Before Everything

Chapter 19

Blake's Pov

The drive home was super awkward. Nia and I tried to keep the conversation rolling but it was so obvious that something was bothering Mike and Maddie.

"So... the weather is beautiful!" I said with a wide, fake smile and laughed a little trying to lift the spirit up.
Nia looked at me like 'Why are you even trying? And with the most clichéd line ever?'
I just shrugged and stayed quiet for the rest of the journey.

Everyone just listened to the music and quietly hummed.
Finally, we were at Maddie's house.

"Mhm, thanks for the weekend and for the ride!" Maddie said quickly without looking directly at Mike and smiled a little smile.
"Thanks to you," Mike said trying to find the eye contact but failing.
"No probs, Maddie! We had a lot of fun, we should do this again," I said and waved at her and Nia.
Nia just smiled and thanked while staring straight into my eyes. It felt like she stared straight to my soul. Her eyes were definitely signing me 'I like you so much and I want to be more than friends.'

Or then I just imagined everything which is very possible.

"Soooo, about you and Maddie. Dude, you have to be the one who approaches first. I remembered wrongly. So text, call, write a poem, I don't know but do something," I said and tapped Mike to the shoulder.
"I was right! And you were soo wrong."
"I hate to admit it but yeah, I was wrong."
"So... I have to talk to her first."
"Yep. And I know it's hard but it makes things more simple once you've made the move."
"I guess so..."

Mike arrived at my house and we said goodbye. I really hope they will get through this awkward phase. Because they are meant to be together. Or I'm just a cheesy guy.

Maddie's Pov

I woke up on Monday without remembering anything from the weekend. After I had arrived at school, everything hit me. We really kissed. On the beach. And he still hasn't made the move. What was wrong with me? I really wasn't good enough? I thought when I walked to my locker.

Nia was there laughing at something on her phone.
"What are you laughing at?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing. Blake just told me one funny thing," she answered, looked at me and tried to hold a laugh.
"Okay but now you're laughing at me, why?"
"Well, look at yourself."

I looked at my mirror in my locker and I looked down at my clothes. I looked terrible. Like I just survived from a tornado. My hair was a mess, I still had my pajamas and an old top on and I think that I smelled pretty bad.

"Oh my God! Why do I look like this?!"
"Well, I guess you had a busy morning!" Nia said and laughed.
"Hey, this is not funny. I didn't wake up to my first alarm so I just grabbed an apple and started to drive here. But I would've never thought that I would look this bad."
"Hey, it's not a problem. Everybody could just think you're having the Finals and you didn't want to put any effort to your looks when it's enough rough to keep up with the school."
"Yeah sure, the Finals when I'm halfway in my semester...."
"That's true. Well, it doesn't matter. Nobody really cares. And besides, I always have spare clothes in my locker so I can just change."
"Yeah true, but girl there's no help for your hair, " Nia said and gave me a hairbrush and I started desperately brushing my hair. I just hoped that no one would see me like this.

And then... the person I least wanted there showed up. Yep, Michael Blevins. Walking and talking with his team players. I turned my back to them and tried to be invisible.

But when you want to be invisible, it never works out. I dropped my school bag and all my stuff rolled to the floor. And because Mike is so kind, he rushed to help me.
"Hey Mike, no. You don't need to help me."
"Forget about it, it's not a problem."
He collected my things and gave them to me avoiding eye contact. Well what can I say, I avoided it too.