Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Rylie's POV

Blake and I walked into the living room still arguing about the competition when I suddenly noticed something — or rather someone — seated in the living room.

"Sky?" I exclaimed.

He looked up at me with a smile, a smile that disappeared as soon as his eyes met with Blake's.

I have a bad feeling about this.

As Blake and Sky stared at each other, their eyes saying all I needed to know, I knew that I had to do something to ease the tension in the room.

"So Sky, what brings you here?" I asked, taking a seat on the armchair in the room.

"I just came to see Myles," Sky responded, giving me a smile.

I could see Blake scowl at Sky as he grudgingly took his seat beside him on the sofa.

"Yeah, that's right. Blake, did I ever tell you that Sky and Myles are friends?" I related to Blake.

"No, you never mentioned," Blake mumbled, his eyes still fixed on Sky. "Are you sure that's why you're here though, Sky? Just to see Myles? No other reason?"

"Why? Should there be a reason for me to visit a friend?" Sky answered, arching his eyebrows.

"I suppose not. If there's no other reason for your visit that is," Blake remarked meaningfully.

"Of course not. Besides Myles is not the only friend I'm here to see," Sky threw a glance my way.

I could see Blake glance at me before giving Sky such a mean glare you would think Sky had killed his pet. Blake's glare was so intense that Sky began slowly shifting from him.

"Okay. You're coming with me, mister," I grabbed Blake's hand and pulled him up from the chair.

"Why?" Blake asked.

"Because I need some help getting the snacks," I answered, my teeth clenched together. "Come along."

Once we were in the kitchen and I was sure Sky wasn't close by, I turned to Blake and exclaimed, "What's the big idea, Blake?"

"What do you mean?" Blake shrugged.

"What do you mean by that? Why are you making Sky feel so uncomfortable?"

"Oh am I now?"

"Yes! Yes you are," I said exasperatedly.

"Well what else am I supposed to do when he's obviously flirting with you?"

I palmed myself and groaned at his words. Not this again!

"I thought we were over this. Sky and I are just friends and he was not trying to flirt with me!" I yelled at him.

"Don't be so naive, Rylie. That he likes you is overly obvious and even though you might not see it, he flirts with you any chance he gets just like right now!"

"For the last time, Blake, he wasn't trying to flirt with me," I reiterated. "Okay look, maybe you're right, maybe Sky does like me. Nothing could happen between us. He already asked me out before and I said no so it's not like…"

Blake cut in all of a sudden.

"Wait! What did you just say now? Because if I heard you right, you said that Sky asked you out?"

"Yes he did but just as friends."

"What do you mean just as friends? Friends don't ask friends out!"

"He didn't exactly ask me out. He wanted to hang out but I turned him down so stop overreacting," I rolled my eyes.

"Overreacting? I think I'm reacting just fine thank you very much. You keep claiming he doesn't like you but he literally asked you out."

"As friends and I turned him down. You're making such a big deal out of nothing. Look Blake, I don't understand what's up with you and Sky but I'd appreciate it if you quit making him uncomfortable. We can talk later about your attitude," I made to walk away from him but Blake was quick to grab my wrist.

I sighed and refused to look back at him as he spoke "Okay Rylie, you're right and I'm sorry. I am overreacting and I apologise. I'll try to be a little more nicer to Sky, for your sake."

"You will?" I asked, glancing at him over my shoulder.

"I promise."

I put my finger on my chin as though I was considering it. I stayed like that before finally sighing.

"Oh alright. Remember to be on your best behavior."

"I will."

"Great. Now help me get a bag of chips from the fridge, will you?"

"Sure," he answered.

Minutes later, we headed back to the living room, a bowl of chips and three glasses of strawberry milk on a tray.

"You two sure spent a lot of time in there," Sky muttered as he sighted us.

"We're boyfriend and girlfriend. What'd you expect?" Blake snarkily replied.

I shot him a look as soon he spoke and he was quick to amend.

"I mean, apologies for taking your time, friend!" Blake choked out.

"Ohkay…" Sky said, giving Blake a weird look.

Blake, on the other hand, said nothing else and just as I was about to sit back down on the armchair, I felt him grab my wrist as if to say "Not there."

Instead, he pulled me towards the love seat in the room and forced me to sit beside him.

Sky didn't seem to have noticed.

"What was that about?" I whispered, leaning in.

"Nothing. I just wanted you to sit with me. Nothing wrong about that right?" he gave me a small smile before looking away.

"So Sky," Blake started, "how did you and Myles meet?"

"Football camp. Last summer."

"Nice. So you play?"

"Of course. Very well, if I might add," Sky winked at me.

I looked at Blake through the corner of my eye to see if he saw that but if he had, he didn't show any indication.

"You sure about that? Meadow Brook's football team has been pretty good since their new captain arrived," Blake smugly remarked.

"New captain? Lemme guess, it's you."

"Right."

"Well I did hear about the game you had with McHartley High and how a certain player turned the match around for Meadow Brook. Lemme guess, that was also you."

"Right again," Blake affirmed, the smug grin still on his face.

He was obviously up to something. If only I knew what it was

"You did good, man. I'll admit but J. Heights High would wipe the floor with your guys. No offense, Rylie," he quickly apologized.

"No problem," I mumbled.

"So is it a challenge then?" Blake went on, smiling smugly.

"If you want it to be."

"Okay then. Our team versus your team. Two weeks from now. Our school. Deal or no deal?" Blake stretched his hand forward for a handshake.

I tried to send Sky a signal not to accept Blake's handshake but he, just like Blake ignored me.

"Deal!" Sky affirmed, gripping his hand.

"Great! Just great!" Blake smirked.

I fought the urge to palm myself at that instant. When Sky eventually left with Myles, I turned to Blake and narrowed my eyes at him.

"What? What's with the look?"

"Oh save it, Blake! I asked you to be nice and what do you do? You instigate a competition between two schools because of what exactly? It's not like you're… Wait a sec, Blake, are you jealous?" I questioned.

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous?"

"Well it would make sense because you've never seemed to like Sky no matter how much I keep telling you that we're just friends. So it would make sense that you're jealous," I concluded.

"Don't kid yourself, Rylie. I am not jealous. I just thought it would be fun for our two schools to have a game. Nothing wrong with that right?"

I sighed. "I suppose not. Only time will tell I guess."

"Mmhmm," Blake mumbled, stuffing chips in his mouth.

Only time will tell… I thought to myself, staring keenly at him.