"So, as shitty as the night started, it didn't turn out too bad, huh?" Blake asked, his voice soft as they walked side by side down the wooden planks of the boardwalk. Emma had chosen this as their last location for the night. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery oranges and soft purples, its fading light reflecting like scattered jewels off the calm water. They were the only ones out here at this peaceful time of day.
The air was slightly nippy, carrying the faint scent of salt and lingering fried food, but neither of them seemed to mind, nestled in the warmth of his jacket "Yeah, it wasn't so bad, thanks, Lake," she smiled, a genuine, soft smile that slowly faded as she looked down at the worn wood beneath her feet.
He quickly noticed the shift, bumping his shoulder gently against hers, prompting her to continue. "I'm just dreading going back to school Monday," she confessed, pressing her lips together, letting out a small sigh. She already felt a knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach. She knew the news about her and Blake—his abrupt rescue from the dance—would have spread like wildfire by then, and the story would probably get all mixed up and twisted into something unrecognizable.
He stopped walking, leaning against the weathered railing, looking out over the darkening water. "Well, at least we have tonight, so don't worry about tomorrow," he grinned, watching as she leaned against the railing beside him, mirroring his pose. His eyes drifted from the water to her, scanning over her in his oversized leather jacket. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll wrapped in rough, dark leather—a stark contrast that didn't fit her gentle look, but he found himself surprisingly liking it.
"Did I tell you I liked your dress tonight?" he said before he could stop himself, the words surprising even him.
She let out a soft snort, looking away, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. She pulled the jacket closer, her fingers tracing the faded words carved into the old wooden railing. "Yeah, right. I looked so plain compared to all the other girls that were at the dance."
He leaned his cheek against his palm, his gaze fixed on her. "I'll have to disagree. You, Emma, were definitely the prettiest one there." she laughed, a genuine, albeit disbelieving sound, rolling her eyes but blushing fiercely. She rubbed a hand over her face. "I can't believe I even tried to look good for that dick," she stated, shaking her head in disbelief at her past naivete.
He let out a quiet snicker, looking around. He truly hoped she'd take his words seriously, that she truly did look good tonight. "Well, you looked just perfect to me," he whispered, his tone unusually soft, a side of him she hadn't known existed. Biting his lip, he pushed the hair out of his face, needing to change the subject. "So, why did you pick this place as our last spot?"
She sighed, debating whether to tell him the truth or not. A small part of her wanted to cling to her secrets, to keep him at arm's length, but a stronger, more desperate part yearned to finally open up to someone, and here he was, surprisingly willing to listen to her. She picked at the wooden rail, her voice hesitant at first, then gaining a quiet resolve. "I... I come here when it all becomes too much." She looked at him with a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes; to him, it looked rather sad.
"When I was younger, my mother would push me even harder than she does now. One day, I got my first C on some stupid test. I don't even remember the subject." She rolled her eyes, looking away as the memories came flooding back like a cold, relentless hurricane.
He watched her closely, every muscle in his body tense, hanging on to every word.
"I just remember I ran... I ran right out the door... right out of the house. I ran and ran till I ended up here." She hesitated, glancing under her lashes at him, her vulnerability raw. "I... I remember climbing on top of the railing, looking at the cold, rocky water debating on jumping and just ending it all."
His eyebrows scrunched together, a visible shock spreading across his face. He watched as she fought with her own inner demons, the pain of the memory etched on her features.
On the outside, she always looked like she had it all together, all the time. He would have never guessed she would consider something like that. He licked his lips, his gaze softening. He found himself wanting to reach out, to comfort her, but he didn't want to push her out of her comfort zone or break the delicate trust she was extending. So, he kept his ring-covered hands clasped together on top of the railing, offering silent support.
She swallowed hard, letting out a jagged, shaky breath. "Just when I was about to jump, I got scared. And with wobbly legs, I stepped backwards, back onto the solid ground. I sat down on that bench over there." She pointed behind them a few feet away to a faded green bench facing the water. "I sat there for at least an hour, just holding myself, before walking back home. Where my parents proceeded to yell at me for running off like that." She let out a bitter, humorless laugh.
He hesitantly reached out a hand, rubbing her back gently, a small, comforting gesture. It gave her a little comfort to know she was at this familiar, painful place again, but she wasn't alone this time. She had Blake beside her. They stayed in a comfortable silence for a few moments as the sun finally fully set around them, leaving only the soft glow of distant streetlights.
"Your parents sound like real assholes," Blake stated bluntly, his voice low.
She laughed, a genuine, if still a little weary, sound. "Yeah, but they're my parents." he shrugged, finally removing his hand from her back as the dim streetlights along the boardwalk began to flicker on. "Just because they're your parents doesn't mean you have to like them 24/7. My parents get on my nerves too; they were the only reason I went to that damn dance anyway. Though I'm kinda happy I went now..." He trailed off, a soft smile playing on his lips.
Emma's eyes widened when she suddenly remembered the reason her parents weren't bothering her right now was because she had left her phone on Do Not Disturb. She pulled her phone out of her pocket. The screen lit up to show 12:05 AM, which meant it was already past her curfew. She quickly turned off Do Not Disturb, and the screen exploded with dozens of missed calls and urgent texts from her parents.
God, she was so dead, she thought, letting out a heavy sigh. She handed him her phone so he could see all the missed messages. "Huge. I need to get home now," she said, starting to pace around. He scrolled and tapped on her phone for a few seconds before handing it back. She turned and started to walk back towards his car, him following quickly behind her.
****
He parked the car outside her house, the familiar quiet of her street a stark contrast to the night's adventures. "Despite everything, thanks for making this a fun night, Lake," she smiled at him, holding up the pink teddy bear he'd won her. "And thank you for winning me Tex here." he laughed, a warm sound, apparently she had already chosen a name for the bear. "Don't mention it, Em."
She played with the tiny cowboy hat on Tex's head for a moment, her smile fading slightly, a flicker of insecurity crossing her face. "You'll still remember my existence Monday, right?" she couldn't help but ask, her voice small. She knew his reputation as a loner, and she really didn't want him to shut her out after tonight.
He chuckled, pretending to think it over for a second, which only made her more nervous. "Duh, I'm not that shallow. I'll see you Monday." she grinned, clutching Tex to her chest. "Cool." She climbed out of the car with a goofy smile, walking up to her house. All the lights were out, so she hoped her parents had just gone to sleep. She sent Blake a quick wave, which he returned before pulling away from the curb. She softly opened the front door, peeking her head through. The coast seemed clear. She practically ran up the stairs to her room, closing the door softly behind her.
She smiled, falling back onto the bed with a soft giggle, holding Tex close. She held him in the air above her head, only then noticing she was still wearing Blake's jacket. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She scrunched her eyebrows together before pulling it out. "Blake...?" she whispered, a new wave of surprise washing over her. How did he get her number?
Blake: My jacket looked too good on you for me to remind you to give it back. I guess you'll just have to give it back Monday 😉
(Mia note:Blake def. put his number in her phone at the board walk he's so smooth lol
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
