Yours Musically

64. Third Strike?

Chapter Sixty Four - Third Strike?

I'd kissed Matt in front of my brother two nights ago.

Two nights ago was also the last I'd remember talking to him, and that was before I'd kissed Matt. When I'd pulled away from him, Blake was already marching back home. I'd followed him, but my steps had been too slow.

By the time I'd made it upstairs, he'd already locked himself in his room. The next morning, he did not talk to me no matter how many times I tried to bring up a conversation. He didn't even look me in the eye. It was like I'd stopped existing for him, or I'd become invisible.

"Give him some time," Nick said.

"It's been two days, Nick. Is that not enough?"

He sat down on the island stool with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I tried talking to him. He asked me if I knew about it."

"What did you say?"

"I wasn't gonna lie to him, Becks." He shrugged slightly. "I said yes, and he asked me to leave him alone."

"I'm so sorry, Nick. I shouldn't have involved you in this."

"I involved myself when I followed you out that night. This is on me."

I looked down at my cereal bowl, mindlessly swirling my spoon in it.

"Are you waiting for it to turn soggy? Because that's sick." He frowned, sipping on his coffee.

I let out a low chuckle and started eating my breakfast. The front door opened, and Blake walked inside, his running gear drenched in sweat. He saw us, took off his earphones, and walked into the kitchen.

A ray of hope fell upon me, but all he did was grab a water bottle and start to leave without a word.

"Hey, man!" Nick called.

"Hey," he replied plainly and walked out. Exchanging a surprised look with Nick, I jumped out of my stool and followed Blake to the stairs.

"Blake," I called.

He plugged his earphones back in and darted upstairs, the sound of his bedroom door shutting echoing across the stairs. Tears pooled in my eyes, and I bit down on my quivering lip.

Deciding that I needed some air, I grabbed my backpack from the couch and started to head out.

"You haven't finished your breakfast." Nick followed me to the front door.

"I'm not hungry," I croaked out, leaving my house. I started walking towards school on foot, wanting to get as far as possible until Meera would catch up and pick me up on the way.

Wiping my tears away, I wrapped my arms around myself and kept walking until the low rumbling of an engine made me turn sideways.

"What are you doing, Nick?" I asked, annoyed.

"Get in. I'll take you wherever you want..." He looked down at his watch. "...at 6 a.m. Great!"

"I'm fine. You can go home."

"Come on, Becks. I look like a creep with my car slowed next to you like this."

"You're really stubborn and annoying."

He hit the brakes when I stopped walking, and I got in the passenger seat with a scowl.

"I don't wanna talk about anything, okay? Just drive."

"Got it."

I pulled my phone out of my pocket to tell Meera she didn't have to pick me up, but there was already a text from her. Sent at 3 a.m.