Bunking With Boys

Chapter 35: First Dates

Avery's POV

So apparently Dawson was extra as fuck when it came to dates.

He said he didn't do these often so he wanted it to be special. Then something about me deserving the best first date he could possibly create on such short notice while at a cabin somewhat in the middle of nowhere.

I told him I'd be happy just at home watching HGTV but nah he wanted to be cute. Which I did love, but I wasn't lying when I said we could have the best date ever at like Taco Bell.

It was a sappy and cheesy monologue that he gave me after that. It had me blushing the whole time. Which was something that I didn't do often...so I guess we brought out those weird, yet cute, sides of each other.

So here I was, Dawson covering my eyes and slowly maneuvering me through the forest to wherever the hell he had our date planned.

And I'm pretty sure this was the only part he didn't think through completely because I'd tripped two times already and he only happened to catch me once.

"Ya know," I start, feeling myself step on what almost seemed like a boulder and stopping to make sure I didn't fall again. "This would be a lot easier and I don't know, safer, if you just let me have my eyesight back."

I hear a "Pft" come from behind me. "I'm trying to be romantic here Avery."

"And that's sweet. Although I feel like you could begin this whole romance thing when we get there. Unless this is all secretly a plot to push me in the lake at some point." I joke with a hint of slight seriousness in my voice though.

I could almost feel him roll his eyes. "Thanks for the idea for the next date."

"I'd drown you," I tell him feeling the ground begin to feel flatter and less rocky.

"I know."

It got quiet for the next couple minutes. It was a calm and comfortable silence though. The ones where you were just content with one another's company, not needing the add on of conversation.

I'm pretty sure by this point we both began to let our nerves settle in the slightest bit and get to us too. Or maybe I was imaging that and it was all me.

Finally, we stopped. Although it was still pitch black as Dawson's hands didn't leave my face.

"Dawson," I say to try and attempt to knock him back into reality.

"Huh?" He questioned, his voice higher than usual.

"I can't see," I tell him matter of factly.

"Yup."

"Are you gonna move your hands or...?" I ask crossing my arms now. Oh, he was totally nervous now.

"Maybe."

"Dawson, can you please just-" and then he did and holy shit.

I could feel him step away from me ever so slightly and I walked forward a bit more to try and take in the scene in front of me. And still, all I had was holy shit.

I'd been on lots of dates in my life. Not gonna lie, they were pretty shitty and pathetic ones too. High school boys never did care much for romance and cutesy shit. Or maybe they did and I just had terrible taste in guys. Till now anyway.

Cause right in front of me was small clearing, still surrounded by trees, almost like some kind of fort. I could see lights hanging from tree to tree on the inside. Sparkly.

"So I'm hoping it's not too terrible?" Dawson said finally showing up beside me, hands buried deep in his pockets, his head tilted down ever so slightly.