friends | blake richardson

~chapter 3~

For the rest of the night, I can't stop smiling like an idiot. When I get home, I run-up to my room and turn on my computer to watch New Hope Clubs covers and I'm blown away at Blake's voice and it eventually puts me to sleep.

I wake up around noon and wake up indie to tell her what's happening tonight. "Wake up Delilah and come to my room. I've got some news I didn't tell you last night." 

Twenty minutes later, my two friends rush into my room, needing tea. "I've got a date with blake tonight. Can you help me get ready?" I say stressed because I have no clue what to wear. Without another word, they drag me out to the car and take me shopping for an outfit.

"We have to find the perfect outfit for the occasion," Indie says.

"it's literally just a simple dinner date to catch up," I say casually.

"it's not 'just a simple dinner date,' Leilani. Even though you two were a "thing" in year three, you never went on a simple date with him. And this being your first date with a cutie like him, well, I think it's obvious you gotta blow him away." Indie explains in a 'duh' tone of voice.

"I don't want anything fancy though. it's a casual date."

After almost two hours of going to multiple different stores, we finally found the perfect dress.

"Does this dress say, 'I haven't seen you in thirteen years and this is our first date and I might actually be into you'?" Delilah smiles.

"I think that's perfect." I agree and go try it on. It's a mustard yellow floral mini dress and it fits me just right. This is definitely the one. I walk out to show indie and Delilah and right when I spin around, they gasp and squeal. 

"He's gonna fall in love so fast, I just know it."

"Oh shush we're just friends."

"mmmmmmhmmmm." Indie and Delilah say together and I roll my eyes. Once we get back home, I start getting ready. I take a warm shower and blow dry my hair.

"We should play some New Hope Club," Delilah says as she curls my hair before indie starts my simple yet natural makeup look. 

"Agreed." I grab my phone and hit shuffle on their songs. One of the songs they didn't sing at the concert, Medicine, comes on and my jaw drops. "This song is so good!"  All three of us stop what we're doing to have a dance break. We return to our seats once the song is done and I'm enveloped in my thoughts.

"I still find it weird how Blake is a celebrity now. He's got fans that adore him."

"And a million girls that want to be in your place right now, so just realize how lucky you are." Delilah smiles.

"yeah.." I sigh, contentedly. I put my dress on after my hair and makeup are done, along with a simple necklace and my white strap sandals.

Five minutes later, the doorbell rings and a burst of butterflies erupt in my stomach. "Go get 'em." Indie smirks and pushes me towards the stairs to answer the door.

"Hey, Blake!" I close the door after walking out.

"Hey, Le- wow I feel underdressed." Blake smiles.

"Don't feel that way," I chuckle. "This is casual for me." 

"Well, you look beautiful." He smiles once again.

"Thank you!" He opens the car door for me before getting in on his side. We drive to ZiZi's and we're shown to our seats. As we're looking at our menus, I unconsciously start humming medicine. Blake looks up at me with a raised eyebrow and a smirk when I realize what I'm doing.

"so you've been listening to some New Hope Club, huh?" he smirks.

"What can I say? You three are way talented. Medicine came on when I was getting ready and it's been stuck in my head ever since." I explain with a light laugh. 

"Thank you, that means a lot." We give each other warm smiles. "so tell me about yourself, Leilei. I know we've known each other before but everything changes after year two."

"Well let's see... I love sports and being outside. I love everything that has to do with art whether it's music, drawing, painting, et cetera. And I love sleeping and watching Netflix."

"that's cool! what type of sports do you play?"

"Football is my favourite."

"no way! The boys and I love football! we should get together and play a match."

"yes, that sounds like so much fun! Anyways, your turn to tell me about yourself."

"All I do is football, write and record music and tours." He laughs. "I don't really have time for anything else."

"But still way more interesting than my life." I laugh too. "I wish I could come with you on tours and travel the world. That's the main thing I want to do before I die."

"You should come with us sometime! it'd be fun."

"hmm maybe," I smirk.

Our food eventually comes and as we eat, we talk more about our lives. At one point when I'm talking with my hands, he grabs my wrist gently and flips it over. "what's this?"

"oh, it's one of my tattoos. Probably my favourite one if I had to choose." it was a small rose underneath my right thumb.

"One of them?" He asks curiously. 

"yeah, I've got one on my collar bone too." I move my left sleeve over to reveal  my second tattoo that says 'belle ame' in cursive. "it means beautiful soul in french." 

Blake smiles as he brushes his fingers against it. Right when his skin comes in contact with mine, it sends shivers up my spin. No stop it Leilani, he's your best friend, I think to myself. "I love how simple they are."

"Thank you, Blake." I smile warmly. We talk about almost everything over dinner. Once we're done, we decide to walk around town, neither of us wanting this night to end. Sadly, it got dark quite fast so he drove me home and walked me to the door. 

"thank you again, blake. I had so much fun! we need to do things like this more often."

"Definitely." He agrees and hugs me. 

"Goodnight, B."

"Goodnight, Leilei." With a blush finding its way onto my cheeks, I walk into my house and nearly get knocked over by my two best friends.

"How was it?"
"Did he kiss you?"
"Or make out?"

I get bombarded with questions. "Ladies...sit down and I'll tell you everything." As I tell them every tiny detail about my night, they squeal and gasp at all the right moments.

"that's so romantic." Delilah sighs with a smile on her face once I'm done.

"You two are so cute I might throw up." indie grins.

"So when's the wedding?" Delilah asks with her eyebrows raised.

"What are you talking about? We don't like each other, we're just good friends and nothing more."

"Keep telling yourself that, sweetie." Indie pats my shoulder and looks at me sympathetically.

"what are you talking about, indie?"

"Honey, you're so oblivious you might as well be a guy," Delilah says and walks to her room.

"what we're trying to say is that we know blake doesn't look at you as just a best friend. He looks at you like you're the most beautiful girl he's ever seen." Indie states and my eyes widen as I go speechless. Does blake really see me as more than a friend? No, that's impossible. 

"goodnight Lani." She hugs me and walks up to her room.

hello everyone! thank you for reading this book, I very much appreciate it! love ya<3

-Madi