Chapter thirty.

This had to be the most embarrassing situation ever.

Blair's life was flashing before her eyes and she wondered had any of it been worse than this. She was fairly certain right now took the cake.

She had to awkwardly explain to her mother, whom she hadn't seen in months, what Hailey had been talking about. She didn't go into detail or anything but the words 'Cade' and 'sex' were thrown in and she was positive it couldn't get much worse than this.

After a brief lecture from her mother in which Cade and Hailey both endured, Delilah decided she's speak with James later and asked that Blair not embarrass her again in front of Jane.

That was that.

Blair's shoulders sagged in relief that embarrassment was the only thing her mother was worried about.

Hailey's eyes widened as Blair turned to her annoyed, 'I'm sorry!' She squeaked out before disappearing into the kitchen without a backward glance.

Cade caught her eye looking slightly amused at the situation and turned to follow Hailey out when Blair marched over to him grabbing his arm and pulling him into the broom cupboard closing the door firmly behind her. She frowned at him and felt her fists ball up in frustration, 'Can't you do anything right?'

Now Cade was openly grinning at her, 'You cant seriously be trying to blame me for this are you? I wasn't the one who blabbed about the sex thing in front of your mum!'

Blair's look turned to an icy glare, 'Why did you have to sneak up on us while we were talking? Just sneaking around with my mother in tow? How smart is that Cade?'

He laughed loudly and Blair quickly threw her hand over his mouth in annoyance. 'Shh!'

'Why did you pull me in here anyway?' He asked pulling her hand off his mouth and bringing it down to her side easily.

'So they wouldn't see us fighting, we're meant to be in love remember?' She rolled her eyes and listened at the door for anyone.

Cade smirked at her, 'In love? I remember agreeing to tell them we were dating, not in love. Trying to tell me something sweetheart?'

Blair felt her face heat up and was glad of the semi darkness so he couldn't see her blush. 'Oh shut up I...'

Suddenly he placed his hand over her mouth firmly, 'I can hear someone outside. We better get out of here without anyone seeing us or it'll be more explaining to do. Soon we wont be allowed in cupboards together without people thinking we're doing it.'

She rolled her eyes and listened too. He lowered his hand, gently skimming down the length of her arm and Blair was suddenly aware of how close they were standing. She shivered visibly and felt a change in the air, it was hot and he was staring at her mouth.

'Blair?' Hailey called loudly from the living room sounding confused.

Blair jumped at the sound of her name falling backwards against the wall knocking over the ironing table stand behind her. She swore loudly as Cade chuckled and helped her up opening the door so she could leave the small closet. Hailey only rolled her eyes at them as they came out of the cupboard, Blair a little sheepish and Cade looking pleased with himself.

'You guys are disgusting,' she rolled her eyes at them. 'We're having dinner now, you better pull yourselves together and stop acting like you were just ravishing each other in the closet because your mother will so not like that.'

'We were doing nothing of the sort,' Blair retorted slightly astounded at Hailey's observation.

Blair fixed herself up, calming down before she entered the living room to join the adults. Just before she opened the door she stopped suddenly feeling Cade crash into her back heavily.

'Hey – ouch!' He exclaimed stepping back, 'What did you do that for?'

Blair spun around giving him the sternest look she could muster, 'Now remember to act like you care about me, none of this fighting crap.'

'I'll try, but you make it so hard to,' he rolled his eyes and pushed past her into the room.

It appeared Delilah hadn't told Blair's father about their incident just yet which Blair was grateful for. He welcomed Cade to the table with gusto, insisting he sit beside him. Cade went with it, a little hesitantly much to the amusement of Hailey.

Two hours later Blair slumped onto the couch in the living room with force. She was joined seconds later by a weary Cade.

'Your parents are...' He trailed off trying to find the right word.

'Exhausting?' She offered.

He smirked, 'Just like you.'

Blair frowned at him and decided to ignore that comment, she was actually pretty happy with how today went. The ultimate goal had been reached, her parents knew she and Cade were together and they'd told them about their indiscretion before Jane could. She snuck a peek over at Cade who had closed his eyes as he leant back on the couch. She guessed now it was time to sort out how they would break up?

'I can feel it when you look at me,' one eye shot open as he looked at her. 'Its creepy, but I can't blame you.'

She felt herself laughing at that one, God he was so conceited... And arrogant, and mean... and gorgeous, sexy, amazing in bed and kind to go through everything today to help her. Blair felt her skin flush as she thought about him, her eyes quickly diverting so not to draw his attention. Did she even want to break up with him? Did he even want to break up? He had avoided her question wen she asked him, but he was angry then, and annoyed with her after their fight. If she asked again, would he answer her?

'Your parents have good intentions, but they really lack some warmth when it comes to you.'

Blair glanced over at him surprised, her relationship thoughts immediately disappearing. 'What do you mean?'

He shrugged at her and closed his eyes again, 'They obviously love you to pieces, they just have an unusual way of showing it. Take Jane and the way she looks at all of us, even when she's angry she has so much love in her eyes. My mum at home is the exact same..' He trailed off smiling slightly at the memory. 'Even though I wreck her head sometimes, she always has this look in her eyes. Unconditional or something, your parents don't quite have that. It's like they're not sure what to do most of the time...?'

Blair nodded in agreement, that was exactly how she felt when she was alone with them. 'They're more like figureheads?'

Cade smiled, 'Yeah exactly.'

'Cade I – '

'Remember separate bedrooms please,' Jane called out as she passed the living room heading upstairs. 'I will check if I have to.'

Cade started chuckling at that, 'What were you saying?'

Blair blanked, had she been about to ask him what his feelings were again? 'Nothing,' she blurted out shrugging. 'I'm going to go to bed, I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Sure,' he leant back into the couch again picking up the remote easily.

Blair headed upstairs a little muddled on her day today. Did all this really happen in one day?

...

Blair's parents were actually home for a few weeks it turned out. She wasn't sure if it was the fact they'd found out she had a boyfriend and was sleeping with him but they even made an effort to take her out to dinner a few nights, catch up on her senior year and find out as much about Cade as possible.

Thankfully they didn't insist on Cade actually attending these dinners, which was a lot easier as they didn't have to keep up the charade in front of others.

'This is exactly what you need,' Hailey decided as she threw yet another dress at her best friend. 'A night out with your friends, maybe meet a cute guy? Dancing, drinks, a club... I'm so excited!'

Blair couldn't help the smile that escaped her mouth at Hailey's enthusiasm. The more she thought about it the more she liked the idea.

'Come on, get ready we're meeting Brady and Lacy there in like two hours!'

'Only you Hails would think two hours is a short time,' Blair laughed as she picked up the last dress thrown at her and held it up to the mirror. She wasn't sure if it looked a bit too short and stripped off to try it on.

'I definitely think you should wear that one,' Hailey called out as she disappeared into the bathroom to put on her makeup.

Blair squeezed into the small backless dress and turned to the full-length mirror critically. Definitely too short she decided easily.

'Where are you guys off to tonight?'

Blair spun around quickly spotting Cade standing in the doorway, his head tilted to the side in query.

'We're uh going to The Airport,' Blair replied offering up a small smile. 'Cute name for a club hey.'

Cade grinned and nodded, 'Whose going?'

'Hailey, Brady, Wes, Lacy and a few others I think, do you want to come?'

Cade shrugged and leant against the door easily, 'Doesn't sound horrible...'

'Don't sound too excited,' she rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror trying to hide a smile.

'You should wear that dress,' he said softly from the doorway. Blair glanced into the mirror and caught his eye. 'You look amazing.' With that he disappeared from the doorway.

Blair swallowed heavily and looked at the dress again, maybe she would wear it after all.

Two hours later Blair, Hailey and Cade arrived at the Airport, joining the rest of their group in the short line to get into the club. Blair was kind of glad Cade had decided to join them after all. When he'd turned up at Hailey's bedroom door again dressed in a dark blue shirt and jeans smelling amazing in Versace, Blair had felt that annoying flutter start again in the pit of her stomach.

The first thing they did after they got in was made a beeline for the bar. Cade of course, designated driver bought the girls a drink settling easily into conversation with Brady and Wes.

'This is really cool,' Blair called out over the music to Hailey as they stood to the side of the pumping dance floor.

We're so lucky Lacy knows the people she does,' Hailey laughed. 'Can you imagine trying to get in somewhere like this without ID?'

'Hey, can I buy you girls a drink?'

Blair and Hailed eyed the man in front of them offering the drink. He was tall, with a slim build and longish hair. His eyes were sparkling green and screamed mischief.

'I'm actually ok thanks, but Blair might want another?' Hailey turned to Blair and winked. 'I'm going to go dance.'

Before Blair had a chance to stop her friend or even join her she was left awkwardly standing with the excitable guy.

'I'm Louis,' he thrust out his hand nearly knocking Blair's drink out of her hand. 'Woops sorry,' he laughed.

'It's ok,' Blair smiled at him. 'I'm Blair it's nice to meet you.'

'Can I be honest with you Blair?'

She was slightly taken back with his question and nodded.

'My friends made me come over here and talk to you...'

Blair frowned, what the hell was wrong with this guy? Telling her he was forced to talk to her?

'No, I didn't mean it that way,' he said quickly looking a little pained by his choice of words. 'I've just broken up with my girlfriend and they're trying to push me back into the scene...but I really don't think I'm ready.'

Blair smiled at him, he looked a little embarrassed and strained, 'It's ok, you can never have too many friends, right?'

The guy broke into a huge grin, 'That's right! So I...'

Suddenly Blair felt a possessive grip on her arm pulling her backwards away from the guy and into a firm chest.

'Woah!' Blair exclaimed looking up at the person who'd grabbed her coming face to face to angry looking Cade. Of course.

'Cade I' – Cade silenced her with a look and turned to the surprised looking guy talking to Blair.

'Listen mate, back off will you? I don't want this to get nasty but she's taken.'

The smiley guy held up both hands in good faith taking a step back quickly, 'No need, we were just talking.' He shrugged at Blair and spun around heading back to his friends at break neck speed.

Blair struggled out of Cade's grip turning to him surprised. She wasn't even mad, she was just majorly surprised.

'What the hell was that?' She asked her eyes wide. 'We were just friends...talking...'

Had she been giving off 'save me' vibes?

Cade was looking a little frustrated and like he was struggling to find the right words.

'I just wont let that happen again, I'm sorry it looked like he was hitting on you.'

Blair shook her head in confusion, 'So what if he was hitting on me?' This was ridiculous, what wouldn't he let happen again?

'You and him, I won't let it happen Blair.'

'Ok, first of all nothing was happening between him and me,' she poked Cade in the chest starting to feel that familiar annoyance towards him surface as she stared at his open face. 'And secondly, it's none...'

'Blair!' He snapped interrupting her. 'I'm sorry ok? I didn't know you were just friends with him but I just meant I can't see you with another guy...' He trailed off with his shoulders heaving slightly 'I can't stand back and watch you start a new bloody relationship.'

Blair's mouth dropped open in surprise. What the hell was she to say to that?

'Can we talk outside? I'm making a mess of this.' He said looking away and not keeping eye contact. He didn't even wait for an answer before turning around and taking off for the entrance.

Blair reluctantly followed him, placing her empty drink on a table before leaving the club. Her insides were clenching up in nerves, she wasn't too sure what on earth to expect.

'Blair, I...' He trailed off when she joined him outside the club, just around the corner so they had some privacy.

'What –'

Cade shot her a glare that made her clamp her mouth shut. 'Let me get this out, ok?'

He waited until she nodded before he continued.

'I don't want to watch you with other guys because I,' he paused and met her eyes with such force Blair's heart nearly skipped a beat. 'I like you Blair. I really like you, and I couldn't see you with someone else again.'

'What?' She could barely get a whisper out.

Cade's embarrassment seemed to fade and he smiled down at her wryly, 'You're going to make me repeat that?'

Now it was Blair's turn to blush as she looked back up at him, had he really just said that? Cade... Of all people just confessed his feelings?

'You look amazing, have I told you that yet?' He pulled her by her waist into him and murmured into her hair.

Blair smiled into his shoulder, 'I believe you have, but its nice to hear again.'

He chuckled softly, his hands running up and down her arms.

Blair had a sudden thought and pulled away confused, 'You can't just get jealous when I'm with other guys and then not want anything other than a fuck buddy Cade. I'm not interested in that.'

Cade smiled at her and rolled his eyes, 'I know. '

'Don't roll your eyes at me!'

He laughed now, 'You're not going to make this easy on me are you?'

Blair couldn't help the grin that slipped onto her face. She did know where he was going with this, and it was nice to see him sweat a little. 'Make what easy on you Cade?' She teased.

'Will you go out with me for real? No pretend boyfriend. All real.' He smiled at her, 'I want to go on stupid dates with you, I want to impress your parents and I want everyone to know you are mine...' He trailed off his voice so low Blair had to lean in to hear him properly.

Her small smile blossomed into a huge grin and she stood there beaming at him like some idiot. She didn't even care though. She was happy.

....