| LEXI MICHAELSON|

That night when I entered Blake's house with him by my side, a delicious aroma of Mexican food was swarming in the air. I remember when I first came here, that was when Blake was drunk and talking about imaginary teddy bears. I giggled at the thought and Blake, who was walking by my side, stopped to watch me. "I'm sure my living room isn't that funny. Or is it?" He asked, putting his tongue on the side of his cheek.

I shook my head. "I was laughing about the night I came to you drunk and you were talking about imaginary teddy bears." I shrugged. "You were pretty stubborn."

We heard the clicking of heels before a sweet, chirpy and calm voice spoke. "Oh, suga'. He is very stubborn. Once he stubbornly bought a pair of bangles simply because I was buyin' it." Blake looked down and blushed visibly. "Oh and shared it with his brother."

Blake's head snapped up and stared at his mother, eyes wide. "Mom-"

"Oh shut it, will ya?! Stop whinin' about Blaze, he's watching over you." His mother scolded Blake in a deep voice. Then she turned to me with a wide smile and bright eyes. "Darlin'! Welcome, welcome! Come on, sit."

After hugging me, she sat me down on the couch and glared at Blake.

"Fetch a glass of water for the young lady, Blake. Already forgot your manners?" Blake's mother playfully scolded her son and Blake groaned and walked towards the kitchen.

"Hi, Mrs. Adams. Very nice to meet you." I smiled. "Nice interior. Very cozy and warm."

"Don't bother with the formal, deary! Call me Eleonora! Or Nora, if you want." She beamed while sitting beside me. "The interior is courtesy to Blake's father..."

Blake returned just after she finished speaking with a glass of water. "Thanks..." I smirked up at Blake.

"Can I sit with my girlfriend now, mom?" He whined.

Nora shook her head. "You need more social etiquette classes, my son. You didn't even introduce us."

I laughed and Blake shoot her a glare. "Really mom? You were too busy sugaring her!"

Nora laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll stop now. Okay, that was just my Spanish act for a moment there..." She looks at me. "I don't actually speak like that."

I was amazed by Nora's first impression. She was a wonderful lady. "I figured..." I said.

"Oh, you probably thought of me as a crazy lunatic Latina mom who'd start screaming had you broken a vase? I was raised in London, so hi, how are you?" She winked at me.

I laughed. "Hi, I'm very fine, my lady." I looked at Blake who was amused. "Thank you for asking, Nora."

"Spare the norms now, ladies. Give me my girlfriend back, mom!" Blake whined.

Nora muttered a few Spanish words and pushed Blake towards me while smirking. Had Blake not held himself back, I would've been flat on the floor.

"Let's go upstairs to my room." He whispered and secretly kissed my jaw.

We practically ran upstairs and I was surprised once again to see his room so neat and clean. The bed was made and it smelt fresh. I walked over to it and sat down. Blake took off his wrist watch and put it on his dresser, while he walked up to me and sat beside me.

"Your mother's very... Vibrant." I spoke, breaking the silence. "No wonder she raised such an amazing person."

He smiled. "Yeah? I was tempted to break her acting but thought against it. She seems very happy."

"Are you two the only one in this house?" I blurted out. "I mean, your father-"

"My father is very often out of the country for business. I like it when it's just my mum and me. Dad tends to bring back the tainted memories and arguments... Which ends up with me shouting on my own dad." He laid down on my lap and my hands quickly moved towards his hair to caress gently. "I hate it when he's home. But he's still my father, you know?"

I nodded. What could I say? That I was sorry? I didn't even know about this until now.

"It's heartbreaking to hear all the same thing about Blaze again and again. He tells me to let it go and just don't blame myself but how could I let it go? It was technically my fault he slipped, I was there to help him. I could help him, but I didn't." He looked up into my eyes. "I didn't because for a second, I thought I could be the better one if he's gone. I thought I could be loved the way he was, if he's gone. I thought I could take his place, if he's gone. But I couldn't. No one could ever take his place. I am still loved the way I was before. And I'm still not the better one. He is in the hearts of many people. He was bold, caring, and confident and people loved him. Since he died, I have been silently accusing myself of his death. I know, his death is not entirely my fault but... Think of it this way. Wouldn't you feel regret if you were me? Like, I could've helped him but I was too busy thinking about the devilish possibilities of what could happen if he's gone forever? I'm selfish son of bastard and I probably deserved to die along with him."

I gasped and he sat up. I cupped his cheeks and made him look at me. "No, Blake. Don't you dare to even think like that! You deserve to live. I understand about the regret you must be feeling now, but don't wish death upon yourself. At least, think about your amazing mother? And me?"

He looked straight at me for a moment and started chuckling. I furrowed my eyebrows. "I'm not planning to kill myself, Lexi. Chill."

I pursed my lips. "I was just..." Then I looked down, embarrassed.

"I was just telling you about my brother and father, anyway and I think I got carried away." He laid back down on my lap, this time, keeping a pillow under his head so he'd be higher towards my face. "You drive me crazy, Lexi."

I blushed. "I love you, Blake."

"And I love you, more." His Surprising words brought tears to my eyes and I stared at him longer than necessary.

"Really? You do?" I gasped out the words. My voice was shaky.

"Yeah. I love you." His smile was contagious and I found myself smiling back happily at him.

I kissed him on his lips and spoke, "You don't know how much happy you just made me."

"I plan to make you happier, Lexi." He snuggled into me and I giggled.

***

After the dinner was eaten by Nora, me and Blake, I was helping out Nora into cleaning the dishes while ignoring her protests. Blake was just standing by the kitchen counter, passing comments here and there until Nora started a typical conversation.

"You are very special to my son, Lexi. And I hope you two will behold this promise till the end. Honestly, when he first told me about you, I thanked god that he wasn't gay." She admitted.

I was almost close to choke on my own spit. "You thought he was gay? Because he never had a girlfriend?" I said, highly amused.

"Mom-" Blake's voice went unnoticed.

"It's very common these days, you know what I mean? People are confidently admitting their gayness. Now don't think of me as a criticizer. I am very fond of having my own grandchildren, dear. Which you two will produce hopefully." Nora was speaking and I looked at Blake.

He was red as a tomato! I was tempted to take a picture of him but denied against it.

"Mum, don't you think it's too early for that?" Blake said in a quiet voice.

"Oh no, son. Soon you two will be married and-" Nora's sentence was cut off by Blake speaking up loudly.

"Moving on! Let's go for a walk, shall we Lexi?" He offered me his hand and I took it gladly.

"Yeah, I think we should take a walk to... Um, digest the food?" I announced awkwardly.

When we walked out of the house and into his backyard garden, he chuckled. Then I chuckled back.

And we became a laughing mess.

***

It was quiet after the whole laughing scenario.

We were just enjoying each other's company and walking back and forth.

"Now that I think, the idea of marrying you isn't that bad." He smiled.

"So, it's half bad?" I restrained myself to laugh out loud.

He was dumbstruck. "No, I mean... I'd love to marry you and all but your consent is important as much as mine."

Then I laughed. "Don't worry, Blake. You have so much time to think and propose me."

His eyes sparkled. "So, you want to be married to me?"

I made a thinking face. "Mmm, the idea wouldn't be so bad now, would it?"

He came closer to me and touched our foreheads. "You, my girl, are a tease."

***

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later,
-F. xx