I've underestimated Blake.

He's always a step ahead of me.

But I won't let him win this race without fighting.

With that thought, I walk up Daphne's driveway. It's a soft, sky-blue color with crisp white trim that makes everything look so perfect. The roof has this nice slope to it, with gray shingles that are catching the sunlight just right. It's got that whole "I have my life together" vibe, which makes sense because, of course, Daphne lives here.

The front porch is adorable-white railings, a couple of chairs tucked under the shade, and flower beds lining the steps, filled with bright pinks and purples. They look way too well-kept for a normal person, but I guess Daphne's mom probably takes care of that.

The garage to the left is big, spotless, and totally empty right now, except for a few gardening tools leaning against the wall, as if someone who knows exactly what they're doing casually placed there before them.

It's not just pretty; it's a place you'd want to hang out in. Just like her.

I knocked on the door, and Daphne opened it almost instantly. Her face lit up with a wide grin when she saw me.

"Thank goodness it's you first." Her shoulders were visibly relaxed.

"Cara is always ready for a rescue." I winked as I stepped inside.

As we walked down the hallway towards the kitchen, I admired the cozy, lived-in feel of her home. The walls were adorned with framed photos of family vacations and school achievements.

Daphne filled us in yesterday on how she became Blake's partner. Their teacher had assigned a project requiring partners, and Blake had asked her to team up. Daphne, having no other options, had reluctantly agreed. She suggested working at the library, but Blake said he'd sleep in the library and insisted they work at one of their homes. Poor Daphne, coming under his pressure, preferred her house.

I'm glad she did.

"What are your plans?" She asked as we headed to the kitchen.

"I'll let you guys study," I replied nonchalantly.

And only study.

Her eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "That's your plan?"

I nodded, my smile widening. "Yep. That's the plan." The scent of rich chocolate and vanilla aroma wafted through the kitchen. "What's that delicious smell?" I inhaled the chocolaty scent in the air.

"Oh, I made cookies." She gestured proudly toward the oven.

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow.

"He's a guest. I couldn't just let him come over and leave hungry." She shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. "It might be better if he's left starving to death."

Daphne giggled, placing the chips into a bowl. "He's only here for the essay." She said cheerfully.

If only she knew what he was really up to.

"Where are your parents?" I glanced around the empty house.

"Dad's at work, as usual." She murmured. "And Mom's at the salon for a keratin treatment." My brows shot up.

If I weren't here, they'd be alone?!

Who knows what Blake might have planned?

The doorbell rang, slicing through my thoughts. I quickly stopped Daphne from moving toward the door. "I'll get it."

"Are you sure?" Daphne asked, her voice laced with concern. "I mean, you know..."

"I'll be fine," I assured her, masking my grin. "You just focus on getting your work done. I'll handle the guest."

She nodded, and I rose from my seat. I made my way to the door. Each step felt heavy. I haven't seen him since the locker encounter, and yesterday, when he talked to Daphne, he ignored my existence like always. But right now, I'll have to face him. Taking a deep breath, I placed my shaky hand on the doorknob and swung the door open.

The huge smile plastered on his face was replaced by a look of pure shock. His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. I couldn't help but let my grin widen at his stunned expression. The moment was almost cinematic-his astonishment was so complete, it was almost comical.

Epic!

I thought, savoring the moment as I leaned casually against the doorframe and couldn't help but notice how effortlessly put together he looked.

He wore an oversized flannel, black with muted tan and white stripes, unbuttoned over a plain white t-shirt. The shirt hangs just loose enough to make him look comfortable. His khaki pants are that perfect middle ground between casual and not too baggy, but not tight, either. They sit low on his hips, giving him that easygoing look. Simple, but it works.

And then there's that face. Ugh. The slightly messy hair, like he ran his fingers through it right before he got here. He knows exactly what kind of effect this outfit is having.

Of course, he does.

It's Blake Amore.

His brows dipped into a deep frown. "What are you doing here?"

Ruining your study date.

"It's my friend's house," I said in a duh tone.

"But..." His nostrils flared in anger.

I glanced down at the bouquet he was holding. "You brought flowers?" I asked, deliberately ignoring his annoyed gaze as I snatched the bouquet from his hands. "How sweet of you!"

Flowers... He brought flowers for Daphne.

"Are you going to just stand there?" I tried to mask the jealousy in my voice and gave him a cheeky grin. "Come in!"

For a moment, Blake hesitated, standing in the doorway as if weighing whether to retreat or proceed. After a deep, resigned breath and a shake of his head, he took a step inside.

I couldn't help but enjoy the moment of my little sweet victory, and my grin widened as I gestured him further into the living room.

"Have a seat," I said in a honeyed voice.

"Hey, Blake." Daphne emerged in the living room. "Can I get you something to drink? Water, coffee, tea?"

He opened his mouth, his gaze flickering at me standing beside him with a stupid grin. "Thanks. But I'm good."

"Alright." She nodded and motioned towards the couches. "Please make yourself at home."

Thanking, he sat in the corner of the three-seater while I passed Daphne the bouquet. "Blake brought this."

"Oh..." Daphne's eyes widened in surprise before she managed a polite smile. "Thank you, Blake. I'll put these in a vase."

Blake gave her a shrug, trying to best to hide his frustration. Daphne left, and I plopped on the single-seater.

"So..." I tapped my hands on the couch. "Literature?"

"Seriously Cara. What are you doing here?" He fixed his dead glare at me.

"What do you mean?" I gave him an innocent look, trying not to get gazed at by his burning gaze. "Daphne and I are practically sisters. This is my second home."

His jaw clenched in frustration, but before he could fire back, Daphne entered with her books and laptop, looking every bit the diligent student. She plopped down on the opposite end of the couch and set the book between them with a thud. I took out my phone, texting Sophia with the latest updates.

Sophia didn't come, saying it would be too awkward for her.

Half an hour had passed, and Daphne and Blake were deep in discussion, brainstorming for their theme exploration essay. Everything seemed to be flowing smoothly until I glanced up from scrolling through Instagram and noticed just how close they were sitting. Daphne was perched on the edge of the couch, her knee nearly touching Blake's, while Blake leaned in slightly, his arm brushing against hers as they huddled over their notes and laptop. The proximity was palpable, and I could see the slight flush on Daphne's cheeks, which made me scowl.

"Why don't you guys choose 'It Ends With Us' by Colleen Hoover?" I interjected, breaking their focused discussion. "Red, White & Royal Blue..." I gestured towards Daphne's initial suggestion. "Is too political and kind of unrealistic, with a Prince and the son of the President falling in love."

"The Hating Game is a better option." Blake shot back, crossing his arms defensively.

"On the contrary, no." I retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Enemies to lovers? Sure, everyone loves it, but it's way too common. We need something fresher."

"Then we'll go with your first idea," Blake said, turning toward Daphne. "Pride and Prejudice."

I snorted, gaining their attention. "I'm sure half of your class would pick that."

"Then how about The Great Gatsby?" Blake arched his brows, a challenging look in his eyes.

But I wasn't one to back down easily.

"The Great Gatsby provides a critique of societal norms and the pursuit of material success, but It Ends With Us offers a more intimate exploration of personal relationships and the emotional consequences of difficult life choices."

Blake smirked. "Jane Eyre?" I recognized his tactic. He was trying to wear me down with well-known classics.

I couldn't help but smirk back, flickering my gaze to Daphne, who was now eyeing us cautiously.

"It Ends With Us is Daphne's favorite..." I shrugged nonchalantly. "But it's your choice."

Blake's eyebrows shot up as he glanced at Daphne. "I-I mean, if you want, I'm okay with it."

"Alright then, we'll go with this," Daphne said with a relieved smile.

"Well... I told you." I flashed a lopsided grin at Blake, and his eyes widened for a second in the realization that I had won this round.

"Whatever." He mumbled under his breath, annoyed but conceding defeat.

Daphne stood up, brushing her hands together. "We'll work on this. You start, I'll be back in a minute."

Blake nodded, his gaze shifting to me as Daphne left the room. I wiggled my brows playfully.

"No one can say no to Atlas Corrigan."

"What are you trying to do?" He squinted at me.

"I'm just helping," I said innocently.

"I don't believe you." He grumbled, and I faked a loud gasp.

"After you helped me in the locker room," I said with a teasing smile. "It's my turn to return the favor and help you... with studies, of course."

"I should have taken you to the principal," Blake said, reclining back on the couch. "That would have taught you a lesson."

"Why didn't you?" I found myself asking him.

In an instant, the cozy room atmosphere shifted, charged with an unexpected intensity. The air seemed to thicken as our eyes met, and the usual background noise of Daphne's distant footsteps and rustling papers faded into a hushed silence.

I tried to read Blake's expression, but his face was an impenetrable mask. His eyes were cold, flat, and unyielding. They held a kind of distant calculation, as though he was carefully weighing each of my words and actions. His jaw was set in a tight line, and the faintest crease appeared between his brows, betraying nothing of his inner thoughts.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if he was on the verge of saying something but holding it back. My expression must have been a mix of curiosity and defiance as I stared back, trying to decipher what lay behind his stoic facade.

"Uh..." Daphne's voice sliced through the tension, and our intense stare was abruptly broken. She entered the room, holding a tray. "I brought snacks."

She placed the tray on the center table and glanced at me. I offered her a grateful smile, then turned to the cookies. As I ate them in silence, Blake and Daphne resumed their work, the earlier charge in the room fading as they focused on their essay. The soft murmur of their discussion filled the space, punctuated by the occasional scratch of a pen.

After almost an hour, their work was complete. Blake stood up, stretching his arms with a relieved smile. "Thanks for having me. And the cookies were delicious."

"Thanks," Daphne said, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Daph, why don't you pack some cookies for Elijah?" I suggested, my gaze flickering from the remaining cookies on the plate to Blake, who shot me a sharp look. "Tell him Daphne made them with love."

Blake's expression turned puzzled as he looked at Daphne, who ducked her head shyly.

"I'll go pack them." She picked up the tray and rushed towards the kitchen.

"Shall I escort you to the door?" I batted my eyelashes at Blake.

"Sure." He said with a dramatic roll of his eyes, following me towards the door.

Halfway there, I noticed him stop, his attention captured by a series of family photographs hanging on the wall. I glanced over to see him studying a particularly old picture of Daphne as a child.

"Here..." Daphne walked out of the kitchen and handed him the container.

"Thanks," Blake said with a warm smile and gestured towards the photo. "You look like an angel in that picture."

Daphne's face turned a deeper shade of red. "U-uh, thanks."

I leaned against the doorframe, my gaze fixed on Blake. "She's still an angel," I said with a pointed look. "And it's my job to keep her away from the devil."

"More like from you," He retorted with a smirk and my brows furrowed in confusion.

What was that supposed to mean?

Blake thanked Daphne once more and walked out of the house, casting me a sidelong glance as he left. I watched him go, a mix of curiosity and irritation bubbling inside me.

The door clicked shut behind Blake, and I stood there, still leaning against the doorframe, trying to shake off the sting of his remark. Daphne, her cheeks still flushed, looked at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her voice gentle.

I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere. "Yeah, just... trying to figure out what Blake meant by that."

Daphne gave me a sympathetic smile and shook her head. "But don't let it get to you. He's just... complicated."

I scoffed. "Complicated seems like an understatement."

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