"Blake can you come here for a second" Ms. Stanning said.
Ethan stood next to her smirking. Blake knew that he had told on her like the little bitch he was.
"Yes?" she asked as she stood in front of both of them.
"Ethan told me that you won't let him participate in the group project" she said.
"I never said that" she said.
She raised her eyebrow at Blake and she groaned.
"I kicked him out of my house that's all" she shrugged.
"Now why did you do that?" she questioned.
"I don't think that information is necessary. Punish her!" Ethan butted in.
"Oh shut up already" Blake snapped, "he made comments about my mom so I kicked him out of my house."
Ms. Stanning gasped and looked at Ethan.
"You are better than this Ethan! I am extremely disappointed in you" she scolded.
Blake smirked and walked off to the table Jace sat working on the project.
§
She stayed after school as the guys had football practice. Blake sat on the bleachers drawing as usual as she tapped her foot against the metal bleachers to the beat of the song she was listening to.
"I wish I could of been there myself" she mumbled quietly.
Her favorite artist was post malone. No denying that. She knew all his songs, went to four of his concerts, had clothes that he signed, has pictures with him. Blake was a major fan of him. So of course she was listening to his song.
She shaded an area of her drawing before staring at it. She grumbled and erased it before starting over.
Blake did the repeatedly for a while before she heard a whistled.
"We are ready!" Jace called out.
Blake shoved her drawing book in her backpack and hopped down the bleachers.
"You going to behave this time?" Blake asked Ethan as if he was a kid.
Ethan only rolled his eyes.
"My mom will not be home so tell me if you plan on making any remarks about her so you can save me the time and energy from kicking you out of my house again" Blake stated as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I won't, jeez."
Blake nodded and walked off but the guys just stood there.
"Well come on idiots!"
When they arrived at Blake's house she unlocked the door and let them in.
"We can start the papier-mâché, we will have to do that in the living room. Just let me get the stuff. Do not touch anything."
Blake went up to her room gathering the supplies but changed not wanting to get any on her clothes.
Jace looked at the pictures and saw what appears to be Blake's dad, who looked very familiar, in a few pictures. He smiled at a little Blake and a teenage Blake with her natural brown hair with braces on her teeth.
Ethan just sat on the couch on his phone as Jace observed the pictures of Blake and her parents.
"Alright you ready bozos?" Blake asked as she held a plastic bag.
She was now wearing a black t shirt showing off her matching tattoo with her mother which was just a rose tattoo and the word love was the stem. She had black leggings on with dark blue fuzzy socks and her purple hair was up in a messy bun.
Ethan stood up and shrugged of his jacket leaving him in a white t shirt. Jace did the same leaving him in a red shirt.
"Jace you make the wire out outline, I'll help after I make the stuff we will use. Ethan you shred up the newspaper and magazines. Make sure they are small pieces but not too small."
The boys did what she said without any argument. Soon enough the outline of the volcano was done and they began to papier-mâché.
Her mother walked in from work as they were almost done putting the first layer.
"Hi honey, hey boys."
"Hello" the boys said.
"Hey mom" Blake smiled at her mom.
Jace couldn't help but admire her smile.
"Do you need any help?" Susie asked them.
"No we are okay, after this layer we might pack it up because it's getting late" Blake said.
"Okay, I'll be in the shower if you need me."
Blake kissed her mom's cheek and the three of them continued working in silence.
Once the first layer was done they all washed their hands.
"I have to head to Allison's house" Ethan said.
Blake rolled her eyes at the jock.
"You are my ride!"
"Ask her for a ride" Ethan said as he pointed at Blake.
Before Jace could respond he grabbed his backpack and headed out the door.
"Alright grab your shit" Blake grumbled.
She went up the stairs and to grab her keys and told her mom she would be back. They got in the car in silence and Blake focused on the road.
"You should smile more often" Jace said.
"What?" Blake questioned as she glanced at Jace.
"I saw you smile at your mom, you should smile more often."
"I really don't like being told what to do, just to let you know."
Jace laughed and Blake just admired the sunset as she drove. Her and her dad would always watch sunsets together.
"Well I was just saying that you have a nice smile and you should smile more often."
Jace's words floated in the air for a while before Blake nodded slightly.
"Thanks but I won't."
Jace knew that she was a tough nut to crack.
When they pulled up in front of his house he got out but ducked down slightly.
"Thanks for the ride again" he said.
She only nodded and tapped her thumb on the steering wheel.
"Smile more often Blake."
Before she could tell him to not tell her what to do he shut the car door and jogged up his driveway.
She glared at him before driving off.
———
9-10-20