The Art of Pretending

Chapter Twenty Eight

Blair POV.
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We head over to the boys. I look at Grayson and my heart clenches. I see him laughing, and I just wish I was the one making him laugh.

I told myself I wasn't going to drink tonight. Thinking about it, it's New Years. A holiday, meaning, I should drink tonight. I just won't drink a lot.

I go to the nearest counter and poor myself a drink. "Hey sweetheart," I look up to see Noah. He's looking at me with a sad smile.

"Hey Noah, want me to pour you a drink?" I ask, sipping mine.

"Sure," I smile and poor him one. Once I'm done, I look at him and still see that look still on his face. The sad one, kind of pitiful.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked annoyed.

"Like what?"

"Like I'm some sad broken girl."

"Because you are some sad broken girl." He laughed and shook his head. "But that's ok Blair, you don't need to deny it. I know."

I don't know why, but tears start to form in my eyes. "Everything sucks Noah," I start to choke out.

"I know," he touches my cheek.

"My dad sucks, Grayson sucks, life sucks, it's not fair."

"I know."

"It's stupid I'm saying this, but am I not likable? Am I not good enough? Like why doesn't he like me? God I sound so embarrassing right now."

"He likes you Blair," Noah denies. "A guy would be stupid not to like you. You're perfect."

"He just doesn't like me, like he likes her."

"He likes you, he's just confused. He doesn't know what he wants. Like I said before, a guy would be stupid not to like you."

"You don't like me." I joke, going over in my head what he just said.

"What?" His eyes widen.

"You said a guy would be stupid not to like me, you don't like me." I look up at him with a teasing look. "Does that mean you're calling yourself stupid?"

"I'm not stupid." He rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

"But you just said, a guy would be stupid not to like me."

"I know what I said Blair, and I'm not stupid." What? That doesn't make any sense. My eyes widen, now realizing his words. He scratches his neck and looks down.

"Oh Noah..." Guilt fills my body. Had it been obvious and I just ignored it? I think he could see the guilty expression on my face because he reaches out and touches it.

"It's ok sweetheart." He gives me a sad look. "I was just one of the many, unable to resist your seduction and charm." He joked. I roll my eyes and laugh.

"Since when?" I ask

"Since when what?" He plays dumb.

"Stop playing dumb, since when have you... you know."

He gives me a grin. I can't tell if it's fake, forced, or genuine. "Probably since you called me a fatass for eating a cookie. Something about you and your vulgar mouth just really did something to me I guess."

I gaped, "I did not call you a fatass for eating a cookie."

"You did too."

"Nope, I called you a fatass for hogging all the cookies, fatsss."

"Meanie."

"Dipshit."

"So vulgar sweetheart." He smiles at me again.

"I..." I start to say.

"It's ok Blair, I know you don't like me."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"I honestly had no idea..."

"I know."

"I could try..."

"Don't. If you ever like me, or even start to fall in love with me, I don't want it forced. I'm just happy I get to know a girl like you Blair."

"I wish I liked you." Liking him would be so easy. He's such a great guy, such a great friend. Liking him would be a breath of fresh air. No other girls, not a second option. But then he would be in the position I'm in, and that's not fair to him. He deserves better.

"Yea, me too." He stops when he notices someone walking up. I turn my head and see Grayson. Him, and his dimples. His perfect smile, I hate him. But I don't.

"What are you guys doing?" Grayson asks walking up.

"We're at a party Gray, we are socializing." I give him a teasing look. He rolls his eyes but laughs.

"It looked like you guys were having a serious important conversation." He points out.

"So what, do you decide to interrupt every serious important conversation you see."

"No, just only the ones I'm jealous of." He looks at me and gives me a wink. I wonder if he knew Noah's secret. Did he know that Noah liked me? Is that why he came over here and admitted to being jealous? "So what were you guys talking about?" He asks, looking a Noah.

"Nothing," Noah gives him a boyish smile. "I was just chatting up your girl. Nothing serious or important. Nothing to be jealous about." He gives Grayson a teasing shove. Your girl. I know Noah didn't mean it this way, but for some reason it came off as an insult. Grayson just laughs at what Noah says. "Anyways, I need to go take a piss. Maybe then chat up a few girls, you kids have fun."

Noah comes up and gives me a big hug. "Don't let him treat you like a second opinion." He whispers in my ear, quiet enough where Grayson couldn't hear. I give him a tight smile and nod. He lets go, and walks off.

"He finally told you?" Grayson asks.

"Told me what?"

"That he liked you." My eyes widen in shock.

"You knew?"

"It was obvious, B. I used to think you were just humble about your looks. But now I feel like you are utterly clueless and oblivious about the way people look at you."

"Apparently that's something we have in common." I joke, he looks at me with a guilty expression. "I'm kidding," I add on.

"You are, but you're also telling the truth."

"Any update on Ashlyn?" I change the subject to the only one I could think of. I'm stupid to keep bringing her up, but I want to know. I want to know what's going on between them.

He lets out a sigh, "I think it's over." Is it bad I wanted to smile at that? "She wanted space, hasn't talked to me since. She's even not showing up tonight because of me. So yea, I think it's over."

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