21

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Paige.

"No!" I moved my cake batter away from Aicko.

"Aww just a little?" She pouted.

A laughed and dipped my spoon into the batter and gave it to Aicko.

Her eyes lit up when she tasted it. "Yum!" She tried to dip her spoon once again into the batter but I swatted it away.

"Hehe it's just so good."

I stirred the batter and placed it into the oven. "It's not yet done." I wiped the sweat on my forehead.

"Ooh I can't wait." Aicko clapped her hands excitedly.

Suddenly a knock came from our dorm door.

"I'll get it." Aicko stood up.

I went to the sink and started washing my dishes.

Today's Ram's birthday celebration, well typically it's him and Nile's so I made them a cake as requested by Ram.

"Hi!" Eloise entered our dorm door with Shari behind her. "How's the cake?"

"In the oven." I pointed.

Aicko sat on the high chair. "How did gift shopping go?"

"Well." Eloise turned to Shari who was holding a paper bag. She was looking at it nervously.Shari looked up to us. "I'm not sure if he'll like what I got him." She said nervously.

"Well what did you get him?" Aicko tried to peek at the paper bag.Shari pulled out a black box and handed it to Aicko.I leaned a little further to see it.My eyes widened when I saw a gold necklace with a shining gold pendant.

"Shari" Aicko exclaimed. "Why would you get him a necklace that grand?" She pointed to the necklace. "Are you guys getting married or something?"

"Doesn't it cost so much?" I turned to Shari.

"I got it from our jewelry company in Arabia." She said shyly. "I asked my parents to get me the best."

Aicko still eyed the necklace. "You did all that for Ram?"

Shari looked at it shyly. "I thought that it would look great on him."

"Fine if you say so." Eloise said.

Aicko nodded. "Just don't put in too much effort on someone who you're not sure of."

Shari nodded.

"I'll help you wrap it." Aicko came down from the high chair. Shari and Aicko left to Aicko's room to wrap her extremely expensive gift. Funny how so much effort a person can do for their feelings. Somehow I wonder if I'd be the same, when the time comes.

"What can I do to help?" Eloise stood in front of me and started tying an apron around her small delicate waste.

I eyed her. "You sure you can bake?"

She played with her lips. "I'd love to try."Eloise helped me in frosting the cake with buttercream and we both applied some custard in the fillings, before we knew it we were done.

I must say, Eloise may have found it a hard time to bake with me but I love how she wanted to give it a try  and how she kept her poise even when at the kitchen, I almost forgot that I'm baking with the Princess of France.

After we finished the cake and Aicko and Shari finished wrapping Ram's gift in a box, we all changed into our party clothes.

I planned on wearing a loose shirt and shorts but Aicko made me change into the pastel pink sleeveless dress that ended above my knees. To my surprise, Aicko bought matching pastel pink heels for my dress. Wow, my roommate does know how to shop. I frowned when I tried the heels on. They look good I'll give them that, but they're just too uncomfortable. Aicko insisted that the heels match my dress the best, well what she said was true so I have to give in.

Aicko even forced me to not tie my hair up in a bun, so I ended up letting my curly blonde hair down.

We got inside Aicko's car, I sat behind, beside Eloise while Shari sat on the shotgun seat. I checked the time. Shit! It's already 5:30 pm. The party starts at 5 o'clock. Hopefully were not too late.Since it's a Friday, we were dismissed around 3 in the afternoon, so I had to rush home and make a cake. Good thing I got to finish it and on the bright side the villa isn't that far from here.

Ram and Nile decided to have an advance birthday celebration this evening so that all of their friends would get to attend. Because their real birthday is tomorrow and it'll be held at Egypt with all the Royals and some of the Billionaires are invited. Well of course, people like me aren't.

"Oh I'm so nervous!" Shari exclaimed. I could see her shaking in her seat as sweat dripped down her face.

"Relax Shari." Aicko continued driving. "Ram's not a judgemental kind of person."

"Unlike his friends." Eloise added. "He'd accept anything you give him."

That made Shari relax as we approached the Villa. When we got there, I spotted many cars parked along the side of the road close to the Villa. Aicko parked her car and the four of us each carrying our presents for the twins walked in.

When the villa came into sight, I could see the disco lights inside and many students hanging out around the house, others were at the beach while others were typically everywhere.I laughed at how similar Elite house parties are to normal student house parties, the only difference is that these Elite people act more formal and of course, their food and facilities are high end.

We walked inside the door and inside the Villa, many of our level mates are in their party clothes walking around formally sipping on champagne I think? I spotted Buster walking around the house, looks like he's restraining himself from biting the visitors.

"Shari  c'mon!" Aicko pulled Shari to come inside the house.

"You came!" Ram's voice echoed through the house as he approached us.

"Happy Birthday!" Aicko hugged him and handed his present.

"Thanks." He smiled then looked to me. His eyes lit up when he saw my box.

"Here." I handed him the box. "Happy Birthday."

"Finally!" He took the box. "You won't mind if I won't share this to Blake do you?"

I laughed. "Don't mind at all."

"Ok!" Aicko took her present out of Ram's hands. "We'll just put our gifts on the gift table." She smiled and pulled me and Eloise towards the gift table leaving Ram and Shari facing each other.

Shari turned to us with wide eyes.

Aicko winked at her leaving her no choice.

I watched as Shari took a deep breathe and faced Ram. I smiled as she handed her gift and played with her fingers. I saw Ram open the box and how his eyes widen with what he saw. I mean really, it's normal for Royal families to give jewelry to other Royal families but for heavens sake, these guys are classmates without any relationship.

I read Ram's lips say thank you then Shari spoke. I couldn't identify what she said but Ram nodded and wore the gold necklace around his neck. Afterwards, he smiled and left.

The three of us waved at Shari as she walked towards us in slow motion.

"How do you feel?" I held her hand coz she was shaking.

"I'm so glad that he accepted it." She exhaled. Was she holding her breathe this whole time?

"Oh Shari." Aicko laughed.

"Good evening ma'am."

I turned to the maid behind us and smiled. "Yes?"

"Would you like anything?" She offered a tray of scones.

"Ooh thanks." I took one and followed Aicko deeper inside the Villa. Some boys were doing bowling and other games in the man cave, I spotted Bellona in a green satin dress walking in with Kile.

I rotated my face looking for something. I frowned when I realized what I was looking for.

Stop it Paige! I scolded myself. Why am I looking for him?!

Khrysie and her group of girls were taking pictures with Nile, the birthday girl. I watched as Eloise approached her. When Nile saw Eloise approaching, she left her spot and hugged her.

"I'm glad you came." I heard her say.

I left them to talk and went down to the man cave.

I spotted Aiden, with other boys playing billiards. I suddenly remembered how I left him the other day at the parking lot. Is he mad at me?

"Peggy!" He waived at me. I exhaled, Probably not.

I smiled and went to them. "You aren't mad at me?" I whispered in his ear.

He eyed me as if I was ridiculous. "Why would I be?"

I played with my fingers. "Coz I didn't get to ride with you yesterday."

"Seriously?" He laughed. "I can never be mad at you."

I laughed. And the next thing I knew, I was playing billiards too.

The boys oohed when I hit a ball into the hole."How'd you do that?" Dylan looked at me with his jaw dropped. I just smiled.I took the pole again about to angle myself when Aiden took it away from me. "You should eat now."

I frowned but nodded. He's right, I am quite hungry.

I followed Aiden out of the mancave and saw a long table filled with food in a buffet style. Maids were there serving them."Can you just get me my food?" I faced Aiden and gave him my puppy eyes.

He raised his eyebrow at me. "And where would you be?"

"I'll look for Aicko and the girls." I reasoned.

"Fine." He sighed and nodded. "What do you want?"

"You know what food I like." I laughed and walked away looking for Aicko and the girls. I found them on a couch set laughing.I called them and we gathered on one of the tables and they each got their food. Aiden came to our table and placed my plate in front of me and sat beside us.

As I ate my eyes roamed around to see the other guests, others were on a table like us eating. My eyes went to the staircase where Bellona came walking down looking as elegant as ever. My eyes widened as I saw Kile and Blake walk down together behind her. Guess they're not fighting anymore, I haven't seen them together for weeks.

I almost chocked on my water when Blake locked his eyes on me as he descended from the staircase behind Bellona and Kile. I frowned and looked back at my plate. What the hell?!

When I finished my food, a maid came and took our plates. I stood up to get a drink when my eyes landed on Blake again, he was wearing a white v-neck tshirt and a black leather jacket, wait why did I notice that? I watched him as he talked with some of the boys. Wait am I checking him out?! I shook my head and walked to the drinks section.

I spotted Ram walking my way. I was about to wave but I didn't when I noticed that he was holding a girls hand and pulling her out the door with him. I didn't recognize the girl but it's non of my business.

I turned around and immediatley stepped aside when Nile came walking hurriedly with a frown on her face, towards the door. Maybe after Ram.

I didn't mind them and just headed to the drinks station. Many maids served juice and other kinds of drinks. I asked for a watermelon shake and I sipped on it.

I suddenly felt a light tap on my shoulder. "Uh excuse me?"

I turned around and found Lucy, She looked shy as ever and she was dressed in a simple floral dress. I must admit, she might look pretty if she had more confidence in herself and if she held her chin up. I'm just saying.

"Yes?"

"Uh." She bit her lip. "Can you please give this to Ram and Nile." She handed me a paper bag.

I took it. "Uhm ok." I eyed the paper bag. Why can't she give it herself?

"Okay." She played with her fingers. "I'm going to go now." She said in a hushed town.

I nodded until I heard a familiar voice.

"Puppy!"

I felt his presence behind me. Ugh he's here. I turned around to face him.

"Yes Jerk?" I crossed my arms.

He was about to say something when his eyes went to Lucy who still stood beside me.I noticed how Lucy's pale cheeks instantly became red, probably because she's nervous or I'm just seeing things, it's hard to tell since her hair is covering most of her face.

"Good evening Mr. Blake." She bowed.

I frowned. Mr. Blake?! What is Blake? Her Boss? Or is Blake bullying her? Many assumptions went into my mind.

"Lou." Blake nodded.

"Please give Ram and Nile my best wishes." She said in a shy tone. "I-I'll be going now, goodbye Mr. Blake." She tilted her head once again to the ground and faced me. "Goodbye Paige."

I got surprised that she actually knows my name.Blake and I watched her as she walked to the door, when she left I faced Blake.

"Mr. Blake?" I arched my eyebrow.

"You want to call me that as well?" He eyed me.

"Heck No!" I frowned. "Why does she call you that?" I questioned."Are you bullying her? Do you make her your slave?! I frowned when he chuckled."What's so funny?" I crossed my arms.

"Her mother is my mother's secretary." He said plainly. "She got used to calling me that ever since we were young."

My eyes widened. "You guys knew each other ever since?"

"Yeah, she used to go work with her mom back then." He said as if the topic bores him.

So her Mom works for Blake's Mom, and they've know each other ever since their kids and she thinks that she works for Blake aswell. No wonder Khrysie keeps telling Lucy to give things to Blake.

I nodded and took a sip on my shake. "Are you guys close?"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Guess so." He got a drink from a maid and sipped on it.

We both stood there silently, leaning our backs to a counter while sipping on our drinks.

I closed my eyes irritatedly when I felt the pain on my feet. Damn these heels! I bent a little as I massaged my ankle to ease the pain.

"It's swelling." Blake said.

I looked up to him to see him looking at my feet.

"Why did you wear heels in the first place?"

I frowned. "To match my dress and the event obviously." I rolled my eyes and walked away from him. If he doesn't have anything to do to help then best if I find something that can.

"Hey wait!" I heard him call but I walked hurriedly away from him. He loves making me get in a bad mood.

I found my friends sitting on the couch talking with other students.I walked towards them when I realized that I was already limping because of the pain.

"What happened?" Eloise asked worriedly when I sat down beside her.

"Ugh!" I pointed to my feet. "These heels are killing me."

"Oh dear." Eloise looked at my feet. "You should take them off."

"Do you suppose I can walk bare feet here?" I asked hopefully.

Eloise raised an eyebrow at me. "This is a party."

"Oh." I laughed. I almost forgot that I'm hanging out with people who doesn't take being bare foot as an option.

"But you could wear flats." Eloise suggested.

I frowned. "Flats? How on earth am I going to find a pair of flats in here?"

"Easy." Eloise straightened her back. "I'm sure Bellona has a whole closet of shoes in her room upstairs." She pointed to the second floor.

"Bellona?" I gulped as a flashback of her intimidating, stormy gray eyes pierced mine. "You sure?"

Eloise nodded. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind, she barely uses her room in here anyway."

As much as I want to get flats, I don't want to barge into Bellona's room, she might have a scary guard in there or something.

"Besides, I go there all the time if I need an extra pair of shoes." Eloise continued. "And she wouldn't mind because her Mother sends her new sets every month."

"What's wrong?" Aicko suddenly joined our conversation, looks like she's finished talking to her other friends. Her eyes went to my swollen feet. "Ooh that doesn't look good."

"You think?" I eyed her, it's her fault for making me wear these, but I couldn't blame her, she only wants what's best for me.

"Hehe sorry Paige." She gave me a peace sign. "Just go to Bellona's room and borrow a pair of flats."

I frowned. Bellona's room again? "Can't I just go back to my dorm and-"

"c'mon I'll join you to her room." Aicko pulled me up.

"No No I don't want to." I complained as I stood up. I closed my eyes shut when I felt the pain on my ankle.

Aicko led me to the bottom stairs.

"Shouldn't we ask her first?" I turned to Aicko.

Aicko frowned at me and pulled out her phone. She typed and afterwards showed me her phone.

"See." She brought her phone screen close to my face. "Ram says to go to Bellona's room and borrow some flats, you can keep it too coz she wouldn't notice that it's gone."

I crossed my arms. "But why'd you ask Ram instead of Bellona?"

"Coz I don't have her number duh." Aicko said as if it's obvious. "And she's scares me if I ask her upfront."

I still didn't look convinced so Aicko typed on her phone again. After typing she brought the screen to my face again.

"Ram says that he's already texted Bellona." Aicko gave me her phone. "He even screenshot  their conversation."

I looked at the screenshot conversation that Ram sent to Aicko.

To: Madame

Hey Madame can one of the girls at the party borrow a pair of your shoes?

I read Ram's text to Bellona. I scrolled down the screen to see her reply but looks like she didn't. I suddenly frowned when I noticed something on the bottom of Ram's message.

Seen

I turned to Aicko. "She didn't even reply yet, how will we know if she allows it or not?"

"Oh Paige." Aicko laughed at me. "Ram says that when Bellona seens a message, that means yes."

I crossed my arms.

"Now stop stalling and get upstairs, her room is the first to the corner." Aicko pushed me up the stairs. "I'll wait for you down here."

I had no choice. I walked up the stairs while Aicko waited for me at the bottom of it. As I ascended, I get a clearer view of all the students in the party. I saw Kile squeezing through some of the students heading towards the door. I continued my walk to the second floor.

I got up and realized how quiet it is up here. The walls were white and had a more feminine touch to it, there are some lavenders in a jar by the side tables and a carved gold mirror by the side of the walls. If the boys gets the man cave, Bellona probably got to design the second floor.

I got to the corner but realized that there were two corners. What corner did Aicko mean? "Ahh!" I exclaimed when I felt my feet ache once more making me lean on the wall. I composed myself and chose the corner to the left leading to a longer corridor. I found the first door.

I took a deep breathe. Why do I feel like I'm a burglar or something? I shook the thought out of my head. I'm just borrowing right?

I mustered my courage and turned the door knob, good thing it wasn't locked. I stepped inside the room, I couldn't see the room that well since the lights were out. I stepped deeper inside the room and frowned. Is it just me or does this room not smell like a girl?

Wait Paige focus! I scolded myself. I might be smelling things because of the many food downstairs and the room probably doesn't smell like a girl because Bellona doesn't stay here that much.

I stopped talking to myself and searched for Bellona's walk in shoe closet. Since I didn't want to draw any attention, I kept the lights off and just tried to adjust my sight as I searched for the closet knob.

Yes! I relaxed when my hand found a knob. I opened it but my smiled immediatley faded when I was greeted by a familiar scent. "Shit." I whispered.

"Wrong room."

My eyes widened when I heard a voice from the door. Suddenly the lights turned on and I got a clear vision of the kind of room that I'm in and of the one standing at the door.

"I didn't mean to barge in!" I closed the closet door shut. "I thought this was Bellona's room I swear, I don't plan on doing anything." I explained hurriedly. My eyes widened when the person walked towards me and pressed his finger on my lips making me stop talking.

"You talk way too much." Blake said. He suddenly took my hand and made me sit on his king sized soft bed. I was about to speak again when he pressed his finger again to my lips and shushed me. I got surprised when he knelt on the floor and started taking the straps off my heels.

I felt as his hands brushed my skin, I expected it to be rough like his nature but it came out surprisingly gentle. When he took them off I crossed my hands. "Can I talk now?"

He stood up. "Do whatever you want." He then went inside his closet. I wonder what he'd be getting in there. I stayed on the bed with my arms crossed. I looked down at my feet, they're swelling. Blake came out of the closet and knelt down again before me.

I looked at his hand and found a pair of flats. He lay them on the floor and carefully inserted my feet into one of them. He eyed my swollen feet. "You shouldn't have walked away from me a while ago." He muttered.

"And why?" I raised my eyebrow. "You get me in a bad mood so it's best to avoid you."

He kept silent while inserting my other foot on the flat slipper.

"And." I continued. "If I stayed with you, it's not as if you could do anything to help me, all you do is make it worse."

He suddenly looked up to me locking his green eyes on mine. "I was going to make you sit and find you a pair of flats." He said silently and went back to strapping the slipper.

I kept silent, is that what he really planned on doing? I thought. Ugh! I hate my temper.

I continued watching him fixing my feet on the slippers. Wow to think that the guy putting flats on my feet right now was once the guy who used to stomp on them.

"Why do you have girls shoes?" I wondered. "Are you a girl's footwear collector or something?" I laughed.

"They're not mine." He rolled his eyes. "My sisters store some of their shoes in my closet when they visit."

"Oh." That explains it. My eyes roamed around his room. You could tell that a boy owns it because of the dark colors, of grey, white and black. His bed had a grey comforter and he had some side tables and a flat screen TV, he also had a mini black sofa and football jerseys hung around the walls. I even spotted a few picture frames with him and his friends aswell as with his family.

After he placed the flats on he took a seat beside me, while my eyes continued to explore his room, It feels good that I get to be in his room, the feeling that I've discovered a new side of him, he might have many rooms but this one is enough to show what kind of person he is.

I could see how he loves football by all the posters and pictures he has about the sport and of him playing it, I also see that although he's a reckless person, he definitely holds his family in his heart by looking at all the framed pictures he has with his family members.

I turned to him and found him starring at me. I got shocked but I didn't show it. "Uhm do you mind if I take a look at your pictures?" I pointed at his table full of pictures.

He raised an eyebrow at me then looked at it and it seemed like he was still deciding. "Fine." He said plainly. "Just make it quick."

I stood up and went to his  table of pictures, I felt him behind me. I looked at the picture frames. He totally is close with his family. I picked up a frame and laughed. "Wow." I showed him one of the frames. "You were such a fat baby." I laughed. "Who are you calling chubby now?"

He immediatley took the frame out of my hands and placed it back on the table. I looked at the other pictures, there was a pic where he was with his 3 sisters, Oh how I wish I had siblings of my own. Other pictures were with Kile and Ram, others had Bellona in them too. The four of them really go way back.

What caught my attention was a picture of him when he was probably 7 or 8, he was in a school uniform and he sat on a large swivel chair, probably his Dad's? He was playing something on his ipad and beside him is a weird looking girl with dark hair and thick bangs that covered her eyes, she stood beside him shyly looking away from the camera. Both of them weren't paying attention to the camera.

"Oh my God." I picked up the picture and brought it closer to my face to see it properly. "Is this Lucy?" I showed it to him.

He raised his eyebrow and looked at it. "Obviously."

"Oh." I said and looked at the picture, they must really be close, why is it that not much people know about their relationship? I placed the picture back and looked at the last frame.

It was Blake, this time maybe 4 years old, from the looks of it, he's in a park and he sat on an old man's lap. They were both eating ice cream and laughed about something. I looked at the Blake's eyes, he looked so happy to be with this man. "Who is this?" I pointed to the man.

Blake looked at whom I pointed to. "My Grandpa." He said and placed the frame back. "Lets go."

I followed him out the room and he closed the lights by his phone well that's modern technology. I followed him down the stairs and expected to see Aicko but she wasn't there, I guess she got bored, I wouldn't blame her, I did take quite long.

I started walking down the stairs when a thought suddenly came to me.

I turned to Blake who was surprisingly quiet behind me.

"What?" He raised his eyebrow when he saw me looking at him.

"Is it me or are you so behaved today?" I eyed him.

"Of course I am." He said plainly.

"Why?"

He looked at me. "Because it's Ram's birthday." He said and went down the stairs.

I honestly didn't get how did Ram's birthday connect to him being behave but I just let the thought pass. I got down and the guests doubled and the lights flashed around like crazy making my head spin. I walked towards the dessert table with Blake tailing behind me.

I got a cookie and munched it. I turned to Blake and found him starring at something. I followed his stare and realized that he was starring at the cake that I made for Ram, it was near the center of the table.

"You made him a cake." Blake said.

I turned to him. "Obviously."

"I thought you only make cakes for me."

I laughed. "So are you trying to be a baby right now?"

He didn't answer. I then left him there at the dessert table and walked going to the couch where my friends are seated. Eloise was the only one there, I've no idea where the other two are.

"Hey." I sat down beside her.

She looked at my feet. "Nice flats."

I left my heels in Blake's room to replace the flats that I've borrowed, it's not like I'll be wearing them any time soon. I relaxed on the couch. I saw Khrysie and Bellona tapping Nile's shoulder on the other corner of the house. Nile looked so troubled and tears were streaming down her face, while her friends handed her tissue and comforted her.

"What happened to Nile?" I asked Eloise.

Eloise sighed. "We're all supposed to sing Her and Ram the Happy Birthday song only Ram's nowhere to be found."

"Seriously?" I frowned. "He even escapes on his own birthday celebration? Now that's something." No wonder Nile's crying.

I suddenly felt the urge to leave the party and feel the fresh night breeze, there's just so many things going on. I faced Eloise. "I think I'm going to take a stroll."

She raised her eyebrow. "Where?"

"Just out there." I stood up. "Text me when Ram comes back, I'd like to be here when he blows the cake."

"You sure?" She eyed me.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I just need some air."

Eloise finally nodded and I started walking away from the living room. There's just too many things going on that I'd like some air. I started heading towards the door.

"Where are you going?" I heard a voice behind me as I held the door knob.

"I want to get some air." I faced him.

"I'll go with you."

I turned to Blake. "You sure you don't want to stay here?"

He shook his head. "Follow me." He headed out the door and I followed him. I was greeted by the cool Californian breeze. The wind felt cooler, probably because Christmas time is nearing. We both went to their garage.

"Shouldn't you be finding Ram?" I asked. "He's a runaway birthday boy."

"No need." Blake walked into the garage. "He's not a kid, he knows what he's doing."

I just nodded and followed him into the garage. I expected to see his car but apparently, it isn't here. Instead, his motorbike stood before me.

"I could just borrow one of Ram's cars." Blake said. He was about to walk back inside but I stopped him.

"Lets ride the bike."

He raised his eyebrow at me. "You sure?"

I smiled and nodded. "I'm sure." I don't know what I'm doing, all I know is that, I want to try something new, and this time I'm not afraid, but I don't know why.

I went closer to the bike and Blake still kept looking at me, trying to asses if I was serious or not.

I tapped his bike's seat. "C'mon."

He shook his head and came closer. I thought he was gonna start the engine but he suddenly took off his black leather jacket and wore it around my shoulders.

"It's a cold night." He said before getting on

I got on behind him and he placed a helmet over my head.

[Hi Blake's Puppy, long time no see!] Screech, his helmet's AI( Artificial intelligence) greeted me.

"Hi Screech." It's been quite a while since I've heard him.

Since I'm wearing a dress, I had to keep my legs together, Blake placed his helmet on and started the engine. "Hold on." He said.

I circled my arms on his waist. Since he gave me his leather jacket, he was left with a plain white V-neck t-shirt.   We drove out of the villa gates. I felt the cool November breeze. Good thing I'm wearing a jacket.

Now I understood why Blake preferred riding his motorbike. Cars may look elegant and is definitely safer, but riding here gives me the feeling of, well, freedom. As the wind blew against my skin. Trees and grass surrounded the rode, we were quite far from the busy square. The night was Free.

I frowned when I suddenly felt drips of rain. I turned to the sky and realized that raindrops were falling.

"Hey." I tapped his shoulder. He tilted his head a bit towards me. "Lets stop there." I pointed to a tree. Without saying a word, he parked his bike near the tree and stopped the engine. He took out his helmet and did the same to mine.

I got down the bike and walked towards the tree, he followed me.

"We should've taken the car." He said looking up at the sky watching the rain pour harder as the second pass.

"It's alright." I sat down on the bench the positioned beneath the tree. "We won't get wet when were under the tree." He sat down beside me and leaned his back on the tree.

"You might get sick."

I laughed at what he said. "I'm the one wearing a jacket here, it's you I'm worried about."

"Wow the Puppy's worried about me."

"Jerk." I said back to him. Did he come along just to piss me off? I rolled my eyes and faced the rain.

"You really think I'm a jerk?"

I arched a brow at the change of Blake's tone, he sounded sad with a questioning tone.

"Well." I lay my hands on my lap. "That was my first impression of you." I said honestly.

"Until now?"

"Uhm... it's confusing."

He crossed his arms. "I'm listening."

"Well." I played with the edges of my dress. "My first impression of you was a Jerk, and it turned out to be true."

He laughed.

I didn't know what my mouth was saying but I let my words flow out without filter. "Your arrogant, mean, a bully, a bastard, and every bad thing I can think of." I crossed my arms while remembering all the things he's done to me.

His eyebrows furrowed. "Hey, it's not like I killed someone." He defended himself.

"You almost killed me!" I pointed to my head.

His eyes went to my head then he looked down to the grass. "I didn't mean to." He looked down.

I raised my eyebrow while looking at him. He had the expression of guilt on his face. Wait I must be wrong, this guy never gets guilty, but I'm sure that he looks sad.

"Anyways." I continued. "As the days go by, you're not as bad as I thought."

He turned to me.

"But you're still a Jerk, don't forget that." I eyed him and he chuckled.

"I also see what a great brother you are to your sister." I sighed. "To be honest, you have a great family, and I see how much you value them." It was true, he maybe a Jerk but he definitely has a heart.

Silence filled us in after that.

"What about you?"

I turned to Blake when he spoke. "What about me?"

"What about your family?"

I blinked twice, is he really asking me about my family? "Uhm..." I don't know where to start.

"I just have my Mom." I smiled at the mention of my Mom, how I miss her. "It's just the two of us, I don't have any siblings like you." It may sound lonely, but I'm happy that atleast I've got Mom, she's enough for me.

He looked at me with a tentative look. "How about your Dad?"

I winced at the mention of him.

"Sorry." Blake immediatley took it back. "I guess you don't want to talk about him."

I took a deep breathe. "It's ok." I faced him.

"My Dad left me and my Mom when I was two." I told him the truth. I searched his face for any judgement but there wasn't any. He just listened to me.

"Of course it tore my Mom but she still picked herself up and raised me." I suddenly felt my eyes water. To think of how strong my Mom is. "I don't have a clear memory of my Dad, I didn't even understand anything at that time, but." I looked at Blake who was looking at me intently. " My Mom still remained cheerful, we'd laugh, we'd bake and we'd act normal as if nothing happened, but." I took a deep breathe.

"I used to catch my Mom crying in the middle of the night after putting me to sleep." I have no idea why I'm telling him all of this, but I continued. "And as a kid, watching my Mom cry because of the man who left us. It crushed me."

I faced Blake, he seemed eager to listen so I continued.

"To think that she'd wake me up each morning with a big bright smile, and fetch me in the afternoon from school still with that smile, but cry herself to sleep at night so that I wouldn't have to see hurt me." I felt my tears stream down my face. "That's why I promised myself to be there for Mom, and make her happy."

I sat up straight. " Dad might've left her, but she still got me, and." I wiped my tears. " I promised myself that I'll make her proud."

"That's why you came here." Blake said. "To make her proud."

I nodded then turned to Blake who was looking at me. "Hey." I wiped my face. "I didn't tell you all that for you to pity  me."

"No." He shook his head. "You just made me look at you in an entirely different way."

I rolled my eyes and wiped the last tears left on my face. "I never thought that I'd actually be telling these things to anyone but." I gave him a small smile. "You're a good listener."

Silence filled us in.

"You know." Blake said breaking the silence. "I never imagined myself saying this but." He faced me.

"I'm sorry." The sincerity was clear in his eyes. "For everything."

I blinked twice. Is he really saying those words? I never thought that he'd actually say it.

"It's the first time I ever heard you say it." I said silently.

"It's the first time I ever said it."

I faced him and looked straight into his green eyes.

"I'm glad you said it." I gave him a soft smile.

"I don't expect you to forgive me bu-"

"I forgive you." I stopped him.

His eyes were filled with shock.

"But don't get me wrong, you're still one heck of a Jerk but." I sighed. "We're all human, and we all mess up with our lives."

I leaned my back on the tree trunk and looked at the pouring rain. "But our greatest comeback is change." I smiled at him. "And that's what I see in you. That's why I forgive you."

He went silent but kept his eyes on me.

"But don't feel too happy." I crossed my arms. "I don't know if you know this but the forgiver is the winner." I said proudly making him chuckle.

We then fell silent. I can't believe that he just said Sorry, and that I actually forgave him. I'm not the kind of person who easily forgives, I love holding grudges against others but I realize that maybe it's just not him that's changing, maybe I am too.

I turned to the rain as it splashed on the road. I slowly reached out my hand to the part where the tree's leaves doesn't cover to feel the rain. I smiled as the raindrops fell on my palm. It's nothing special, but I just like the feeling. I slowly turned to Blake and got surprised to find him doing the same thing.

"Wow." I laughed. "You like the rain?"

He twisted his hand to let the other side feel the rain as well. "It's calming."

I smiled at how we felt the same about the rain.

"It reminds me of peace." I sighed. "How bout you?" I turned to him. "What does the rain remind you of?" It's an odd question, but again this is an odd night.

I didn't expect him to answer but he seemed like he was thinking.

"The rain." He kept his eyes on the pouring rain.

"Reminds me of you, because it's falling hard." He turned to me.

"And I am too."

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Yey! I just reached 1K reads! Thankyou everyone!

And because of that, Ima update tomorrow yieeee!

Sending love!

Xoxo

~Z