I woke up with my stupid alarm clock ringing. Sometimes I just wanted to grab a hammer and do what they do on those old cartoon shows.

Smash! Smash! Smash!

But I didn't. Instead I turned it off and rolled out of bed. I had gotten an extra twenty minutes of sleep, so that was good. After getting dressed I went downstairs and had a quick bowl of cereal. This was my first time having breakfast with everyone on a school day. Usually I'm out the door by now.

"Ready for tryouts today?" Shawn asked.

I nodded, "But if someone grabs me again I will break their arm."

"I don't doubt it," Cole smirked.

"What do you mean 'grab?'" Suzie asked.

I hadn't payed attention to my words. They just blubbered out and Suzie heard. She's nine how am I suppose to explain this to her.

"They tugged on her shirt and Tori fell. That's what she meant by grab," Cole said for me. I was thankful that he said that but I didn't want to show it or Suzie would notice.

Blake stood up from the table and put his bowl in the sink. He then went back upstairs.

I watched him leave. He was so confusing. I could never read him, he just always seemed out there. And heck I think he's bipolar or something. He has the weirdest mood swings. Like a girl on her period. But he was still stubborn and arrogant. Then again sometimes he's....not exactly nice but nicer than his usual self. Like yesterday at tryouts.

I quickly finished my cereal and headed back upstairs. I just needed my backpack, and there was something I felt like I needed to do. When I walked down the hall I stopped in front of Blake's door. I felt hesitant, like I was entering a new world. I've been in Cole and Shawn's room, but never Blake's. It seemed foreign, or alien. I took a deep breath and knocked on his door. I heard scrambling on the other side of the door and then the doorknob turned. Blake looked down at me a bit in shock and then pulled his door open leaning against the door frame. He had a pair of jeans on and a tank top. When he crossed his arms his muscles flexed.

"Can I help you?" His cold stare made me look down. So I just concentrated on looking at his chin. He was so intimidating and it gave me the creeps. It didn't help that he was twice my size.

"I just want to say thank you," I muttered.

Blake cocked an eyebrow, "For what?"

"For picking me on the shirts team and not let me on the skins." I didn't know how else to put it. After that we stood in silence for what seemed forever.

Blake was the first to break the silence, "Is that all?"

I didn't know why but it just snapped inside of me. It might not have been the worst thing that he's said to me but it pissed me off that I came to say thank you and he didn't react.

"Actually no," I looked back up at Blake's blue eyes, "It's not all Blake."

He looked so stunned I wish I had a camera to take a picture.

"Here's another question," I said hotly. I didn't know where the confidence came from but it was there, "Why are you always a dick to me? Why do you hate me? What did I ever do to you that made you go all asshole on me?!"

Blake narrowed his eyes and I could see the anger well up in him, "What haven't you done?"

"What!?" I didn't want to yell so I just whisper yelled, but it contained the same amount of anger.

"You're always so cocky! Using your sarcasm and thinking your soooo smart. You act so innocent Tori, when you're not. You think everyone likes you and you think you're so cool using your stupid tricks. But what you are is far from cool. You're like a tick! You wait around in the grass and then when someone walks by you latch on. You just latch on and never let go. Like when you latched onto Mark, Cali, and now my brothers! You might have fooled them, letting you inside their heads. But I won't. I won't let you fool me. I don't give a damn if you're my stepsister. You will always be a stupid tick, a pain in the ass. And when I get the chance I WILL squish you. And when I do, I won't feel sorry." Blake slammed the door and I was to stunned to react. I probably stood there a whole minute before I moved to my room.

I lazily grabbed my backpack and swung it on my shoulder. When Blake said all that, for th first time. I was....scared of him. He looked ready to kill, and I felt, terrified. How could he make me feel like that? I always just laughed in his face but the way he said everything, the way he looked at me. It was pure hatred. He was like a brick wall. With no cracks or crevices. I at least found the cracks in Cole and Shawn. But Blake didn't have anything. He was a wall that won't crack. Just a simple thanks, and he went all hot head. I didn't think pure hatred was among the human race. I mean yes sometimes you hate someone, but at the same time it's not like you want to hurt them. And even if you do, there will always be that small thread of guilt. But not Blake. He would never feel guilt.

The way he described me, made me feel like a tick. Like a blood sucking, cold blooded, spineless creature. He even made me feel small. I was nothing compared to Blake Parris. I remember in the beginning of the year he said he'd make my life the living hell. And then I just laughed in his face. Where was that confidence? Why didn't I laugh in his face now?

Maybe dad was right. Blake did something nice for me and I thanked him. It definitely proved dad's theory. I replayed dad's phrase in my head.

'Tori has it ever occured to you that if you do something nice for them, they might do something nice for you?'

So this time Blake did the nice thing and I thanked him. But I guess he didn't expect that and that's why he closed his wall. He didn't crack, maybe he was about to, but he didn't. So maybe if I finally do something good, he might open up to me. Instead of me opening up to him. Because that obviously didn't work.

Now I was just worried as to what he was going to make me do. Or what he was going to do in general.

I reached the kitchen where Cole, Shawn, and Suzie were still eating.

"You ok?" Shawn asked.

"We heard a door slam," Suzie added.

"Yeah I'm fine," I sat on the counter knowing I still had a few minutes, "I just went and talked to Blake."

"Well how'd that go?" Cole asked.

I didn't answer I just looked down at my hands and grabbed a grape off the counter.

"I'm gonna guess not good." Shawn muttered under his breath. I simply nodded and ate the grape.

"Suzie you're going to be late!" Lilly yelled from the garage.

"Coming!" Suzie yelled back. She got up putting her bowl in her sink. She gave Shawn and Cole a hug and then came to me, squeezing me around the waist. "Bye guys. Good luck at tryouts." She then grabbed her backpack and ran to the garage.

"I love your sister," Cole said. When I looked up at him I saw him looking at the garage door where Suzie had gone through. He did seem to care about her, I knew that much.

"She's your sister too you know." I added grabbing another grape.

"So what'd Blake say?" Shawn asked.

I couldn't meet their eyes so I played around with another grape, "Why do you guys think he hates me so much?"

I didn't have to look up to know they were frowning.

"Well....maybe because....well....what'd he tell you?" Cole couldn't find his words so I shrugged the question off.

"Doesn't matter," I hopped off the counter and headed to the back door. I wasn't facing the guys anymore but I had my hand on the doorknob, "If you guys find out. Please tell me."

I walked out the door before they could say anything. Once I had my bike I hopped on and peddled down the street and to the dirt path. It took me ten minutes to arrive at my old house, and another five to hide my bike in the bushes. Then I went to the curb and sat down. Mark would be here any minute and I was debating whether to tell him or not.

I didn't want my living arrangements to get between my friendship with Mark. He's been my best friend since third grade. We tell each other everything. I was there when he had his first crush. Or when I went through puberty I told him first. That night we talked over the phone all night, like nothing had happened. The day his voice got deeper I was happy for him and he invited me to spend the night. When I had a bad hair day at school, he let me borrow his baseball cap. When he needs money for lunch, I'd be glad to give it to him. Those small things just always seemed to count. But then big thing is when we need each other. When I needed him, and when he needs me, we're always therefor each other.

Cali never understood our relationship. She just hangs with us, and makes the group fun. And god I love her, but since she's with Jerry its now just me and Mark. Em joins us sometimes. But now her and Shawn are probably going to be a thing. Whenever I mention him she just smiles. And when I mention Jerry to Cali, she giggles. It's driving me crazy.

I went back to my previous thoughts, whether to tell Mark?

As I was thinking I had to hug myself. It was getting colder, much colder now. The leaves on the trees still needed a bit more until they would finally fall. And on some houses I saw Halloween decorations. It reminded me that I needed to get a pumpkin to carve. I wasn't really looking forward for this Halloween. Lilly and dad have a party at someones house. I think it's one of Lilly's coworkers. So since they were going to be out, they told the guys they could have a party. Suzie said she was going to go Trick-or-Treating with friends and then get dropped off at Mark's house. I still wasn't sure what to do.

For the second time, I concentrated back to the thoughts about telling Mark. Just as I was thinking, a red pickup pulled up in front if me. The window rolled down and Mark leaned over as best as he could.

"Hey stranger," He said. His lips curled up and a smile took his face.

I smiled back and stood up, "Stanger danger."

"What kind of danger would you bring to me?" Mark laughed. I shook my head and got in his car.

"So what's up?" I asked turning my head to face him.

"The sky," Mark said nonchalantly, "The clouds. Some planes. There's a satellite up there somewhere. And I believe there's a moon also."

I rolled my eyes and looked back at the road, "You're unbelievable."

"Am I? I think you can believe me. After all we are best friends." Mark grinned and I just slapped his arm.

"Whatever," I chuckled. I wasn't really in my perky mood, I was still running through what happened with Blake.

"You ok Tori? Your being quiet. A little too quiet." Mark put his hand on my forehead.

I laughed pulling his hand down, "I'm fine. Just a bit tired."

"Well you better have some coffee or something, you have tryouts later. Here." Mark handed me his cup of coffee that he had on his cup holder. I thanked him and sipped the coffee.

"Wait a sec," I said tasting the coffee again, "Mark this is my favorite. Creme and sugar with a bit of carmel."

Mark smiled, "Yeah I made you a cup at home. Figured you might need it."

"Awwww, thank you." I smiled and layed back in my chair sipping on my coffee, "Wait are you going to stay after tryouts?"

"If I want to drive you home, then yes."

I felt slightly guilty. He shouldn't have to wait on me, he probably has other things to do.

"Hey Mark," I started tracing my finger around my cup, "You don't have to wait up for me. I can let someone else give me a ride."

Mark frowned, "I'll give you ride. Don't worry. But who else would give it to you?"

I shrugged, "Maybe Cole or Shawn."

"I've been meaning to ask you about that." Mark said. A sudden wave of fear took over me. What did he know?

"Ask about what?" It came out softer than intended to.

"Just in general, the Parris brothers have had some interest in you this year. Do you know why?" Mark glanced my way.

I shook my head, "No."

It killed me to be lying to my best friend. And I had a feeling he knew I was lying.

"Tori," Mark sighed, "You know you could tell me anything, right?"

I opened my mouth getting ready to just say everything. To tell him where I lived. To tell him I had three stepbrothers. But when I looked at Mark, Blake's voice rang in my head. So I looked back down at my cup of coffee, "I know. But there's nothing to tell."

The rest of the car ride was in silence. I would see Mark open his mouth like he was about to say something, but then just stop. I think he did it, maybe ten times. Once we arrived to the school, he parked in a spot and we walked inside.

After heading to my locker, I grabbed my books, and left everything else inside. Then I was off to homeroom.

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Ok I'm sorry it's short but I just wanted to focus on Blake. I was going to write more but then I figured this might work better for me. Ok I know you all want a Blake's POV and I do too. But I have it planned out when I do his POV so just take a deep breath because its coming. And I know you all think he's confusing and that's why you want his POV but one reason I haven't done it yet, is because I WANT him to be confusing. Because then you never know what he'll do. So again just give me time.

And sorry its short, but like I said, I wanted to focus on Blake. He's mysterious and all bad ass, and it's funny writing about him. So I'm going to Orlando soon, and we're driving. It'll give me a great chance to write in the book. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, please comment. I want to hear these Blake comments. Oh and pretty please vote too. Thank you.

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