CH16

The car ride was steeped in silence. Azalea shifted in her seat, unsure of what kind of tension lingered between them. Was it just her overthinking, or was it actually there? Maybe silence like this was just... normal. But with Jackson, it never really felt normal. There was always something unsaid, hovering in the air.

Eventually, the car slowed to a stop. Jackson parked at the edge of a familiar hill.

"Well, fire ant, this is our stop," he said, cutting through the quiet with his usual teasing nickname for her.

Azalea turned her gaze forward, her breath catching for a moment as she took in the sight before her. The horizon stretched wide under the glow of the moonlight, casting silvery reflections over everything.

"Ocean's Peak," she murmured softly. She knew this place well, even if she'd only been here once before. The memory stirred something in her chest, though she wasn't sure if it was nostalgia or unease.

"Yup," Jackson said, his voice softer than usual. He grabbed the pizza box from the passenger seat and stepped out of the car. Azalea hesitated for a moment before following him.

Jackson opened the box and took a seat. Azalea did the same, sighing heavily. Jackson took the lighter and turned the box over, watching the underwear fall to the grass below them.

"Here." Jackson handed her the lighter and she took it. Azalea stared at Megan's panty and couldn't help but get sad.

The fact that this was left under her bed on purpose made her blood boil. And Jackson's right, if she had found it, she probably would've blew him a new ear.

"I didn't mean to." He cuts in lowly. Azalea lit the lighter and stared at the single flame.

"You still did it." She responds quietly. Jackson heard the pain in her voice and sighed.

"I know, and I'm sorry...really I am."

Azalea exhaled a breath and began to burn the lacy fabric. Black smoke formed and the fire soon engulfed the entire thing.

The both of them stared at it. The crackles of the fire took over their silence and the flames from the fire caressed their skin with warmth in the cold night.

"So what's my dare?" He finally asks, his gaze leaving the fire.

Azalea met his stare and leaned back. She thought for a long time before she finally spoke.

"I dare you...to give me a dare."

Jackson arched a brow and smirked. "Well that's a first."

She shrugs. "I don't really have anything for you to do."

"Um, okay...let's see." Jackson gazed at the sky for a moment. When the fire dimmed he got it.

"Well next month is August and we're going on a mini school break, so...my dare from you is that I should give you the best summer vacation ever known." He suggests.

Azie tilt her head to the side and hummed. "A summer vacation."

"That way we could finally get away from school and actually get to know each other beyond these walls. Pool parties, ice cream, and we could have a sleepover at my place." He shrugs. Thinking about it made him excited.

Azalea thought about it. She wants to know more about him ever before now. She wants to know what he's like out of school, and not just taking her from place to place either for a fun time out.

No, she wants to get beyond all of that. That's what friends are for.

"Okay, I'm down for a free summer."

Jackson smiled and so did she.

"So should we call it truce?" He stuck out his pinky and Azie rolled her eyes, wrapping her pinky around his.

"Truce."

The wind blew and the ashes from Megan's panties blew away. Jackson frowned and Azie shook her head.

"What did you expect?"

Jackson shook his head and stood to his feet, brushing off the back of his pants. "Let's go," he said, his voice slightly gruff.

Azalea didn't wait for him, already walking past, her steps light but firm.

Jackson stayed rooted in place for a second longer than necessary, his gaze unintentionally following her. It was only then that he noticed her outfit—thin straps and a simple night dress, grayish in color but dotted with tiny hearts that seemed to make the fabric stand out under the moonlight.

His blue eyes trailed lower without meaning to, catching the subtle sway of her hips as she moved toward the car. It wasn't far, just a foot away, but in that moment, it felt miles apart. His heart thudded, and he blinked quickly, forcing himself to look anywhere else.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Jackson finally started walking, trying to shake the image from his mind. But as much as he tried to distract himself, the thought of her lingered like a stubborn echo.

Azalea opened the door and stopped herself from getting in when she noticed Jackson's frozen state.

"Are you okay?" She asks. However he was too far gone in his intrusive thoughts to answer. Azie watched as Jackson made his way over to her side.

She swallowed hard, her eyes following him. Azalea wanted to say something but she couldn't help but to do the same thing he's doing, and that's stare.

She knows she shouldn't, especially after everything, but Jackson is an attractive guy, and he's smart and also good in bed, according to him.

Jackson took a step towards her, his eyes studying her intently with a pinch of eagerness. Azalea face him fully, pressing her back against the car as she felt a wash of nervousness.

Jackson got closer, his eyes locked on her lips. Jackson took one more step close to her, sealing her between he and the car.

He smells good.

She smells amazing.

Jackson's fingers reached her face and she hitched in a breath. She shouldn't allow this.

Jackson cup her cheek, his face inching closer to hers, so close that she could smell the nothingness on his tongue.

He wants her. So fucking badly.

"Azie," he whispers "can I kiss you? Please?" He begs quietly. Azalea felt like he placing her between a rock and a hard place. She wants to say no, but deep down she wants nothing more for him to do so.

"Please?" He begs even quieter. Jackson inched closer, his lips grazing hers. Azalea felt heat engulf her almost instantly.

"Azalea...please kiss me."

And she did.

Jackson was absolutely elated about the action. He was hoping for her to push him away like she did before, but she didn't and he's glad for that.

Jackson wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body close to his. Their tongues overlapped, getting a good feel of the other.

Jackson breathlessly moaned, loving every second of this. Her finger trailed to his hair, tugging tightly at his roots. Jackson moans, their kiss coming to a halt.

Azalea pulled his bottom lip with her teeth, not wanting it to stop now. She's had a taste before, but this time she doesn't want it to stop. She want him to continue.

Jackson smirked, kissing her again. His plans are going better than he thought they would've went if he's being honest with himself.

Jackson broke the kiss, tailing kisses onto her neck. Azalea closed her eyes, paying attention to his lips pressing gently against her skin.

"Jackson..." It was all she said, but he didn't need anything more, he understood exactly what she wanted.

More.

Jackson's teeth pinched her and she gasped, exhaling a shaky, broken breath afterwards. His hands trailed up her thigh, slipping past her dress, reaching her panty. Jackson rubbed her clit through her clothing and Azalea was sure she just entered a different galaxy.

"Fuck right there." She moans; and it was like absolute jazz to the soul. As Jackson continued to plant hickey's onto her neck and pleasure her with his movements, Azie was finding it hard to breath.

"J-Jackson..."

He stops and she shook her head, grabbing his shirt. "Don't stop, please don't let me change my mind by stopping." She breathlessly pleads.

Jackson kissed her and she kissed him back instantly. "I want to taste you properly."

He knows she's innocent so he won't go beyond just touching her.

"Eyes on me, okay?"

She searched his eyes for his next actions, but when she couldn't find it she nodded in compliance.

Jackson got lower and her eyes followed him on the way down, not breaking eye contact like he said. She's nervous, but she's also aroused right now.

Jackson slowly pulled her panties down, and Azalea helped him, also kicked her night shoes off.

"This won't hurt...I promise you."

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. She knows it won't, but she felt good that he was just looking out for her.

Jackson sent a small smile before he finally broke eye contact. She felt his hot breath on her skin, and then, she felt it.

Azie inhaled a shaky breath and grabbed his roots. His tongue swirled around her sensitive area and she moaned louder.

He'd have never guessed that he'd get his best friend to sound this way. His movements got faster and she wanted more.

The foreign feeling of being on the edge found her. It confused her and it confused her.

"Jackson...I...I have to-

She stops, feeling her body get semi limp. Air got caught at the back of her throat and her eyes closed tightly as her muscles clenched as she finally came.

Jackson didn't miss anything. He made sure to savor her on his tongue, and every drop of her too.

As the waves of sensation subsided, Azalea's body relaxed, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to steady her breath. Jackson moved back up to her level, his lips claiming hers in a hungry kiss, like he couldn't get enough.

She tasted herself on his lips, a mix of curiosity and pleasure flooding her senses. Against her better judgment, she leaned into it, savoring every second more than she knew she should.

When they finally broke apart, her gaze was drawn to his. Jackson's eyes were dark with desire, filled with an intensity that made her heart race all over again. For a moment, neither of them

spoke, the only sound in the room being their unsteady breathing.

Azalea swallowed hard, breaking the silence with a shaky whisper, "This was... a bad idea."