Chapter twenty five.

Blair hadn't moved from her spot on the towel thirty minutes later. She was kind of in shock and not sure what just happened. Yes, she may have made some kind of disapproving noise when she saw Lacy and Cade all over each other but that didn't mean anything! Of course she could see how it may have made Dean feel after she confessed to their relationship. Blair frowned into her towel and groaned out loud, she was a bitch. Poor Dean came along on her messed up family holiday to spend time with her and she made him feel uncomfortable.

'Where's Dean?' Cade asked as he and Lacy joined her on the set of towels laid out in the sand.

'None of your business,' she snapped at him angrily.

'Woah,' he held up his hands. 'Chill out.'

'Trouble in paradise?' Lacy smirked.

'And it is definitely none of your damn business,' she snapped at Lacy.

'Hey where did Dean disappear to?' Hailey asked as she and Jacob joined the group on the towels to relax in the sun.

'He went back to the house,' Blair told her with a frown telling Hailey in her telepathic best friend way that she had fucked up.

'Oh,' Hailey mirrored her frown. 'Should we go back and see if he's ok?'

Blair shook her head, 'I think we should give him some space.'

'I'm heading back now anyway,' Lacy stood up collecting her things. 'I'll check on him.'

Cade started chuckling softly at her words.

'You're so immature,' Lacy rolled her eyes at him as she turned and headed off down the sandy beach track to the house.

Blair closed her eyes and tried to relax ,ignoring the pointed looks she was receiving from Hailey. She didn't really want to talk about why Dean stormed off the beach, or discuss in detail what she could do to make it up to him. She wanted to get a tan.

A little while later the boys decided to have another swim and Hailey convinced Blair to walk back to the house with her. The two friends set off side by side, Blair starting to feel a little sore on her shoulders and wondering how much damage she'd done with the sun today.

'So what happened?'

Blair sighed, 'Nothing really, Dean just got a little jealous over Cade.'

'Yeah well I'm not surprised,' Hailey rolled her eyes. 'I thought you guys were about to start having sex in the water earlier. You were hanging off him!'

Blair gasped, 'It wasn't that bad! We were mucking around, it was totally innocent.'

Even as she said the words out loud they didn't sound convincing. She had felt something out in the water with Cade and she was trying desperately to ignore it.

The girls arrived at the house and headed through the corridor both noticing that Dean's door was firmly shut with no sound coming from the inside. They headed on to their room opening the door to a shocking sight.

Lacy was perched on the edge of her bed crying. Not even crying, she was sobbing. Whole body wrenching sobs, with one hand over her mouth and the other clutching her mobile phone she looked devastated.

As much as the two girls hated Lacy, being in a room with anyone this sad was horrible and they felt immediately sorry for her.

'Lacy what's wrong? Did something happen?' Hailey asked trying to sound concerned but coming out more shocked than anything.

Lacy stopped crying and looked over at the girls still standing still in the doorway, her body was still shaking and she let out a few hiccups. 'Leave me alone.'

Blair looked at Hailey and shrugged, the idea of comforting Lacy didn't exactly appeal to her anyway.

Hailey frowned and shook her head at Blair, 'No, you look really upset Lacy what happened? You have your phone in your hand, did you get some bad news?'

Lacy looked down at her phone and promptly started crying again.

'I hate Facebook!' She wailed. 'You stay friends with someone on it to keep up appearances, so no one else will think it ended badly... When all you want to do is delete them so you don't have to see how happy they are...'

Hailey and Blair exchanged surprised looks.

'You've lost us, what are you talking about?' Blair asked her gently. She couldn't believe she was starting to feel sorry for Lacy of all people. Lacy who had made her life miserable.

Lacy dropped her phone onto the bed, 'Its Noah, who else?'

'Didn't you break up with Noah?' Hailey asked curiously.

Lacy smiled sadly, 'Why would I break up with Noah? I love him so much.' Then she frowned, 'He broke up with me. He was cheating on me with some slut from Riverside.'

Blair's eyes widened, so they were a bit off in thinking Noah broke up with Lacy to get back with Blair then.

'They're in a relationship on Facebook now,' Lacy sobbed again. 'It's so stupid to think this way, but you know its serious then don't you?'

Hailey moved cautiously over to her bed and sat down next to her. 'In fairness Lacy, you had to know Noah wasn't a good guy. He cheated on Blair with you, remember?' She asked gently. 'Now you know how Blair felt.'

Lacy stopped crying and stared over at Blair with watery eyes, her shoulders sagged, 'I know. I'm really sorry Blair. I wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone.'

Blair's eyes widened in disbelief, 'Er..' Definitely the last thing she expected to happen on their weekend away. But funnily enough she knew how Lacy felt.

'I know what I did was horrible, but when it came to Noah I didn't want anything blocking my path to him. The fact that he liked you so much nearly killed me, it made me hate you too,' she confessed. 'Even after he fell in love with me, I still hated that you had him first.'

Blair sat on her bed, opposite Lacy and Hailey. This was intense.

'You have really hurt Blair though Lacy,' Hailey continued gently.

'I know,' Lacy started crying again. 'I know I'm a terrible person.'

'You're not a terrible person,' Hailey argued and Blair wanted to scoff at that but held off with the glare she received from Hailey.

'Anything can be forgiven if you're willing to change.'

'I can't help my crazy emotions though, all I want to do is destroy this new girl in Noah's life. I love him so much and he keeps hurting me, its like he's continuously stabbing me in the chest and there's nothing I can do about it.'

Blair definitely knew how that felt.

'He doesn't deserve your tears Lacy,' Blair surprised herself by saying. 'He's not a nice guy. He cheated on me, now he's cheated on you, how long until he cheats with the next girl? You shouldn't envy her, I certainly don't.'

Lacy nodded, 'I know you're right, it's just hard.'

'You need to relax and try and get past this,' Hailey agreed.

'If you don't mind me asking,' Blair approached a question she'd been wondering ever since Lacy confessed to loving Noah still. 'What are you doing hooking up with Cade if you're still in love with Noah?'

'Oh,' Lacy shrugged starting to calm down now. 'We're not hooking up, we've only kissed like twice,' she confessed. 'He's not interested in me, I think we're both using each other. I didn't want to look like a fool when Noah broke up with me so I latched onto the one person who was more popular and cooler than Noah. Cade's gorgeous and everything, I just couldn't bring myself to care about anyone else.'

Blair's eyes widened, so Cade and Lacy hadn't slept together. Cade was technically in a relationship with Lacy who he wasn't sleeping with...

'He's been really cool about it actually, like a best friend during this shit time I've been having.' Lacy smiled.

'Cade as a good friend?' Hailey giggled. 'You're probably the only person who thinks that.'

'So he knows you're not interested in him and has ben helping you out as a friend?' Blair repeated not sure she was understanding this correctly.

Lacy sighed, 'Yes that's what I said Sherlock. Are you going to spread it around school? You hate me enough, finally some ammunition.'

'I won't spread it around school Lacy,' Blair frowned. 'I'm not like that.'

Lacy's face softened and she started crying again, 'Why am I so horrible?'

'You just have to change Lacy, understand if you have true friends you all have to have each others backs.' Hailey explained with a smile. 'If you're nice to people, they will be nice back.'

She nodded, 'Ok. I'm sorry Blair by the way.'

Blair gasped out loud, another apology from Lacy?

Blair nodded, 'Ok?'

Hailey beamed, 'This is a good start.'

The three girls awkwardly got changed for dinner after their heart to heart. They weren't going to be immediately good friends, but they weren't biting at each others throats which was kind of a nice change.

Lacy even cracked a joke as they headed into the living room and had the three girls in stitches. Cade and Jacob who were sitting playing a game of cards looked at them warily. Both boys were aware how much the girls disliked each other, this was extremely unusual.

Blair caught Cade's eye as she sat down at the table next to Hailey and quickly looked away. So he wasn't dating Lacy. It shouldn't have, but it did change things.

...

'His status is 'I love her'!' Lacy wailed from her bed that night when the three girls were tucked away after an uneventful dinner in which Dean did not make an appearance.

Blair had decided to let him cool off for the night and pop in and see him after lights out.

'Lacy, sign out of bloody Facebook,' Hailey warned her. 'It's done nothing but make you upset.'

'I can't, its like an addiction, a car crash where I can't look away,' she explained sadly. 'It's so nice to be able to talk about this with girls about all this boy stuff, Cade just keeps threatening to beat him up for me,' Lacy giggled.

'It seems you know a different side to Cade then we do,' Hailey replied with a laugh.

'Yeah he does have a bit of a tough exterior to others doesn't he?' Lacy mused. 'He really likes you Blair though.'

Now Blair was paying attention, 'What do you mean?'

Lacy laughed again, 'Like you don't know. He's always staring at you, always making fun of you he's like someone with a crush in kindergarten.'

'I thought you liked him to be honest,' Blair commented. 'Especially after you warned me off him at school...'

Blair remembered that day clearly. Lacy had pretty much said she could never get him and to back off.

'Yeah God I suck, I'm sorry I was messing with your head again. I could see you were into him and wanted to screw with you.' Lacy groaned. 'Why am I such a bitch, when you two have given me another chance without a second thought.'

'It's ok Lacy, if you can change we can certainly give you the benefit of the doubt,' Hailey smiled. She was as surprised as Blair at Lacy's easy going nature ever since they'd walked in on her crying.

'So what are you doing with Dean then?' Lacy asked Blair curiously. 'You and Cade seem into each other.'

Blair jumped out of bed, 'You just reminded me I need to go and sort it out with Dean.' She groaned softly, 'This will be fun. Wish me luck.'

With the two girls chorusing their good lucks, Blair tip toed down the hall and knocked softly on Dean's door. When he didn't answer she opened the door hesitantly. The room was quite dark but she could make out the form lying in the bed across the room breathing steadily. He looked to be asleep and she thought about leaving it until tomorrow when she heard his voice.

'Blair?'

'Oh hey, you're awake,' she answered coming inside and shutting the door. She walked over to his bed and took a seat gingerly on the end. 'I'm really sorry about today Dean, I don't want you to hate me.'

He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, he had been sleeping and she felt another pang of guilt. 'I don't hate you,' he insisted. 'I just feel really stupid.'

'Why do you feel stupid?' She asked shaking her head.

'Because I really like you, and I thought you felt the same way.'

'I do really like you Dean,' she argued with him. 'You're kind of the first guy who I've dated who has treated me well and had genuine feelings back for me.' The more Blair thought about it the more she realized how good she had it with Dean. He was nice, attractive and really cared about her. What crazy person would push that away?

Dean smiled at her almost sadly, 'I know it's early days but you are gorgeous and a beautiful person Blair. I really like you, but I know when something isn't going anywhere. I want you to think about us, we'll talk tomorrow.'

Blair smiled back at him slightly confused and he took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly.

'Come here,' he whispered with a smile. 'It's hard to be mad at you.'

Blair crawled up onto his bed and sat next to him on her knees. He tugged her arm lightly and she fell onto his lap with a giggle.

Dean leant down and kissed her slowly. He tasted like peppermint and comfort.

It was a small chaste kiss and he pulled away. 'Goodnight.'

Blair smiled and stood up heading to the door feeling happier but more confused then when she entered the room. So Dean really liked her, it was clear he was happy to continue to see her even after the little situation today at the beach. Blair paused in the hallway outside her room. Dean was a good guy, she should really just completely let go of the idea of her and Cade. Dean didn't deserve her hesitance.

'Can't sleep either?'

Blair was knocked out of her deep thinking trance at the sound of Cade's voice behind her. She spun around to find him standing in the hallway wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. Her breath caught in her throat as she scanned his body quickly, her eyes darting back up to his with a blush. This was bringing back memories.

'Eh, no I guess not...' She trailed off awkwardly.

'Want me to make us some hot chocolates?' Cade offered. 'Not going to lie, I'm pretty awesome at them.'

'So modest,' she rolled her eyes at him but followed him into the kitchen closing the door behind her. She sat at the kitchen stools and watched Cade methodically make the hot chocolates in a deep concentration. When he had finished he placed her steaming mug in front of her with such a smug proud smile Blair had to laugh.

'What?' He grinned at her and leant against the counter easily.

'Oh nothing, I just forgot what you were like when we're alone,' Blair answered honestly. 'A nice person.'

'Ouch,' he replied with a wry smile. 'I guess I deserve that don't I?'

'Yep,' she grinned trying to lighten the mood. Getting into the reasons why Cade is an asshole to her in front of other people wasn't really on her list of things to do tonight. In fact having a nightcap with him in the middle of the night wasn't really what she thought she'd be doing either. Why hadn't she just said no?

'So are you enjoying your holiday?' He asked.

She searched his face for any signs of teasing, she knew he knew she'd fought with Dean today. Everyone knew something was up when Dean didn't even join them for dinner that night.

'It's ok,' she replied awkwardly.

'How's Dean? He seemed pretty mad earlier.'

'He's alright now, I was actually just coming from his room when you persuaded me to have a drink,' she said shrugging. 'We made up, kind of.'

Cade's whole expression changed to one of surprise, 'Oh!'

Blair's eyes widened and her cheeks coloured. 'Wait that sounded bad! I mean I was talking to him in his room just then. That's all we were doing...talking!' She was babbling now and she knew she should stop but the words were pouring out. 'We don't er ...you know... We're taking it slow...' Oh God shut up Blair!

Cade raised an eyebrow and took a long sip of his drink, 'Whatever.'

She did not know what possessed her to tell Cade her and Dean weren't sleeping together. In what world is that his business?

'I should go back to bed,' Blair said quickly standing up. She could feel her face heat up again in her panic.

Cade chuckled, 'Calm down Blair.'

Blair swallowed hard and stood still in her spot, his voice was that low gravelly sound she'd grown so accustomed to. Persuading and silky, it sent shivers down her back and arms.

'You look like you're internally freaking out,' he smiled and walked around the kitchen counter towards her grinning.

Blair was counting on the bench as their buffer and her eyes widened as he got closer she stepped back suddenly knocking over the stool behind her.

Cade and Blair froze as the clanking sound eventually stopped and listened for any noise in the silent house. When it appeared no one was coming to check out the loud bang Blair breathed a sigh of relief.

'You're pretty jumpy, why are you so nervous?' Cade asked cocking his head to the side.

Blair could see the laughter in his eyes, he found this amusing. Of course he did, he loved making her squirm.

'I'm going back to bed,' she said firmly ignoring his question.

'Ok, do I get a goodnight kiss then?'

Blair's mouth fell open in shock and before she could even contemplate a response he took the few short steps to her.

'I'll take that as a yes,' he smirked and pushed her against the counter, his hands automatically settling on her waist. His feather light grip gently rubbing the side of her stomach, with one hand cupping her cheek he leant down and kissed her mouth softly.

It was unlike a normal Cade kiss. He was gentle and his lips were soft, moving against hers invitingly. When Blair moaned into his mouth kind of like giving her consent he knocked it up a notch cupping her backside in his hands he lifted her up setting her on the bench top, his mouth moving harder and faster along hers. His grip became tighter and Blair was practically floating, feeling that familiar tug in her chest she knew if she didn't stop him soon he'd have her here in the kitchen!

'Stop, please...' She managed to gasp out pushing against his chest weakly.

Cade immediately pulled away breathing hard. His hair was mussed where she'd wound her fingers through it and his boxers clearly showed his excitement.

'I'm not...' She shook her head. 'I can't do this.'

Blair jumped off the counter and pushed past Cade heading straight for her bedroom she got inside and closed the door leaning heavily against it breathing hard. What the hell just happened?

'I see you and Dean made up,' Hailey smirked from her bed where she and Lacy were playing a game of cards in the dim light.

'Yeah jeez could you look any more like you just had the most amazing sex?' Lacy giggled along with Hailey.

Blair could feel her face heat up.

'I just made out with Cade in the kitchen!' She blurted out almost hysterically.

Both girls dropped their cards and stared at Blair in shock.

'What?' Hailey exclaimed. 'Are you kidding me? What about Dean?'

'Oh my God I'm the worst person alive!' Blair moaned as she sunk to the floor in shock. 'I made up with Dean and he kissed me, then I met Cade in the hallway and he made me hot chocolate in his underwear and one thing led to another...'

All three girls stared at each other in shock, then Hailey burst into laughter. 'Who are you B?' She giggled, 'Cade sure has changed you!'

'Stupid Cade, I hate him!' Blair moaned into the hands. 'What the hell is wrong with me?'

'Can't resist him B?' Hailey laughed.