstairs. It's not as rowdy as here." 

A real smile spread across her lips, her entire body relaxing. "Okay." 

She turned around to say bye to the girls but stilled. At some point in time, Leila had come to sit on the couch with the boys who'd been watching Talia and Lian. 

She had her drink in her hand, face blank and her dark, unreadable eyes studying Dana. It sent a chill down her spine and she found herself only waving briefly to Lian and Talia before following behind Avi. 

While they walked upstairs, unease wrapped itself tightly around her. 

All Leila ever did when she and Avi were around was watch them. Was that why she'd really let her come? To lunch and to her house? It had to be. What other business did they have together? 

They'd been in the same economics class for weeks and not once had she spared Dana a glance. The only attention she'd gotten from her was because of Avi. 

They walked down the hall and into one of the rooms on the right. The king sized bed was messy, male clothing scattered across the floor. 

"Carter's so f*****g messy," Avi muttered as they made their way through the room in the dark. At the end of the room, he opened the double doors leading out to a terrace. 

Standing up there, Dana could see the large pool at the back of the house. She blushed and hurriedly looked away at the explicit sight of a particular couple making out inside.

Other than the party, the boulevard looked quiet. The moon shed its light on the similar white duplexes which dotted the streets, with inhabitants who, she guessed, were waiting for the party to die down. 

The night's breeze whipped against her skin, causing her to shudder.  

"Are you cold?" 

"Yeah." 

He came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his nose in the crook of her neck. Dana's heart began to speed up. 

"I've been meaning to talk to you... for us to talk," he whispered in her ear. 

Dana's stomach flipped. Oh God. He was going to bring up what she did. 

"I'm sorry I ignored your calls," she pleaded, her eyebrows set in a frown. 

"Don't apologise. I was taking things too fast." He spun her around so they were face to face. Dana couldn't help herself. She didn’t want to look away from his vivid eyes but the intensity in them made her wish she could.

"It's because I like you." 

Dana's eyes widened, her heart thumping against her chest. "What?"

"Once I saw you, I knew I did and I just- I'm not the type to wait." He held her waist, pulling her flush against his strong body and engulfing her in the scent of his cologne. 

"I can't tell if you like me back or not. If you don't... tell me and I'll back off." 

Dana wanted to scream no! He was her in. She was now close to Leila and to having cool friends. The shoving and ill treatment at school now felt like ages ago. 

She was at a party, with the attention of Avi Kane solely on her, even if being with him was murky. He'd been invasive of her, but also tender. Maybe it was just how he was— a touchy person. 

Regret hit her as she looked at him. His eyebrows were pulled into a frown as he searched her eyes. 

She should never have ignored him. 

"I like you too," she breathed out. 

His eyebrows shot up, a wicked grin on his face. "Really?"

She chuckled at his expression. "Yeah." 

"Then," he spoke firmly, bringing her knuckles to his lips. "I want you to be mine." 

Dana swooned and her next words were from a dazed mind. "I'll be yours."