A boy named Blaze

Chapter 18

Tara

I glanced over at Blaze as we walked down the street to ho knows where. I chewed my lip and continued to look at his, trying to figure him out. How did he save me? How did he know where I was? He always seems to be there when I'm in trouble now, is he stalking me. I shook that thought, he is not stalking me. He looked over at me' and I looked away, hoping he didn't see me watching him. He chuckled and I looked back over at him to see him looking at me. "Is the great Tara blushing," he teased and I scowled at him. I am not blushing, am I? Damn I am, I let my knotted hair fall over my face, blocking his view. He glanced over at him threw my hair and he was still looking at me' with a smile.

"Stop looking at me," I mumbled. "I could say the same to you," he said smugly and I scowled again at him. I could tell I went even reader and didn't say anything. He chuckled again and I shot him daggers. "What's your problem," I spat, even though I should be nice. I mean the boy just saved me, not that I needed saving, I could have gotten out on my own. Yeah after you got raped said an annoying voice in the back if my head. "Nothing," he smirked, "but I think I like the Tara that hugged me' better." Damn I went red again and mumbled "shut up." He makes me so mad sometimes, I swear he's gonna drive me insane. Yet he did save my life, twice. "Thanks," I said quietly, half hoping he didn't hear.

I didn't look him but after no smug reply I glanced over, thinking he didn't hear me. He wore a big smile on his lips telling me he did hear me. "How did you find me," I blurted out. "I went for a walk and I played poker at there house a couple times and asked if they wanted to play a game," he said gingerly. "And they invited you in to play and asked if you wanted to see the show," I asked sarcastically. "No, they said they were busy and I kinda heard you screaming threats and well kinds broke in threw the bathroom window," he said sheepishly. I laughed, imagining Blaze sneak into the bathroom to come save me. "Couldn't wait to play hero again," I mocked. "Couldn't wait to get attacked again," he countered and I glared at him. The air was getting chilly and I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. I was still only wearing my black tank-top.

Blaze noticed and shrugged off his sweater, passing it to me. "I'm fine," I said, shivering again. He wrapped it around my shoulders anyways and I felt the warm of the sweater. After about a minute I gave in and slipped the sweater on, zipping it up. "Thanks," I said, snuggling into it. He gave me' a nod and we walked down the street. "Where are we going," I asked. "My house," he said and the way he said it slightly made me blush. God I'm acting so, well, virgin. "How much longer," I asked. He chuckled and a smile formed on his lips. "Almost there," he replied. I cuddled into his sweater more and took a bug breath in. He smelt musty, in a good way. I smiled thinking how warm his sweater was.

It was better then Matthew's sweater. His smelt fresh and like his cologne, Blaze's felt used and safe as well as smelt better, more comforting. "This one," he said pointing at a small, run down apartment building. He walked over with me in tow and opened the door. I stepped into the building and a smell of drugs attacked me. I coughed but it was almost in some way comforting, it smelt like the apartment I lived in around here. "Sorry for the smell," Blaze said, "smells better in my apartment." I just shrugged, "I'm used to the smells." He looks at me weird, as if he was trying to figure me out. "I didn't always live with money, I lived around here for awhile," I said, answering his unspoken question.

"You lived around here," he said in disbelief. "Yeah, didn't you wonder how I hit the guy with the knife without a problem," I replied slowly like he was a little kid. He shook his head and his black hair fell into his eyes and fanned across his face. "Just your dating Matthew, hang with cheerleaders, and live in the good part of town," he replied. "I lived here for awhile, longer then any other place," I shrugged. He hid the shock now with a smirk, "how you stay alive without me." I chuckled and thought of Blake saving me once, then I never needed saving. "You ever look at the stats," I ask innocently. "Not really, why," he asked confused. "Cause baby, I was number one," I said with a smile.