13. Frenemy Mine

RYLIE

"Are you waiting for someone?"

"You!" I exclaimed looking up.

His lips tilted up in a smile as he observed me.

"Well well well! If it isn't Mystery Girl..."

I smiled and rolled my eyes at him.

"Hey you," I said walking towards him to give him a handshake. When I tried to shake his hand though, he spread his arms like he was going to give me a hug.

"Oh! Uh, sorry about that," Sky said as I stepped back.

"Don't sweat it. I'm Rylie by the way."

"Rylie huh? Your name's even pretty than I expected."

"Thanks," I answered smiling. "So Sky, what are you doing here?"

"Well I live here."

"Really? You came all the way from Jefferson Heights to a restaurant in Meadow Brook? Our food must be better than I thought.

He laughed. "You're funny. Actually, I just came with a couple of friends. Now what's a girl from Meadow Brook doing all the way here in Jefferson Heights by this time of the night?"

"I came with a friend. He'll be back… And here he is," I announced just as Blake arrived.

"Here's your chocolate milk and… Oh, who's your friend?" Blake asked, looking up at Sky.

"Blake, meet Sky. Sky, this is Blake…"

"Her boyfriend. I'm her boyfriend," Blake interjected, gripping Sky's hand in a really firm handshake.

"Oh, your boyfriend. That's nice," Sky said, pulling away from Blake's grip as Blake stared at him weird.

"Say babe, it's getting pretty late. We should probably get going, don't you think?" he said, pulling me away before I got the chance to answer.

He opened the door to the car and pushed me in before I could object.

"Bye Sky. See you another time," I quickly said as Blake started the car and manuvered his way into the road, driving off before Sky had the chance to say goodbye.

I waited until Sky was out of sight before I turned to Blake and demanded he stop the car. He sighed but did as I said.

Once we parked in a safe place, I turned to him and yelled, "Dude, what the heck was that!?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't even try and pull that with me. Why did you do that?"

"He was flirting with you, okay?"

"Wait what? He wasn't flirting."

"That's what you think but anyone who saw you guys would think something was going on between you two."

I scoffed. "That's absurd. Sky and I aren't even friends yet."

"See that? Yet! You like him, don't you?"

"No, I don't like him. At least not in the way you're suggesting. Blake, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why are you acting so weird? I know this isn't about Sky? What's wrong?"

He sighed and looked away. "You're right. It isn't about Sky. It's just… When I came out of the shop and saw you two laughing together, it kinda reminded me of something that happened with my ex. I guess that's why I kinda overreacted."

"Oh Blake! I'm sorry about that but I'm not your ex, okay?"

"Yeah I know. You're my strangely cool friend-enemy slash fake girlfriend."

"Don't you mean frenemy?" I winked.

"Frenemy? What's that?"

I groaned. "It's the unique combination of the words “friend” and “enemy” bringing us FRENEMY. It's the perfect word to describe our relationship."

"Nice. So as your frenemy, I want to know: do you like Sky?"

"I won't exactly say ‘like’ but he's a nice guy."

"How long have you known him?"

"We just met yesterday."

"Really? When was that? I don't recall seeing him."

"Of course you don't. I met him in the hallway right outside the bathroom where I'd gone to escape you and your crazy fangirls."

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it. You've more than redeemed yourself with this date."

"I know. Now about Sky…"

"Oh yeah. So we met in the bathroom and he made me laugh when he called himself a love expert. He saw me and said whoever the guy was, he wasn't worth it."

"Ouch!"

I chuckled. "He was kinda right."

"Ouch again!"

I laughed. "Anyway, I didn't tell him my name so he called me Mystery Girl because of that."

"Mystery Girl huh?"

"I know right? Anyway, while I was waiting for you to come back with my chocolate milk, he saw me and asked if I was waiting for someone. Turns out he lives here."

"He does, doesn't he? That's nice."

"What? Why are you saying like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you don't really mean it?"

"Look Ry, I'm happy for you."

"Okay. I don't get why but continue."

"I mean, it's quite obvious that you like this guy."

"It is?"

"Of course it is and while I'm happy for you, you do know you can't exactly pursue a relationship with him right now."

"I know," I answered with a sigh.

"I'm really sorry, Rylie but you know we can't risk anyone finding out about…this. So it's probably best if you stay away from Sky for the time being, okay?"

"Sure. For Grandma Nellie right?"

He smiled as he reached over and squeezed my hand.

"Thanks a bunch, Rylie. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Happy to help… frenemy. Wink. Wink," I said winking.

He laughed as started the car again and we continued the ride home.

Blake's POV

"Goodnight Nana," I said, pecking my grandma good night on her cheek before heading to bed.

She didn't hear me since her medication had already begun to take effect but I made such to always tell her good night.

"Good night Mom. Good night Dad. Good night Ava," I said heading up the stairs to my room.

Once in my room, I leapt in bed and prepared to sleep when I suddenly remembered.

Slipping out of the covers of my bed, I rushed towards my window and pushed it up. I looked at Rylie's window and saw that the curtains were down but the lights were still on.

"Psst! Rylie!" I called.

When she didn't respond, I called her again. Then I heard shuffling and the tap tap of feet against the floor.

"Blake! What do you want?" she asked, looking out her now opened windows.

"Well, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed tonight."

She smiled. "Yeah. Me too."

"Enough to do it again?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Awesome. Okay then. Good night."

"Nighty night… Prudy," she added with a giggle.

"Right back at you, Monkey Girl."

Monkey Girl was a nickname she had when she was younger, one she was totally embarrassed about.

"Okay, that's fair. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah," I said as she pulled her windows shut and drew her curtains together.

I did same and settled back into bed with a wistful sigh. As I stared at the ceiling, I found myself anxiously awaiting tomorrow.

Why? I had no idea...