Chapter twenty.

'Yeah I'll see you in thirty at my house,' Cade said into the phone as the three of them drove home together after school.

Blair had had a horrible day fending off questions and rumours about Noah. Unlucky for her, Noah hadn't bothered to show up for school that day so she was stuck answering the nosy questions from the entire student body. She wondered vaguely who Cade was speaking with but didn't dare ask.

'Who was that?' Hailey piped up curiously and Blair hid a grin cocking her head to the side to better hear Cade's answer.

'Er,' he looked out the window. 'Was just Lacy.'

'Gross, why are you inviting her over to our house?' Hailey scrunched up her nose in disgust. Blair wanted to agree and put her two cents in but she held back after their last talk about Lacy, she didn't want to come on too strong again.

'We have an assignment together for one of our classes,' Cade held up his hands in defense. 'Her house is being renovated and is noisy apparently, she insisted we do it at mine.'

'Of course she did,' Blair couldn't help muttering and Cade glanced at her sharply rolling his eyes.

The rest of the car ride was silent and Blair couldn't help but feel annoyed at the fact Lacy would be over at the house that night. She just knew Lacy would have insisted to come over to piss Blair off. She was mad that Cade couldn't see it, if he cared about her like he said he did he wouldn't have agreed.

...

'Nice studying outfit,' Blair said as soon as she answered the door. She already regretted answering it, but how could she explain to Jane she didn't want to answer the door when she was standing next to it as it rung.

'You like?' Lacy smiled thinly. 'You couldn't pull it off.'

Blair almost laughed, 'It looks like a light tug would pull that outfit off.' She was referring of course to the sheer pink camisole hanging lightly off her shoulders with a sheer bra on underneath that Blair could plainly see. She was wearing a flowing skirt that barely covered her backside and swished up as she marched through the front door. Her hair was pulled to the side in a loose braid and other than her unbelievably skanky outfit Blair knew she looked hot. Lacy didn't get to where she was today by being ugly. Well on the outside anyway.

'Cade in his bedroom?' Lacy looked at Blair over her shoulder as she made her way to the stairs confidently. Then she shot Blair a satisfied smirk as she began to climb them.

'So I guess she has her sights set on Cade next, I almost feel sorry for him,' Hailey commented dryly as they headed upstairs to Hailey's room shortly after to start their homework. 'Almost,' Hailey giggled. When Blair didn't join in Hailey frowned, 'Maybe we should have that chat now?'

Blair bit her lip, 'It's been a long day Hails, do you mind if we leave it for tonight?'

Hailey frowned again, 'Alright. Does that mean I can't bring up the whole Noah thing? Because I've been wanting to talk to you alone all day about it!'

Blair let out a small laugh, 'Of course you have, ok bring it on!'

'Do you think that rumour is true? Lacy seems to really have it out for you the last couple of days, it might be!' Hailey babbled excitedly.

Blair shrugged, 'I don't think that's why Lacy is hating on me recently, but it might be... Either way I don't care really. Noah is the last thing on my mind.'

'So what is on your mind? You're pretty out of it lately?'

Blair froze and thought quickly, 'Oh you know, exams and stuff...'

Hailey nodded slowly, 'I guess. You don't really realize how close they are.'

Blair nodded and stood up quickly, 'Bathroom,' she muttered to Hailey as she escaped into the hallway eagerly.

She was contemplating confessing everything to Hailey tonight. It would be so much easier, less stressful and hopefully Hailey would have some good ideas for Blair to get over this stupid thing she felt for Cade. Whatever it was.

The only thing holding her back was Hailey's possible reactions to the news her best friend was secretly sleeping with her cousin under her roof. She could either take it well, and be initially annoyed for the lies but get over it. Or...She could get really mad.

'Oh hey Blair,' Lacy greeted her in the hallway with a mocking smile.

Lacy was just leaving the bathroom opposite Cade's bedroom and Blair cursed her bad timing. She quickly scanned the horrible girl before her for any signs of dishevel on Lacy. There was nothing noticeably out of place on her skimpy outfit.

'It's pathetic what you're doing you know,' she said again.

'And what's that Lacy?' Blair tried hard to sound bored, as though her words weren't cutting into her. Bullies would fizzle out if they don't get the right reaction from you, Jane had told her one afternoon after a particularly bad day for Blair at school.

'Skulking around Cade's door trying to find out what we're doing, your crush is pathetic and so are you.'

'I'm actually trying to get to the bathroom,' Blair rolled her eyes. 'Not everything everyone in the world does revolves around you.'

Lacy simply beamed at her, it was unnerving. Blair watched her turn and head back into Cade's room where Blair caught a glimpse of him sitting on his bed reading a book.

Only a few minutes later she was on her way back to Hailey's room when she paused at the sounds coming from Cade's bedroom. Lacy's high-pitched giggles and words pierced through her ears causing her to wince out loud.

'Cade, stop! Stop tickling me!'

Blair froze in her spot practically seeing red, that did not sound like doing an assignment to her. She couldn't believe it, her thoughts were buzzing in her head erratically as she bypassed Hailey's door heading straight down the stairs and outside to clear her head. She was tempted to go over to Brady's seeing as he was the only other person who knew about Cade and hers secret affair. But she decided against it, because she'd have to admit out loud how upset she was by what was happening.

She could still hear Lacy's high-pitched giggles as she passed Hailey's bedroom door and bolted down the stairs. Anyone but her. He had to go and screw the one girl Blair absolutely detested. The one girl who made her school life a living hell.Blair made some form of angry grunting sound deep in her throat, keeping her head down and practically sprinting out of the house. She kept walking, not knowing at all where she was going. She was regretting not grabbing a jumper as she was leaving the house, clad only in an old singlet and pair of sport shorts belonging to Hailey, she was freezing. She couldn't understand it, Lacy and Noah had only just broken up! Then again she had to remind herself it was Lacy.

Blair knew she shouldn't care so much. That she had no right to care at all. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt like hell. Suddenly she ran straight into a pole in the middle of a park. She clutched her head groaning, looking up at the 'Beware of Ducks' sign she had just run into. Really? Ducks? She thought rolling her eyes still clutching her head.

'Hey, are you okay?'

She heard an unfamiliar voice from behind her and turned to see a guy jogging over to her. He glanced down at his watch still jogging on the spot, and back at her, 'You hit that pole pretty hard.'

'Uh, I'm fine thanks...' She mumbled extremely embarrassed and taking in the rare sight before her. This guy was quite good looking. He was clad in a pair of bright red running shorts, his black shirt was tucked into the waist band of his shorts leaving his toned chest bare. Trust me to run into a bloody sign post in front of a hot guy.

'You don't look ok, if you don't mind me saying,' he said gently and stopped jogging on the spot. 'You look a little upset.'

'No I'm fine really,' she attempted a small smile and he immediately returned it.

'It's cool, let me guess you're running your problem out of your system, I do that all the time. Whenever something goes wrong, I go for a long run. I've probably disturbed you, so sorry.' He smiled again at her confidently.

Blair couldn't tear her gaze away from his open smiling face. He looked a bit older, but not by much.

'Oh yeah,' she found herself agreeing with the handsome stranger. 'I run all the time, especially to get things out of my system.'

What? Inner Blair thought incredulously. You hate exercise and running, you don't even own joggers? Speaking of which she hoped he didn't look down and notice the pair of flip flops on her feet.

'I love it too. Keeping fit is probably my most obsessive hobby at the moment.'

'I can see that,' Blair said eyeing his chest and speaking without thinking.

The stranger burst out laughing. 'I'm Dean by the way,' he held out his hand to the blushing Blair.

'I'm Blair, it's nice to meet you,' she took his hand and shook her with a sheepish grin.

'Blair,' he repeated and smiled at her. 'I'm sorry this is incredibly forward of me but can I have your number? It's not everyday you meet a beautiful girl with the same interests as you.'

Blair's eyes widened, did this ridiculously hot guy seriously just ask for her number? She was genuinely astounded, before Cade happened she was pretty sure other than Noah no guy had ever even looked at her twice. Maybe it was that new shampoo she'd tried this year.

'I'm sorry,' he said quickly grinning cheekily. 'Too forward wasn't it?'

'Uh, no' Blair shook her head slightly embarrassed. 'Give me your phone, I'll punch it in,' she said softly reaching out for it in his hand.

'Blair,' he said reading her name out loud from his phone. 'It was lovely to meet you, stay away from those sign posts too, they're just as dangerous as those ducks.' He gave her a wink and took off down the running path.

Blair watched him until he had crossed the road and went completely out of her sight before allowing a small grin to form on her face. She'd heard somewhere the best way to get over one guy was to get under another. Well not exactly in 'get under' someone else, it sounded crude when you put it that way. But having a random stranger ask for her number sure did things for her confidence. Blair practically skipped back to the house. She wasn't even that bothered when she bumped into Cade in the kitchen snacking on an apple. At least he was alone and she was briefly reminded of the fact he was messing around with Lacy. She gave him a smile and Cade stared at her confused chewing his apple slowly.

'What's up with you?' He was positive she'd be mad about Lacy being over all evening.

'Nothing,' she smiled shaking her head slightly and heading back upstairs to find Hailey. Finally someone she could gossip with her friend about.

'Blair, what the hell?' Hailey exclaimed when she spotted her friend at the door. 'You went to the bathroom and totally disappeared!'

Blair felt laughter bubbling up, she'd completely forgot about Hailey waiting for her. 'Oh yeah, sorry. I went for a walk and well you'll never guess what happened.'

'What?' Hailey asked curiously, Blair's smile was catching.

'I met a guy.'

...