Over the next week Blair had settled into her life in Ipswich and into her friendship with Caleb and her new friends. However, no matter how much she grew to feel as if she belonged there and was a member of the group there was always the thought of darkness haunting the back of her mind, never allowing her to completely forget. Blair eventually began to reprimand herself for her constant putting off of the inevitable but she feared that when they knew the truth they would turn their backs. Despite her inability to tell them who she was Blair found herself growing much closer to Caleb with each passing day. Every day they would sit together in class and talk about random things sometimes meaningful other times silly things that had no purpose. Sometimes they would even study together in her room where Avalon spent the entire time curled happily in his lap demanding a scratch behind the ear. Every day, Blair was amazed anew at how calm, kind and gentle Caleb could be despite the wild strength that lurked just beneath the surface. She knew he was a good and loyal friend to a fault as he made sure to look after all of his friends that he considered family.
When they were alone together Blair felt the connection between them spark and intensify to the point where it grew nearly impossible to keep her emotions from going haywire. During those times Blair felt as if that whatever the spark was that existed between them, Caleb felt it too. It was during those moments that Blair found herself tongue tied and embarrassed, not knowing what say or do as she'd never felt that sort of connection with anyone before. Half the time she felt like an idiot around Caleb and had many time found herself being as ungraceful as she had been during their first day in class. She figured that the closer she grew to him the more she hated lying to him and yet she feared him finding out about her and turnig his back on her more than she feared the others doing so. In the end she was always able to convince herself that it wasn't yet the time to reveal herself and keep who she truly was a secret.
As close as she was becoming with Caleb, Blair was also growing close in her friendship with Lux, Peyton, Gemma, and the rest of the covenant boys. It was during that Friday lunch that Blair found herself being shang-highed into a movie night held at Caleb and Lux's house that night. While she would've said yes to the invitation Lux, the other girls and Reid never even gave her the chance to answer before they answered for her. What Blair found strange was the triumphant looks on the faces. Something in the back of her mind told her that her friends were up to something, but what it was she couldn't say. The only thing they told her was that they would pick her up at her room later that night to bring her over to Caleb's place for the movie night.
After lunch Reid and the girls tracked down Caleb before his next class informing him that he needed to pick Blair up later that night for their movie night.
"Wait, not that I have a problem with it but why can't you guys do it?" Caleb asked in confusion. "Expect for Pogue the rest of you live here and both Lux and Tyler have their own transportation. Wouldn't it be easier for you to take her?" he pointed out.
"We're all have other plans after school so you'll have to do it," Pogue told him matter of factly.
"See you later," Lux told her brother as she and the rest of his friends made a quick get away before he could say anything else.
After his little meeting with his sister and friends in the hallway where they informed him of his need to pick Blair up Caleb knew that his friends were up to something. All six of them looked oddly triumphant about something, especially Reid and his natural inability to hide anything he found remotely entertaining or mischievous. Whatever it was that his friends were plotting during the last two classes that he shared with Gemma, Peyton and Tyler he couldn't get anything helpful out of them.
Later that night Blair was finishing up getting ready for the movie night with her friends. As instructed by Lux she'd worn her pajamas but this time knowing that Caleb would be there she made sure to leave her hair down rather than in two childish braids. Hearing the knock at her door Blair gave Avalon one last pet before moving to open the door, however, where she had thought to find Lux or one of her other friends she found Caleb waiting on the other side instead. For a moment Blair was left speechless by her surprise.
Why had he driven all the way back to school just to pick her up when the others were right there with transportation of their own? Even as the thought entered her mind a new realization dawned on Blair. Perhaps this was what her friends had been feeling so triumphant about earlier that day. The whole thing was a set up to get her and Caleb alone, not that she minded, but it seemed that her feelings were a little more noticeable to others than she had first thought. Looking at him now Blair admired how handsome he looked in everyday clothes. She loved it when he looked more natural as he did now dressed in jeans and a plain t-shirt rather than the more formal uniform of Spencer Academy.
"Hey," Caleb spoke to fill the awkward silence.
"Hey," she answered back a little embarrassed by the realization of what her friends had done.
What Blair found even more awkward was the thought that if their friends had gone through this much trouble just to get her and Caleb alone they probably had more planned for the rest of the night as well.
Feeling the need to say something more Blair said the first thing that came to mind, "You look good."
By the time she realized what exactly she had said it was too late as Caleb had clearly heard her words and was now looking down at her with a wide pleased smile that was freakishly similar to the arrogant smirk that Reid commonly sported. Thinking fast Blair attempted to cover for herself.
"I mean you look healthy," she attempted, but discovered it only made her look and sound even more ridiculous, especially when Caleb's smile grew in size.
"Okay," he said obviously finding the situation enjoyable much to Blair's embarrassment and displeasure.
"Big deal, I said you look good," Blair told him as nonchalantly as she could manage. "Its not like we're in the 5th grade."
When Caleb only continued to smile Blair did the only thing left she could think of to attempt get herself out of such an embarrassing and awkward passion, she slapped him playfully across the chest and managed the best laugh she could.
"Shut up," she reprimanded even though he hadn't technically said anything. "Let's go," she finished grabbing her denim jacket as she closed the door behind her and walked on ahead of Caleb.
Watching Blair walk on in front of him toward the exit and the parking lot where his car was waiting Caleb couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Perhaps he would have to thank his friends after all. After seeing the shocked expression on Blair's face at seeing him at her door it was obvious that no one had told her he would be the one picking her up that night, an odd thing to leave out unless purposely done. It didn't take much more thought to figure out that his friends were setting him up.
Over the last few days he had found himself thinking of Blair more and more whether they were together or not and when they weren't together he found himself wanting to be with her. She was a strange mix of things, both strong and vunerable, as well as kind and caring, but still able to joke and have fun. True she was a mystery, but he liked that about her. He knew that many times she felt alone and vulnerable, feeling the need to be tough, but he wanted to protect her and be there for her so she wouldn't have to feel alone and vulnerable ever again. Perhaps he would have to thank his friends after all since he had been meaning to ask her out and tonight perhaps he would find the perfect opportunity to do so. And so with a smile Caleb followed behind Blair.
It didn't take long to get over the embarrassment of what she'd said back at the dorms but the two remained in silence during the ride to Caleb's house. There was no reason for them to talk because at that moment they were perfectly content to enjoy the deep silence together. It was almost as if so much more was being said without words.
Minutes later they arrived at the house Caleb and Lux called home, while upon seeing it Blair found the word mansion to be a more appropriate term, however, she couldn't deny that it was beautiful. Blair never got the chance to step out of the car on her own before she found Caleb beside her door and opening it for her. Had she really been staring at the house long enough for him to get out and come around? The moment that she stepped out of the car and walked up the front steps of the house with Caleb walking so very close beside her, Blair suddenly became very aware of Caleb's presence, more so than she already had been if it was even possible. And unknown to her Caleb felt the same.
When the two came into the house they were meant with the loud laughter coming from a nearby room. Walking into the room Caleb and Blair found their friends littered around the room but just enough to circle the big screen TV. Reid sat in a cushioned recliner with Lux sitting comfortably in his lap, while Peyton and Pogue were stretched out across the couch and Tyler and Gemma had made themselves a comfortable nest on the floor. All of their friends were once again smiling with the same triumphant smiles that they had sported earlier that morning and both Caleb and Blair soon realized why. All of them had taken up any available sitting space to watch the movies leaving the only two spots left open for them on the love seat. At that particular moment the love seat seemed extremely small.
"Well what are you two waiting for?" Reid called impatiently. "Take a seat so we can start the movie."
With no other option left to them courtesy of their friends Caleb and Blair took their seats in the love seat. Less than fifteen minutes into the movie Blair lost track of what was happening on the screen. By that time somehow she and Caleb had slowly drifted closer together to the point where their shoulders were slightly touching. It was then that Blair's awareness of Caleb began to sky rocket. She was intensely aware of his arm now slung across the back of the couch as well as her shoulders so that his knuckles were just barely feathering across her cheek. The movement was and feelings that it elicited in her were pleasant but the surprise at the action caused Blair's body to tense.
"What's wrong?" Caleb whispered in his deep and low voice so close to her ear that she could easily hear him as well as feel his warm breath brush her skin.
"Nothing," she whispered back shaking her head.
Blair knew that Caleb hadn't yet turned his attention back to the movie but was instead studying her. She felt his hand reach around to her chin his fingers gently stroking the underside with his thumb. The heat pooled in the pit of her stomach and her thoughts began to race at the speed of light. Everything that she felt for Caleb and had been growing since day one suddenly began to grow out of control.
"I'll be right back," Blair whispered urgently before shooting to her feet and nearly running out of the room leaving a confused Caleb behind.
Once out of the room Blair leaned against a nearby wall to attempt to regain control or herself. Needing a moment, Blair grabbed her jacket and silently left the house stepping out into the cool night air.
Five minutes later when Blair had yet to return Caleb silently excused himself from the movie and left to find her. He took notice of her jacket missing and easily came to the conclusion that she had most likely left the house. Grabbing his own jacket Caleb left the house closing the door firmly behind him. Caleb glanced around the yard in search of Blair. His eyes locked on her instantly even in the approaching darkness.
Caleb soon found her kneeling on the ground softly petting a pair of wild brown rabbits. He watched her in silence and wonderment that she was able to so easily approach let alone touch a wild animal. The scene before him seemed so serine that he didn't want to interrupt. The smile stretched across Blair's lips as she pet the two rabbits made it impossible for him to look away, it made her so beautiful. Without thinking Caleb took a step forward and stepped on a twig sending a small crunch echoing in the silence. Blair immediately jumped at the sound taking hold of the two rabbits and holding them close in her arms as if to protect them from a predator. When she saw that it was only him she kneeled back down to release the two rabbits back to the grassy ground where they then slowly hopped away.
Blair gave herself a moment before standing straight and facing Caleb. Now that they were alone in the dark with nothing and no one there with them except the stars and moon above Blair felt the same wild spinning of thoughts and emotions concerning Caleb that she'd felt in the house return. However, this time she did a much better job at controlling and hiding it than she had before.
"You have a thing for animals," Caleb suddenly pointed out.
Seeing that he was doing his best to make her feel more comfortable Blair smiled and answered, "Yes. I guess you could say that I understand them and they understand me. Sometimes I think they understand me better than other people do."
"I wouldn't say all people," Caleb commented.
The comment had Blair's head shooting up to meet his brown eyes with her violet ones. She knew very well what he had meant by his comment and that he was right. Even in the short amount of time that they had known each other the strange connection that had sparked between them at their first meeting somehow made it easy to see through each other, as if they were seeing into each other's souls to who they truly were. It was exactly how she felt when she was with the animals she loved but what she felt around Caleb was a hundred times more potent than that.
Suddenly, her nerves kicked and unable to help herself Blair began to babble endlessly about silly meaningless things from class, animals and even Reid's most recent confrontation with Aaron Abbott. Even as she rambled about such random things Blair was fully aware that she was embarrassing herself but she just couldn't bring herself to stop.
"Just shut up," Caleb suddenly whispered deeply.
Before Blair had any chance to think of what he had meant his lip covered hers. In that single moment when lips touched Blair felt as if she'd been waiting her whole life for his lips to touch hers. She'd been unable to stop herself from imagining it several times over the last week and it was just as wild and feverish as she had imagined it would be. Her skin tingled where the stubble on his chin abraded hers. There was tenderness in his kiss but an unexpected heated passion and hunger as well. Caleb's strong hands held her close roaming over her back deftly slipping beneath the edge of her coat, and skimmed the skin across her spin into the curve of her lower back before pulling her close until they were body against body. Blair couldn't stop the soft moan that left her lips as he held her close and kissed her soundly. Eventaully, the need for air forced them to separate.
"Will you go out with me?" Caleb asked his voice deep and husky after their kiss.
With her head still reeling from the flood of emotions and pleasure Blair could do little else except nod her head in avid agreement. With one last deep kiss to her lips Caleb forced himself to let go of her and walk away back into the house while he had to will to do so, leaving a stunned Blair in his wake.
For several long moments Blair remained frozen in shock where Caleb had left her. She could still feeling the tingling sensation left behind by Caleb's lips. All at once the realization of what her feelings were quickly becoming exploded in her mind. Suddenly all the confusion and embarrassment made sense. Something told her that the potent emotions that she felt were undoubtedly returned by Caleb. It seemed so easy and yet even in her light headed state of mind Blair knew full well that such feeling had every possibility of complicating an already complicated matter even more. Despite knowing that, Blair couldn't bring herself to care at that moment with that happiness that was consuming her. And so with a little bit of a lightness in her step she returned to the house to finish off the movie night with her friends and Caleb. Through the entire movie the whole group glanced over to them with knowing triumphant smiles.
An: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Sorry about the delay I wrote most of it at once but then got distracted for a few days and didn't get it done as fast as it could've and should've been. Thank for reading I hope you liked the chapter. Let me know by reviewing. In the next chapter Blair may be revealing herself to the group.