Here is part two! I hope you enjoy!

Way Too Long – ForTheWin04 – Part 2

No matter how hard we tried, it was nearly impossible to fit all seven of us on the large couch the faced the television in our living room. All possible combinations of bodies had gone through the trial and error process, each failing more epically than the last. In the end, Abraham and I rounded up all the blanket and pillows that we could find and set them up into a comfortable spot on the floor just in front of the sofa.

After we all got snuggled in (me between Blake and Abraham), we turned on a movie and made way too many bags of popcorn. I was sharing a bowl with Blake, watching as he would take a large handful and try to shove it all into his mouth at once. I laughed as a few pieces of his popcorn didn't quite make the cut and fell into his lap in a failed attempt. When this happened, I was quick to see the disappointment in his eyes.

"You know," I said to him with a smirk. "Normal people eat the popcorn one piece at a time."

"But where's the challenge in that?" Blake said, picking up one of the stray pieces that fell in his lap. He examined if for a moment, before he plopped it into his mouth.

"Most people don't play with their food," I told him.

Michael snickered at my comment, before chiming in. "Yeah man, where are your manners?"

"The same place as Charlie's," Aylin said with a giggle as she tossed a napkin at her boyfriend. "In the toilet."

Charlie picked up the napkin, seeing as his face was covered in chocolate from the ice cream he had just eaten, and wiped his mouth clean. "There," he said with a grin. "Good as new!"

Aylin smiled, and leaned slightly closer to him. "It's like a Charlie 2.0," she teased before leaning forward and kissing him.

"Ew, get a room!" Abraham complained, causing me and Blake to laugh.

"Shut-up, we're in love!" said Charlie, clasping Aylin's hand.

Abraham then leaned over towards me. "Well if we're all kissing people we love, then you'd better get a move in on Blake!" he whispered to me with a grin plastered on his face.

"Abe," I said as quietly as possible. "You seriously need to stop hinting at my feelings!"

"But it's so fun!" he said with a laugh.

"What's fun?" Blake asked, his mouth full and butter running down his chin. It was both messy, and adorable.

I felt a blush creeping in my cheeks, and I hoped that Abraham could come up with a reasonable answer. "Teasing Nellie," he said, being way too honest for my likings.

"Now that's a game I like!" Blake joked. "What're we teasing about?"

I felt my heart stop, praying that Abraham would make something up. If he told Blake about my feelings, I would not only die of embarrassment, but I'd kill Abraham as well.

"Nellie's love life!" Abraham said, causing my cheeks to turn a deeper red.

"Ah," Blake said while he rubbed his hands together. "Who's the lucky guy?"

When I realized the question was directed at me, I couldn't even get out a sentence. "I, uh, well..." I said, stumbling over my words.

"There's no one," Abraham said, covering for me. "I was teasing her about her lack of love life, I guess."

I felt a sign escape my lips, thankful that Abraham had come up with something to say, seeing as I was drowning. "Awe Nells," Blake said to me with a sympathetic smile. "Don't let Abe get you down! You'll find someone."

"Way to play the teasing game," Abraham said with a smile. "You're not supposed to get all sappy!"

"Sorry for bumming you out, man," Blake told him. "I just wanted Nellie to know that."

"Well thank you for defending me," I told Blake. To Abraham, I added. "At least someone is playing nice."

"Fine, fine. I'll play nice!" I hoped that Abraham knew that when I told him to play nice, I really meant that he needed to butt out of my feelings for Blake. If he made it anymore obvious, then Blake would find out, and I wasn't ready for that to happen yet.

For next half an hour, the group was mostly silent, with the exception of making fun of the main character in the movie, or Blake's loud chewing. Abraham had stopped the hints and the teasing (for now) and for once since we'd all been together I felt at ease.

"Oops," Blake said as he looked down at the bowl in his lap. "We're out of popcorn."

"How are you still hungry?" Shanna questioned with a smirk. "You already eat your entire bowl, and half of mine!"

Blake simply shook his head. "I have a very big appetite!"

"I think there are some chips in the kitchen," I told him. "They're in the cabinet under above the stove."

Blake then rose from his spot next to me to go retrieve his snack. As soon as he was out of ear shot, Michael leaned over and nudged me in the side. "What's happening with you and Blake?" he asked with a wide smile.

"What?" I said, the surprise apparent in my voice. "Nothing."

Aylin looked at me, and shook her head. "Don't lie, Nellie!"

"You love him," Shanna said with a knowing grin. "It's so obvious!"

I looked at them and made a face. "I don't love him."

I saw Abraham nod, then he squeezed my arm. "C'mon, Nells, yes you do."

All my friends looked at me with eager grins, and I knew I had been caught in my lie. I felt a blush on my face, and I was about to confess when Blake walked back into the room with a bag of chips and a can of Sprite. "Nell," he said upon arrival. "Why do you look so red?"

"Just being picked on, again," I said, showing my annoyance to my friends.

"Don't worry," Blake said, just loud enough for only me to hear after he sat back down and pulled a blanket back over himself. "I'll make sure to defend you."

I felt myself smile. It was good to know that Blake would always be there to protect me, even if it was just from my friend's teasing. Then, almost when I was least expecting it, I felt Blake's hand slip into mine for the second time that day. Since both of our hands were under the blankets, no one knew except for me and him. I give his hand a light squeeze, signally that I appreciated the gesture.

His hand stayed in mine for the remainder of the movie.

After the film had ended, and it had gotten late, I helped Abraham get all the couches ready for Aylin, Charlie and Michael to sleep on. After everyone was settled in, I made my way into my room where Blake was already getting set for bed. When I walked in, he stood by the door wearing plaid pajama bottoms, and no shirt. I almost felt my breath get caught in my throat.

"Sorry," he said as he picked up a white t-shirt and threw it over his head.

"No, no," I said, attempting to keep my cool. "That's fine."

I made my way over to my dresser, and pulled out a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. I put them under my arm and walked over to the door once again and slipped out. I went into the bathroom, changed my clothes and brushed my teeth. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I ran a brush through my short hair before re-entering my bedroom. Blake was already lying down on my couch with a red comforter over top of him.

"Nice pajamas," he told me with a smirk as I threw my old clothes into the hamper.

"Thanks," I said with a laugh before climbing into my bed. I moved to turn off the lamp, but made eye-contact with Blake along the way. He was staring at me, with almost a shy look about him. If there was one thing I'd never seen Blake be, it was shy.

"Look," he told me as he slightly sat up. "About holding your hand earlier, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I wasn't–"

"You didn't make me feel uncomfortable," I told as a smile slightly rose on my face. "I liked it."

I couldn't believe that those words had just came out my mouth. But what was harder to believe, was what Blake said next.

"Me too."

I smiled at him after his comment before proceeding to turn of the lamp, engulfing the room in total darkness. I settled back on my pillow and I heard Blake do the same.

"Goodnight, Nellie," I heard his voice say from the shadows.

"Goodnight," I replied.

Even as I tried to sleep, it was almost impossible to shake the smile off my face.

I was woken at about three in the morning to the lamp in my room being snapped on. I opened my eyes to see Blake standing next to it, staring down at me. "Hey."

"Hi?" I questioned. "What are you doing there, Blake?"

He shrugged and moved to sit down next to me on my bed. "I couldn't sleep. I thought we could talk."

I slightly sat up so I could see his face better. "Sure."

"Did you know," he began. "That Michael and Charlie have been teasing me all week. They both say that I'm in love with you."

So the teasing went both ways. "Yeah, I've been getting a lot of that from Abraham, too."

"Really?"

"Mhm," I said with a nod. "And Aylin and Shanna."

"Well then I guess it's official that all of our friends think we like each other."

"Yeah, I guess so," I agreed.

"Do you think that there might be some truth to what they are saying?" he asked me reluctantly.

"Are you asking me if I like you?" I said slowly, causing him to nod. I let out a slow, deep breath. "Why? Do you like me?"

"Nellie," he said as he turned to look directly at me. "How could anybody not like you? You're so fascinating, and real, and gorgeous! Of course I like you, Nellie. I really like you. I've actually been trying to tell you that all day."

I couldn't help the large smile that overtook my whole face. I couldn't believe the words I was hearing. I had imagined them over and over in my head, but hearing them out loud sparked so many things in me. "You're so sweet, Blake."

"Just sweet?" he joked.

"No," I told him. "You're perfect."

With that, he smiled too, and then he leaned forward and brought his lips to mine. I could feel so much emotion in that simple kiss that it was almost like one of those cliché moments when you see fireworks going off because it's just that perfect. I brought my arms up around his neck, and felt his hands wrap around my back. When he pulled back, it seemed like it had all gone by way too quickly.

"So you never answered my question," he said to me as he tipped his forehead to lean against mine.

"Yes, I like you."

In that moment both of us smiled. "Good," he told me. "I've been waiting way too long to hear you say that."

END

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