Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Rylie's POV

The kiss Blake and I shared was perhaps one of the best things that ever happened to me and I wished I could have told Blake that. But I didn't. Why?

Because I was scared. I already had a good thing going with Blake. Why ruin it by actually starting a relationship? Afterall Asher and I started out best friends before we started dating and look where that got me. I just couldn't risk it again, especially with Blake.

Did this mean I had feelings for him? I couldn't say. What I did know was that when I was around him, everything seemed right. It was like nothing could go wrong when I was with him.

And now after the kiss, I couldn't seem to stop my heart from thundering whenever he was around. Getting close to him aroused me now more than ever.

Every single detail about him made me want to recant everything I said about us forgetting the kiss happened and asking him to kiss me senseless.

I also couldn't keep from getting insanely jealous whenever any girl got way too close to him. Of course, I knew Blake would never do anything with them but I couldn't seem to help myself, which explained why I've been snapping at Mason's girlfriend, Jessie very often. Something about her was off and as it was, Mason was the only reason I was still speaking to her.

Anyway, things pretty much went back to normal after Blake and I kissed. It was the events that unfolded two weeks later that began to change everything.

After spending the day before with Blake, his family, my family and Grandma Nellie at a picnic, I arrived at school Monday morning to find Olivia sulking by her locker which was a few lockers away from mine.

Sneaking up behind her, I yelled out a "Boo!" in her ear, startling her.

"Christ, Rylie! You scared the fuck outta me!" she scolded, giving me a cross look.

"Yeah, pretty sure saying Christ and the word ‘fuck’ in the same sentence is a sin!" I joked with a straight face. When she didn't laugh or roll her eyes, I frowned. "What's with the straight face on a Monday morning? Is it *that time of the month*?" I whispered, leaning in.

She shook her head sideways to indicate no. "So what is it?"

"N-nothing!" she stuttered, looking down at the floor.

"Olivia, it's not nothing. What's up? You can tell me," I used a finger to lift her chin up.

She kept silent, wringing her fingers together. I could tell that whatever it was, it was really serious. I only wondered what it was. Just when I thought she wasn't going to talk, she blurted out, "I kissed Mason!"

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as I stared at her in pure shock. Do my ears deceive me or did I just hear Olivia, my best friend slash my brother's girlfriend say that she kissed Mason, my other best friend? Holy effing cow!

Struggling to regain my composure, I asked, "What exactly happened?"

"So yesterday, I kinda went to his house. We started watching a movie and got to talking about Jessie and Myles. I said something about Jessie and he got angry and we started arguing and then I kissed him!" she nervously revealed.

"Well did he kiss you back?"

"Not at first. At first, he pushed me away and yelled at me for kissing him when we both had somebody else but after venting, he came back and kissed me and we might have made out a bit on his bed and now I don't know what to do!" Olivia cried, burying her face in her hands.

As I stared at her, I wanted to yell. I honestly couldn't give two fucks about Jessie but my brother clearly loved Olivia and it seems so did Mason. I wanted to yell at her for doing something that would clearly hurt my brother and my friendship with Mason but I couldn't bring myself to. Because standing in front of me was a girl who was honestly confused about what to do about the guys in her life.

"Hey Olivia. Please stop crying!" I rubbed her back.

"Really? You're not mad?" she sniffled, looking up at me.

"Of course I am. I'm furious… but you're my  best friend and I'm going to help you get through this, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" she pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

"C-cho-king!" I croaked out, struggling to break free.

"Oh, sorry!" Olivia giggled, pulling away.

"Okay. So tell me. Who are you in love with: Myles or Mason?"

"I honestly don't know. Would you think I was crazy if I said both?" she offered.

"Okay. How about this? Tell me what you love about Myles?"

"Okay. I love that he's smart, funny, handsome, caring and I guess he kisses well?"

"Okay. Is that all?"

She nodded.

"Great. Now tell what do you love about Mason?"

This time, she smiled and as she spoke, her eyes had a certain twinkle to them. "Well, I can't say exactly. He pretty much has all the qualities as Mason but it's just different with him. When I'm with him, it's like nothing else could go wrong. I feel safe around him. When I'm with him, I'm free to be anything I want to be with him and he wouldn't judge. You know?" Yes, Olivia. I do know the feeling. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm alright," I smiled at her, coming back to reality. "And I've reached a verdict. As much as it saddens me to say it, I think you have to break up with Myles."

"Really?"

I nodded. "You might think you love him but judging from everything you told me, I think you'll be seriously better off with Mason."

"I know. I just wish it hadn't taken seeing him with a bitch like Jessie to make me realize my feelings for him. You must think I'm a jealous bitch, right?"

"Girl, you've always been a bitch! Just didn't realize you could be jealous as well," I winked at her while she playfully swatted at me.

"Thanks Rylie, for everything. You're the best!" Olivia hugged me tight again. "So do I break up with Myles first or…?"

"Well first tell him about the kiss and gently explain to him why you guys can't be together. Then you can confess your feelings to Mason."

"Great. Sounds like a foolproof plan. I'll get on it. Thanks again, Ry."

I watched her walk away and leaned against my locker with a sigh. I can only hope this goes well.

"Hey girlie!" A deep baritone voice resonated behind me, causing an involuntary shiver to run down my back. Taking a deep breath to compose myself, I turned to lock eyes with none other than the guy who seemed to always be on my mind.

"Hey you. What's up?"

"All good, all good. I trust your morning's going well?" he winked. Now that you're here, I thought. "Mmm, could be better!" I chose to say instead.

"Really? Care to talk about it?"

"Yeah sure," I smiled warmly. He smiled back and put his arm around my shoulder as we walked to my locker.

***

The day went by slowly and soon Blake and I were pulling up outside our houses. Stepping out of the car, I thought of the fact that I hadn't run into Olivia, Mason or even Myles all day. Myles and I would definitely have to talk if Olivia already told him about her and Mason.

"So what do you want to do now?" Blake was saying, holding out my backpack to me.

"Uh, I don't know. Do my assignment, read, you know, for finals and all," I shrugged, taking my backpack for him.

"Sounds boring. Let's do something fun!" Blake chirped.

"Something fun? What did you have in mind?"

"I dunno. I was thinking maybe some karaoke? You know, to get some practice in before the talent show?"

"Yeah, I don't know..." I trailed off.

"Come on! Don't tell me, your stage fright is back!" Blake groaned in a whiny voice.

"No, it's not that. It's just... I guess the thing with Olivia and Mason still has me worried," I breathed.

"Well, I see no reason why you should be worried. I'm sure things will work out, just like they always do. You have nothing to worry about," he squeezed my shoulder. I put my hand on the hand he had on my shoulder and squeezed lightly as well. "Thanks. And I guess I could take a break from studying, just for today."

"Yay!" Blake exclaimed, raising his hands in a celebratory motion. I popped home to say hi to my mom and drop my backpack before heading over to Blake's.

Grandma Nellie was seated in the living room with Ava and after visiting with her for a while, I went up to Blake's room. Stepping in brought to mind a few of the more memorable moments I'd spent here with Blake like when I walked in on him naked and when he purposefully tried to tease me by not wearing a shirt or when he encouraged me to sing regardless of my fears...

Yeah, we'd definitely moved past the whole pranks and name-calling phase we went through at the beginning.

"Earth to Rylie!" Blake snapped his fingers in my face, bringing me out of my reverie.

"Oh, sorry about that. So why am I here again?"

"Well you're here for this. Tada!" he sang, spreading his hands wide. I looked around him and apart from a large machine in the room, everything looked the same.

"I don't get it."

"Well, I got my parents' old karaoke machine and while you sing, I'll be recording you."

"Okay. Why?" I questioned, still not getting it.

"To post online, silly!" he booped my nose.

"Oh heck no!" I shook my head and made to retreat but Blake was quick to grab me from behind by my waist and drop me on his bed. I glared at him, my lips in a pout. "I'm not doing it Blake!"

"Well why not?" he threw his hands up.

"Because- because..." I trailed off, not quite sure of what to say.

"You see, nothing! You have no excuses."

"Well what if people don't like it?"

"Of course they'll like it. I thought we were past this, Rylie," Blake sighed deeply. "You're an amazing singer and people will like you. Remember the karaoke bar? It's just the same thing except people aren't even here."

"Yes but the whole world's gonna see it. I just can't!" I buried my face in a pillow.

"Okay then. I won't push you to do anything you don't want to. It's your choice," Blake whispered into my ear, his breath hot against my neck.

"Really?" I peered curiously at him, wondering what about the change.

"Really. If you don't want to do it, that's up to you. I won't push you anymore."

"Okay? You sure about that?"

"One hundred percent. You can drop out of the talent show too if you like," Blake added in the same ‘I don't care what you do’ voice.

"You don't really mean that, do you?"

"I do. Have fun being a loser!" he fell back on his bed, his hands under his head.

I rolled my eyes at the gesture and eventually gave in. "Okay fine. I'll budge. Set up the karaoke machine."

"Awesome!" Blake yelled, jumping up from bed.

He set up the karaoke machine and soon he was giving me the cue to sing. I wasn't exactly comfortable with the idea of being recorded but as soon as the words left my mouth, I forgot all about being recorded and just sang. All that existed was just Blake and I.

When the song came to an end, I fell to the bed breathless. Applause from the door caused me to look up. Right there in the doorway stood Grandma Nellie and Ava and they were clapping.

"You sang amazing, dearie," Grandma Nellie commented.

"I agree. Didn't realize you had it that big in you, future sister-in-law!" Ava winked.

"Ava, bye! Talk to you later, Grandma Nellie!" Blake pointed to them. Ava merely chuckled and left with Grandma.

Once they were gone, Blake closed the door behind and turned to me with an apology on his lips. "I am so sorry about Ava. She's annoying, I know."

"It's fine, Blake. No harm done."

"Still, I apologise. But she wasn't wrong though. You sounded amazing."

"Not everyone might share your opinion."

"If they don't, they're idiots because you sounded amazing!" he brushed a few strands of hair from my face and caressed my cheeks. I fought to keep from blushing.

"Anyway, time to post this bad boy on the Gram," he cleared his throat, pulling away from me and plonking on his bed. I sat by him and watched as he uploaded the video online.

Once he was done, he turned to me and said, "Now we just wait."

"Wait for what?"

"For you to go viral!" he nudged my neck with his nose. I chuckled and fell on the bed with him beside me. "Do you really think so?

"I know so, darling. Why? Because you are a star," he planted a kiss on my cheek. I glanced at him just as he tilted his head to the side and our eyes met and for a little while, all was right in the world.

I smiled and gazed at the ceiling, content to have Blake beside me.