Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

3. Dawson

'Eve! Your boooyfriend is here.' Came the voice of Avery from downstairs. She was referring to Dawson, a friend from around town, if you could call him that even.

I grabbed my backpack and thumped down the steps.

'Thanks brat.' I called out, making Avery stick out her tongue in reply.

Dawson was outside, slouching against the brick wall of the orphanage with his backpack on one shoulder and a skateboard under his arm.

'Took ya long enough.' He mumbled.

'Didn't have to wait.' I retorted, as we made our way down the road towards the park.

Dawson and I are not a couple, we're just friends, I guess. But trying to explain our relationship is tricky, because, well, Dawson is an asshole, but that suited me. Dawson is very good looking, with dirty blonde hair and intense eyes... but it was ruined by the fact that he's a pack-a-day smoker and doesn't have a selfless bone in his body. He hates that I don't smoke, and I hate that he looks at my chest before he looks at my eyes. But it was easier to let people assume what they want than care enough to try and explain. It just didn't matter.

Sure we'd fooled around. I wasn't a total square. But everytime we had found ourselves in an alcohol fueled make out session, I would freeze and have to leave immediately. I know it pissed him off to no end, but we'd been doing it so long it had become almost... normal. Besides, there was one thing that kept us both around, and we both knew it. It's that neither of us expected anything from the other. He doesn't ask questions about my past or feel the need to tell me about his. So instead, we play hackisack at the park and drink beer he stole from his house and say very little.

I tried having a boyfriend once, when I was sixteen. It taught me simply that I can't give anyone any semblance of normal. I don't trust people, I don't communicate... at all, and I really

really

hate compliments.

Dawson has never complimented me... I appreciate that about him.

*

It was 4pm and the gas station parking lot was a people-watching hot zone. Dawson and I sat on the curb drinking coffees while he waited for his friends to show up. I assumed it was a weed pickup, being that it was Friday and he usually stocked up today, but I was surprised to see three older guys I'd never met walk around the corner towards us. Dawson stood to meet them, I didn't move. Social interaction was not my instinct.

'...and I'm assuming this one is for your friend here?' The apparent leader of the group asked, turning their attention to me. I looked up at them, taking in the ripped denim and flannel shirts. Not the same skids Dawson usually mingled with, these were Northern boys.

'Yeah, hey Eve, I got you an early birthday present.' Dawson smirked, flicking a card at me that landed upside on the pavement. Confused, I slowly picked the card up and turned it over to see my face and a fake birthday.

'Fake ID?' I voiced, still very confused. My birthday was not something worth celebrating, and even if it was, I'd be legal without the card. It seemed like a very redundant gift.

'Yeah, aren't you going to say thank you?' Dawson asked, turning back to his friends without waiting for an answer. 'So we'll see you guys tonight yeah?'

'Yeah dude, see ya later. You too darlin.' The front man smirked down at me with that look that made me hate all men, before turning and leading his friends back the way he came.

Dawson sat back down beside me, obviously proud of himself. 'Don't look so confused.' He said.

'How can I not be? I don't need this.'

'Yes you do... because tonight we are going out.' He smirked again, nudging me with his shoulder.

'Where exactly are we going that couldn't wait until I was actually 18.' I asked, still trying to see what there was to get so worked up about.

'We're going to GarageFest.' He looked happy, legitimately happy. I took in what he said in stunned silence. GarageFest was a huge festival in North London, and tickets were hard to get and expensive too. I had no idea how this was possible for our broke asses so I just stared at his crazy, happy face like a moron.

He dropped his smile, clearing his throat, 'I mean, surprise. Can you at least pretend to know how cool this is?' He was obviously disappointed at my reaction.

'Dawson I don't know how you got tickets or-'

'Just shut up Eve.' He threw an arm around my shoulders and covered my mouth with his large hand. 'I figured it out and we are going. And you are going to smile tonight, at least one time.' He kissed my temple and for the first time in a long time I felt something that bordered on excitement.

We made our way back to the Fawk so I could change and make up some excuse for why I would be out late. The only people who cared were Rhea- the lady who ran the front of house, she was nice enough, and could be persuaded of nearly anything, and Lacey, the new hired help who was very by-the-book strict and loved making everybody's business her own. I told them both the same thing, that I'd found a babysitting job and wanted to earn some money for a cell phone. I knew they would approve, as I was almost at the age to be leaving, and 'it was my job to take responsibility for myself.'

I felt only mild guilt at lying to Rhea. I took satisfaction out of lying to Lacey, and with that, everything was in order. In my room, I loaded my backpack with a few essentials and changed into a black tank top and jeans, before throwing my hoodie back on. Dawson waited for me in the same spot against the wall and we went off to catch the train.