CHAPTER 4 // EDITED

I groaned as I was blinded by bright light shining in from my window. I covered my head as I heard a familiar chuckle.

It was Saturday, so that meant it was my day to sleep in. Getting in the way of the was very dangerous.

I removed my pillow and looked up at Reese, I narrowed my eyes and he smiled.

"I'm going to kill you," I said through my teeth, but he only laughed. "You think I'm joking."

"No, I'm almost guaranteed you're capable of murder," he replied and sat on my bed. "It's one in the afternoon."

"Exactly, it's too early," I shot at him and he rolled his eyes. "I hate you."

"I love you too," he replied as I climbed out of bed, I stuck my tongue out at him and he stuck his out back.

I closed my bathroom door and stretched with a yawn. I grabbed my toothbrush and squeezed out a drop of toothpaste.

I spit into the sink and wiped my mouth clean from any left over toothpaste. I walked out from the bathroom and saw Reese laying on my bed. He was on my phone and I walked over grabbing it from his hands.

"Hey, I was playing Temple Run 2," he shot at me. "You were just scared I was going to beat your high score."

"Get out of my room," I said annoyed and he crossed his arms. I raised an eyebrow and then reached up grabbing his ear.

"Ow, ow, ow, Blake," he screeched and I let go, he rubbed his ear and pushed me. I narrowed my eyes and he laughed as he ran out from my room.

I followed out behind him and headed downstairs hearing the guys in the living room.

"You cheating bastard!" Logan yelled as I walked into the living room. I saw they were playing Mario Kart and I chuckled at them looking so serious.

"I have to go pick up Lindsey," Reese said standing up from the recliner. "I have to take her to some get together at her grandmas."

"Alright, I'll catch you later," Praxton said as he did a handshake with Reese. Cody and Logan sent a nod Reese's way and Reese walked out.

"This is a joke, right?" I finally spoke up as I heard Reese's car pull out.

"We're just as surprised as you," Cody replied not looking away from his game.

"Maybe it's just temporary," Praxton added and I shrugged lazily.

"Reese is my best friend and I'm suppose to support him in every way," I said sitting back on the couch. "I just can't see what he sees in her."

The guys continued arguing over their game and I was just shaking my head at the baboons.

"Ow, Lacey," I hissed as she pulled at my hair. "Pull my scalp out will you."

"Oh, stop whining," she shot back and I rolled my eyes, she continued to do my hair in cornrows. She was learning how to do it and I was her practice doll.

I was scrolling through Instagram while reading memes and watching videos. The door suddenly opened and I attempted to look over to see who it was.

Reese walked in, but Lindsey walked in right behind him.

"Hey, what're you doing back?" Cody asked watching Reese cross the room.

"I forgot my phone," he answered as he unplugged his phone from the charger.

"Maybe it was because you had your nose all in my phone," I spoke up and he looked over at me.

"If you had such a problem with it, you would have deleted my thumbprint," he defended himself. "Reese with a devil emoji."

"You did that yourself," I said and he only shrugged making me roll my eyes.

"Reese, we need to go," Lindsey spoke up and I looked over at her with her arms crossed. I forgot she was even here, I guess that's what irrelevant does to you.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Reese said walking over to me. "Don't forget the new season of Empire starts next Tuesday."

"Yes, the trailer was so torturing," Lacey spoke up and I laughed.

"You two are really obsessed with that show," I said scratching at the braids.

"Cookie is my bitch," Lacey said smacking my hand, the guys laughed, but Lindsey didn't look too amused. Reese waved as he left out again and Lacey laughed. "Reese has his own bitch."

We all laughed at that.

~*~

"Lacey, no," I said as I walked out of the bathroom towel drying my hair. "I already have my outfit picked out."

"You're lying, you never pick out your clothes," she said, I rolled my eyes and tossed my towel into the dirty clothes. "We're doing it and you're going to deal with it."

"I hate you," I sighed in defeat.

"Te amo," she replied, I hung up and tossed my phone on my bed. I walked to my closet and closed my eyes as I groaned.

I pulled on a white crop top and black skinny jeans, I topped it off with black and white adidas. I hooked a gold watch on my wrist and diamond studs in my ears.

I replaced my stud nose ring with a hoop one. I brushed through my damp hair and left it natural. I sprayed my body with Bath&Bodyworks perfume and grabbed my phone from my bed.

The house was empty when I walked downstairs which wasn't very surprising. I grabbed my book bag and headed out towards the front gate where Lacey was waiting.

She smiled seeing I was actually wearing the outfit that matched hers. I shot daggers at her, but they didn't phase her.

We started heading down the street towards the school as Lacey was telling me about some argument between her and her mom. I couldn't pay much attention though.

I had a burning sensation in my back and an uneasy feeling churning in my stomach. Have you ever got that feeling that some is staring at you? That was the exact feeling taking over my body.

I looked behind us, but nobody was behind us. I looked around us, but still, nobody was anywhere in sight.

"Blake, are you okay?" Lacey asked snapping me from my trance, I looked back at her.

"Yeah, I'm good," I answered and she nodded continuing to finish her story.

It wasn't just being paranoid. I mean, maybe I'm being stalked by a ghost. Seriously Blake? You gotta stop watching Ghost Whisperer.

I shook the thought out of my head as we walked up on the school campus. Lacey gave me a quick goodbye hug and made a beeline for Max. I rolled my eyes at my best friends idiocy.

I continued walking towards the school and I glanced down at my phone. I was surprised by a car backing out and stumbled back. I tripped on my feet and the weight in my book bag pulled me down onto the asphalt.

I saw a car coming my way, but the person was concentrated on something else. I started to scramble up, but I stepped on my book bag strap and slipped back down.

I was suddenly jerked up from where I had fell and the driver looked up and slammed on brakes. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to explode from my chest.

I looked up to see who pulled me from the ground and my eyes met a guy. I knew just about everyone at Eastside, but I didn't recognize this guy.

His hair was jet black which made his blue eyes look even brighter. He was taller than me and his jawline could cut me.

I finally snapped back to reality seeing people were starting to gather around. My face was pulled forward and I came face to face with Cody.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he looked me over for any damage.

"Are you fucking crazy?" I heard Lacey yell, I looked past Cody and saw her yelling at the two drivers. She yelled out a string of Spanish and Praxton and Logan finally pulled her away.

"I'm fine," I assured Cody as I pushed him off me. "No damage."

Everyone started to clear out and I looked around for the strange guy, but there was no sign of him.

Throughout the day I looked for the mystery guy, but I constantly had no luck. I finally just gave up and went on with my day.

"You're alright walking home by yourself, right?" Lacey asked as we got to our lockers, I looked over at her. "I'm hanging out with Max."

"If anyone asks, you're with me," I said and she smiled, but I only rolled my eyes. "I'll catch you later." We did our handshake and went out separate ways.

I plugged up my ears and blasted my music, my skateboard landed with a thud and I skated off. I didn't feel like going home knowing Cody most likely told Riley what happened. I also knew Riley would chew me out if I didn't come home.

I walked into the house expected to be ambushed by Riley, but I was surprised by an empty living room. I walked further into the house and entered the kitchen.

I wasn't surprised to see Riley and Cody, but I was surprised to see dad. They turned towards me and I froze in my spot.

"Ok, I don't know what you think I did, but I plead the fifth," I said quickly and dad chuckled as he shook his head. "Is this an intervention?"

"Blake, shut up," Cody said and I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I didn't think you guys wanted to hear this over the phone so I thought it would be better in person," dad spoke up and we turned our focus to him. "This Saturday is a really important dinner for me and I want all three of you to attend it."

"A dinner for what?" Riley asked.

"Its a recognition dinner," he answered. "So, I need you guys to behave." We nodded that we understood.