Chapter 12: 11- Are You Asking Me On A Date Bethany?

11

The thing about having your privacy when your crush lands on your boobs while playing Twister is that one: kids didn’t see that hence nothing happened, two: no one saw it either so not a single soul can pester you about it, three: you two can blush all you want and have this awkward five minutes full of nothing but silence as you try to recover from that almost near or maybe in between there sexual contact that just happened, and four: no one is there to harass you about it for probably the rest of your life and never let you hear the end of it (insert Dani and Marcus here).

So we were back in the kitchen now, the mat and the board of the Twister still on the floor, and has not been bothered to be touched since the little chest action. I had blushed real bad and due to my unlucky habit of freezing when in shock, I didn’t move a single inch when he fell on me. I didn’t even try to breath at that moment. I was stuck in the frame.

Blake on the other hand pushed himself off me when he realized where his face landed on which took about five to ten seconds. He apologized for falling, for falling one me, and for falling on me there. He broke in pink but I was already in the shade of a very ripe red tomato.

With a glass of cold water in our hands, I took a large gulp; the chilled liquid through my throat, cooling it.

“So, what are you and Allie planning to do this summer?” I asked, breaking the ice in between us, spinning the water inside the glass with the motion of my wrist.

He took a sip from his own glass. “Well Allie always stays a week with my parents then another week with Stephanie’s. It’s kind of a tradition since she was born. As for me, I have around a month’s worth of vacation leave from the company for the entire year so I usually use them during the summer. What about you and Liam? He’s still with you for two weeks, right?”

“Mhm. Unless my sister decides to travel to another place, I only have Liam with me for two weeks.” I nodded, answering his latter question. “As for my plans, I don’t know yet actually. I usually just work during the summer. No difference really.”

A grin cracked on Blake’s face when he turned to me and I already could see this imaginary light bulb on top of his head, lighting up like a Christmas tree. And it’s not one of those jaw dropping, gorgeous smiles. Never mind that, he always smiles like that but this was…a cunning smile. Like he was planning to take over the world or something like that.

“What’s with that smile? It’s kind of scary.” I told him, narrowing my eyes at his direction. “Stop it.”

He laughed, throwing his head back, his hair following the same direction. “I’m not planning evil plans Bethany.” He stated like he was reading my mind.

“Then what was with the look?”

He stopped laughing but the smile never left his attractive face. “Nothing much. I just wonder why someone as beautiful as you is still single. I’d expect you to be taken already. You’re at the peak age: twenty four. You should at least be dating, not working all the time.”

I blinked when his words sunk in. Is it really that bad that I’m not seeing anyone at this age? “That doesn’t connect the pieces on why you were smirking.”

“Well,” he placed the glass on the counter and leaned back. “I guess I should be happy that you’re not with someone. Otherwise, I won’t be here.”

I instantly dropped my gaze from him down to my lap, a blush crawling on my cheeks tinting it red. This caused him to laugh again, clutching on to his stomach for dear life as he ridiculed my problem of excessive blushing.

My mind was still in his words and he’s right. I should stop working twenty four seven and give myself a short vacation. It’s summer! It’s a great time to travel to places, go fishing, canoeing, snorkeling, going to the beach, hiking…

I sat upright, my eyes wide with a great idea that has just popped in my mind. Blake had stopped laughing by this time, and his attention went back to me, curiosity on his face as he watched me with my idea look.

“What’s with that look?” Blake asked, arching a brow. “Now you’re the one scaring me. Are you going to skin me alive or something? Stop it.”

I wanted to laugh, really I did. He looked so worried, scared, and confused at the same time. It was cute, and adorable.

“Maybe.” I smirked, stretching the word with me.

“What do you mean maybe?” he gave me a flat look.

I shrugged. “I was just thinking of something.”

“Like skinning me alive?” Blake deadpanned.

This time I really did laugh, and I shook my head so.

“I was thinking…” I started off.

“Yes?”

Shifting my position so that I faced him, “Well there’s a fair that’s opening this weekend and Liam really wants to go. So I was thinking maybe you and Allie wanted to join us.”

“To the summer fair this Saturday?”

I blinked at him. “Uh, yes?” Wasn’t that what I just asked him?

“Well,” he leaned back and crossed his arms over chest. “Are you asking me on a date Bethany?”

My eyes widened at his words, the familiar shade of pink tinting my cheeks as I started to talk, or should I say jabber.

“What? No, why would I? I mean, I’m sorry that came out wrong. I didn’t mean that. What I meant was that..that…why would you think that? I’m sorry, that came out wrong again. I wasn’t asking you out for a date. No, of course not. Crap. That’s not it Blake…I mean...I mean that…crap.”

By this time I was blushing like crazy already.

Talk about death by mortification.

Blake was smirking at me. “You are so cute Bethany, especially when you blush…and start babbling.”

I pursed my lips together in a thin line, still sporting a deep pink blush. “Stop it. It wasn’t funny.”

He sighed with smile. “Yeah it was but I’ll be a man and say it wasn’t. So it wasn’t funny.” The grin on his face didn’t fade. “So about that fair invitation.”

I snapped my attention back at him, narrowing my eyes. “I take it back. You’re not invited.”

“Aw come on Bethany.” He held my arm, sending electric tingles throughout my system as he gave it a light shake. “I’m sorry I thought it was funny. You’re just so cute.”

I remained silent, faking unhappiness. Blake didn’t back down. With the same hand he used to shake me, he draped it over my shoulder, squeezing me to his broad firm chest so hard I was having difficulty in breathing. I waited for a few seconds for him to let go, but he didn’t. The blush that had already left my cheeks managed to return at our proximity.

“I won’t let you go until you invite me again.” I could hear the smirk in his voice.

But I too didn’t back down. So I waited and waited and waited. The blush didn’t disappear. I wasn’t minding my position. It was like a hug. This has been our closest encounter with each other besides the boob incident. He was pressing me up against him. Who would complain about that?

On the other hand I needed oxygen to breath and nothing was getting in my lungs after some time. I did try prying his hands off me but when you’re up against a strong man, all your efforts go to waste.

“Okay, okay.” I managed to choke. “Will you go with us this Saturday to the fair?”

He released me and instantly I started gasping for my dear beloved oxygen, glaring at Blake.

Blake shrugged, with a smirk. “Yeah sure. At least this way when we both go together, it won’t be as boring as going alone.”

I nodded. “I guess so.”

It was around nine in the evening when Liam and Allie went to bed they were currently sharing in the guest room. Blake was in there with them, tucking his daughter in. I was in the kitchen, cleaning the counters.

Running my hand through my hair which pathetically got tangled with one of the knots in my hair, I tossed the kitchen towel back to its place and trotted to the living room. Just as I went, Blake climbed down the stairs.

“Well, they’re finally asleep.” Blake announced.

I snorted. “After playing the entire time, the only thing they should be feeling is being tired.”

“They even wore out your dogs. They’re upstairs sleeping with them.”

“Already?” I groaned, collapsing on the couch when I small scream escaped my lips when my butt landed on a Lego piece. “Ouch. I guess I’m stuck watching reality shows for the night.”

Blake plopped down beside me. “I’d love to stay and all that but I have work tomorrow.”

“Crap.” I mutter, sitting straight. “What do I do with Liam and Allie tomorrow? Reese didn’t mention what I should do with him. Should I get a babysitter? Put them in daycare? Bring them with me to work-no, Liam will just keep eating there.”

I started babbling. I honestly had no idea what to do. Reese and Dominic didn’t give me anything to do with their son when he finished school.

Blake laughed beside me, covering his eyes with his forearm as he threw his head back, his back leaning towards the rear on the couch.

“I’m serious over here Blake. What do I do?” I mutter, running my hand through my hair again but this time I avoided the embarrassment of having my hand stuck in the tangles by pivoting out of its way. “I never took care of a kid all by myself during the summer. Should I call a social worker or something?”

“You’re so cute when you get all worried.” Blake had already stopped laughing and messed up my already messy hair like I was eight years old. “You could leave them at daycare, or bring them to work.”

“What do you do with Allie when you’re at work?”

He shrugged. “Daycare, sometimes with me at work or at my neighbor’s.”

I groaned and sulked back in the seat. “Ugh. I should just bring the Wii at the office that way they’ll stay there.”

“Come on,” Blake turned his body to face me. “Liam can’t be that bad.”

“Oh he is.”

“How?”

“For starters, unless he’s busy he’ll keep on pestering the people even the customers to give him cupcakes or cakes or anything sweet.” I rolled my eyes. “If he’s not doing that, he’ll be in the baking room stealing spoonful’s of batter or eat the cake there without telling anyone. Or he could sneak in the decorating room and steal frosting.”

“Daycare. Definitely daycare.” He said almost right away when I finished talking and this caused me to laugh. “If Allie was like that, I would leave her in daycare too.”

“Are the daycares here in town like the ones in toy story where toys become alive at night?” I asked stupidly, the question out of my mouth before it went to my head.

Blake looked at me incredulously before he burst out laughing.

I bit my lip, my cheeks sporting the shade of deep pink.

“Well, aren’t you something?” Blake managed to choke out in between his laughs. “I wish I had recorded that.”

“That was stupid.” I uttered and turned away. I was so embarrassed at this point. Who on earth asks that? At the age of twenty four?

Can the ground just open up and swallow me up already?

“That wasn’t stupid.” He stopped laughing and gave me a grin. “That was cute. You’re cute.”

“Stop that.” I squirmed on my seat, the butterflies in my stomach from earlier had returned.

He laughed again and placed his hand over mine. Tiny tingles of electricity sparked throughout my body when he touched me. But I had to ruin because I was afraid. Like a knee jerk reflex, I quickly retract my hand from beneath him. He frowned at me but didn’t do anything else.

“You’re beautiful Bethany.”

He caught me off guard and I turned my head to look at him. His beautiful gray eyes penetrated mine. He wasn’t smiling or anything but he looked gorgeous. A few strands of his brown hair were decorating his face but it suited him well. I liked seeing Blake like this. He wasn’t dressed up like he did every day when he had work. But I admit, I do love to see a man in a suit. Well in his case, almost suit in a dress shirt and pants.

Slowly, he crept his hands over mine but once again when his skin touched mine, I immediately pulled away and broke our stare.

I’m scared. I’m weak. I’m a pathetic girl who has a crush on someone and when this someone tries to hold my hand, I chicken out.

Blake cleared his throat, the only sound lingering in the awkward silence we were bathing in. “I think I should get going.”

I said nothing but nodded.

He stood up and went to the door with me in tow.

“I’ll pick up Allie and Liam tomorrow at daycare.” He said with a sad smile. “Just text or call me which daycare they are in.”

“Okay.” I opened the door to my house.

Blake stepped out to the cool wind and I followed him. We stopped by his car.

“If anything happens Bethany, call me right away no matter what time it is. Alright?”

I nodded.

“And Bethany?”

“Yes?” I looked up at him.

I just realized how tall he really is. He was a about a good three fourth of a foot taller than me. I just reached his shoulders. His muscular upper chest was my view but I wasn’t complaining. I knew I was short but not this short. Either that or he was just really tall.

He lowered his head to my level letting me gaze his gray eyes. They showed no emotion nad I wish I could but I couldn’t read him. I knew how that worked. I’ve been an expert at hiding my feelings for quite a while now.

In a fraction of a second, Blake gave me a kiss on my forehead. It lasted for about three seconds. I said nothing. I didn’t move a muscle, not a single tissue.

“Take care.” He whispered and slid in the driver’s seat of his car and zoomed off leaving me behind, clueless, in a state of shock, my jaw dropped, and giddy.

His car disappeared from my eye range and that’s when I retreated to my house.

Closing the door, I leaned my back against it. I held my forehead, my cold hands on my warm forehead where Blake just kissed me.

A variety of emotions passed me. There was confusion, happiness, disappointment, and fear.

Confusion. Of course I was confused on why he would do that. What did that mean? What did he mean by that? Was it like the type where a friend does it to another friend? Was it friendly? Or was it just because Allie was sleeping over?

Happiness. Who wouldn’t be happy when their crush kisses them? Lips or not, a kiss is still a kiss. That was probably the most intimate we have been.

Disappointment. So he kissed me on my forehead. It would’ve been better if he had done it on the cheek or stole a kiss on my lips but honestly I’m glad he didn’t.

Fear. After everything, I had the right to be scared. I knew I liked the man but I was afraid on how much I did. These foreign emotions that kept taking over my body are frightening. Terminating my defenses were easy to do and just let myself fall in love with Blake but after everything I saw, I’m not sure I want to.

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Not my best work I must admit.......

FUN FACT (It's not really a "fun" fact. It's just a fact): Sugar Rush was originally Terrifed but it sounded so sad, so down and I was aiming for a light hearted happy story.

OMG I WATCHED TFIOS ALREADY. It was...good. I just wished I didn't read the book first. They did a splendid job with the movie. I liked it. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort's acting were amazing. And the gas station scene (sorry for this but to those who read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about), HOLY MOTHER OF EFFIN TRINKET that was so emotional. The tears were almost falling at that time but it didn't. I didn't cry a river or anything, just almost. My eyes were glassy  but it never released the kraken.

Song is Terrified by Katherine McPhee and Zachary Levi because I love that song.

Please give this chapter a vote and a few words on the comment section down below, but if you want to write me an essay then by all means go ahead. I'm not stopping you.