Disaster Usually Follows

Chapter 18

Pic of Mr. Kerwinn (Blake's Dad)^^^ played by Patrick Dempsy

Maddie's POV:

I couldn't help but stare at our project. Surprisingly, it had only taken an hour and a half. While the cake was baking, I showed Blake how to make fondant toppings (my specialty) and how to apply them.

Now the cake was done and I had to admit, it looked awesome. The sprinkle ribosomes, licorice endoplasmic reticulum, and jolly rancher vacuole looked awesome on the cake. Good enough to eat.

"Teamwork!" I cried, giving Blake a high five. He slapped my hand and chuckled.

Just then Velma walked in the room and sucked in a breath.

"Oh my! Thank cake looks delicious! That's definitely worth an 'A'." she complimented, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over the cell cake.

"You even cleaned up!"

I nodded and felt a yawn coming on. I quickly checked my flip phone. It was ten o'clock!

Blake, noticing my look said "It's getting late. I'll take you home. I will bring the cake to school."

I nodded and turned to Velma.

"Thank you so much for letting us use your kitchen, Velma," I said, giving her a hug.

"Oh, you come back anytime you want!" she said, giving me a tight squeeze back.

"Thank you!" I blushed.

"Will we be seeing you at the game tomorrow?" Velma asked as we were walking out the door.

"Yes," I said confidently, already having made my mind back at Blake's practice.

"Come find me tomorrow then. Good night dear!" she waved from the porch.

When Blake and I finally got into the car and out of the driveway, I sighed and laid back on the seat.

"I'm sooo tired. How are you still awake? You had practice and made a cake!" I said in disbelief.

"I'm also not hurt." Blake pointed out, smirking in my direction.

"Touche," I said with my eyes closed.

After a couple of minutes, a car light suddenly flashed behind my eyelids.

Blake suddenly stopped and cussed.

"Shit." He said.

I quickly sat up and looked around.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Then I saw a black SUV parked in the street right next to us. The windows were tinted and I didn't have to wait long for the driver to roll down the window.

"What are you doing driving late at night?" a man said from the other car.

"I'm driving a friend home, Dad," Blake said, sounding a little annoyed.

Wait. Dad?

I strained to see over and saw a man sitting in the van. He looked a little like Blake, but older with salt and pepper hair peeking through.

"What friend?" Blake's dad asked.

Hoping I was taking the right cue, I piped up.

"Hello, Mr. Kerwinn, my name is Maddie," I said, hoping I wasn't talking too loud. I mean, it's not every day you have to talk to someone almost an entire car away.

"Pleasure." the man said with a nod. Then he turned to his son.

"Come right home after, you have a big game tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," Blake said, still irritated.

Without another word of communication, the two Kerwinn men rolled up their windows and continued on their way as if nothing had happened.

"Okay." I dragged out. His dad seemed very distant as if he was a business man 24/7.

"Yep," Blake said, knowing exactly what I was thinking.

The car remained silent for a while longer but I was wide awake and felt the need to break the silence.

"Your mom was so nice," I said with a sigh. If I'm being honest to myself, she was the kind of person I would want as a mother. Blake was lucky to have her.

"Thanks. Sometimes she can be a handful, though." Blake said, glancing in my direction.

"It's part of her job." I chuckled sadly.

Blake looked at me again and cleared his throat.

"Maddie?" He said.

"Yeah?" I looked at him curiously.

"I-I'm so sorry that I talked about your mom like that. You know, before we were science partners. I just assumed you were like all the other girls: bratty, spoiled, goody-two-shoes. I shouldn't have assumed that and really shouldn't have said those things, especially when I knew what had happened to her."

My breath hitched in my throat and I coughed a couple of times. Blake Kerwinn was apologizing? For something that happened more that a week ago? This is new. And I can't really say that I hate it.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"I'm sorry I punched you," I said back.

Blake chuckled and looked at me again. Every time he did, it was like one of those little wind-up monkey drummers was playing inside me. That was new too.

"You're forgiven. Besides, that was one hell of a punch," he said, rubbing his nose as if remembering it.

By that time we were just pulling up to the Knight's house.

Blake pulled up into the driveway and turned off the ignition.

"So," Blake said, turning towards me. When he looked at me, I couldn't bring myself to look at him and looked anywhere but. I decided on the steering wheel.

"Thank you for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow." I said quickly, stealing a quick peek at him after I finished. He was still looking. Yikes.

"I know you guys will win," I said, a little more confident. I had seen how the boys played together and it was clear that we had the skills and the willpower.

"Thanks, I hope so," Blake said, rubbing his hands together.

Slowly, I turned toward the door and opened it.

Before I could close the door, though, Blake called out.

"Wait, Maddie." he said.

I turned back around and leaned into the car.

"Yeah?" I asked, for the first time noticing the smell of his car. It smelled both sweet and spicy. And it had a musky quality to him, like leather. It smelled like Blake. And it smelled good.

A grin broke out on Blake's face.

"Good night."