Close To Me

Chapter 8

"I brought an offering," Scott announced as he pushed the door of Blake's apartment open and walked in.

"If it's not pizza, I don't want it," Blake blankly replied from where she was laying on the couch, cocooned in fuzzy blankets and never took her eyes off the movie that was on tv even though she wasn't really paying attention to it.

"Oh I think you want it," He smirked while handing her the giant bag of cheetos before plopping down on the other end of the couch and lifted her blankets up so he could tuck his own legs under the warmth.

Blake didn't even say anything. All she did was open the bag and tossed a few in her mouth with her eyes still on the television. Scott's eyebrows arched as he helplessly watched the state Blake was in. They had gotten back from Disney World three days ago and Blake had been depressed ever since. She only left her apartment to go to the photoshoots she had scheduled and then would immediately come back home, change into her sweats and throw her curly hair in a bun and laid on the couch and cried.

Each of the Evans siblings as well as Lisa had been over to visit Blake numerous times but Scott had been over there the most, consoling the girl who was practically an older sister to him. He hated seeing the normally bubbly, sassy and fun woman who was so full of life, jokes, and laughter so beat down and hurt. She hadn't talked much and it was hard to pry anything out of her which was such a contrast to how normally she never stopped talking so Scotty had taken the approach of just coming over to be with her.

"So what do you want to watch tonight? I brought Jude Law movies," Scott sang, knowing that Jude Law would cheer her up.

"Scotty," She started while still staying cocooned in her blankets, feeling like she needed something to protect her, and kept her eyes on the TV. "Why did Chris do that to me?"

This was the first time Blake had talked about the incident since it happened and Scott knew she was finally ready to open up. He turned on the couch to look at her and she slowly did the same but occupied herself by picking at a loose string on the blanket.

"Because he has feelings for you but he's an idiot and didn't know how to tell you so the impulsive overgrown child just kissed you instead of being smart and telling you how he felt," Scott explained.

"But I don't get it!" Blake huffed. "When we were in Atlanta I overheard him tell Seb that I was 'just Blake' to him and I know that's how he views me so why did he kiss me and screw everything up? Now I don't even know what's going on and I've lost my best friend and I'm so angry with him for that."

"I don't think you've ever been just Blake to him," Scott honestly told her. "I think you've always been more to him, just like he's been to you. Chris just wouldn't let himself go there and think of that but then when it was presented to him, I think he felt overwhelmed by the realization that he did feel that way about you."

Soft tears fell down Blake's cheeks and she violently wiped them away while choking out, "I just want my best friend back and I don't know if I can have that anymore. I mean how can things be normal after this? Chris screwed everything up and I want to punch him!"

He understood how Blake felt, considering he wanted to punch his brother himself, but Scott reached over and rested a hand on Blake's as he gently replied, "Do you really want things to go back to normal though? I mean Blakey, do you really want to go back to you two being best friends and you being in love with him when he never had a clue how you felt?"

Blake was quiet for a long time.

Scott didn't push her and waited for her voice to barely whisper, "You're right. You're right Scotty, but everything is a mess and I don't know what to do about it. I'm so confused and hurt and angry and I hated that he kissed me as much as I loved it and I just don't know how to deal with this!"

"Look, Chris might be clueless, but he loves you Blakey, and you love him and I think that's a good starting point to at least talk," Scott gently encouraged her while rubbing her leg. "You need to talk to him about how you feel about him."

"I can't tell him how I feel," She wiped at her tears with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. "How am I supposed to tell him I've loved him as long as I have. He's my best friend and what if we did date Scott? What if we date and he broke up with me and I'd be heartbroken and things between all of us would be so awkward. But it would be even worse if we dated and Chris felt like he had to stay with me but didn't really ca-"

Scott didn't let her go on. He hugged her tight and let her cry on his shoulder while he rubbed her back. As she let out her tears, Scott encouraged her, "Don't worry about tomorrow's troubles Blakey. Just focus on now and I think what you need to do when you're ready is talk to Chris."

"I'm still so mad at him and I just want to punch him in his way too handsome face," Her passionate side came out and made Scott chuckle. "But I love him so much and I hate that he makes me so angry and can be such a jerk but I still love him as much as I do."

"That's love for ya, Blakey," Scott laughed while pulling away from her but leaving his hands on her shoulders. "But if it's any consolation, I'm still mad at Chris too."

Blake just laughed before the two settled into to watch a movie and have dinner together. She was so appreciative of him coming over to be with her but as it grew late, Scotty gave her one last big hug before going over to his mom's house before going home.

When he opened the door and walked inside, he found Chris sitting at the kitchen table with his mom and Carly while Shanna was making everyone some dinner. The moment that Chris saw Scott he asked, "Have you talked to Blake?"

"Yeah, I just came over from her apartment," Scott plopped down at the table.

"Well what did she say? Did you guys talk? What is she feeling? Do you think I can go over and see her now?" Chris babbled on.

Scott just leaned back in his chair and looked at his older brother, "She wants to punch you and frankly so do I."

"Wait, why does she want to punch me? I thought she was in love with me?" Chris was so confused.

His mother rubbed her pointer finger and her thumb on the bridge of her nose while Scott just let out a groan, "This is a perfect example of you being completely oblivious, Christopher. Hence why she as well as I, want to punch you."

"Amen to that!" Shanna turned around from the pot of noodles she was cooking.

"Okay everyone, thank you for weighing in on how much of an idiot I am, I'm well aware of this," Chris rolled his eyes.

"Then do something about it!" Carly urged him. "March over there and talk to her."

"But if you just open the door and kiss her, I will punch you," Scott gave him warning.

Chris rolled his eyes, a trait he had inherited from Blake, and then threw a used napkin at his little brother before telling him, "I learned my lesson the first time okay."

"Well then move it mister. Go over and talk to her right now!" Lisa told him. "Make this right and then marry that sweet girl and have cute grandbabies!"

"Beware though, she's still pretty mad at you so she'll be feisty," Scott warned.

Chris just smiled at the thought of Blake's passionate and sassy personality and replied, "When isn't she feisty?"

And with that, he was off, determined to win over the girl he loved.