I smile to myself as I see Blaze waiting on the bench.

I walk slowly, not wanting to disturb him.

He looks so peaceful and happy, waiting silently on the bench, watching children play as they feed the ducks. He is smiling at them and I find myself wondering what he could be thinking about.

When I see a tall, red headed girl make her way over to Blaze, I freeze.

I stay rooted in a spot, behind a large oak tree, watching the exchange.

She sits next to him, flipping her hair every ten seconds and discreetly pulling down her already low cut top.

Blaze just smiles at her slightly, and turns his head back to watch the children playing.

The girl scoots closer to him, leaving only about and inch of space between them, but Blaze doesn't seem to notice, he gaze appears to be focused on other things.

When the girl finally tries to make a move by putting her hand on his knee, slowly moving it up, Blaze grabs her hand gently, placing it in her lap. The girl looks quite shocked, and Blaze finally turns to her, looking as if he is explaining something to the girl. She pouts at him, but he just shakes his head, saying something more. That's when the girl turns and storms off angrily, but Blaze doesn't seem bothered. He seems happier almost, as his gaze turns back to the children and the ducks, his smile is back.

When I approach him though, his smile grows even bigger than before.

"Hey." He says as I sit down, still not taking his eyes off of me.

"Hi." I respond, feeling my cheeks heat up by his gaze.

"So, as flattered as I am that you invited me here, may I ask why?"

I instantly tense up, not wanting to tell him the lie that I had been formulating in my mind, but at the same time knowing I have to if I want this to work.

I can't tell him that I am planning to fake date him just to get Jason to leave me alone, but I don't want to hurt him either.

"I just wanted some company." I say.

Blaze gives me a pointed look, urging me to say more.

I sigh, "I wanted to thank you. Last night, you came after me. Not to bother me or hit on me, but to genuinely see if I was okay. Not a lot of guys would have done that. So thank you."

Blaze's gaze turns softer, "you're welcome."

I turn back, not wanting to face him anymore. I can't. I know that if I look into those eyes any longer I might break down and tell him the truth. I need to get my plan moving.

"I know I have already asked you but are you okay. Like really okay?" Blaze asks, breaking the silence.

I smile, "I am."

"Okay."

The silence covers us again, wrapping around us like a blanket. It isn't awkward though, it's peaceful, helpful in a way. For five minutes of my life I'm not being questioned, I'm not being nagged. I'm simply here, with Blaze. I'm myself.

Blaze wipes his hands on his jeans once before standing up, facing me, "you want to get some ice cream?" He asks, holding out his hand to me.

I smile, taking his hand, "sure."

Even though he offered his hand to help me up, once I am standing, we don't break contact. Blaze intertwines our fingers, and that's how we stay.

"Why the park?" I wonder aloud.

"Hm, what do you mean?" Blaze asks, eyebrows furrowed as he glances at me.

"When you asked me to meet you, why did you instantly say the park?" I explain.

Blaze takes a minute to ponder this, to think about how he wants to answer, "I don't really know to be honest, I've just always loved it here. The park has always been one place where it's peaceful and I can just be me. Nobody expects anything of me, nobody sees my reputation. I'm just me. I come here a lot to just clear my mind. You looked pretty upset, I thought maybe it would help you, maybe you would find this peaceful as well."

I smile at him, although he is facing forward. I find his reasoning absolutely adorable. The past few days I have really seen a lot more of Blaze and he has impressed me. Maybe fake dating him won't be as bad as I had thought.

"It is peaceful. I can see why you like it."

"Yeah."

Blaze opens the large glass doors for me as we approach the ice cream store.

"Hello, what can I get for you guys?" Asks an older man wearing a bright blue apron.

Blaze looks at me, silently telling me to order first.

"A vanilla ice cream on a cone please." I tell the man, not even having to glance at the flavours.

He nods at me, and proceeds to scoop the ice cream onto a cone for me.

The man, whose name according to his name tag is Bob, hands me the cone and takes Blaze's order.

"Chocolate chip cookie dough please." Blaze tells Bob.

I smile at the childishness in his voice as he orders his ice cream.

Bob passes Blaze's ice cream to him and Blaze pays for both of us, with some objections from me.

"Why vanilla?" He asks as we leave the store.

I shrug, "I have always liked vanilla, it's simple yet amazing. It has no additional tastes or complications. Its how life should be. Like vanilla ice cream." I explain, and while I expect Blaze to laugh, he just smiles kindly, like I just gave him the most insightful speech in the world.

"Why cookie dough?" I ask giggling.

"Chocolate chip cookie dough." He corrects me.

I tilt my head back and laugh, "okay okay, why chocolate chip cookie dough then?"

Blaze smiles at me, "my grandfather used to take me out for ice cream after every one of my hockey games. We would always order chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and see who could eat it the fastest. It was always his favorite ice cream. When he died I guess I just carried it on, every time I go, that's what I get. It reminds me of him." Blaze suddenly shakes his head, "sorry if that was way to emotional."

I smile at his embarrassment, "don't be sorry. I think that's sweet."

Blaze just smiles at me and takes my hand again.

For the rest of the day, we spend it walking around the park, feeding the ducks, and getting to know one another better, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best days I have had in a while.

***

Hope you all liked that chapter, thanks to everyone who is reading this book. Im actually pretty excited about the concept and what's to come. I hope you all are too!

Vote, comment, recommend:)

-Maxine//<3