𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝔼𝕀𝕃 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝟙

I sat down next to Elizia; my plastic bag propped on my lap as I could hear the whistle from the coach. Blaine waved at us from down below as we sat on the bleachers.

“What’s in the bag?” Elizia asked as I opened it, my stomach gurgling as I looked at the neatly rolled sushi.

“Teresa has been practicing her sushi skills,” I began as I pulled out the little Tupperware container that stored what was supposed to be my lunch. “I was curious how they came out so Blaine said he would ask her to put it in my lunch,” I said as I offered her a sushi roll.

“Teresa?” Elizia asked confused as she took a bite of the sushi.

“Blaine’s mother,” I said nonchalantly as I begin eating.

“Oh!” Elizia said surprised. “I’ve never heard you mention her name before or Blaine for that matter.”

I could hear the coach yelling from down below as he blew his whistle telling number seven, he was too far.

“Yes, we have many times, we’ve even invited you to Blaine’s house once to watch a movie you said you couldn’t that night because you had a date with Richard,” I said calmly.

Elizia shifted on her weight as she recalled that night. “Yeah, and he was not exactly the best date either he was really boring,” Elizia said as she rolled her eyes.

“So, I’m just curious why do you like Blaine? I mean I never pegged you for the sports type.” I asked as I opened the juice I had in the bag. Elizia looked at me surprised as she sighed heavily.

“I’m not exactly sure why, he’s sweet and nice but… I’m not exactly sure when I saw him differently.” Elizia said as she looked at the sky.

“I think Blaine will be surprised when you can confess, so I’m also curious about how he will react,” I said calmly.

“Zaphira… Do you know what kind of girl Blaine is interested in? He’s never really talked about girls or even had a girlfriend so…”

I looked at her for a moment then thought. Now she mentioned that I have actually never seen him date anyone or talk about girls, what is his type?

“I’m not exactly sure,” I said honestly as I look towards the soccer team as Blaine ran across the field. “He’s never mentioned anything like that to me and I saw them on a date he’s never even mentioned going on one.”

“Like never? Not even in grade school, not a single crush?” Elizia said surprised.

“No not even one,” I added. Elizia looked thoughtful as she slowly snacked on her lunch staring at the soccer field. “You know what sucks about having sauce for sushi?” I asked as I watched the boys.

“It’s either always salty or plain?” Elizia asked confused.

“That too but no, the sauce tastes weird when you have to wait till after school to have your sushi,” I said as I stuck my tongue out in Disgust as the sauce touched my tongue.

“Yeah, that would suck, but it also sucks in general since you have to wait two hours anyway before eating lunch, by then the sauce is just warm and gross.”

I nodded in agreement as I heard the whistle again.

“Anyway, I got to go I just wanted to watch his practice a bit before I headed out,” I said as I stuck the container back in the plastic bag.

“Oh, okay I’ll see you later then,” Elizia said smiling as I Rose to my feet.

“Leaving Zaphira?” Blane called out as he stood by the track with a towel around his neck.

“Yeah, sorry I can’t watch the rest of your practice I said as I waved to Elizia.

“Okay, be safe and I’ll stop by after practice.” He said as he waved to me.

I smiled back as I slowly descended the bleachers. “Okay, I’ll see you later and be careful. I added as I turned to leave.

I stood in the line of the grocery store looking at the cart the cold meat stacked on top of each other and various cases of soda sat neatly in a line at the bottom of the cart.

I wonder if Elizia is going to confess her feelings to Blaine I thought as I waited for the person in front of me to check out. I wonder if Blaine is going to say yes. Does Blaine even like girls like Elizia? I chewed on my lip thoughtfully as I imagined Elizia asking Blaine out.

“Hey, Blaine? What do you think about going on a date with me?” Elizia asked after practice.

Blaine froze as he looked at her as if he saw a ghost. “What!”

“Well, I like you and I wanted to see if you would go with me.” She said without batting an eyelash.

Blaine looked at her speechless as a random person ran past him. “Great practice today, Blaine.” He shouted before disappearing into the school.

“I thought you didn’t like guys from our school or sportspeople you said they sweat too much and constantly reek of BO.” Blaine managed to muster as he started to walk towards the school. Elizia had to jog to keep up with him.

Okay that was a little more than expected but I wouldn’t be surprised if something like that came out, I mean it’s not like she suddenly liked guys who according to her smelled like body odor a lot, which Blaine does not you wouldn’t believe he was a sports lover with how nice he smells all the time. I thought as I finished bagging the groceries.

I slowly left the store carrying my bags, a cool breeze whisking past me as I trenched through it with the heavy bags. My mind wandered to Elizia and Blaine my curiosity peaking.

Ooo, I wish I could know if she talked to him or not. I thought as I got closer to my house, my body wanting to collapse in the parking lot but my determination to not let the meat spoil pushed me to get to the front door.

“If only I lived closer to the grocery store that would be a load off my shoulders,” I said to myself as I dropped the groceries on the floor.

“Need help?” As I fumbled for my keys.

“Blaine!” I blurted as I turned around the setting sun blocking part of his face and partially blinding me, I had to use my sleeve to protect my eyes.

He scared the crap out of me what is he a ninja? When did he get off practice?

“You’re off early, short practice or something?”

“Yeah, plus I couldn’t wait to have the pasta so I kind of asked to get off early.” He said as he picked up the bags.

“Why do you keep buying so much? You don’t live so close to the grocery store That you can buy all this, didn’t it hurt your arms having to walk home with it?” Blaine asked as I opened the front door.

I entered the house stepping aside to let Blane though with some of the bags.

“Yeah, it did my arms feel like noodles now, but what am I supposed to do I live so far and I can’t go to the grocery store so often it’s easier just to get what I need in one go,” I said closing the door after Blaine.

“Okay, fair enough then if you’re going to go splurging like this then at least wait till practice is done and I’ll come with you next time that way you don’t have to carry all this by yourself.” He said as he dropped the bags in the kitchen.

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time,” I said as I entered the kitchen, his phone vibrating as he rubbed his arms.

Blaine grabbed his phone out of his pocket glancing at the notification before sticking his phone back into his pocket.

“Looks like mom and dad are going out tonight,” Blaine said as he started going threw the bags. “So, it looks like it safe I can have some pasta without worrying that mom would get angry that I ate dinner with you instead of at home.” He said as he started to put the meat in the sink de-thaw.

“Would she really be mad though? I mean you’ve spent days at my house before and she hasn’t wronged your neck yet.” I said as I started putting the sodas in the fridge.

“True but mom also knows about your situation and how concerned I am, I also told her I promised your mother I would protect you and keep you safe how can I do that when I see you at school and occasionally after school,” Blaine said leaning against the counter.

“Blaine, you know I’m no longer a child and I still have my grandfather, if my grandfather thought I was mature enough to live here all by myself without supervision can’t you trust me to not die?” I asked as I handed him a cold soda.

“I do it’s just…” Blaine looked thoughtful as he stared at this soda can. “It’s just… I promised and I don’t want to feel like I’m breaking the promise.

I know you are trustworthy and I know you have your grandfather as well for support but… I didn’t exactly get a chance to thank your mother for everything she’s ever done for me.

protecting you is the only thing I can do.” He said sadly as he popped open the soda chugged it.

…..???

“And your aunt cousins are really mean some time it feels like they don’t love you, they treat you so poorly.”

“It feels like it, the way they act like they do especially Lexi,” I said angrily as I thought of this morning.

The words Lexi said re-opening my wounds.

I walked up to Blaine and hugged him his warm body soothing mine, the smell of lavender soothing me. The familiar scent I’ve always grown to recognize.

“I’m sorry Blaine… I said in a low voice. “Mom would think you were doing a splendid job you’ve helped grandfather with taking care of me and because of both of you, I’ve grown up properly and matured quite well.

But don’t you think it’s time for you to slowly let go? You don’t have to protect me so hard you’re still your own person and I don’t want you to feel like you need to sacrifice your happiness to protect me.” I said still hugging him.

Blaine put his arm around me and hugged me tightly, I wasn’t sure how long we hugged for but I knew that we hugged long enough for me to feel hungry.

“Want me to make the pasta now?” I asked breaking the awkward silence as Blaine pulled away.

“Definitely, I’m starving,” Blaine said practically giddy with excitement. “Zaphira do you really want me to… If you do then I’ll try my best to do just that but it’s not easy.” He said as he started pulling out pots and pans.

“Yes, I would feel happier knowing that you can freely be yourself and probably get a girlfriend because it is really weird that you don’t have one,” I said bluntly.

“Weird? And why would I want to get one?” He asked as he looked at me mischievously. “What exactly did you in Elizia talk about?”

“Nothing really just how strange it is that I’ve gone almost my whole life of knowing you and you’ve never once shown interest in a person,” I said honestly as I opened the meat packages, the warm water in the sink soothing my numb and tingly hands.

Blane said nothing for a moment as he watched me stick water in a pot and turned on the stove.

“Well to answer your question I have just never really found the girl that interests me, not that I really had the time to focus on that,” Blaine said nonchalantly.

“Yeah, well now you do maybe you can find a really nice girl, but if I don’t like her, you can’t date her,” I said teasing as I nudged him.

“Okay, then daughter,” Blaine said dramatically as he looked at me.

“Well, if you’re going to blame me because you are busy protecting me and helping me then I get to at least play the role of the stubborn “daughter” who must share the attention,” I said teasing. Blaine and we looked at each other then started laughing so much my ribs started to hurt.

“I’m just kidding whatever the hell you want I don’t care,” I said as I turned another burner on.

“Are you though? Are you really?” Blaine asked sincerely as he folded his arms.

“Do you remember back in sixth grade when I befriended Morgan? You didn’t seem too pleased about it then, you practically stalked me and bombarded her with several questions.”

I look at him embarrassed remembering the encounter vividly the look on Morgan’s face when she got angry at Blaine thinking he had a crazy sister or something.

“Hey I was just a kid it’s not like I knew anything, you are the only friend I had and I thought she was taking you away from me,” I said defensively.

“Right and the three other girls after that and what about Sean and his brother Kyle?”

“Okay, okay I get it I was a very clingy kid but what’d you expect no one wanted to be my friend I even tried my hardest to be friendly but they just didn’t want to talk to me,” I said remembering all the lonely times in the library when Blaine had soccer practice or was in a different class.

Blaine smiled then shifted and moved towards the hallway that divided the living room, the entrance, and the kitchen. “Do you think…” Blaine was going to say when his phone started to ring. “Okay, that’s odd,” Blaine said as he looked at me surprised.

“What is it?” I asked curiously as I looked at him. Blaine looked at his phone as it continued to ring.

“It’s Elizia,” Blaine said then answered the phone. “Hello?” Blaine asked as he started to walk towards the living room. It took all my willpower not to follow him to listen to the conversation.

“Hey, you hungry?” I asked as I entered the living room Blaine was still on call with Elizia.