Chereads / The Exit Strategy / Chapter 11 - My Secret Crush

Chapter 11 - My Secret Crush

"Okay and that's all for today", Mrs. Shane said and not a second afterwards all the students had already begun to file out of the lecture room".

I took up my things getting ready to leave when I hear my name being called again.

"Bennett, Smith, Grey, Paterson and Solace stay behind for a minute will you".

We walked up to Professor Shane who had been standing near the projector.

What now?

"The University made some calls and we have made arrangements to take you lucky few to one of the largest companies here in our own city, McKnight & Co.", She smiled widely, but my entire body went rigid.

Everyone else seemed satisfied with the idea. Except me.

Why?

Because Alana, Conner and I were currently trying to take down the CEO of that very company.

So while everyone was giving high fives and making sounds of content, I just stood there with only one word going through my head.

Crap!

"Blake you don't seem that excited at all", professor Shane observed, "I thought you wanted to do this".

I barely managed to drag my eyes to meet hers, "Oh believe me. I'm screaming on the inside".

And I was. I really was.

Five minutes later I left the lecture hall with even worse news.

Not only was the McKnight & Co. building the definite location our little educational excursion but it was in two days and I couldn't possibly get out of it.

These were some of the thoughts taking over my mind and was possibly why I didn't see Alana in the hallway waiting for me and collided into her.

She muttered a curse as I helped her up to her feet.

"What are you doing out here?", I asked bluntly.

She rolled her eyes. "Well what else am I supposed to do when you've been avoiding me".

Raising a brow I answered quickly, "I haven't been avoiding you". Apparently I wasn't convincing enough since even I didn't believe what is just said.

She narrowed her eyes at me, "The last time I saw you was when we meet to discuss Siara's case".

"That's not true", I lamely refuted.

This time she cocked an accusing eyebrow at me. "Just tell me what it is Blake!".

I was beginning to get upset now and so I just spilled it.

"You ditched me Alana!", I almost yelled. Her eyes widened taking in my disposition but it took a few moments before recognition dawned on her.

She brought her hand to cover her mouth and I knew she realized what I was talking about.

She moved her hands but before she spoke, I did.

"You know how important that night was to me. You promised that you'd be there but you weren't. If you hadn't convinced me all those months ago to go for what I wanted, then I wouldn't even have had that exhibition in the first place".

I sighed and tore my gaze away from her. "Heather was there and not only her but she brought Zadia. Everyone thinks that we have this perfect family but it isn't".

"I know Blake", she reached for my hands and held them in her smaller ones, "and I'm so, so sorry. You are my best friend and when you needed me I wasn't there".

"It's okay Lana", I smiled weakly. "I got over it, I'm not mad anymore".

Her grip on my hands tightened. "I promise that if you forgive me I'll never let you down again", she says in that cute little voice that she knows I can't ever say no to.

I couldn't help but to laugh.

"You're already forgiven". I dragged her towards me for a quick hug.

She buried her face in my chest, nuzzling into the hug which made me laugh.

"So does that mean you still love me then?". She asks with cute pouty lips.

"Of course", I laughed as we both walked out of the building together.

*******************

I had forgotten that Conner was moving in today. He insisted, against my better judgement. Nevertheless the Susan Sullivan autograph was worth it.

That's what I've been trying to convince myself.

"So what's the deal with you and Siara?", Conner asked from his position on the couch while I was carrying his boxes of stuff inside.

"Yeah man", Wayne agreed. But his eyes were still glued to the television screen. He was playing Call of Duty with Adrian.

Rolling my eyes at them, I set down the huge box of God knows what and sit on top of it.

"Trust me guys you don't wanna know".

Conner scoffed, swiping away at something on his iPad. "Dude just tell us! It's something embarrassing isn't it?".

I didn't answer but I couldn't help but to cringe at the memory. Indeed it was quite embarrassing. If not the most embarrassing moment of my entire nineteen years of existence.

I huffed running a hand through my hair. Knowing these guys they're gonna get me to talk sooner or later and I'd rather get it over with from now. So I started talking.

"I was a junior when I first met her. It's no secret that I was a nerd back in high school-" I heard the guys all snickering and I narrowed my eyes at Conner in particular.

"What?".

He laughed louder, "You kind of still are".

I chose to ignore that.

"Do you wanna know what happened or not?", I said dryly.

That got them to sober up and I flashed Conner a sarcastic grin as I continued.

"Now as I was saying. Siara was on the dance team back in high school. She was popular and I wasn't, but she was different than the others, she was always nice to me so I grew to like her. For a while I tutored her in algebra and... I started liking her more.

So for an entire tear I'm totally in love with her and she didn't even know it. By senior year puberty was finally in my favor and I changed. I was no longer the scrawny, nerdy guy that blended into the background like wallpaper. Girls started to notice me, people wanted to be my friends. But I only had eyes for one girl.

So one day I decided to man up and do something about my crush, before graduation. So some of my new friends helped me to make a grand gesture".

"How grand was it?" Wayne asked skeptically.

I grimaced as I remembered how tragic it had all turned out. Then I tuned to the guys, "Let's just say that is was a little too grand and in front of the entire school. It also involved a solo of me singing my heart out and professing my undying love to Siara", I bit out dryly.

Conner puts aside his iPad and walks over to me placing an arm around my shoulder.

I couldn't even tell If he was mocking me when he said, "She turned you down didn't she". It wasn't even a question.

Shrugging off his arm I shot him an accompanying glare. "On the contrary she didn't turn me down. She agreed to go out with me. But then less than a week after that, there was a video circulating around school. She was in the video making out with another girl telling her how much she loves her and how little I meant to her and how they'd finally be together after graduation".

The guys all grimaced.

"Ouch", Adrian cringed as if he was watching the very events unfold before his eyes.

"That sucks man", Wayne said more sympathetically.

"I know", I replied as I stood up. "And now you guys know too. So please, let's never talk about this again".

"No promises", Conner quipped, all I did was roll my eyes.

"Your phone is ringing Blake", Adrian interrupts bringing said device to me while staring at the screen. "Who is Dexter?".

My entire body goes rigid at the mention of that name. Both Wayne and I share a panicked glance at each other. He's the only one here who knows about Dexter because the only one that's caught up in that whole situation as deeply as me was him.

Conner's ears perked up, "Wait, Dexter. Wasn't that the one that called you that night two weeks ago and you just ran off forgetting you were supposed to take me to the airport".

I snorted while shooting him a smirk, " I didn't forget to take you".

Then I turned and left the room to retrieve the remaining boxes. Managing to insult Conner while successfully evading the question about Dexter.