It Started With Hello

Chap. 17

"So, this is the place," Blake said as he led Emma through the front door into the empty house. She looked around, following him through the large living room. Toys littered the soft carpet, probably left by Alex, and a TV hung on the wall alongside photos of Blake and Alex with who she assumed were their parents.

He glanced back at her as they made their way up the stairs. "I guess I'll try to find you a change of clothes. My clothes should fit you; they may be a little big, but it's all we've got." They reached his door, which had a "Do Not Disturb" sign in red and black font hanging on it.
He opened it, and she followed him in. He turned, pointing a finger at her. "Don't touch anything." He gestured toward his desk, as if telling her to sit, before walking over to his closet.

She rolled her eyes, making her way to the desk and pulling out the chair to sit down. She unzipped his leather jacket, looking down at her wet, stained shirt, and sighed heavily. He looked back at her as he pulled out a Green Day t-shirt. "Aren't you happy now that we got out of there? You would've had to go through the whole day wearing that shirt. And it's pretty see-through at this point, not that I'm minding the view, I'm just letting you know~" he joked, grinning, before turning away to look through a drawer for bottoms.

She blushed, quickly zipping back up the jacket, embarrassed about the entire situation at school. How could she go back to school tomorrow knowing everyone saw her run off with Blake again? She rubbed her temples, already feeling a migraine setting in.
Blake pulled out a pair of gray jogging pants with a drawstring waist. "This should work." Walking closer, he handed the clothes to her.

She stood, taking the clothes and holding them up against her body.
"I suggest taking a shower first." He walked out of the room, pointing to a door at the end of the hall. "Bathroom's right through there." He started making his way back downstairs. She stopped him by calling his nickname. "Hey, Lake." he turned his head, looking up at her. She gave him a small smile. "Thanks for... all this." She then turned, walking into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. He grinned softly, making his way into the living room.

While Emma was taking a shower, Blake spent the time cleaning up Alex's toys in the living room. He had just finished when he heard Emma's voice. "I left my wet clothes in your room." he turned, and his breath hitched. Emma was walking downstairs in his clothes, his jacket clutched in her hands. The Green Day t-shirt, clearly too big, hung loosely on her, the sleeves covering most of her arm, making her look both small and utterly adorable.

The gray jogging pants pooled slightly at her ankles, emphasizing her slender frame. He'd expected his clothes to just look baggy, but on her, they looked... right. A warmth spread through his chest he hadn't expected. Damn, she looks cute. Like she belongs here, in my space, wearing my stuff.

He managed a casual grin. "You don't look too bad in my clothes. Much better than covered in Gatorade, right?" She sat down beside him as he picked the remote off the table. She nodded, setting the jacket on her lap. "Definitely better." She leaned her head back, sighing loudly as he took his jacket off her lap and slid it on.

She turned her head, looking at him. "Now what do we do? I've never ditched before... what's the protocol?" he laughed, finding it cute that she didn't do this regularly. He picked up a video game controller from the table, tossing it into her lap. "Well, how about we play a video game to pass some time?"
She picked up the PlayStation controller, awkwardly holding it backward. He reached over, turning it around in her hands.

"I've never played video games before. I don't really know how. I probably won't be good." She looked down at her lap, slightly ashamed she'd never had a normal life growing up. He started up the game, shrugging as he looked over at her. "Well, you don't know unless you try, right?" He was right. What would one game hurt? Maybe it would be fun.

****

"In your face!" Emma giggled, pointing a finger at Blake, who was crossing his arms and glaring at her. He had lost the fourth game of Super Smash Brothers in a row to her. One game had turned into them lying on the couch, playing random games for the past three hours. Surprisingly, he wasn't bored of being around her. Even though she was a sarcastic brat at times, she seemed pretty cool.

A few minutes ago, he'd ordered a pizza for them to share, and she was doing a victory dance at his expense.
"To have never played video games, you're pretty good at it," he admitted. She twirled around in circles, laughing. "I'm starting to think you cheated," he added, rubbing his chin, contemplating the thought.

She stopped spinning, pointing a finger at him. "You're just a sore loser, Lake!"
He rolled his eyes, standing up and grabbing a couch pillow, hitting her in the arm with it. She laughed, rubbing her arm, feigning pain. "So, it's war you want, huh?" She picked up another pillow, hitting it against the side of his head.

That was the start of their epic pillow fight war, pillows flying left and right. They both completely lost track of time, laughing and giggling like kids, having fun like they hadn't had in years. He picked her up, spinning her in the air, making her hair fly around wildly.

"It's not my fault you suck at video games, Lake!" she laughed, hitting his back as he finally stopped spinning them. She wobbled on her feet, dizzy. He kept his arms around her waist to keep her steady.

Just then, they both heard, "What are you doing home, Blake?"
Blake turned his head, seeing his mom standing in the doorway, hands on her hips "Mom," he said. Alex was standing beside her, a lollipop in his mouth, wide-eyed. "Miss Pear?" He looked between them, confused.
Blake dropped Emma in shock. She fell to the floor with a thud, rubbing her head.

"You are in soo much trouble," Alex whispered, looking up at the fury in his mom's eyes. Needless to say, Blake had possibly messed up.