The Boy Down the Street // Blake Gray

18

Steph's POV
"Steph you've been inside all morning doing absolutely nothing. If you were playing bass or sketching at your desk then fine, but you're just sitting around watching re runs How I Met Your Mother." I roll my eyes at my dad. "And your point is," I retort back.

"That you should do something." I roll my eyes again and put my focus on the tv. My dad then grabs the remote and turns of the tv. "That's an order. Go get dressed." I proceed to roll of the couch and drag myself to my room.

After a hard five minutes of deciding what to do on this cold Sunday afternoon, I finally decide to go to the park by my house and sketch the biggest tree there. To be completely honest, I don't know why I chose that as my time filler, but at least I'm getting outside.

I barley brush my long knotted hair so I throw on a black beanie to cover the tangles. Then I put on some dark blue sweatpants and a red quarter zip pull over sweater to keep me warm. I don't put on makeup because fuck that shit, then I grab my things and head to the park.

-

Blake's POV
"I came believe you actually texted me," laughed Briley as we walked hand in hand down my street. We've been out all day, and we've been hitting it off pretty much the whole time.

"So Mr.Gray, where is our next destination?" She asks in a mockingly posh tone. "How about the park over there, it's a Divine location," I say in the same tone she did. "Then let us go there," she responds keeping up the posh tone. We both laugh and proceed to the park.

We enter the park and decide to just walk along the paved trail that loops around the property. "Hey, wanna sit somewhere and just chat?" I ask. "We've been chatting all day," she jokes. "Hey, I need a rest." She gives me a smirk. "Okay let's sit by the big tree." Then we begin to walk towards that spot.

As we get closer and closer to the big tree I see a familiar figure sitting on the garden display rocks that lay about ten meters away from the tree. I'm not sure if it's the person I know so I forget all about it and continue with Briley.

Once we're about two feet away from the tree I stop in my tracks. "Blake, what's wrong?" She puts her hand on my shoulder. "Um, let's not sit here," I stutter out in a whisper. "Why?" I shrug. I don't know how to tell her that the girl who's heart I broke is sitting right in front of this tree.

Briley looks around and her eyes land on Steph, then back at me. "It's her, isn't it," she says with some anger in her tone. "What? That girl? Pfft I don't even know her," I say trying my best to cover up my lie.

"Blake, what's your past with her?" I look everywhere but her face trying to avoid the question. "Blake answer me!" My eyes finally meet hers.

"Okay fine. She's my neighbour and we were really really good friends until I did a douche move and now she won't even look at me. It's nothing though, our little thing is long over," I say. "Then if it's long over why do you still care if she sees you?"

I don't know how to answer that. Should I not care if she sees me? Briley has a point. "You still like her, don't you," she says disappointedly. I look at Steph for a long 10 seconds. Her eyes are big when me make contact, and we stay locked on each other.

"It figures," Briley mutters. "I'm sorry Briley," I cough out. She looks at me, not in disappointment, but in a hopeful way. "It's okay Blake. I hope you two make up." She gives me s hug than walks away. I guess deep down I still want Steph. And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to win her back.