I rush out of the stands, running through the turfed field, frantically searching for one person.
Blake.
He won the game. Well, he helped them win the game.
My eyes drift from each face, people jumping and hugging each other. Congratulating the players.
"Danny!" Marcus runs up to me, a huge smile on his face.
"Hey, Marcus. You did so great!" I chirp to him, smiling as I still search around.
"Thanks..." he notices my attention.
"You looking for Blake?"
I snap my eyes to him, my cheeks flushing a deep red.
"Yeah, I just wanted to congratulate him." It wasn't a complete lie.
I did want to cheer him on for how great he played, but I also wanted to do something else.
My mind keeps flashing images of that inside my head. Images that make my heart flutter and chills run through me.
"Actually, I think he was looking for you."
"Really?" My eyes widen, my heart speeding up in my chest.
"Yeah, he should be somewhere in the middle of all that ruckus." He nods his head to the big crowd of people cheering and shouting out praises.
"Thank you. Uh...Kyla should still be in the stands." I smirk at him, his face turning a bright red as a small smile forms on his face. He looks in the stands, his gaze landing and locking on Kyla.
"Right. Thanks." He almost whispers.
He makes his way to where I just came from. I watch him with a happy smile on my lips. Then, I turn and get back to my objective.
I push through the hoards of people and make it to the center of attention.
Everyone claps Blake on the back, telling him how good he played.
I walk forward, about to just surprise him and throw my arms around him.
Being a few steps from him, I'm beat to it. A small figure jumps on him, their tiny arms wrapping around his neck as their legs coil around his waist.
A cheerleader. And not just any cheerleader, the one who double crossed me and enjoyed the pain in my eyes.
He stills, his straining muscles showing his surprise. He doesn't wrap his arms around her, they stay limp to his sides.
That sets a little flutter inside me as I watch them.
"Oh my God!! You did so good Blake!" She squeals, her body falling from his but her hands still attached to his chest like earlier today.
"Um...thanks Molly." He says, unsure and confused.
The whole time, his back is turned towards me.
She runs her hands up his chest, he doesn't stop her. A pang stings in my chest as my eyes follow her hand. My feet stay glued to where I'm standing, too frozen to move.
Her eyes find mine, a sick smirk covers her face. She slides her hands to his hips and starts to wrap her arms around his waist, still giving me a snide look, an evil glint in her eye.
He stiffens, his hands moving to hers. I turn around, not wanting to see anymore. Tears sting at the back of my eyes, threatening to spill out.
"Danielle?" I hear Blake's voice call from behind me.
I turn around, accidentally sniffing. His eyes search my face, filled with worry. I plaster on a semi-fake smile as he walks towards me.
"Hey, are you alright?" His hand moves to my arm, I flinch back a little bit, laughing. A little hurt flashes is his eyes as I struggle to say anything.
"Of course...you did great." I smile halfheartedly.
"Thank...you." He furrows his eyebrows. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I laugh, no humor behind it. The tears still on the brim of my eyes.
I'm not okay. And I don't think I will be. I wanted to be the first one that hugged him, wrapping my arms tight around him as I tell him how good he played. Feel his arms around me as we both delve in the moment.
But, no one ever gets what they want.
"Okay..." He looks as me warily before taking another step towards me. He grabs my hand, and I let him. Tingles shooting throughout my body.
"I have to go change, but after that I'll take you to that party. Stay here, Alright?" He talks to me like I'll break if he talks normal.
I just nod my head, feeling my stomach flip at the sound of the party.
He softly smiles before turning and walking to the locker room.
I stare after him, a snotty laugh comes from beside me.
"That's pathetic." The double crossing bitc- Molly, laughs from my side. Her dainty hands on her hips, riding up her skimpy cheer uniform.
I ignore her, my gaze locked on the space that Blake was before.
"No matter how much you like him, he will never like you back."
Ignore her Danny.
"You know it's true. Just because he talks to you, he would never like someone like you." She sneers, sick humor lacing her tone.
"What does it matter to you?" I turn to her.
"It doesn't."
"Then why do you care?" I almost yell.
"I don't." She smiles, turning and walking away.
What?
I almost yell out after her, my face burning in anger.
"Hey, you ready?" Blake's voice rings in my ear.
I snap my head to him, almost breaking my neck.
"Y-yeah...yeah let's go." He frowns, looking down at me.
"You okay? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine." I rush out a little too quickly.
"Dani-"
"I said I'm fine." I snap, watching him flinch and immediately regretting my tone.
"I'm...I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. Let's just go." He brushes past me, his duffle bag slung over his arm.
I follow him to his car in the parking lot. His profile bothered and his jaw clenched.
I need to do something. Say something.
He unlocks the doors and climbs in his car, not waiting for me to get in.
I slowly jump inside, softly closing the door and sitting in silence.
"Blake-"
"Something's bothering you, I know it. And I understand that you're frustrated over it, but I'm not gonna let that ruin our night. Whatever it is...or whoever it is, will not ruin our night." He looks in my direction, his eyes glowing in the dark.
"You may not want to talk about it now, but I will be right here when you do."
My breath catches in my throat. His eyes captivating me. My heart pounding so loud I'm surprised he couldn't hear it.
With no further words, he turns back around and starts the car. He drives out of the parking lot and on the Main Street, turning at a light into a dark neighborhood.
I think back to what Molly had said.
'No matter how much you like him, he will never like you back.'
'He would never like someone like you.'
Her words replaying over and over in my mind, that deep pit forming in my stomach as I see the truth in them.
She's right. He will never like me back.
But, I don't even like him like that.
Do I?
Loud music interrupts my thoughts as we pull over, parking beside the sidewalk behind long rows of cars lines down the street.
A large White House stands in the middle of the line, colorful lights and pumping music blaring from the windows and open doors of the house. Teenagers with red plastic cups liter the front lawn, some either passed out or about to.
Blake gets out of the car, walking to my side and opening my door for me.
"Come on, you'll be fine." He sighs.
I step out, taking slow steps towards the house.
"I won't leave your side, promise." He whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
We walk further down the side walk.
My heart races more in my chest, drowning out the loud music.
We get to the front steps of the porch, the music louder than before, blaring Havana by Camila Cabello.
Blake places his hand on the small of my back, leading me through the front door and inside the house. The thick smell of sweat and alcohol hits my nose as we weave our way inside. Drunk and hormonal teenagers rubbing against each other on the dance floor and in the corners.
We walk to a more secluded area in the kitchen, bottles of different alcohol lining the counters and multiple bags of foods laying beside them.
"Wanna a drink?" Blake yells over the music.
I shake my head, knowing if I come home drunk or even the slightest intoxicated, my mom would flip her shit.
"Then, you wanna dance?" He nervously asks, his eyes flickering to the dance floor. A grimace flashing over his face.
"Not if you don't want to." I laugh.
"Alright." He grabs my hand in his, pulling us towards the backyard.
The cold air felt refreshing compared to the cramped heat inside. The music dying down the further we got. His hand still in mine. A small cushioned seat comes into view as we walk over and sit on it, side by side. His leg brushes against mine as he shifts in the seat.
"You...don't want to talk about it...do you?" He suddenly asks. I furrow my eyebrows, confused at what he's asking.
"What happened after the game."
Oh, that...
I shake my head, looking down at my hands.
"It doesn't matter."
"Danielle, what happened?" He asks again, scooting closer as his eyes stay locked on my face.
I hesitate a moment, deciding whether I should tell him or not. The pit forming in my stomach again. I avert my eyes away from him, focusing on the ends of the sleeves of his jacket I'm still wearing.
A long silence falls around us as I try to come up with words to say. Opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water.
Suddenly, I feel a warmth spread on my chin. Blake's fingers brush my skin as he turns my head towards his, his bright eyes studying me for a moment before he speaks.
"Please, Danielle." His eyes hold a sadness that I don't quite understand why is there. His lips tug slightly down into a small frown.
I sigh, knowing that he won't let it go.
I feel all of Molly's words getting to me again. I quickly look away from him, not wanting him to see me cry. Because I might.
"I...I'm...it's just that...I-"
"Bla-ake!" A deep voice yells from across the yard, obnoxiously laughing out as a large guy stumbles towards us.
"Hold on." Blake sighs before getting up and walking toward the wavering teen.
He talks to him for a minuet, hushed whispers and raising voices coming from them until he turns to me. An apologetic look on his face.
"I'll be back. I have to take care of something. Sorry." He pushes the guy inside the house, the cold night air filling around me.
So much for not leaving my side.
I sit, staring up at the stars. Watching them twinkle in the dark sky. Loud screams come from inside. A door opens and closes, footsteps sounding as they crunch in the green grass.
I don't pay attention to them, thinking they are drunk out of their mind and needing somewhere to pass out. Until I smell that familiar expensive cologne. The seat dips beside me.
"I didn't know you liked parties, Danny." Ryder looks at me from the corner of his eye, slinging his arm around the seat behind me.
His blonde hair gelled back, a dark blue button up shirt and khaki pants as his attire.
"I don't." I lean forward, trying to get as far away from him as possible.
"Then why are you here?" He kind of growls.
"It's a free country." I retort back.
"What you said to me before the game was rude." He states, his jaw clenching as he stares off into the distance.
"But, it was true."
He snaps his head to me, his icy blue eyes glaring at me. I audibly gulp, feeling my legs tremble underneath me.
If looks could kill...
"I would've done just fine if you hadn't gone and deflated my confidence."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bruise your big ego." I roll my eyes.
He goes silent, the only sound being our breaths in the cold air.
I look back over at him, seeing he's already staring at me, a slight smirk on his lips.
Wasn't he just glaring a minute ago?
"You look good, by the way." His voice takes on a husky tone, his eyes wandering along my body.
"Yeah...thanks." I furrow my eyebrows at him.
"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?" He shifts closer to me.
Is he flirting now?
Irritation bubbles up inside my chest, only a few words coming to my mind.
"Yeah, Blake has." I smirk.
It doesn't faze him.
"But does he really mean it?" He lifts a light eyebrow.
Did he really mean it?
"Y-yes." I stutter out.
He notices the look on my face.
"Alright. I guess I'll see you later then, Danny." He smirks, getting up and walking to the sliding doors. He looks back at me one more time before fully walking inside.
That was weird. He went from looking like he wanted to murder me to looking like he wanted to eat me.
What was his deal?
A few minutes pass until the door opens again, but this time Blake walks through.
"Sorry." He apologizes, raking his hand through his dark hair. He looks at me, his eyes running over my face.
"It's getting late and you look tired, how about we leave?"
I nod, no words forming. All of them being crammed in the back of my throat.
We make it all the way through the house and to his car, getting in and driving away from the house filled to the brim with raging teens.
He drives through the empty dark streets when I remember something.
"Um...can you drive me back to the stadium?" I ask, quietly staring out the window.
"Yeah, sure." He makes another turn, not even bothering to ask why.
Once we get to the stadium's large parking lot, I spot my Mom's van. I point to the vehicle and ask him to drop me off by it.
I thank him and get out of the car, him following me as I fish the keys out of my pockets.
"Isn't this your Mom's car?" He asks, stopping in front of me as I unlock the door.
"Yeah."
"This is how you got here? You drove?" The surprise is evident in his voice, a little bit of annoyance building up in me.
"Yeah, is it that hard to believe?" I keep my hands on the door, my back still turned towards him as I don't dare look at him.
"I thought you hated driving?" I hear him take a step closer.
"So, What?" I almost whisper.
"So, you drove here."
"Well, that was the only way I would get here."
His hands clamp on my hips and he spins me to face him. His eyes shining with some type of emotion I've never seen before.
"You drove here for me." He whispers more to himself.
I stare into his eyes as I back up into the van, my back hitting the cold exterior. His hands still rest on my hips as tingles shoot up through his finger tips.
The air around us fills with tension, but a good kind of tension. The faint sound of the stadium lights softly buzzing in the distance.
He starts leaning closer, his eyes still locked on mine. My breath hitches in my throat as he keeps getting closer to my face. His warm breath fanning my cheeks the closer he gets.
His nose almost brushes against mine as his eyes flicker down to my lips. I bite the bottom of mine as he licks his.
He inches closer and closer until our lips are almost touching. My eyes close, my heart hammering in my chest, butterflies exploding in my stomach.
He stops, his body stilling as his muscles clench. I open my eyes.
He looks back into my eyes before quickly stepping away from me.
Rubbing the back of his neck, his cheeks take on a shade of light pink. His eyes never once meeting mine again.
"S-see you on M-Monday." He stutters our before walking to his car and driving off.
I stand, keys clutched to my chest as my heart rapidly pounds against my rib cage. My breaths coming out quick and unsteady. Multiple things racing through my head all at once. The main focus being one thing.
We didn't play Monopoly, but most importantly...
Blake Daniels almost kissed me...