Chapter 19 – Safe–2
–LIA’S POV–
“Good evening, ma’am,” I heard him greet her.
“Hello, young man. How can I help you?” Mom asked, clearly charmed by him at once.
“My name is Blake Walker, I am a friend of Lia’s. She has one of my notebooks, and we have a test tomorrow, so I came to get it. Would it be okay?”
Mom laughed. “Lia has your notebook, does she?” She turned to glance at me, playfully narrowing her eyes. “Come on in.”
I took in a deep breath, forcing a smile when Blake walked in.
“Hi Blake.
“Hey.” He smiled at me. “You took my–
“Yes, come on up.” I went straight to my bedroom, not sticking around to watch my Mom’s excited expression.
Given the way I was, with my nose usually buried in a book or my eyes stuck on a laptop screen as I coded, I didn’t blame her for getting so excited to see a boy show up at our door.
“Keep the door open!” she shouted, still managing to make the
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situation awkward.
Heat rose to my cheeks as I entered my room, and Blake followed inside.
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“I will!” I shouted back. before closing the door and locking it.
Blake laughed. “You just promised to keep the door open.”
“I never used the word ‘promise‘.”
“So you lied?” He glared at me teasingly.
“I did. So what? You wanna go tell on me?”
Blake chuckled. “Feisty Lia, I like it.”
I smiled too, shaking my head. “Anyway, you lied too. Because I don’t have your notebook. I don’t even think you’ve ever brought one. What exactly do you come to school for?”
He smirked. “I just come to see you, to protect you, and to add a touch of happiness and joy to your life.”
“Right. And what are you doing here right now?” I crossed my
arms.
“The exact same thing,” he shrugged, stepping closer to me. I became acutely aware of the locked door right behind me as soon as he did that. The situation with Zane flashed before my
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eyes.
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“You came to my place to make me happy?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Why? You aren’t happy to see me?” He took another step closer.
I took one back, then casually leaned against the door to keep it less tense. I couldn’t keep getting trapped by boys. It was just wrong. Especially not by two different boys who hated each other.
“Of course I am happy to see you,” I said. “How much cologne are you wearing by the way? I could smell you across the room.”
His eyes lit up in a way they never had before.
“Really? I just sprayed on the usual amount.”
“Is that half the bottle?” I teased.
“Maybe. But it’s what I do every day. Maybe you’re feeling something new? Maybe there’s another reason you can smell me across rooms?” he said softly.
I laughed. “Like what? You think I’m falling in love with your pretty green eyes, with the golden flecks?” I said dramatically.
Blake’s gaze softened, and he leaned in closer to me, placing his hand on the wall above my head. I straightened up slightly, to
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create more distance between us. My smile faltered, as my heart started to race. He hadn’t even said anything yet. Just a change in his expression had my heart beat quickening.
What was wrong with me?
“Maybe you’re falling in love with the sound of my voice, or my personality? The way I protect you, the way I look at you? The way… you’re the only girl on this planet, as far as I’m concerned?”
Butterflies filled my stomach, my chest warming. “Why?” I said softly. “I’m no one special, Blake.
“That’s exactly why you’re special, Lia. You’re able to see the good in everyone. You even expect good from people like Zane Adams. And yet you’re oblivious to your own beauty. I don’t blame you, though. After all, you are kinda blind.” He lightly tapped the glass of my glasses, making me grin.
“I’m not blind, I just need them for reading.”
“Mhm?” He pulled my glasses off with his index finger, and then leaned in, way too close. I gasped and jammed the back of my head against the door, my eyes wide.
“What are you doing, Blake?”
“Examining,” he replied, narrowing his eyes. “Your eyes are like… wood. It’s such a different colour.”
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I scoffed. “They’re brown. It’s the most colour.”
“Until you see them under sunlight. Then they’re the rarest
gem.”
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“Sure, whatever you say.” I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile from my face.
Blake smiled back, finally moving away, allowing me to catch my breath.
I’d thought only Zane could excite me. But Blake clearly had the skills as well. He was just more friendly, while Zane felt more… dangerous and forbidden.
Blake felt safer. Zane felt exciting.
At the end of the day, what was it that really mattered?
“Lia?” Blake snapped his fingers, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Too lost in the green of my eyes?”
“It’s like a meadow,” I shrugged, “don’t blame me.”
“Oh I’m not.” Blake laughed.
I smiled up at him. “Why did you actually come here, Blake?”
His smile softened. “You were upset, Lia. I don’t entirely
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understand why, but I had to check up on you. It felt like Zane Adams disappointed you in some way.”
I lowered my gaze, my smile faltering.
Blake cupped my cheeks, making me meet his gaze again. “This is why I wanted you to stay away from him,” he whispered. “He is a jerk, Lia. And he thinks no one can see it, but I know what he’s playing at. He’s trying to fool you, to trap you by using his arrogant, bad–boy personality. He is trying to defeat me.”
“Defeat you? Using me?”
“Yes. You’re my only friend here, Lia. And I am the only one who has ever challenged this guy, aren’t I?”
I slowly nodded.
“He wants me gone, and what better way to do that than getting you on his side and breaking my heart?”
My mouth parted. “Your… heart?”
“Yes, Lia. This little thing, right here.” He took my wrist and pressed my palm to his chest. I could feel the beats, and somehow, the rhythm relaxed me better than any melody could. His fingers brushed against my skin, just barely. Tingles erupted through my hand, travelling up my arm and then vanishing.
“I won’t let him break you, Blake,” I said softly. “He can’t use me
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to hurt you. I promise.”
Blake smiled. “Unfortunately, that’s not entirely upto you.’
My eyebi
furrowed.
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“What do you–”
“Forget it,” he said, shaking his head. He stared at me for a short moment, unblinking, a tinge of sadness seeping into his gaze. His eyes flickered down to my lips, and then, very reluctantly, he moved away from me. “I should go. You take care, alright? Of yourself, and of your heart.”
I felt the urge to call him back. To grab his hand and pull him close again.
I didn’t want him to leave. He made it easier to breathe.
“Good bye, Lia.”
He stepped further back, giving me space to move away from the
door.
“Blake,” I said suddenly. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t go,” I whispered. “Stay here? Let’s… uh, let’s study together? For a bit?”
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Blake smiled, his eyes lighting up. “You want me to stay?”
“Yes. I get bored at home anyway. Stay.”
“Alright, if that’s what you want, I’d love to.”
I grinned at him, my heart warming in my chest.
This was what I needed. This was good. Healthy. Safe.
Nothing Zane could provide me with.
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B
