Chapter 6: God (Blake's POV)

"Can we take a break before the next movie please?" Willow sighed beside Vince. Hope turned the TV off for a while and everyone started stretching themselves out. That's three Christmas movies in a row. Looks like we're not saving any for the rest of the month. "Which way is your bathroom?" Willow asked. 

"Upstairs to the right. It's in the guest room." 

"Thanks." 

"I'm going to get something to eat, anyone need anything?" Jonah stood up. Nobody asked for anything. He grabbed onto Hope's hand, tugging her up to her feet. 

"No, I don't want to get up," she groaned. 

"Come on, come on, come on," he sang, taking her with him. 

I guess I'm in luck because I had a clear view of the kitchen. That was sarcasm. That makes me the most unlucky I've been in a while. Because I got a full show of him kissing her against the counter. 

"Stop staring, you make it too obvious," Vince said from beside me. 

"What?" I asked, turning to him. 

"You make it too obvious." 

"I make what too obvious?" 

"That you still like her," he sighed, looking at me. 

"I don't like her," I rolled my eyes. 

"Right, that's why I can smell the jealousy off of you. Blake, you could have reached out to her, you know. I mean, I get that you were mad at her for leaving, but you weren't any less stubborn. You didn't try talking to her once." 

"Why would I? She left willingly. I would only be bothering her." 

"So? At least you would have known that you tried and it wasn't your fault. What if you did reach out to her and were able to convince her to come back? This wouldn't be a problem then, would it? But you didn't even try, man. Now you're paying for it," he shrugged. 

"I'm not paying for anything. I'm not jealous of what she has with him. And anyway, what do you know?" 

"I'm like God right now, okay? I see it all. I know you, I know Jonah, and I know Hope. You forget I was friends with her too. I didn't come into town two years ago like Jonah, I've been here since the beginning with you." 

"Okay, God. just mind your own business," I rolled my eyes. 

"I'm just looking out for you." He put his hands up in surrender. "Just be careful. Don't ruin anything for anyone or with anyone." He shot me a pointed look. 

"Yeah, yeah," I said ignorantly, even though I knew damn well in my mind that he was right. I was head over heels for this girl. That too for years. There's no way I'll hold this grudge for long enough with her here. Just seeing her makes me want to give into my senses and forgive her and build our relationship back up. But she was wrong in doing what she did. I'm not saying I was right. I was wrong too. Not reaching out, not trying to bring her back, not checking on her. But she left. And that's the biggest cop-out. 

We were all here to help her get through it, she's the one who couldn't take it. Which I understand but just leaving everything behind you and running away isn't what one should do. It isn't what she should have done. She should have fought through the pain because I know she could have. She just cowered away from it. 

"Dude, get up. I want the couch. I've been sitting on this single chair forever. Come on, switch," I said, standing up and stretching my arms over my head. 

"Then where's Willow gonna sit?" 

"I don't know, maybe somewhere that doesn't allow you two to make out," I rolled my eyes. 

The others came back, Hope bringing some water for herself and that's it. "What's going on?" Willow asked. 

"I need the couch," I shrugged. 

"But then who takes the chair?" Hope asked. 

"Whoever wants," I groaned, running my hand through my hair, plopping down on the couch. I'm not moving now. "Just because I'm the only one that's single doesn't mean I need to sit in the single chair, okay? That is not comfortable enough to sit in for more than six hours." 

"Then I'll take it. Vince sits beside you," Willow pointed at me, "Then Jonah or Hope sit on your right side." She sat in the single chair, Vince took the seat to my left, and then Jonah and Hope remained standing. 

"Uh, go ahead," Hope gestured for Jonah to sit. 

"You can sit. I'll take the corner," Jonah nodded. 

"No, that's fine. You can-" 

"Guys just sit down," Vince groaned. 

Hope glanced at me and then sighed in defeat, taking a seat between me and Jonah. Fan-fucking-tastic. She crossed her legs, bringing them up, causing her knee to bump into mine. She put her legs down immediately. "Sorry," she mumbled. 

"It's fine," I huffed. It's gonna be a long-ass movie to get through. 

And it was. 

With her sitting beside me, it was like I could feel and hear everything. Every time she sighed, her body was brushed against mine and I could obviously see the heaviness leave her body with each breath. Every time her arm or leg touched mine, she would instantly stiffen, waiting for me to say something. But when I wouldn't, she would slowly relax. 

We were currently watching Elf. It was pretty late now and everyone was getting ready to leave. But Hope was dead asleep. Every time her head would fall onto my shoulder, I'd be really tempted to let it stay but knowing her boyfriend, who happens to be my best friend was beside her, I would nudge her over. 

"Dude, I have to get home," he mumbled, standing up slowly. He lay her down in the spot that he was sitting in and she automatically straightened her legs out in my lap. 

"Thanks," I nodded sarcastically at Jonah. 

"You're welcome," he chuckled, grabbing his things and then leaving. Vince and Willow left after that too, leaving me with sleeping beauty. Which is fitting considering her middle name is Aurora. 

I used to call her Princess growing up because as kids, we would play house and act like she was a princess, I was a prince. To keep it going, she would call herself by her middle name, Aurora. So Princess became the nickname that stuck around. When we got older, and I mean when she hit puberty. I teased the shit out of her. I would poke fun at every little thing. When her voice would crack, when she would get a pimple, everything. And she came around to call me Asshole. It was quite fitting too. 

"Hope," I said, throwing her legs off. She groaned, pulling them back up. "Hope," I shook her up. Still nothing. "Oh, hello? Sleeping beauty," I groaned, shaking her up. 

"I'm tired, shut the hell up!" she yelled, keeping her eyes closed. 

"You're so annoying," I mumbled. She kicked my leg in her sleep, silently telling me to watch my mouth. "Well, if your dad knows I'm here and sees that I left you on the couch, he'll kill me," I said to myself. I gently lifted her legs and stood up, placing them back down. I shook my head at myself. I can't believe I'm doing this. 

I went to pick her up how you would a bride, but then stopped when she shuffled. I'm waking her up. "Hope," I shook her gently. "Wake up. It's late, everyone's gone." 

She whined, rubbing her eyes and stumbling up to her feet. She stood up, keeping her eyes closed. She's half asleep still. She opened one eye, squinting at me. She sighed, throwing her arms around my shoulders. "Carry me," she mumbled. 

I froze at first, her touch feeling foreign for a second. "Hope, walk on your own," I tried pushing her off. 

"No," she groaned. "I'm tired." 

"Hope-" 

"Please, Blake. Put your hate aside for tonight," she said, hugging me tighter. 

My breath hitched in my throat. I pray she's too sleepy to remember this. And I pray if she does, she acts like it didn't happen. Knowing her, she won't, but whatever. I sighed in defeat, "What do you want me to do?" 

"Carry me," she yawned. 

"How?" I huffed. She grabbed onto my shoulder, her eyes barely open, and stood on the couch. "You're gonna fall," I said, grabbing her hands and steadying her. She pulled me closer and then put her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, hanging onto me, resting her cheek on my shoulder, her face in my neck. 

"Don't tell your boyfriend I'm doing this," I said, grabbing the only place I could, her ass, and taking her upstairs. I've done this before, it doesn't feel weird. But it's wrong. I'll keep saying that till it's drilled into my mind. 

"I'm not stupid," she murmured. 

"You are cause you're doing this." I opened her door and walked to her bed. I haven't been in her room since she left. It's the same. 

"I'm smart for doing this," she chuckled. "I got your attention."

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Chapter 6

Hope do be slick tho

damn she a smooth dude

next chapter: pretend