The Search for Fireworks (ONGOING)

8 ~ The Emotion

"Sure," Reilly murmured and sat down next to him. The beginning credits of 'Station 19' blasting through Blake's speaker.

It only took a few minutes for Reilly to relax and lay down. She moved as far away from Blake as humanly possible, leaving a space between the two of them, large enough to have two people lay comfortably in between them.

"That can't be comfortable," Blake commented, "You're going to fall off."

"I'm fine," she responded stubbornly. Blake shrugged and continued watching the series. He wasn't going to waste time convincing her that he won't touch her, he's having a hard time convincing himself.

Blake's phone chimed loudly, overpowering the speakers and Reilly fell off the bed with a thud.

"I'm okay," she muttered jumping up instantly, limping towards her couch. Blake held his hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter.

"Reilly," he called barely containing his laughter, "come on. There are only five minutes left in the episode."

She looked at her laptop, then looked at his. Sighing loudly, she got up and sat back on the bed, she had to watch the last few minutes. When the next episode started, Reilly didn't move to her couch. She lay down again, this time, more to the centre.

She glanced over to Blake, he was fiddling on his phone, texting who-knows-who, smiling. She couldn't help but think about what happened earlier, what could have happened if his phone didn't interrupt. Then it occurred to her that he had mentioned a girlfriend, but thinking back to that conversation she couldn't recall if they were still together or not. Frowning, she wondered if Blake is the kind of guy to kiss other girls if he's in a relationship. On the flip side, it's been two days, she doesn't know him from a bar of soap, why does she even care? With that, she dismissed all further pondering and focussed on the series.

Blake switched off his phone and looked over to Reilly, she seems immersed into the series, a ghost of a frown on her forehead. He couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking about. Was she thinking about earlier too? Has she long forgotten it? He was texting everyone on his contact list just to avoid trying to kiss her again. It was frustrating. The girls all responded, but none of them evoked a feeling of anticipation like that almost kiss did. Blake watched a tear run down her cheek over her lips and drop onto his pillow. Emotion. That's the one thing he doesn't deal with.

A few years ago, he had just finished high-school. Nina was his first real girlfriend. He had girls during high school, plenty of them - falling over him, left right and centre. But, Nina was different. He fell in love with her, he fell hard.

A few months into the relationship, she was speaking marriage, and he loved it. He was going to marry her, life was great. They planned every facet. Thanks to his parents they had an engagement party worthy of more than just tabloids. It was a fairy tale.

They were everyone's favourite couple. They did everything together. Blake took her everywhere she wanted to go. He bought her everything she hinted at wanting. He was besotted by this petite girl. Wrapped around her little finger.

I wish I could say that she died, but she didn't. She betrayed him, the first chance she got. Not with anyone, either. But with one of his best friends. The only eligible bachelor richer than Blake. Seth Bell.

Seth came to a party Blake and Nina were hosting, a couple of weeks after their engagement party. It didn't take a very long time for Nina to realise she has associated herself with the poorer of the two men. And she didn't waste any time rectifying it either.

Blake caught her in bed with Seth, that same night. He would never forget the sight of the woman he thought he was going to marry and one of his best friends tangled up in each other's arms. In his bed. The knife that pierced his heart still cuts deep into his flesh.

Seth wasn't willing to marry his best friend's girl, he was simply out for a good time. By the time she had realised this, it was too late. He will never forget the display of fake emotion Nina had for him that night. How easily she could summon those tears. How fast she could tell him she loved him. When in reality, she loved his money. When all she ever wanted was the title.

It was a good reminder not to get involved with the girl laying next to him. He steeled his heart and concentrated on the rest of the show. Willing his heart not to soften with every sob raking through Reilly's body because if it.