Chapter twenty one.

'It's been two days Hailey!'

Blair threw herself onto Hailey's bed theatrically after school that Friday. She had given her number to Dean two days ago and heard nothing from him ever since.

'What was the point of going out of his way to ask me for my number when he wasn't even going to use it?'

'Maybe it was a dare?' Hailey suggested sounding absent minded.

Blair glared over at her friend, 'Gee thanks Hails, way to sky rocket my confidence.'

Hailey looked up and burst out laughing, 'Oh relax, didn't you say he looked older? Maybe there are different rules for guys out of high school. They probably don't text straight away. Or maybe something's happened, a family member got hurt or he crashed his car... There are heaps of reasons why he might not have texted.'

'This is sounding like the movie 'He's just not that into you', Blair said glumly.

Hailey laughed again, 'Yeah maybe... Oh well give him until the weekend is over. If he hasn't texted by then we'll right him off.'

Blair nodded in agreement trying to recall the chance meeting in her mind for the thousandth time that day. On the plus side she has been extremely distracted from all things Cade the last couple of days. In fact she was able to completely ignore him around the house and at school. Even during their volleyball game yesterday where the two of them single-handedly won the team the game. She remembered Cade walking over to her with a triumphant grin on his face going in for a hi-five. His hand lingered on hers gripping it and pulling her in for an extended hug when they set and spiked the winning point. She could see the familiar look in his darkened eyes. He was practically promising her he would find her later that night and celebrate properly.

Before Blair felt herself get swept up in his gaze she reminded herself he hooked up with Lacy.

Instead of responding, she pulled out of the hug and gave him an icy smile. Not tonight Cade.

If he noticed the change in her air he didn't say anything.

'Okay so what are we wearing tonight Miss B?' Hailey said jumping off the bed and making a beeline to her wardrobe. 'Not too sexy as it's an entirely new crowd and we don't want to seem over the top. But we still need to look amazing.'

Blair had completely forgotten about the Riverside party tonight. She quickly went over the pros and cons for going to the party.

Pros:

Get her mind off Dean not texting

There would be no Lacy

Get to hang out with Wes and get to know him better

Have fun with her friends

Cons:

Cade would be going and Blair would be drinking = Mess

The cons almost outweighed the pros but Blair knew Hailey would have a hissy fit if she tried to bail on the party.

'I hope the kids are nice there, I have to say I don't really know any that well. We never really played any sport,' Blair commented as she joined Hailey at the closet.

'Yeah that's true, I'm sure they will be. It's not like a private school or anything so they shouldn't be stuck up.' Hailey mused.

Hailey pulled out a cream coloured flowing shift dress and held it out to Blair without a word. Blair eyed the dress and hemline with hesitance.

'No arguments, it's not even that tight...' Hailey said with authority.

Blair rolled her eyes and turned around to try it on when she heard her phone beep loudly on the bed.

Hailey spun around and grinned, 'I'm the only person who texts you and I'm right here!'

'Gee thanks Hails, you're really on the ball with compliments today,' Blair laughed as she dove for her phone. 'It's a random number!' Blair squealed as she pressed open.

It had to be Dean because she hadn't saved his number into her phone.

Hey Blair it's Dean from the park, are you free tonight?

Blair read it out loud to Hailey excitedly and turned to her friend imploringly.

'No!' Hailey exclaimed just knowing what Blair was going to ask. 'First of all you have plans tonight missy, with your friends that have been organised ages ago. Secondly, he hasn't texted you in two days, if you jump as soon as he tells you to you'll seem desperate. Believe me, you don't want to seem desperate.'

'Who seems desperate?' Jane popped her head around Hailey's bedroom door with a wry smile.

'Mum, tell her,' Hailey said rolling her eyes good-naturedly. 'Blair hasn't heard from a guy in a few days and he texts her to hang out tonight with only a few hours notice.'

Jane smiled at the girls, 'It's true Blair. You have to play hard to get. If you give him what he wants too early he won't hang around long.'

'See, even Mum agrees!'

Blair sighed and nodded, 'I guess you're right...'

But Jane's words were plaguing her mind now. She briefly wondered if that was why Cade was messing around with Lacy now. If she hadn't given in so easily and started sleeping with Cade would he have actually developed feelings for her?

The girls waited thirty minutes before sending a reply to Dean that was carefully crafted and edited and rewritten.

Hey, sorry I'm busy tonight. Maybe some other time.

'It's perfect because its mysterious and you didn't suggest another date. He'll have to if he wants to catch up with you,' Hailey babbled confidently. If she was positive about one thing it was how to handle boys. 'Now if he replies tonight you don't respond until tomorrow, ok?'

Blair agreed and went back to getting ready. Boys were hard work.

...

'Blair you look hot,' Brady said as they were walking up to the house where the party was being held. 'Man if I wasn't gay...'

The look he gave her made Blair blush, 'Brady! Oh my God!'

He laughed, 'Chill.'

Hailey giggled and reached out for Jacob's hand as the five of them headed up the driveway and into the house.

'No Lacy tonight Cade?' Hailey grinned cheekily up at her cousin as they made their way through the party to the kitchen for some drinks. The house was like any typical high school party. People everywhere, drinks flowing, music pumping and the five outsiders blended right in.

'Not tonight,' Cade responded not giving anything away.

What was that supposed to mean? Blair thought annoyed.

'I've texted Wes to see if he's here yet,' Brady commented handing out drinks to the girls and Jacob. Cade politely declined once again as he was designated driver.

Blair threw hers back quickly and offered up her empty cup with a grin.

'Oh drunk Blair is coming out to play tonight,' Brady whooped filling up her cup.

'After my week, I think I deserve a drink or three,' she laughed.

'So what is going on with you and Lacy?' Brady asked Cade curiously. He shot Blair a look out of the corner of his eye as though reassuring her.

Cade sighed, 'Nothing, I don't know why everyone thinks there is something going on with us. Is she telling people there is?'

So she must just be another bed-buddy of Cade's. Not someone important enough to have a title for.

'It's pretty obvious especially after the other night...' Hailey began but her words trailed off when she spotted Wes entering the kitchen. 'Wes! Hi!'

'Hey guys, I'm so happy you made it,' he greeted them individually, pausing to give Brady a chaste kiss on the cheek causing Blair to grin.

They were just too cute, she had never seen Brady with someone before it was surreal.

'We plan to drink all of Riverside's alcohol by the way,' Jacob grinned good-naturedly shaking Wes' hand.

'Knock yourself out, it'll be good for us in the long run to help us kick your ass in the tournament,' Wes winked.

He was of course referring to the huge sporting event that all the local schools took place in once a year. Each school could enter one team for each sport and the overall winners would come away with a coveted trophy and more importantly bragging rights.

Hailey laughed, 'Actually I'm not going to lie I was surprised when I found out you went to Riverside Wes. Brady is so unbelievably competitive I didn't think he could let that go.'

'I'm not competitive, I'm the best,' Brady joked.

A group of people entered the kitchen and Wes moved to head over to them, 'Come on you guys come and meet some of my friends.'

Blair followed Wes slowly after she refilled her cup already starting to feel the tipsy effects of alcohol.

As the group of people turned around and Wes started the introductions Blair gasped out loud.

'Dean?' She blurted out coming face to face with the good-looking guy from the park.

Dean had a slightly better reaction and simply shot Blair an amused smile, 'Blair, what a pleasant surprise.'

She blushed a deep red, 'I mean hi!'

'Dean from the park?' Hailey butted in curiously eyeing the taller man in front of her. She shot Blair an accusing look before turning back to him, 'What are you doing here?'

Dean laughed loudly, 'I don't even know who you are, but I could ask you the same question.'

'You guys know each other?' Wes interrupted with a slight smile. 'What a small world.'

'Small is an understatement,' Blair muttered under her breath.

'You know Wes?' Dean turned to Blair curiously himself. 'This is my party by the way,' he added to the group of people standing around in the kitchen.

Hailey blushed slightly at her interrogation of him.

'This is your house?' Blair repeated confused.

'That's what I said,' he replied with a twinkle in his eye.

'Wait you go to Riverside?' She was definitely confused. What did that school put in the water, the boys from it looked a lot older.

'Guilty, and I know you don't go there.'

'How do you two know each other?' Cade butted in moving to stand next to Blair. If she didn't know any better she would say he looked territorial.

Blair shot Cade an annoyed look, 'We met in the park the other day.'

'Yeah we were both running and Blair walked into a pole,' Dean chuckled.

Blair felt herself blush slightly as the others laughed.

'Blair was out running?' Cade scrunched his nose in confusion and Blair thought she was going to faint. Trust Cade to ruin this for her!

'Yes! Yes I was out running, like I always do. Because I love to... run...' She said firmly looking at Cade with narrowed eyes daring him to disagree.

He blinked and bit back a smirk, 'Yeah ok.'

'So this is what you were doing tonight,' Dean said to Blair as the others began a conversation around them leaving the couple to talk alone. He grinned, 'Sorry about the late notice with the text today, I honestly had meant to text you earlier I was just so caught up with exam study. Before I knew it my party had arrived and I had meant to invite you the day I met you I just thought it would be weird.'

Blair grinned back, 'That's ok, it worked out well anyway I'm here now.'

'That you are,' he took a swig of his beer and smiled down at her. 'How about a tour of my humble abode?'

Blair heard herself giggle and wanted to smack her mouth. How embarrassing! She agreed to the tour and they left the others in the kitchen, Blair didn't have to catch Cade's eye to know he was watching her as she left the room.

He led her through the living room where people had steadily gotten more and more drunk, and the obligatory dance floor had started. It was certainly different not recognising any of the people there. Blair thought it was kind of refreshing having no one there that knew who she was or about the Lacy/Noah saga. In fact she could be an entirely different person and no one would be able to tell.

'Ok so you've seen my house littered with drunks, how about I show you upstairs where you can actually check out the décor I've personally chosen?' Dean smiled at her gesturing up the stairs.

Blair smiled at him and started climbing the stairs definitely interested, 'You helped decorate your parents house? Crazy, I think my mother would actually rather die then let me choose the colour of our walls.'

Dean threw his head back in laughter, 'No, sorry to disappoint I'm terrible with that stuff I was only trying to impress you.' They reached the top of the stairs and he caught her eye with a wicked grin, 'Did it work?'

Blair felt her face flush in embarrassment and she surprised herself by nodding at him with a shy smile.

'Good,' he laughed again and led the way down the hall. 'To the right is my parents room.' He didn't pause too long and Blair caught a glimpse of a beautiful mahogany bed frame and matching floor length mirror before he dragged her on. 'Here is another bathroom,' Blair counted three all up now. 'And I've saved the best for last, my cave.' His eyes twinkled as he pushed open the door and walked right into the room.

She didn't really have a choice other than to follow him in, it would have looked odd if she hung around the door by herself.

'Wow, it's uh...' She looked around the room interested.

'Messy?' He offered up with a smile. 'I know, even though I was having a party I didn't expect to bring anyone into my room. You should feel special.'

Blair laughed at him and rolled her eyes, he was awfully confident.

Dean took another swig of his beer and smiled at her, he was always smiling she noticed. 'So tell me about yourself Blair. I don't know anything about you other than you like to run and you know Wes.'

Blair blushed at his words, already off to a bad start in the honesty department anyway. 'Oh well, you know there's not a lot to tell.' She smiled, 'I only met Wes last week he's dating my best friend Brady.'

'Small world isn't it,' he replied taking a seat at a chair by his desk motioning for her to sit on the bed.

Blair took the seat trying to appear more confident then she felt.

'Yeah to be honest I didn't think you were still in high school,' Blair confessed with a smile. 'You look a lot older.'

'In a good way or a bad way?'

'Definitely a good way,' she said quickly blushing when she caught his gaze.

'So tell me something else about you, what's your family like? Where do you live?' Coming from anyone else's mouth that would sound demanding or even stalker like, but Dean just sounded genuinely interested.

'My parents are pretty regular, both hard working I guess. I don't really see them much, Dad works out of town so he's barely home at all. I actually live with my friend Hailey. You met her in the kitchen earlier,' Blair explained. 'It was never official or anything that I moved in with her and her family. Happened gradually and now I can't imagine living back with my parents.'

Dean's mouth dropped open slightly as he listened curiously, 'Wow, that's a pretty big statement. Did something happen with them or did you just prefer living in a house with lots of bustle?'

Blair shrugged, she wasn't sure how much detail to go into with Dean. He was after all practically a stranger but for some reason she was sharing more with him than she had with a lot of people.

'It's cool, you don't have to explain.' He nodded and stood up crossing the room to sit next to her on the bed.

Blair felt the bed dip down slightly, he was sitting pretty close to her.

'So that guy in the kitchen, not Brady the other one,' Dean said with a slight grin.

'Is he your brother or something?'

Blair frowned, was he talking about Cade?

'The really tall one...'

Oh my God he thought Cade was her brother. Blair couldn't help the look of disgust plastered across her face, 'No! Jesus!'

Dean burst out laughing, 'Ok by your reaction I'm guessing ex-boyfriend then? I was hoping it was your brother, man he looked pretty mad when I left with you earlier.'

'Definitely not an ex-boyfriend either...' Blair shook her head at the thought. 'He's Hailey's cousin from Switzerland, doing his last year of school over here.'

Dean nodded and smiled, 'Cool, Switzerland hey that's awesome.'

'Mm,' Blair mused wanting to move off the subject of Cade quickly. 'So what about you, where are you parents tonight?'

Dean grinned at her mischievously, 'anniversary weekend away. I'm a terrible son aren't I?'

Blair laughed along with him, her eyes drawn to the way his whole face lit up as he laughed. His jaw line was so strong, with light stubble forming he reminded her of a an old fashioned movie star.

He caught her staring and shuffled a little closer across the bed. 'I like you Blair,' he said softly reaching out and lightly trailed his fingers over her arm.

Blair shivered and bit her lip, there was no doubt she was attracted to him. Heck it took him less time to admit he liked her then it took Cade - who she was sleeping with! She didn't want to go in that direction again though.

'Thanks, I...'

He smiled and leant back slightly, 'It's cool, I'm being too forward again aren't I?'

Blair blushed and nodded.

'I seem to have that affect around you Blair,' he murmured softly before standing up and holding out his hand to help her up.

Blair took it smiling, glad he didn't make too much of a big deal. They went downstairs back to the party, where it had definitely kicked up a notch. Dean got her another drink and they did some shots together, Blair even found herself dancing a little to the music wishing she could find Hailey to hit the dance floor.

'I might go and find my friends,' Blair smiled after their third shot in a row. She definitely shouldn't stay around Dean when he was looking so fine through her blissful haze.

He smiled cheekily down at her, 'I'll only let you go if you agree to go out with me tomorrow night.'

'And if I don't?' She teased.

'I'll have to keep you here with me...' He trailed off and Blair flushed at his suggestive tone.

She felt herself nodding and agreeing to the date. Oh God this was her first date in years!

'Oh and one more thing,' he wheedled as Blair turned to leave the kitchen. She paused and spun around, almost losing her balance in the process.

She threw him a grin, 'What now? I've agreed to go out with you what more could you want,' she teased him.

'Can I kiss you?'

She froze and bit her lip as she stared up at him across the kitchen. You could cut the tension with a knife, and he wasn't teasing or smiling anymore. His stare was going right through her, she could feel the heat and intensity pumping through her veins. She felt herself nodding slowly and meeting him halfway across the kitchen where he wasted no time in catching her waist in his hands, pulling her against him roughly leaning down and kissing her.

Blair felt like she was spinning, she kissed him back eagerly feeling a familiar wave of heat spreading through her body.

'What the fuck are you doing?'

The two broke apart reluctantly and Blair turned around ready to tell the person to get lost when she gasped out loud. 'Cade?'

'Blair!' He was frowning at her not even acknowledging Dean standing right next to her.

'Mate, you're drunk. Back off,' Dean said easily with a shrug of his shoulders. 'Go and sleep it off.'