Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

Twenty-one

The halls were entirely silent as I walked them, looking around as if I've never seen them before. School was over and it was pretty much a near disaster. 

Okay, fine, not exactly a disaster. But Blake and Thomas practically hated each other the moment each set eyes on the other.

- Flashback to earlier this morning -

Mrs. Penn asked Thomas to introduce himself. Thomas stood up and made his way to the front of the room. His hands in his pockets, he flashed everyone the smile, causing nearly half the girls in the room to swoon. 

"Thomas Daire, new kid, moved here from France," he said. 

"Care to tell us anything about you, Mr. Daire?"  Mrs. Penn asked.

"Of course," Thomas said smoothly. "Well, I play basketball, I love reading romances, and I'm a flirter."  At that last part of his sentence, he winked at the class before sauntering back to his seat. Heads turned to watch his every movement. Thomas gave a half-wave to everyone before leaning back in his seat. He didn't seem to realize that girls were trying to grasp his attention. 

"Looks like Blake has competition," a boy whispered.

Blake, who had been sitting in his seat and watching Thomas, turned his attention to the boy who had spoken.

"Excuse me?" he said quietly.

The boy froze and swallowed. "W-what?"

"What did you just say?" Blake said.

"N-nothing! N-n-not a thing!" the boy stammered, terrified.

"What did you just say?" Blake repeated. "Don't make me repeat a third time."

"I think that's enough, Mr. Anderson," Mrs. Penn said.

Blake ignored her, his gaze trained on the boy. "Tell me."

I looked at the terrified boy. He seem so scared, but I guess he shouldn't have said what he said. I turned to look at Blake, who had a scary look on his face. Lily, Harper, and I exchanged looks. Harper's face looked amused. 

"What, Anderson? Scared that you'll actually have competition? Scared of someone like me?" Thomas spoke up, his words mocking.

Blake took a deep breath and turned to look at Thomas. "Me? Scared of you, Daire? The only time that I'll be scared of you is when you take away from me something I care about. Maybe not even then," he said coldly. 

"That's enough, boys!" Mrs. Penn said loudly and angrily. "Shut your mouths before you're sent to the principal's office."

"If he doesn't say anything," Blake says, referring to Thomas.

"Since when do you control when I can speak and not speak?" Thomas demanded.

Before Blake could retort, Mrs. Penn stood up swiftly. "Enough! Both of you, principal's office now! And before your first day has even started yet, Daire!"

Both boys stood up, grabbing their backpacks and walked out the room. I watched as Blake made sure to slam the door on Thomas's hand. Thomas didn't flinched and pushed the door open again.

- End of Flashback -

I rubbed my forehead and sighed. I approached the entrance doors and pushed them open, stepping out and zipped my coat up. I let the doors close behind me without help and stuffed my hands in my pockets, starting the walk home. 

"Crimson!" a voice called.

I stopped and turned around. Only one person calls me Crimson so I wasn't surprise to see Blake walking hurriedly toward me.

"Hello," I said.

Blake smiled at me. "Need a ride home?"

I stared blankly at him. "A... ride?"

"Yes, Crimson, a ride. Where we both get in a car that's mine and I drive you home."

"How do I know you're not going to murder me?" I questioned.

Blake laughed and said, "You let me drive you home the night of the party and don't forget it was at night. What makes you think I'm going to murder you now?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, make me trust you first and then kill me."

He sobered up from his laugh. "Don't worry, I won't kill you. You're not walking in the cold. Now come on." 

"It's not that cold though!" I protested. 

He ignored me and turned and walked away. I debated mentally whether to follow him or not. 

"Come on, Quinn," he said, not looking back.

I sighed and followed him. I waited as he unlocked his car and climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door after me. I buckle up and leaned back. Blake started the car and eased out of his parking space, pulling out to the road. Thick silence lay between us and I didn't know whether to break it or not.

"Do you remember where I live?" I asked.

"Of course, Crimson."

I smiled slightly. Whether Blake's Blake or not, I still like the way he calls me Crimson. 

"Do you want to get something to eat first?" he asks.

I shook my head. "I'm fine. You know, we should really get working on our English project."

Blake looked at me quickly before turning his eyes to the road. "Yeah. We can do that when we get to your house."

My eyes widened slightly. "My house? I was actually thinking we could meet at the school library tomorrow or something."

He chuckled lightly. "Oh, Crimson, you're funny. Relax. I'm not going to do anything to you."

"Right."

"Don't you trust me?"

"Not really."

"Ouch, Crimson, I'm hurt," Blake said, a hint of mocking in his tone,

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be."

He pulled up to my house and parked the car. I unbuckled my seatbelt and quickly got out after Blake unlocked the doors. I hurried up to my front steps and unlocked the door. Before I could close the door, Blake put a foot between the door and the door ledge and pushed the door open easily. I didn't even see him get out of the car. 

I struggled to close the door but let's face it, he's stronger than me.

"Come on, Crimson, let me in," Blake drawled. 

I stumbled back as the door burst further open and he stepped in, towering above me. Oh jeez. The door slammed behind him and he walked down the hall of the front room as casually as if he was in his own house.

"Jerk," I muttered, walking behind him. I pushed past him, seeing the amused look on his face out of the corner of my eye, and hurried up the stairs.

"Love the view here," he said, a purr in his voice. I turned around as heat creeped up my neck to my cheeks and walked backwards. 

Blake burst out laughing and quickly went up the stairs ahead of me. Should've been faster than him and shut the door before he caught up. I glowered at his back the entire way up. I dashed past him and pushed open the door to my room. He followed behind me too close for comfort and I jumped, scrambling as far as possible from him in my own room.

"You're jumpy, aren't you, Crimson?" he asked, smirking.

Don't look at him and don't answer him. You're doing great, Quinn. Ri-ight. 

I flop down on my bed and crossed my legs, watching as Blake made himself comfortable on a chair he had dragged to sit in front of me. Watching him smirk at me, I knew I was in for a long afternoon.