Chapter thirty one.

Blair saw Cade sleeping next to her. The sun was streaming in through the curtains, his room was always brightly lit in the morning. For once she wasn't waking up with regret, headache or nausea. She was waking up with a smile playing across her features as she watched him sleep.

'Stop it,' he mumbled softly to her. 'I told you its creepy when you watch me sleep.'

Blair couldn't help the laugh that escaped her and she quickly clamped her mouth shut horrified. They needed to be dead quiet! She was meant to sneak back out of his room before they fell asleep but that obviously didn't happen. The last thing they needed now was Jane to walk in on them again.

Last night flickered in her mind as she climbed out of bed and reached for her clothes. Particularly when Cade asked her to be his girlfriend.

She remembered her huge smile at him. The way he was looking down at her with a raw honesty she'd only seen on him a few times. She had nodded her head slightly, biting her lip as she stared back up at him.

'Took you long enough to ask.'

He let out a short burst of laughter, his arms sliding around her waist maneuvering her against the wall of the club. 'That's hardly my fault in between your string of boyfriends.'

Blair rolled her eyes at him and opened her mouth to argue when he silenced her with one kiss. It was short, sweet and lovely. It left her slightly breathless.

'You're adorable, shut up,' he said with a wink. 'Can we go home now? I've missed you.' The innuendo in his words were so strong Blair felt her spine tingle at the meaning.

So that's what they did. Left the others in the club, drove home and spent the night in Cade's bedroom ever so quietly, with the plan to sneak out before the sun came up. Blair had sent Hailey a quick text to give her the heads up on the turn of events and just received a smiley face in return.

'I wasn't watching you!' Blair whispered back smiling. 'I better run, before anyone wakes up.'

'Ok,' Cade snuggled back into his blankets.

Blair turned to leave when she paused at the door suddenly. She walked back over to his bed, leant down and kissed him on the lips with a grin. 'Bye.'

His eyes flew open mischievously and reached out, pulling her back into the bed again with a thump.

'Hey,' she half whispered, half laughed as he threw the blanket over her and rested his arm on her waist.

'No one will be awake this early, I think you're safe.'

'I still think I should, just in case...'

'I thought I knocked all your goody two shoes out of you?' Cade sounded confused.

Blair rolled her eyes and relaxed back into the comfy bed.

'That didn't take too much convincing,' Cade smirked at her. 'Like quite a few things about you...'

'What is that supposed to mean?' She frowned at him, but his light joking tone made her eventually smile.

'It means, no matter where we were, or what we were doing I could always convince you to 'meet me upstairs'...so to speak,' Cade grinned at her.

Blair blushed, 'Oh shut up.'

'Do you remember when we first started hooking up?' Cade smiled, leaning back into his pillow. 'You were so jealous of Lacy, even though you told me you wanted something casual. You used to get ridiculously jealous.'

'Hey,' Blair said surprised. 'I never said I wanted something casual.'

'No you just told me how much you hated my guts all the time... I figured you weren't exactly in it for the long haul.' Cade laughed.

'We were quite bad weren't we?' Blair let out a rueful grin.

'We?' Cade rolled his eyes. 'Think back sweetheart, I never once said I hated you. Sure I teased you a little, but that's only 'cause I liked you.'

Blair frowned in thought, there was no way all that hate was in her head. 'Wait a second, what about the time you freaked out at me and called me a child? One minute you were all over me and the next yelling at me.'

Cade chuckled, 'I called you a child because you were acting like one. I'm not exaggerating, one minute you're all over me and the next you were avoiding me and telling me I'm the biggest mistake you ever made. Way to give a guy a confidence boost by the way.'

Blair felt the familiar blush spread across her cheeks, had she really been that immature and selfish? Completely oblivious to Cade?

'I'm sorry,' she said sounding surprised. 'When you put it that way I sound like a bit of a bitch.'

Cade laughed loudly, 'Don't be stupid, I did not make life easy for you.'

'No I –

Suddenly Cade put his hand over her mouth, 'Be quiet, I think I hear someone.'

'I better go back to my room,' Blair stood up. 'We can finish blaming each other later.'

Cade grinned, 'I'll hold you to that.'

...

'Open it.'

Blair had a sick feeling in her stomach, she felt as though if she moved even slightly she would throw up all over Hailey and Brady.

'Come on, open it I'm dying of suspense!' Brady exclaimed theatrically.

Blair turned to glare at him, holding the small envelope in her hand, 'Shut up Brady, I need to psych myself up for this.'

'Just do it quickly, it'll be easier that way,' Hailey suggested with an encouraging smile.

'What's going on in here?' Cade had stopped by the living room door to find Blair clutching a white envelope to her chest sitting on the floor with Hailey and Brady on the couch looking excited.

'Blair got her results,' Brady grinned at him. 'Much earlier then anyone else, which is kind of weird.'

'It could mean I flunked though couldn't it?' Blair asked them tearfully. 'They marked it quicker then anyone else?'

Brady rolled his eyes, 'Don't be stupid, everyone's is already marked. They just send them out at a later date. Yours must have been one of the first out.'

Cade looked over at Blair who was possibly about to start hyperventilating, 'Blair, chill out do you honestly think you failed? Be realistic.'

Blair looked up at him and took a few deep breaths, he was speaking reasonably. Had she ever failed anything in her life? No, so why would she start now.

'You're right.'

Hailey rolled her eyes, 'Are you kidding me? I say that a thousand times, and so does Brady but when Cade says it you believe him?'

Blair shot her a sheepish smile.

Suddenly Cade darted forward ripping the envelope from Blair's hands.

'Cade no!' She screamed jumping up as he held it just out of her reach. Brady reached out and pulled Blair back onto the couch between him and Hailey and nodded at Cade.

'Go on man, I'll hold her.'

Cade smirked at Blair and ripped it open his eyes scanning the piece of paper quickly looking for the overall score he knew she wanted to see.

'Fuck.' He swore.

'What? What is it?' Blair threw her hands over her eyes.

'You're crazy that's what!' Cade held the paper down at his side and smiled at Blair. 'You're in the top 2% of the state.'

'What?' Hailey squealed jumping up pulling Blair off the couch excitedly.

'Oh my God,' Blair shook her head in disbelief. Her face broke into a huge grin, 'Oh my God!!!!!'

'Well done baby,' Brady jumped up in delight. 'I knew you had nothing to worry about. You've topped our year group for the last five years.'

Blair hugged Hailey and Brady and turned to Cade who was watching their little scene with amusement. He winked at her and Blair grinned back happily.

'Do I get a hug too?' He asked sweetly.

Blair laughed and bounded over to him throwing her arms around his neck happily. 'Thanks for stealing it out of my hand and opening my private mail.'

'Anytime,' he joked poking his tongue out at her. 'I think this calls for celebration you know.' He pulled out of the hug and ran his hands down her arms holding her in front of him. 'I'm going to take you out on a date, a real date this time. I don't have to trick you into coming on a group date, so that's a step forward.'

Blair's mouth dropped open and she laughed in delight, 'I knew it! It was way too set up, it totally was a group date and you made me feel like an idiot to think it was.'

Cade rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling. 'Whatever nerd.'

Blair reached up kissing him on the mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck. He swung her up and around causing her to squeal in laughter.

'You guys are too cute,' Brady said tongue in cheek.

'It's a little sickening,' Hailey scrunched up her nose not sure if she should be happy or disgusted her best friend and cousin appeared to be in love.

'So where are you taking me on this date of ours?'

'Yeah sounds great Cade, where are you taking us?' Brady smirked.

'It's a surprise, for Blair. Brady you can go get lost,' Cade replied shoving him light heartedly.

'I'm so proud of you though B,' Hailey smiled at her friend. 'Finally all that hard work paid off.'

'So what Uni will you pick? No doubt all three of your choices will be fighting for you.' Brady asked with a sly grin.

Blair looked around at Hailey, and then at Cade with slight confusion. Hailey and her always had plans to defer a semester and travel around Europe. It was all they'd talked about since she could remember. Paris, Rome, London and Spain were definites. Prague, Belgium and Austria were being debated. They hadn't factored in getting serious boyfriends before senior year had finished. And Blair hadn't factored in doing so well in her exams, she knew she would get accepted into all the schools she applied for. Possibly even a scholarship, could she really just put it all on hold?

'Woah, let's save the hard questions for another time,' Cade said smoothly putting a hand on her lower back reassuringly. 'My girl has a date to get ready for.'

Blair glanced up at him in surprise, all difficult questions and life decisions flying out the window. Did he just call her his girl... in front of other people?

...