Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Rylie's POV

"Avoiding that trap and another annnndddd… Whoo hoo!!! I won!" I waved my hands victoriously, tossing the controls aside.

"Dang it! How do you keep doing that?" Blake groaned in frustration, slouching back against the chair.

"What can I say? I'm a natural born winner," I winked at him while still flashing a victorious smile.

"Oh whatever. Let's go again and this time, I get to choose the place we play."

"Okay that's fair. So which place do you want us to play next?" I asked, grabbing the controls as I settled next to him.

"I say we pick… this place, Dino Jungle!" Blake smirked at me as he selected the location he mentioned.

"Oh come on! You know I don't like Dino Jungle!" I whined as we waited for the game to conclude loading.

"I know. That's exactly why I picked it."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever! Let's just play," I mumbled under my breath as the game started.

School had to come to an end a few hours ago and as was my custom for the past few weeks, I was currently at Blake's home where we were playing Beach Buggy Racing 2 on his PlayStation 5 and as expected, I was winning. This was one of my favorite games ever.

"Whoo! Rylie for the win again!" I squealed excitedly when my car crossed the finish line, ahead of Blake's as usual. I jumped off the chair and did my best victory dance while he pouted at me with his arms folded across his chest.

"This game isn't fair. You've already played it before," he grumbled under hi breath.

"Aww Blakey, why do you gotta be such a sour loser?" I asked with fake empathy.

"Am not," he argued.

"The expression on your face says otherwise," I remarked in a singsong voice.

"Oh whatever! This whole thing was stupid anyway," Blake huffed, tossing his controls aside.

"Aww! Is my wittle boyfriend sad?" I asked in a babyish voice as I plonked beside him. "Don't worry. I know what will make you feel better. Milkshakes! My treat."

Blake turned to look at me with pursed lips as though he was contemplating whether or not to accept my offer. Eventually, he sighed and softly agreed to come.

"Yay! Let's go!" I giggled excitedly, pulling him to his feet.

"Ugh! I'm coming already," Blake rolled his eyes as he pulled on a jacket while trailing behind me.

I whirled around to face him. "Best watch your tune, boyfriend. This is my treat afterall, being a winner and all," I remarked, brushing my hair away from the nape of my neck haughtily.

Blake rolled his eyes again and groaned, "Worst girlfriend ever!!"

"Love you too, boyfie," I booped him on his nose before skipping over to the door.

***

"So will you come?" Blake pouted, his hands clasped together.

"I don't get why I have to come watch you practice for a game that is basically pointless."

"It's not pointless!" Blake argued.

"Really? It's literally about me!!"

"It's not about you, Rylie," he breathed as though I was being dramatic.

"Oh, isn't it now? Then what pray tell is it about?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

"It's just a friendly competition between two neighbouring schools. Nothing more," he concluded.

"Oh really? That's what you're going with now? Is that what you told Coach to make him agree?"I raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. Maybe," Blake muttered, looking away.

"Ugh Blake! Okay, fine fine. I'll be at practice. Are we good now?"

"We're just great. Thanks again," he pressed his lips to my cheek and skipped away before I could say anything else.

As I watched him walk away, it amazed me just how much things could change in a short amount of time. At the beginning of the term, if you'd told me that Blake Weston and I would actually become friends, I would have barfed in your face. Then again, someone had.

Olivia had predicted that by the end of the school year, Blake and I would be together. Technically, we weren't together but we'd at least managed to move past our differences and honestly, I couldn't have asked for a much better friend…or frenemy, in our case.

I still wasn't exactly sure where my feelings lie when it came to Blake and with Sky in the picture, it was hard to be sure but they were times when I was almost convinced that I liked Blake, like I like-liked him, when being around him caused a flutter in my stomach like just now when he pecked me.

As simple an action as it was, the feelings it awoke in me were anything but simple.

I wasn't sure if I could still trust myself when it came to matters of the heart because of what happened with Asher so it was safe to say that Blake and I would always just be frenemies.

The sudden ringing of the bell to signify the close of day jolted me out of my thoughts and back to reality.

I let out a tired groan and contemplated going home but I couldn't bring myself to disappoint Blake even if I tried.

Oh well! Might as well get to it… I thought to myself, slinging my backpack over one shoulder and making my way to the football field.

On the football field, I took a seat on the bleachers and eye searched for Blake on the field. My eyes eventually found him just as his eyes met mine. The corner of his lips tilted into a tiny smile and I felt a blush make its way to my cheeks.

His eyes held my gaze for about a minute and just when I thought I would faint from lack of breathing, Olivia appeared just in time and saved me.

"Hey girlie!" I heard her say as she sat beside me.

"Oh hi Olivia!" I stuttered as I looked at her, hoping she couldn't see my blush. "Whatcha doing here?"

"Here to cheer for my boo boo bear, if course. I mean, huh…" she trailed off awkwardly.

I fought to keep from snickering and smiled instead, "Olivia, you don't have to be nervous about dating my brother in front of me. Maybe just keep from calling him boo boo bear in front of me again?"

"Of course, of course."

I turned my focus back to the field where Blake was drilling the team. He looked exceptionally hot when in charge.

"You're right. He does," I heard Olivia comment in agreement with me.

I froze. Did I just say that out loud? Oh my! Thank goodness that Blake wasn't around to hear that. I would never have been able to live that down.

Olivia, on the other hand, thought nothing of it and resumed watching the players train. After continuous drilling, Blake decided that was all for today.

"Wow! You looked so good out there, Myles!" Olivia praised, pulling Myles into a hug as he and Blake approached us on the bleachers.

"What about you, Rylie? What did you think of me?" Blake directed at me, still smirking.

"Meh! I've seen better," I waved him off, grinning to myself as I watched his face fall.

"Oh come on Rylie, don't be modest. I clearly remember you saying that Blake looked so hot when he was in charge," Olivia revealed.

I felt as though the ground should open up and swallow me as I watched Blake grin at me.

"Oh! Did she?" he smirked at horrified me.

"I didn't… But I… But you… Olivia!!!" I yelled, shooting her a dirty look.

She said nothing and stuck her tongue out at me as she and Myles walked away.

"So back to us…" Blake snickered with just the slightest bit of mockery in his tone. "You really think I'm hot when I'm in charge, don't you?"

"Uhhh, I…" I trailed off. Unsure of what to say and not ready to answer his question, I turned and I ran.

I had just barely gotten away from him when his hands suddenly encircled my waist and grabbed me towards him. Involuntarily, I let out a shriek as I struggled to break free, my legs suspended from the floor.

"Let go of me, Blake," I trashed against him while a giggle escaped from my lips.

"Why should I? I'm having too much fun and so are you," he mumbled into my neck as he nuzzled it with his nose. Then he began to tickle my sides. He had one hand still clamped around my waist so I couldn't escape while his free hand tickled me.

"Blake, stop!!!!!!" I cried while fits of laughter escaped my lips, tears threatening to come out of my eyes. I struggled and struggled until we both fell on the ground. Even then, he didn't quit tickling me until my voice was hoarse from laughing. I'd even shed a few tears.

When he'd eventually had enough, he rolled off me and laid beside me on the grass.

"You crazy crazy being!" I breathed, still trying to catch my breath.

"Would you like me to continue?"

I snapped my head to the side and gave him a “That's not even funny” scowl. He snickered and looked away.

"So is it true what you said? Do you really think I'm think I'm hot?"

I groaned. "I can't believe you're still thinking about that."

"Well, of course I am. It's not every day a hot girl calls me hot," he winked. Without giving me time to reply, he stood from the floor and stretched his hand towards me. I accepted it and he pulled me up. "Are you ready to go now?"

"No. Not yet. I need to use the bathroom first."

"Lemme guess, the tickling-" he started but I stopped him before he could go any further and just nodded instead. He chuckled and grabbed my backpack for me. "I'll see you in the car then."

I made my way to the bathroom and did my business in one of the stalls. When I stepped out to wash my hand after flushing, I saw something that stopped me right in my tracks.

There, on the bathroom mirror, written in block letters with something I took to be red lipstick were the words, "STAY AWAY FROM BLAKE WESTON! HE'S MINE!!!"