Getting to Know the Bad Boy

Hailey's P.O.V

"We should probably head back. Mason and Layla will be waiting for us." I giggled, pulling away from Avery's lips entirely for the first time in ten minutes.

We had been standing in the middle of the beach, kissing since he told me he wants to be with me. I still do not know what we can call ourselves since we agreed on no labels. Right now, I did not care. He was mine right at that moment, and that is all that matters at the present.

"Or not. Text them and tell them we will meet them later. Let them have some time to themselves and let me have you to myself for a little while. Let us go for a walk along the beach." He said sweetly, smiling at me.

"Okay." I smiled back, pushing my hair behind my ear.

He quickly texted Mason, telling him we would meet them in two hours which he seemed happy enough about. Once he sent the text, his fingers linked with mine again, making my heart skip a beat or two. I could tell he was still nervous about it all. I was too. That small doubt in the back of my mind that this is all going to end in heartbreak. Maybe I should stop thinking about those things and go on with it. He must have sensed something was on my mind.

"Hey Kitten, are you okay?" He asked, looking at me.

"Yeah, I am fine," I said, facing him, giving him my best smile.

"Hailey, I know this makes you nervous. You are scared I am gonna hurt you and fuck all this up." He said, stopping us, turning me around to face him, stroking my hair.

"I know I don't wanna feel like this, but I can't help it. I have not exactly had much luck when it comes to guys. It hasn't exactly been an easy ride for us either Avery." I said sadly.

I never wanted to say anything that would hurt him. He closed his eyes, sighing. I reached over placing my hand on his cheek, making him open his eyes to look at me. I smiled, stepping closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, his hands going to my hips.

"I am gonna try, I promise." He said softly.

"I know," I said, smiling at him, leaning in and kissing him softly, he soon smiled after that.

Once we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, not saying a word, just smiling. He pulled away after a moment.

"Let's sit?" He smiled.

I nodded, Avery sitting down. I went to sit down next to him, but he pouted at me, making me look at him, confused. He patted the spot between his legs, and I giggled, sitting between his legs, my back against his chest. His arms were soon over my shoulders, nuzzling my neck. I groaned, my breath catching in my throat, and I relaxed against his body. I was a little taken back with him, it does not seem like the kind of thing he does, but I am not going to complain about it. He placed a few soft kisses on my neck before he reached my ear.

"Can I tell you a secret?" He whispered.

I looked up at him, nodding.

"We have met before. A long time ago." He smiled.

"What?" I asked, shocked.

"We have met before, about nine years ago." He smiled.

What was he talking about? I turned myself around to face him, kneeling between his legs. He laughed; the reaction evident on my face.

"What? When?" I asked.

"In your treehouse." He said.

My treehouse? What is he talking about?

"Uh?" I asked.

'My grandparents used to stay next door to you. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. They were my dad's parents." He said.

Poor Avery them being his grandparents. They were horrible people. I was glad when they moved away a couple of years ago.

"They were your grandparents?" I asked, shocked, and he nodded, a sadness to him when he did.

"They were assholes. Anyway, where was I? My father was away doing God knows what and my mother had to work. She still managed to work back then. Anyway, she had no one to look after me so had to send me there. They were not pleased, they never liked my mother; they never thought she was good enough for my dad, and because of that, they hated me too. My father was their perfect son when he was a lying, cheating abusive alcoholic, but that never mattered to them." He said, pausing for a moment.

"While I was there, they were horrible to me, telling me they hated me, that I was horrible, saying horrible things about my mother...telling me I was not wanted, etc. I ended up getting angry and crying, running out of the house, looking for somewhere to hide and I found your treehouse, and you came up, getting a fright when you saw me sitting there." He added.

With that, it clicked in my head. I remembered what he was talking about, but I can't believe that was him, how strange is that?

"Then, when I saw you were upset, I came over and sat with you. Asking you why you were crying, and you told me." I added.

"Yes, then you reached for my hand, kissed my cheek, telling me it was okay. Saying I don't need to cry." He smiled.

"Yes, then my mom came up, finding you there with me. She knew you were sad, so she went back inside, bringing us ice cream." I replied.

"Yes. You never left my side for the rest of the day. You stayed with me until my mom came back. That was the first time anyone was nice to me, showed me kindness except my mother and Carly, you made me forget about it all. I have never forgotten that. Then when I saw you on the first day of school, I had to look twice. I say the hassle you were getting, heard what people were saying about you. I decided right at that moment I was going to try to protect you from it all because of what you did for me that day all those years ago." He said, smiling at the last part.

I was still a little shocked; I can't believe this; it is crazy. At the same time, my heart was breaking hearing him speak of these things, understanding how bad things were for him.

"That would explain a lot." I smiled sweetly at him.

"I know I haven't exactly been doing a great job of it. I never meant to hurt you or make you feel like crap." He said sadly.

I saw his vulnerable side. Something he does not show, and to be honest, it made me like him even more. I leaned in placing my lips against his softly, melting into his lips. He pulled me in closer to him. I felt him smile against my lips before we pulled apart. He gave me a quick wink, making me giggle. After that, I turned back around, resting against his chest again.

"You are making me soft kitten." He whispered in my ear.

"Sorry," I whispered back.

"Don't be." He whispered, kissing the top of my head.

Where did the bad boy go? I looked up at him. The biggest dorky smile on my face, making him chuckle before pecking my lips.

"You have changed a lot since that day in my treehouse." I giggled.

"Yes, that is for sure." He laughed. "I was such a little dork back then. I only started changing when I was about thirteen. You have not changed much at all. Well, you were cute back then. Now you are more beautiful and grown-up." He winked.

"Yes, you were. I had a little crush on you that day. You were my first official crush." He smirked.

"Bullshit! Thanks, though." I said, shaking my head.

"I mean it, you were. And you are beautiful. Don't ever let anyone tell you different kitten." He said in all seriousness.

He turned me around, pulling me onto his lap. I rested my knees at his hips, placing my hands on his chest. His landing on my hips, making me look up at him.

"We need to stop getting into these positions; people will start talking." He smirked.

"Talk about ruining a moment dude." I giggled, slapping his chest.

"I know I am only messing with you baby girl." He smiled his lips landing on mine, "But I meant everything I said to you a moment ago." He added after pulling away.

"I know," I said, running my fingers through his hair, making him groan.

"I am sorry if I take too long to get used to this kitten." He whispered, his forehead against mine.

"It will be okay. It will work out how it is meant to." I said, smiling making him relax.

He leaned in stealing one last kiss before I turned back around, leaning against him. This was going to take some time to get used too. We sat on the beach for another hour, chatting...chatting in a way we have not chatted before. I found out more about him in that hour than what I have in the few weeks I have known him.

"I am sorry Avery, you had such a horrible childhood," I said sadly.

He had a horrible childhood between his awful grandparents, his mom struggling to get by and his father abusing both him and his mother. He sounds like a disgusting, cowardly man. It is maybe a good thing his father left when he did. Hearing his life story made me understand more about him...more about his mother.

"It was a long time ago." He said, shrugging it off.

"I know, but still, no kid should have to go through that Avery," I said, reaching for his hand, giving it a supportive squeeze.

"It was normal for me, I guess. Think that is why I rebelled the way I did at such a young age. I do not want to be that way, Hailey. I don't wanna be this way, but I can't help it." He said sighing.

"Avery there is nothing wrong with you. You do bad things; you are not a bad person. You have a good heart even if you do not believe it...do not show it. I know you do." I said softly.

He pulled me into him, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, kissing the top of my head.

"You could be my saving grace, Hailey, do you know that kitten?" He said.

I looked up at him, smiling widely at him. His eyes had such a softness to them when he looked at me, making my heart race. He reached down, pecking my lips a few times. Once we pulled away, we headed to find Mason and Layla who were waiting for us by the merry-go-round. They looked up seeing us coming, Layla looking at our fingers linked before looking at me, smirking.

"What is going on here?" She said, trying to hide her excitement.

"I decided to get brave and tell her how I felt," Avery said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Yeah! About time." She said, clapping her hands excitedly.

"See I told you, baby, that he wanted more with Hailey," Mason said winking at Layla, making us all laugh.

"Oh, does that mean we can go on double dates? Like proper double dates?" She asked hopefully.

"We will see," Avery said winking at her.

I smiled, looking up at him. I think he was right; I am making him soft. He smiled back, winking at me. I can't believe this, any of it.