Walking on a Tightrope

Chapter 10

The instructor calls us into the shore and I see Jessica is still here, and still watching me like a hawk. She has been acting... different. Normally she says what she wants when she wants to, but she hasn't said anything to me aside acknowledging my presence. I should be happy, but deep in my gut something feels really wrong.

"Blake?" a voice questions. But that's all it is to me: a voice. I look up to see Tucker. Skylar has gone to talk to the instructor and Tucker took this as the time to come up to me. When I don't respond he says what I was afraid of hearing "We need to talk about what is going on between you two. You can't do this again. You can't live two lives at once, they'll collide and end in a mess. Its up to you to clean this up, if this falls down it'll be on you." I can only think to reply with "You're a dick sometimes, you know that?" He sighs "You never fail to remind me. I hope you listened to what I said. I'll be waiting for you in the car". He walks off and Skylar comes up to me and asks "So, where do you want to go after here?". I know I need to make a decision: Keep the lie with Tucker or expose the truth to Skye. But my stupidity continues as I just flatly respond "I think I'm going to go home. Tucker said he will drive me, the sun really gets to me sometimes. But you have my number if you need me" I look around for Jessica and when I don't see her I stand up on my toes to kiss Skye on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow"

The drive home is quiet with the soft music from the radio emitting the only sound. All I can do is stare out at the water as we drive on the bridge passing over the river. It's calming to see the small light blue waves running into each other as the current pulls them in different directions. There are two more days of spring break. After spring break I can keep my two lives as separate as possible: The real me with Skylar, and the fake me at school. I have already been accepted into a college about an hour north of our area, and if I play my cards right maybe Skye will join me in an apartment. We could be everything we want, with no homophobic family or friends. I just need to hold things out long enough.

"are you ok over there?" My head snaps over to Tucker who is posing the question. "yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for driving me." "It's no problem. So are you going to listen to me about that girl?" I forgot this is why I drove with him, to hear him only worry about himself. "No. But I'm not ending this deal. And she will not find out about it either, got it?" When I get pissed I don't hold back, and he has been on the receiving end of it a lot recently. He pulls into my drive way "Ok, ok, jeez I forgot how testy you get." 

"Thanks for driving me I'll see you tomorrow" I say harshly before practically jumping out of the car. I don't dislike him as much as I used to but I don't like him either. He destroyed everything I loved and knew. We'll probably have to talk about what happened last year, we just jumped into this deal forgetting about our pasts. I walk inside and see neither of my parents are home so I take the liberty of calling Skylar. It rings once before she picks up "Hey Blake. How are you?"

"I'm ok. How are you? I miss you, it's been a long time since I've seen you." She says with a smile in her voice "I miss you too. That girl we met today was way out of line. Who exactly is she?" I let out a light sigh, partly because I'm thinking of Jessica and partly because I'm about to leave out a huge piece of my life when I have a perfect chance to admit to it. "She's the daughter of our school's principal. Everyone loves her, I called bullshit on her and her grades. She never earned any of it, and I worked so hard to end up being second place. She didn't exactly take a liking to me..." I draw out the end in awkwardness at the memories. She just lets out a chuckle "I don't miss high school one bit. So how about I take you out tonight?" to stall while I think of a nice way to decline I ask "What were you thinking?" she laughs "that's a surprise, but I'm sure you'll love it." after coming up with no reason or desire to say no I respond against my better judgement, yet again, "Of course you can. How late were you thinking?" "Midnight. You said you like to test your parents and that it makes you feel alive. I can pick you up, you just need to find a way to sneak out." god I love her. "I'll be ready at midnight"

For years my parents have worried about me being a rebellious teen who would go out partying do drugs and drink alcohol and maybe even become a teen mom. But I was too scared of them to even dare to do things like that, so I never have. But when I stayed out late with her a few nights ago, I felt so amazing. It was like I had been re-born and was a different person than my parents wanted me to be. It's almost midnight and my parents have gone to bed already, assuming I was asleep. I got ready by throwing on a crop top and some athletic shorts because why not? They're comfy as hell. My phone buzzes and I see her name pop up on the screen. There is no better feeling than dating the most wonderful girl on the planet. 'I'm just down the street a bit, you'll see my car'. I text her back  and say "Thank you so much for doing this. It's wonderful" and sneak out as quietly as possible through my window. Once I exit my room I see her car and immediately run up and hug her. "I missed you" and we just stay like this. I don't even know how long it's been when she whispers into my hair "We need to go or we won't have much time for our date." I chuckle then say, "yeah I know I just don't want to let go" I kiss her lips and climb into the passenger seat.  All she is wearing is a bikini with a jean jacket on over it and high-waisted jean shorts. God she is beautiful. "So where are we going?"

 She replies "I told you it's a surprise" and smiles ear to ear.