Heart Key (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 32: Because of You

Song: Because of You

By: Kelly Clarkson

"Goodbye honey! Come back any time!" Granny Cream shouts as Blake helps me into Chloe's truck. "I will!" I reply with a warm smile which she returns kindly as Blake shuts my door for me before walking around to get in on the driver's side. 

He hops in and starts up the truck, closing his door in the process before pulling away from his grandma's house. He drives around the curve and into the edge of the woods, just out of sight, before completely shutting the car off and turning to look at me.

He smiles at me as I look at him in confusion for what feels like the hundredth time today. "What are you doing?" I ask curiously and he rolls his eyes. "I believe you're forgetting the deal we made. You need to give me an answer. Will you be my girlfriend or not?" He asks, hope in his eyes as he stares me down, causing me to look around nervously.

"I-I don't know." I stutter nervously and his face immediately falls in disappointment. I feel bad for a moment as he drops his head to look away. "It's just that I've already told you that I've never had a boyfriend, I've never been in love, love is pointless and it hurts people, and I'm leaving this summer so having a boyfriend would be pointless-" I'm stopped as he pulls me close to press his lips to mine.

We sit there frozen for a few moments until he pulls away to stare at me in amusement. "That's a yes then?" I blink a few times before swallowing slowly and letting out a sigh. "What do I have to lose?" I reply and he lets out a whoop in excitement. He smiles at me widely as he starts up the truck once more and pulls away. 

I shake my head at his excitement with a small laugh. "It's not that big of a deal, people get in relationships and break up all the time." I tell him and he slowly shakes his head, not taking his eyes off the road. "It's a big deal to me, because this is a deal I don't intend to let you break as long as I'm alive." He glances over to wink at me and I roll my eyes. 

I stare straight ahead, letting his words pass through my head as the trees pass bye. 

---------------------------------------------------

"THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE ALIVE!" Chloe screams as she tackles me in a hug, causing me to wince as her arms rub my scratches the wrong way. I let out a pained laugh before hugging her back. "Of course I'm alive. You don't get my clothes yet." I joke as we pull back to smile at one another. 

"Oh please, I'd just take your shampoo and lotion." She tells me and I roll my eyes as Blake comes around to stand beside me. Chloe's eyes snap to him and she immediately scowls as she reaches up to smack him. I jump in surprise and his eyes widen at the sudden attack. 

"You just had to break that stupid window and drop her into it! I'll kill you pretty boy!" She screams as she attempts to attack him once more. I quickly grab her arms to stop her as Blake takes a few quick steps back. "Let me at him Marcy! I'll make him wish he'd never met me!" She shouts and I let out a laugh at her fire.

"I think he's already wishing that and I'm fine! You can calm down now!" I tell her and she immediately pauses to look at me once more. I smile at her reassuringly and she lets out a sigh of relief before smiling back. "I'm glad, I was worried sick when you didn't come to school today. I was even more worried when you weren't here. Chris got worried too, he's inside trying to call Blake right now."

We both turn to look at the boy in question as he pats his pockets before pulling out his phone. "Whoops, looks like my phone's dead." He says with an apologetic look just as Chris comes running outside. "Marcy you're alive!" He screams as he picks me up and twirls me around. I wince at his tight grip and Blake is immediately there to help pry me from his grasp and lower me to the ground. 

"Please don't crush my girlfriend, I just got her." Blake says worriedly and everyone immediately freezes. Chris and Chloe turn to look at us slowly as smiles break out across their faces as they wait for me to confirm Blake's claims. I let out a nervous chuckle before slowly nodding.

It takes a moment for this to process with Chloe but when it does she lets out a ear-splitting scream that threatens to deafen me. "MARCY IS BLOSSOMING INTO AN EMOTIONAL WOMAN!" I wince as she grabs my hands and forces me to jump up and down with her. Blake watches in amusement while Chris rushes forward saying, "I wanna join in the girl moment!" 

He detaches our hands on one side before joining the jumping while also letting out his version of a girlish scream. We all stop simultaneously to turn and look at Blake. He raises an eyebrow before slowly shaking his head and laughing. "I've done a lot of things, but that, will not be one of them." He tells us and Chloe pouts in disappointment and I just smile as I pull away from the little jumping circle.

"I'm tired, I'm going to go to bed early. Goodnight everyone." I tell them quickly as I walk towards the house. I hear footsteps from behind as they all three follow me all the way to my room, where I subtly note the new window and absence of broken glass on the floor.

I turn to see them all flop down on my bed while I go into the bathroom. "You know, when I say I want to go to bed, I kind of mean it!" I shout to them as I shut the door to change. I pull on some sweat pants and baggy shirt before pulling my hair up into a bun and walking up to see Chloe in my beanbag chair, Chris at the foot of my bed, and Blake stretched out on my bed too as they all stare at a show on my TV.

"Really guys? I really do want to sleep." I tell them and all their eyes immediately snap to me. "Go ahead, we're just gonna watch to make sure no crazy ideas pop into your head while you're asleep." Chloe says pointedly and I let out a sigh.

"I'm really sorry about that, but I am tired. Do you mind if we pick this up tomorrow?" I beg and Chris lets out a laugh. "We've already forgiven you, so go to sleep. We're just gonna hang out for a little bit so don't worry about it." He says as he nods to the small empty spot on the bed. 

I smile at them before flopping down beside Blake who immediately wraps his arm around me. I let out an exhausted grunt of surprise before closing my eyes and snuggling into my pillow, completely tuning out the sounds of the TV as the warmth engulfs me, making me feel a lot better.

I finally let myself sink into sleep, the faint sound of giggles being the only noise I make out right before I go.