Make My Way

Chapter Eighteen

{AN: Play the song in the media and then read}

Aria's POV

"Does Adrian have to come tonight?" I asked Blake and gave him a fake pouty lip. He smiled and elbowed me. I stopped my cheesy whining and switched modes.

"He's my friend. Yes. He invited you to his house," Blake countered.

"But-"

"Why do you hate him so much anyway?" he interrupted.

"Many reasons. For one, he's an idiot. Also, he's a self-centered, dirty-minded jerk. Not to mention, he's a complete as-" I could have gone on for hours if Blake hadn't cut me off.

"Okay. I'm not denying any of those things, but is he really that bad?"

"I guess not. Still though. I will never be comfortable on his presence, much less enjoy it."

"It's not like I'm asking you to make out with him." If looks could kill, he'd be a dead man. He just laughed. Right in the face of my death glare! I almost slapped him.

"You're cute when you're mad," he commented.

"You're a flirt when I'm mad." He raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Fine," I gave in, "He can come."

He smiled at his victory. "Good. Now, let's go dance!"

When I stayed with my arms crossed over my chest, he just went on with his business. He slid his arms under me and picked me up. He carried me to the dance floor bridal style. When he set me down, the song changed. It was the Cupid shuffle. More people jogged over to the floor as the words started. Blake and I moved up towards the front. We led the dance, along with Julian and a few others.

As soon as it was over, a slower song came on, one of my favorites.

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep
And dreamed of para-para-paradise

The words floated through my thoughts trying to find a place to rest, a place make an impact. Blake bowed his head down so that I could feel his warm breath on my neck as he spoke. "Sounds like you," he said softly.

"How so?"

"You're always so optimistic and you expect so much of yourself. Sometimes, it overwhelms you. Don't deny it. I can see it in your eyes. You have another world, locked away inside your thoughts. A universe of thoughts, memories, and fantasies. Your escape. Your paradise." The lyrics hit. The impact was made.

Blake didn't move his head and he started singing the next verse in his soft, deep voice. "When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth

"Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night, the stormy night
She'd close her eyes
In the night, the stormy night
Away she'd fly
To para-para-paradise."

I swear, that was the sexiest thing I've ever seen or heard a guy do. I loved it when guys sang. That along with the fact that he had rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, which, by the way, can make a guy become 80% hotter than they already are, made his pretty much irresistible for me. At the end of the chorus, I turned my head and my lips met his. He pressed his lips into mine and we connected. Not just physically, mentally. We had a connection that wasn't quite there before. A two way bond that held us together. It made us stronger.

We broke apart but didn't move our heads. "Aria," he asked, "Will you be my girlfriend?"

"I thought you'd never ask." I wrapped my arms under his and hooked my hands on his shoulders. There, standing in the midst of a bunch of dancing teenagers, he held me. It was different than before. And it was the best feeling in the entire world. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

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There was only around ten minutes left until midnight, when the dance officially ended and a few people were starting to leave. They played a few more songs and then announced that this would be the last song. Blake and I danced together and when the song ended, everyone left happily to go home or to a friends house or a party.

Blake and I hung out for a while afterwards and gave the cheerleaders a hand with the cleanup. I took down posters around the school with Aurora while Blake helped the DJ carry out his equipment. When we were done, everyone gathered back in the gym.

"So, you guys are coming to my house now, right?" Stella asked the group of juniors and seniors standing by us. They all nodded in affirmation. "Does anyone not know how to get there?"

"Blake doesn't but I'll ride with him so it's fine," I said and Stella nodded. "I'm not sure what happened to Adrian and Easton though. They don't know where they're going either."

"I'll send them directions," Laine offered.

"Okay," Stella responded.

"Sounds good. Do you want Blake and I to pick up some pizza or something?" I asked.

"Sure. That's good with me. Aura, you're driving with me, right?" Stella told us.

"Yep."

"Okay. See you guys there then!" The group dispersed and Blake and I got in his car.

We went downtown to a pizza place and Blake went inside while I walked across the street to a gas station. I grabbed a gallon of pop and two bags of chips. I went back to the car and waited for Blake. We stuck the food in the back and he started the engine.

We drive out to Stella's house to find Liam and Neil standing out side waiting for Stella to let them in. "Where's Stella?" I asked.

Liam shrugged. Neil said, "I'm not sure."

I went up and typed in the electronic code for her door, letting us in. After a few minutes, the rest of the people showed up. They came in the front door and we gathered in her living room. The night was just about to begin.