I could just hear Chris's squeals as he would accidentally walk in on the two of us making out. Blake would make a weird joke that would send butterflies to my stomach while I would be embarrassed by the whole situation.

"Remind me to buy Chris ice cream when we see him again" Blake sits up, wiping the corner of his lip with his thumb, while I mirror his movement. Both of us trying to catch our breaths.

"Ice cream? Why?" His hair was messed all over, much worse than before if that was even possible. I could only imagine what kind of a mess my hair looked like. I brushed my fingers through my hair, hoping to fix it.

"I made a deal with him. The day we went on our little market date. I was going to officially ask you out and if he would be a good little boy at Lottie's, us three could be together all the time and that I'd buy him ice cream" His voice trailed as he realized what he had looked forward to. Us three. Would that still be possible?

"Get up, get dressed. We need to go to school. I heard you haven't been to school in a while either." I get up from the couch, adding a little skip to my step to jolt me up.

"Jackie," He pulls me back down to his lap. My eyes intently looking at his, waiting to hear what he has to say, "I'm sorry." I felt a twitch of a small smile, trying to comprehend why he was apologizing. "I'm sorry I left you alone. I'm sorry I didn't come to you when you needed me. I'm sorry I wasn't there"

A smile formed on my lips, my hand reaching up to lightly cup his face, brushing my thumb against the little stubble he had. It felt good. To touch him without hesitation. "I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I left you alone, I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me"

"You've always been there when I needed you. You ditched your date for me" He smirked, squeezing me in his arms, placing multiple kisses on my cheek.

"Blake, school!" I was enjoying this. Much more than I feel like I should. I wanted to stay here. But we had to go.

"I don't need to go to school. I'm already a father. I'm just going to stay here with my..." He pressed a long, firm kiss on my lips "My girlfriend"

Although that sounded like music coming from his mouth, I pushed him off "You need to go to school so if you ever do run into your child, you can proudly tell him what you do. And what do you mean girlfriend? I was just here for a good time. Thanks for the kisses, I have to get going now" I get up from my spot, making way to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Blake sat there trying to grasp what happened while I drank the water, holding back a smirk. Blake stands up and rushed after me.

"So, you don't like me?" He towers over me. I shake my head no, continuing to drink my water. "I only like educated men"

"Ok, ok, see if I help you in calculus again" He ran up the stairs, most likely to get dressed.

Blake was smart in every way possible. Academically, street, maybe just not when it came to my feelings because it took him this long to make a move and tell me that he broke up with Alexa. Chris would have been so happy if he was here right now.

About fifteen minutes later, Blake comes downstairs. Fully dressed in a grey sweat and a black t-shirt that accentuated his chest; the sleeves hugged his biceps. His hair dripping wet. I walk over to him as he slugged both of our bags over his shoulder, his car keys in his hand. I reach for my bag to hold but he grabs my head, ushering me out the door. "That's how you get sick so easily" I refer to his wet hair.

"I got sick one time" he shot back, locking his door.

--

We had missed the first period, so Blake and I walked hand in hand to our shared second period. The class we had first met Chris in. Everyone was almost seated as Blake guided me to my seat. As I sit beside Lottie and Blake sits behind me beside Caden, Lottie and Caden give us a look over and I catch them giving each other a fist bump from beneath the desk.

"Jackie, I heard about Chris. How are you guys doing?" Pam, a girl in my class walks over, placing her elbows on my desk to hold up her head.

"Uh- we're ok I guess?" Pam was a sweet girl. Her hair reached just below her jaw and her smile could light up anyone's mood. She was the walking definition of sunshine.

"It must be tough; you guys were really close to him weren't you" She tries to console.

"What do you mean Pam, he was just a random kid. He was going to leave anyway. Not everyone is stupid enough to hold on to something so temporary" Alexa sneered as she walked into class. I felt my jaw clench at her words.

"That's rude Alexa. We all know Blake broke up with you, there's no need for you to get salty about it. You could at least pretend to have a heart" Pam shot back before any of us had the chance, the class rolled in laughter. Like I said before, Pam was the walking definition of sunshine.

Alexa scoffed in return, eyeing Blake. I was surprised that Pam knew about this. It only made me wonder, Was I the last to know about Blake and Alexa?

"I know you guys will get through this. Chris was an amazing kid. Can't wait to meet him again someday" She smiled sweetly at us before going back to her seat as our teacher walked in. He looked across the room, a small smile landing on his lips as he looked in our direction.

--

"So, with Blake's birthday coming up, I was thinking we could throw him a surprise birthday party," I tell Caden, sitting in the cafeteria as we both ate our lunch.

"Blake's not too big on surprises" He points back.

"But I want to do something for him"

"Oh, you want to do something for your boyfriend?" He teases like a twelve-year-old. I shoot him a glare. Not that I didn't like how that sounded, but it would be nice if he would officially ask me out. Technically speaking, we already went on a date, even if I didn't know that we were on a date.

"Speaking of, where are Blake and Lottie" Caden tensed up at my question, shrugging before he mumbled a quick "I don't know" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Cadey-boo, I'll get you your favourite anime dolls" I coo at him like he was a five-year-old.

"First of all, their action figures, not dolls. And second, I have mixed feelings about you calling me Cadey-boo. Is it weird that it's comforting?" I look at him amazed at what his concerns were. "Yes," I give him a forced smile.

The seat beside me pulls out as Blake takes a seat, pulling my chair closer to his, taking a bite out of my food.

"Jackie, did pops call you?" Lottie takes a seat beside Caden, kissing his cheek.

"No, why?" Our table was slowly becoming a lovefest. Lottie and Caden never could keep their hands and lips off each other, and I was slowly starting to relate.

"He's thinking of proposing to Aunty soon" She whispered, taking a bite out of my food. A giddy wave jolted through me as the excitement took over. Aunty being an official part of my family.

"Lottie, can you not stomach anything? Didn't Mr. West say he was going to surprise her?" Blake shot Lottie a glare, earning a punch to his thigh from me. He faked a flinch.

"Now you know why she's my best friend" I smile at him, as I saw Caden, too, take a bit out of my food.

"Can you guys not get your own food?" I shoot them all a glare, holding the container in my hand and eating it. They all took that as an invitation to start stabbing their forks, trying to get a bite.

"Come on Jackie-boo" Caden imitates me, Blake and Lottie freezing in their spots, food in their mouth, looking at Caden with horrified looks.

"Don't start with me Cadey-boo" That was all it took for both Lottie and Blake to spit out their food and gag in cringe and disgust. Blake immediately took the container from my hand, putting it on the table as he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the cafeteria, Lottie doing the same to Caden. Both Caden and I dramatically tried to reach out to each other to not get separated.

___________