An Unexpected Love

The air was salty as it hit her in the face and Avery was actually glad she listened to CC when he told her to bring a sweater. She had dressed to impress-slightly-with a tight pair of skinny jeans that ended in a black studded pair of booties that she loved. Her sizable chest was covered in a loose fitting tank top-it was still fall and not too cold-but she had heeded the drummer’s warning and had her shoulders wrapped in a black and grey sweater. Her blonde hair and the newly dyed teal tips was straight and in her face, her bangs hanging over one expertly done eye that was smokey and seductive. Avery wasn’t looking to get anything out of this night-it was a bet after all-but she did want CC to know what he was missing.

The Santa Monica Pier was huge-with a ferris wheel and roller coaster at one end and a place for fishing and yoga at the other. It had been a trek to get here and as she stood around and noticed that everyone was packing it in for the day, Avery couldn’t help but wonder why CC wanted to meet her here instead of his place. Avery turned to face the water, smiling as the sun was now setting across the ocean and giving the gentle waves a glowing deep sea affect. The sky was painted a faded orange, purple and light pink and the clouds were fluffy as they floated across the surface. It would be a beautiful night-not hot, but there was a breeze that was coming up off of the water.

Avery had almost not shown up, but after Brittany got after her with a pair of scissors and told her to get the fuck out-Avery wasn’t one to ignore a girl with sharp objects. She didn’t know what to expect from this night-CC was nice, but was he too nice? Avery did enjoy teasing him and it seemed that, unlike the last few losers she had dated, CC could actually take her teasing and turn it back on her. They had been texting on and off all day until finally Avery had to turn her phone off to get some work done. She was working on a few small projects with the hopes that maybe this year she could break in to the big leagues and actually do what she came to Hollyweird to do-be a professional camerawoman.


“Watch he’s not going to show up…” Avery said softly to herself as she moved to rest her arms on the railing of the pier and she jumped as someone walked up and stood beside her. CC was standing there, his long black hair captured by that knit hat he seemed to like so much and his lanky frame was covered in a pair of skinny black jeans, a nice t-shirt and he had a leather jacket in his hands.

“What an asshole…” CC said, his tone serious and Avery only cracked a smile and turned back to looking out at the ocean. They both stood there for a little bit, watching the waves crash against the shore, the seagulls flying low to try and catch their dinner and there were still a few kids who would run to the water and then rush back, screaming about how cold it was.

“So you got me here…now what will you do with me?” Avery asked as she turned and instead was now resting her elbows on the railing and her body was angled at him slightly. CC only smiled as he took her in, her hazel eyes giving him a slightly bemused look in all of their smokey splendor.

“We, my dear, are going to head this way…” CC said as he held out his arm and Avery only rolled her eyes as she linked arms with him and allowed the drummer to lead the way. Avery watched as families passed on their way to their cars and she finally noticed that they were heading in to the area of the pier where the rides and game stalls were.

“But they’re closed…” Avery said and CC only smiled at her as he held out his hand for her to go first. There was a small man waiting for them and as Avery and CC approached the older gentleman just passed CC a set of keys and smiled before walking away.

What was going on?


Avery was lost as she looked around-all of the bright lights were shining in the fading sun and she could faintly hear the strains of familiar music. There was no one around-they had the entire place to themselves and as Avery listened she could finally understand the music that way playing. A band that had been with her through thick and thin-through rough waters a calm.

AFI.

They had meant everything to her when she had been a teenager and even to this day she listened to them constantly. How had CC known that this was her favorite band? As Avery walked in a small circle she noticed that CC was standing off to one side and he had a very wide smile on his lips.


“It’s all ours for the night…as long as you want.” He said as he came up to her and smiled down at the girl before him. She looked amazing standing there underneath all of the lights and CC knew that he had at least managed to make her speechless…thanks to Brittany.

“But…” Avery said and CC only smiled as he grabbed for her hand and began to lead her over to a small building with large glass doors. Avery couldn’t help but notice how easy their hands fit together-his calloused fingers wrapped around her soft ones perfectly and she couldn’t keep the blush from her cheeks.

“I wanted you to come here first. We have a dinner waiting for us at the end of the pier, but that can wait if you aren’t too hungry.” CC said, his smile easy and Avery only nodded as she watched CC push open the glass doors and they walked through.


The room before them was filled with every video game imaginable and Avery felt tears come to her eyes. This had been a childhood dream of hers-to come to an arcade and have the place to herself. There were so many games-Pac Man, Street Fighter, Mortal Combat and even an old air hockey table-that it was hard to pick where to start. Avery smiled up at CC, amazement in her hazel eyes and CC only laughed as he pushed her softly and Avery ran around the room.

They played game after game-no bets this time-and Avery felt like if Heaven were a real place that this would be it. She had never had so much fun in her entire life and as they both finished playing a long round of air hockey-Avery won-it was decided that they would break for dinner.

They left the small arcade, both laughing at Avery’s victory as they walked hand in hand towards the very end of the pier. The lights coming from the huge ferris wheel gave off a soft glow and Avery couldn’t help but look up towards CC. He looked so peaceful walking with her-he didn’t have the usual crazy eyed look that he got when he was on stage and it made Avery feel calmer. As they walked, the silence between them was comfortable and Avery was grateful for that because she didn’t know what to say.

This hadn’t been what she expected-a nice dinner, maybe some ice cream and then a makeout session on his leather couch. This was so much more than that…this was something so personal and thought out that it made Avery smile just thinking over everything.


“Hot dogs?” Avery asked, laughter in her voice as she approached a two person table that had a very nice white table cloth and two plates with hot dogs and fries sitting next to the fine linen napkins and gleaming forks.

“I heard they were your favorite.” CC said as he moved and pulled out her chair. Avery said nothing as she just sat down, a smirk on her face and CC had finally pushed her chair in and took his own seat.

“Where are you getting your information from?” Avery asked before taking a bite of her hot dog and groaning in appreciation. She had missed a good old fair hot dog and this just hit the spot. She looked around, smiling as she noticed that there was a bottle of her favorite beer sitting before her and she quickly took a sip.

“A little birdie gave me some good tips last night…” CC smirked as he ate his own food and Avery only shook her head. The two of them ate in silence and CC liked the fact that Avery actually was eating in front of him. He had been out with so many girls who picked at their food and then just left it-too scared to let him see them chow down.

Not Avery…

“Ah, well I’ll be sure to thank her when I see her later tonight.” Avery said as she placed her napkin on her empty plate and looked around. Night had fallen and she could no longer see the waves, but the gentle sound of them crashing against the planks below was soothing.

“Come on…I have one last thing before we head out.” CC said as he reached for her hand and Avery only smiled as she placed her hand in his and allowed CC to help her up. She wasn’t usually like this-girly and feeble-and while strange to her, Avery could get used to it.


They were heading back to the rides and games and the huge ferris wheel off in the distance was kind of imposing. As they got closer to it Avery felt the food in her stomach begin to flip and flop around like a fish stuck on a rock. Avery wasn’t scared of much, but heights didn’t agree with her and as CC turned and smiled at her, Avery found it within herself to smile back at him. Inside she was screaming, scratching and biting…anything to get as far away from this monster ride as possible.

CC led her on though and soon enough they were moving towards one of the buckets, which was swaying slowly in the breeze. Avery stopped dead in her tracks, her hazel eyes wide and scared looking and finally CC stopped moving and turned to face her.


“What’s wrong?” CC asked and Avery had dropped his hand and was now standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. He could see the lights reflecting in her eyes and he only smiled as he reached for her and pulled her to his lanky chest.

“I-I’m not a big fan of heights…” She said, her voice muffled against his chest and CC only smiled and pulled away from her slightly.

“I promise nothing will happen…please?” He asked, his large brown eyes pleading and Avery bit down on her lip ring. Well-one go around wouldn’t hurt. Silently she nodded and soon enough they were in the bucket and a man who had hung around had closed the door and off they went.

“CC…” Avery said softly, her eyes closed. It was better if her eyes were closed because then she could just pretend that she was only five feet off of the ground instead of a thousand or however fucking high they were.

“I never would have guessed you would be afraid of heights Avery.” He said, his voice low in her ear and she shivered as the wind whipped around them and he trailed a finger down one of her cheeks.

“Yeah well there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” She said, her eyes still closed tightly and CC only chuckled lowly as he ran a hand through his hair and looked down at the girl sitting beside him. She was curled into his side and he had managed to get one arm around her shoulders without her punching him-probably because she was so scared.

“I know, but I would like to find out…if you’ll let me.” He said and he noticed that she had that cynical smirk on those perfect lips of hers once again.

“I-I dunno CC…” Her eyes were still closed and CC only smiled as he moved a finger to brush her bangs out of her face. They were now stopped at the very top and he wanted her to open her eyes…he wanted her to trust him.

“Trust me…” CC said, his voice in her ear and Avery only shivered as she continued to bite down on her lower lip. They had stopped and she knew they were stopped at the top-the worst part of this stupid ride.

“I can’t…” She said and CC only smiled as he brushed his lips across her soft cheek. She smelled like raspberries and the ocean and it made him want her even more.

“Open your eyes Avery…you can trust me.” He said again and he noticed that her body had relaxed against his somewhat. CC only smiled that chiseled smirk as he placed his fingers underneath her chin and turned her head to face his.


Finally her eyes popped open and as those scared hazel eyes looked deeply into his calm chocolate brown ones, CC did the only thing that felt right. He pressed his lips against hers and hoped she wouldn’t punch him in the face.

Notes

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