The Boy Down the Street // Blake Gray

12

Steph's POV
"I'm really sorry for a few nights ago." Said Blake with sorrow in his voice. We haven't talked since that night. It was mid afternoon on Saturday and I had just come home from hockey. I was all sweaty and gross from the game since he had face timed me right when I got home.

"It's alright, really." I respond. I don't want him to feel bad for what his friend did. "I find it weird that it all happened since Hunter isn't normally like that at all." He says scratching his head. "People change Blake." I say back.

"So how was your game?" He asks changing the subject. "How did you know I had a game this morning?" I ask. I don't recall telling him about my game today. "Your snapchat told me. And I also remember you telling me that you have games every Saturday mornings." He says. It's sweet that he remembered my Saturday schedule and that he checked my snapchats. "Well we won 4-3, but that was only because we had to go to shootouts." I respond. "Congrats anyways." He says being optimistic about the situation.

"Don't you have your first show tonight?" I ask trying to make it seem like I also know everything about his life, which I don't. "Yeah I do. I'm a little nervous though, it's been a while since I've done a show and I forget what it's like to be on stage." He says shyly. "You'll be fine. You're great with people and a lot of people like you. And that fanbase of yours-they'll be supportive and won't judge you at all" I say trying to boost his confidence. "Thanks Steph, that really helped." I blushed a little too much after he said that, but I can't help it, I just love it when he says something good about me.

"Oh my gosh I love this song!" Blake starts to play one of my favourite songs of all time on his phone-Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo. I know it's some what inappropriate for my age, but when it's over played on the radio and you're in the car 24/7 the song grows on you. The song just makes me get up and dance every time, so that's what I do. I hear him laugh as I dance and sing to the chorus until I finally stop, and realize he's filmed me dancing and singing.

"That's going on my snapchat story." He takes out his phone and starts to post it on snapchat. "You wouldn't dare." He completely ignores me and chuckles once he's done posting. "But I just did." He grins and it's a big one, it's almost creepy.

I check my phone and see that there is in fact a video of me dancing and singing to the song. The caption on it is "smooth moves 😂 miss her loads 😭❤️." What does the heart emoji mean? Is it a sign that he likes me. Im not gonna stress about it, I mean, we're only friends, right?

-

"You were on Blake Gray's story on Saturday!" It's lunch at school, and the cafeteria is loud. But my friend Carly is so loud that even people from Australia could hear her. "Calm down, it isn't that big of a deal." She gives me this weird stare like I'm nuts or something. "It's a huge deal Steph! Why didn't you tell us you were friends with him!" Everyone at my table agrees, even the boys. At my table, is my usual group of friends. There's Kyle, Carly, Jayden, Macey, Zac and Harrison.

"He only moved here last Friday, and left this Monday for the Canadian Magcon tour or something so there was not much to say." Jayden rolled his eyes. "Well something must have happened between you two because he said that he 'misses you loads'" says Jayden. "That's true" agrees Zac and everyone else nods in agreement. "So what happened between you? Did you begin to date in secret?" Harrison asks. "What? Of course not!" Everyone chuckles sarcastically at that statement. "Lies" says Macey and they all laugh.

"I swear we're not dating. We're just good friends, that's all." Carly looks at me weirdly, but knows deep down that they're not going to get the answer they want to hear. "Okay then" Carly says with a smirk and we move on to talk about other things until class.

-
"Steph you and Blake would make such a cute couple!" Ever since I got to hockey that's what everyone has been talking about. "Ew. Sam that's gross. He's just a friend" I say for like the 50th time today. "Who's just a friend?" Sam and I look behind us and Gavin approaches us. "Blake Gray" answers Sam excitedly. Gavin gives a breath of relief before answering to the statement. "The musical.ly guy who looks like a mushroom?" Sam and I both nod so we're all on the same page. "Well have a goodnight guys, my dad is here." We both wave and he runs off.

"He so likes you" Sam teases. I look at Gavin, who just got into his dad's car, then I look back at Sam. She puts her hands over her mouth and starts to squeal. "You like him too!" I look at her angrily but I can't help but break out into a smile and blush. "Okay I don't like him and he doesn't like me." My blush has final faded away but my smile still lies on my face. "So I see you're in a love triangle." Sam is on a teasing roll right now. "No response eh, better pick your man wise." She then runs off to her mom.

I walk to my dads car deep in thought. Am I really in a love triangle? If I am, who would I choose? Blake or Gavin?