| LEXI MICHAELSON |

The silence was eerie and was unable to break down.

At least that's what I thought.

But Blake thought otherwise.

That's why he spoke hesitantly when he saw my facial expressions. A sour look on his face was able to make me understand what he was probably gonna say.

"Please. Say something." He said.

Alright. That's what I didn't know he'd say. Then a thought came into my mind. What if I just fantasized him? What if he's not really saying that? I just stared at him blatantly.

I blinked.

Twice.

Three times.

He was still there and looking at me as if I would respond any minute.

Four times.

He probably thought I had a disability or I was crazy; blinking at him like that.

"Lexi?" He pressed, his hold on me loosened.

"Yeah?" Maybe if I'll act dumb, he'll forget about it?

"Would you answer my question?" He asked, politely.

Okay, guess not.

"Um..." What should I have said, never came into my mind.

I mean, I never had an actual boyfriend before. I had one, but it was grade eighth and all we did was kissed cheeks while eating Jolly Ranchers. But when my father came to know about the scene, gosh, all hell broke loose.

And also, I liked Blake but... a relationship with him just seemed impossible for me. I don't want to die at such a young age.

So, that explains my awkwardness right when Blake asked me to be his girlfriend.

"You know, Lexi..." He sighed. "If you don't want to be my girlfriend, just say it. I cannot force you to do so. Say it and I'll leave you alone. We can be friends and if you want, I can try to be your friend."

"B- Blake?" I stuttered.

"Yes?"

"I never had an actual boyfriend before." I said.

Blake stared at me for longer than necessary with a smile that didn't reach his eyes and said, "Fine." And then I got off his lap. "Friends it is."

His smile was forced.

I'm so sorry.

I wanted to scream out I like you too! But that seemed impossible to come out of my mouth.

One of my many flaws; being a coward.

***

There are few things worse than not speaking to your friend after he asks you to be his girlfriend. But being stuck at his place, unable to go home because you don't have your keys? That's next-level awkward.

The silence was suffocating. I sat on the couch for what felt like an eternity—twenty-five minutes, to be exact. Blake had disappeared into the kitchen, and I didn't know what to do. My thoughts were spiraling, a mix of frustration and nerves.

Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Maybe a bold move would break this unbearable tension.

I glanced toward the kitchen, and to my surprise, Blake was already looking at me. Our eyes met, and for a moment, everything else faded.

His expression was unreadable, but when his brows lifted slightly, I knew he'd noticed the intensity of my gaze. Without saying a word, he started walking toward me.

I froze, my heart racing with every step he took. What was he going to say? Or worse—what was he not going to say?

"You wanna sleep?" I cleared my throat and nodded. "Take my bed. I'll take the couch."

I shook my head.

"What?" Blake asked in confusion.

"I'll take the couch. You need your bed." I spoke quietly.

"Oh no. Come, I'll show you my bed." He motioned for me to get up and I didn't argue. I walked upstairs to be entered into a room with Navy Blue and White coloured walls.

I was intrigued by the room's color—it felt so distinctly manly. One wall had a bookshelf and a computer table neatly set up. Another wall had a large sliding door, which I assumed led to a balcony. His bed was centered in the room, perfectly made, and there were two doors on either side of the space. My guess was one led to the bathroom, and the other to a closet.

"It's... Pretty." I said.

"Hmm," He hummed and went to his closet. After coming out, he handed me a big football jersey and a pair of black boxers. "For you to sleep in. Those jeans might be uncomfortable." He smiled.

God, that smile.

"Thanks." I politely said and took the clothes from his hands. "Have a good night."

"You, too. Have a good night." He replied simply and went out.

I glanced around the room one last time before quickly changing into the clothes. The scent in the air didn't immediately remind me of Blake, but it carried a faint trace of men's cologne—probably his. Obviously.

Sliding into the large, cold bed, I turned off the light and shut my eyes. Sleep didn't come easily, and when it did, it was far from comfortable.

***

I was jolted awake by a loud clap of thunder outside. Damn, that was loud. But then, another one came, even louder, and it scared the crap out of me. I sat up, thinking back to the weather earlier this morning. It had been sunny and bright. I hated it when the weather didn't match the mood—it always annoyed me.

Then I heard the sound of water splashing against the empty roads and shelters.

Why is it raining all of a sudden?

I got out of bed, pushed the already-open door wider, and tiptoed toward the staircase. As I made my way down, another bolt of thunder cracked through the air, making me jump in surprise. I yelped out loud, feeling like a frightened deer.

Oops. I guess I just admitted Blake's words about me being a frightened deer.

"Rose?" Blake's voice called me by my middle name. I still wonder how he knew my middle name. I never told him.

"Um, Blake?" I asked just to be sure if I was hallucinating again or not.

"It's me. Come here." Blake's voice cut through the darkness. I tried to move, but without being able to see, I stumbled, blindly reaching out and taking a step. Then, Blake turned on his phone, lighting up the room just enough for me to see where I was going. The idiot could've done that earlier. When I finally saw where I was walking, I laughed. I was heading in the opposite direction from where Blake was lying on the couch. "Come, come."

I walked toward him, and then froze. He was half-naked, his chest bare, the soft glow of his phone casting shadows that highlighted his toned abs and broad shoulders. I couldn't help but notice how effortless he looked—like he was made for this moment, as though everything about him was sculpted perfectly, almost too much to take in at once.

His presence was magnetic, and even in the dim light, I could make out the contours of his body, the way the muscles of his chest and arms rippled beneath the surface of his skin. It was impossible not to be drawn in, not to feel the warmth radiating from him, beckoning me closer.

"Um, hi," I managed to say.

"Sleep here. With me." Blake said, making space for me. But of course, there wasn't much space, so I had to turn to my side to lay down properly. When I did, my legs brushed against his under the blanket. Was he completely naked?

"You're not completely naked, are you?" I asked.

"Of course not. I'm wearing my boxers." He chuckled, his hand resting on my back as if to steady me in case I fell.

The close proximity made my head spin. My heart raced, and my breathing became uneven. "O-Okay," I stuttered.

"Now sleep, you little frightened deer." He smiled, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I could make out the outline of his face. And let me tell you, it looked sexy as hell.

I placed my hand on his chest, snuggled my face into his neck, and closed my eyes, thoughts of us cuddling swirling in my mind. Soon, I drifted off to sleep.

***