Playing The Player

:Chapter Twenty-Five:

I woke up with a massive, pounding headache and a sort of stiffness in my neck.

What even happened last night? I remember being annoyed at Nina for having a party - oh God, there was a party here last night. I remember Courtney doing my make up. I rubbed my eyes, and sure enough, there were smudges of mascara and eyeliner on my knuckles, and I grimaced. I remember Blake coming into my room and -

Blake was in my bed.

Maybe there wasn't enough emphasis there.

BLAKE WAS IN MY BED.

I panicked; had we done anything last night? My heart pumping madly as though I was about to run a marathon, I peeked at him, and if I were not so panicky, I would've smiled. Blake asleep really was cute.

Wow Hayleigh, you're not creepy at all, watching him sleep.

I knew at least that we hadn't done anything. I definitely would've remembered if that happened. God, why was I thinking so much? It was giving me a massive headache, one I definitely didn't need on top of the one I already had. This, Hayleigh, was why you didn't drink. Because the aftermaths was always terrible.

Blake mumbled something next to me, and mean as it sounded, I shook him. He needed to get up.

"What?" Blake asked blearily, slowly getting up in a sitting position.

"I - last night - " I started, panicking. I didn't know what happened exactly, I couldn't remember anything after snuggling next to Blake, and I hated the feeling. "Last night - what happened? I can't - I can't remember anything." I could feel hysteria bubbling inside me, and I tried to smooth it down, brushing the hair from my eyes.

Blake smirked; how did he look so calm? Had he not drunk last night? "Let me tell you," Blake said, amusement written all over his face, and I could tell already this would be the reason why I don't drink, "Last night, you said I was super sexy, and it was super hot when I punched Dylan."

My cheeks flamed immediately, and my jaw dropped open. "No way. You're lying!"

Blake's grin grew, and he held up his hands. "Lying I am not. Honest truth."

I wanted to search his eyes for sincerity, but I couldn't find it in me to actually lift my eyes up to his. Did I really say that? I mean, it was true, but to actually tell him that? It was, to put it frankly, beyond humiliating. There was only one way to put this past me, and I didn't want to do it, but the thought of Blake walking around thinking that I thought he was super sexy made the blushes on my cheek more prominent.

I took a deep breath. "You're right. I did say that."

Blake smirked. "There, there. It feels good to let it out, doesn't it? It's completely normal for you to think I'm sexy. In fact, I'd be worried if you didn't."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes; could this guy be even more aware of his looks? "It's just funny for you to believe me."

He cocked his head on one side. "What?"

I sighed, standing up, and shrugged. "Well, I thought you'd be a lot more fun than this. I mean, you sort of suck at this game, no offence or anything. You got played, Blake. Hayleigh, two, Blake, nil."

Blake laughed, to my surprise and annoyance; he was supposed to believe me. "Hayleigh, you can do so much better than this. I mean, you don't actually think I'd believe that, do you?"

I didn't reply.

He smirked, and grasping the side of the bed, leaned down and pulled out a book; one I recognized. It was a dark maroon leather bound journal, with gold trimming. It was the journal in which I wrote anything and everything in; my most prized possession. I was speechless as he flipped to the last entry, and began reading.

"I'm so confused about Blake," Blake started reading, imitating a girly voice, "I can't tell whether we're friends or not, it's like he has multiple personality disorder or something, because one minute he's acting all cute and boyfriend-like to me, and the next he's joking around with me like I'm one of his guy friends. He's really, really cute though, and he's got this beanie that makes his hair look all perfectly messy."

It took me a minute to register that he had read my journal without permission, and childish and girly as I sounded, I was pissed.

"How did you know that was under my bed?" I finally asked.

Blake shrugged casually, a smirk still playing at the edge of his lips. "I found it last night while you were drunk. I wasn't looking for it, but I wasn't complaining when I found it. I mean, you have a journal Hayleigh. That's real cute."

I glared at him.

"I shouldn't be that surprised, with your good girl image and everything," Blake mused, "But I didn't expect it either. And the things you have written in here - I pulled an all-nighter just to read the entire thing. I have to say Hails, the stuff you have written about me, I'm flattered. I've never read a girl's diary before, it's enlightening."

I glared at him.

"You're not stingy with your compliments, are you? I don't mind though, it just boosts my ego." Blake grinned. "I have to say Hails, the stuff you have written about me, it's pretty sweet. You're really sweet, Hails." He nodded. "And the adjectives used in this, they're very descriptive! You certainly - hey!"

Punch. "How dare you," Punch, "read my private," Punch, "journal," Punch, "without asking," Punch, "Permission!" Punch. I let out a deep breath of anger, although I was probably more annoyed at the fact that my hits didn't seem to affect him at all rather than him actually reading my diary.

Though I was pretty damn annoyed that he had read it.

"So you think this is all just a little game?" Blake asked, standing up and facing me.

I resisted the urge to step back; he was far too close for my liking. "I know it is."

"And you think you're winning?"

"I know I am."

Blake took a step forward. "You haven't seen anything yet, sweetheart."

I inched a step backwards. "I think you're lying."

He took another step forward. "Oh yeah?"

I took another step back, trying to calm my heart that was trying to give me a heart attack. "Yeah. I don't think you have anything left."

He took another step forwards. "I can manipulate you anytime I want, sweetheart," Blake whispered, his voice husky, "I can make you breathless, I can have you begging for more. I speed heart up, I quicken your pulse, I have you wrapped around my finger. Any time I want, Hayleigh. Remember that."

I took another step back, only to have my back hit the wall, and my hands stretched across the wall behind me. "Prove it," I whispered him, daring him silently.

His eyes searched mine, for uncertainty, indecision? Finding nothing, he lowered his head towards mine, our lips an inch away. Our breaths mingled, and my heartbeat increased like crazy, going into overdrive. My eyes were concentrated on his lips; slightly parted.

My eyes closed just as he brought his lips down on mine.

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Hey you, yes you with the face, you're fucking AMAZING. :)