Hey! I am so sorry for not updating in a while, I know I said I was going to try and get this chapter out quickly, but life got in the way and I've been really busy lately with work and actually having a social life (shocker i know) hahaha! But yeah, so I wanted to make this chapter longer, but I wasn't sure how much longer it would take me you are just going to have to deal with a short chapter this time :)
Chapter 10 - Distance
Nellie smiled, satisfied at her appearance in the mirror and put her brush down. She was only wearing skinny jeans, a plain tank and a hoodie, but she was travelling to one of the neighbouring towns for the dance competition today so she wanted to be comfortable, but she was meeting Blake there and she wanted to look somewhat presentable after being on a bus that smelt like old gym socks for two hours.
They were originally going to drive up to Jefferson together, but Nellie's dance team had hired a bus for the whole team to go together and they didn't want to cause suspicion so they decided they'd just meet up when they got there. Blake had told his parents he was staying over Michael's for the night, but he had booked a hotel room at the same hotel that Nellie was staying at so they could be together.
They hadn't managed to see each other since they were together at the swimming pool the previous weekend because they either had dance or football practice or other commitments with friends and family so they were both happy that they would finally got some time together that wouldn't be interrupted.
Nellie let out a content sigh and turned away from the mirror, excited about the competition and seeing Blake. They had talked on the phone almost every night that week, but it wasn't the same as seeing each other in person and though she didn't want to admit it, she actually missed him. It scared her that she was actually missing Blake, they had only known each other for a short period of time and if she was missing him after only a week of dating, what was it going to be like in a month? She had never had a relationship that lasted longer than three months and that was back in her sophomore year with Jake.
Nellie's phone ringing pulled her from her thoughts and she quickly grabbed at her phone, seeing Blake's name on the screen. She made a mental note to change his name to something else – just in case anyone saw – before she answered her phone. "Hey Stranger." She said softly into the phone. "Wow it's only been..." She glanced at her clock. "...Eight hours since we last spoke."
She heard Blake chuckle down the phone and her smile widened at the sound. "I just can't get enough of you." He joked, but Nellie wondered whether he was really joking or not.
"I bet." Nellie smiled and sat down on her bed. "So, what's up?"
"Not much, I just thought I would call to make sure you're awake." Blake responded and Nellie could practically feel his charm radiating from him, making her melt through the phone.
"Well, I'm up." Nellie grinned. "Are y-" She started, only to be interrupted by her door opening.
"You ready to leave yet Nells?" Jason, Nellie's eldest brother asked as he walked into her room.
"Jeez Jase, ever heard of knocking!?" Nellie exclaimed and put her phone to her shoulder, careful not to let her brother see the caller I.D. "I could have been naked!" She heard Blake laugh through the speaker.
"Stop being dramatic." Jason rolled his eyes. "We've gotta go if you wanna be on time for the bus so tell your boyfriend you'll see him on Sunday."
"I don't have a boyfriend!" Nellie yelled quickly, her eyes widening in fear.
"Sure you don't, Claire just took you to meet your friends in secret on Friday night." Jason chuckled and shook his head.
"Claire told you!?" Nellie yelled again.
"She didn't have too, it was obvious." Jason shrugged. "Are these your bags?" He asked nonchalantly and Nellie nodded, dumfounded. "I'll take them to the car. Be down in Two minutes." He said before he left without another word.
Nellie stared after her brother in shock. He didn't even have an opinion on the situation. "Nellie? You okay?" Blake's voice interrupted her shocked state and she was reminded of Blake on the line still.
"Sorry," She shook her head. "I've gotta go, my brother is inpatient." She explained with a roll of her eyes.
"Alright, well I'll see you in approximately two hours." Blake said and Nellie could practically see him grinning from ear-to-ear.
"Bye." Nellie said softly before she shut the phone off, not waiting for a response. She smiled again and let out a sigh, she didn't remember the last time she felt this way or if she ever actually had before.
A beeping of a horn pulled Nellie from her thoughts and she pushed them to the back of her head, not wanting to think about any of that. It was too soon. She quickly grabbed her purse and made her way toward Jason's car.
"You ready kiddo?" Jason asked when Nellie climbed into the front seat.
"Yep." Nellie nodded, a smile on her face as she looked down at her phone and saw a text from Blake.
See you soon xx
That was all it said but Nellie couldn't help as her smile widened at it.
"I'm going to Michael's!" Blake yelled to his parents as he jumped down the last few stairs.
"Be sensible!" He heard his mother's voice call back.
"Will do!" Blake said and made his way to his car. He tossed his backpack that had clothes for tomorrow in and his jacket into the backseat and jumped into the front, immediately starting his car up. He couldn't wait to get to Jefferson. He had never seen Nellie dance before, Shanna had brought her up in conversation a few times, saying that she was really good and that Carmel were their only real competition. Blake hadn't really listened though, he hadn't been interested in Nellie or Shanna's dance team back then.
But now things were different. He couldn't seem to stop thinking about Nellie Veitenheimer. It was a pretty crazy thing for Blake, to like a girl the way he liked Nellie; He had never been big on relationships, the longest relationship he had was in his sophomore year and he dated the girl for almost a year; since then it has only been hook up's – never a relationship. He just wasn't that kind of guy.
Well, before he met Nellie he thought he wasn't. Now he could hardly remember why he had never wanted a real relationship.
He drove through the slow streets of Lima until he reached the highway and he was on his well on his way to the neighbouring town, only the music playing from the radio was heard the whole journey.
Nellie couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face as she watched out of the window as the hotel they were staying at for the night came into view. It was nothing special, the dance team didn't have a large budget, but she wasn't thinking of the crappy hotel; She was just excited to see Blake.
"You excited for today Nells?" Katie, a younger girl on the team questioned and Nellie turned her head away from the window, taking in the girls bright blue eyes.
"Of course." Nellie nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. "Probably not as excited as you though, it's your first competition." She added and the blonde let out a nervous laugh.
"Pretty nervous actually." She admitted quietly, glancing behind their seat to the rest of the girls who were all talking and laughing amongst themselves.
"You'll be fine." Nellie smiled as the bus came to a stop and she glanced out of the window, catching a glimpse of Blake's familiar blue hoodie. "Even if you mess up a few times, everything works out." She told Katie, though her eyes trained on the spot where she had just spotted Blake. "Trust me." She added quietly and finally turned to look back at the blonde.
"Thanks Nellie." Katie grinned. She didn't have time to say anything else because the girls started filing off the bus and into the hotel.
Nellie let out a breath of air and made her way off of the bus, silently praying that everything this weekend would go to plan. They had to win this weekend to qualify for the next round in the state dance competition and she wanted to win with Blake watching; that meant that nobody could catch him here. If he was seen by anybody he'd have to leave as quickly as possible, Nellie didn't even want to think about what would happen to him if that were to happen.
"Hey beautiful," Nellie jumped as she felt arms wrap around her from behind and then Blake's voice in her ear. She let out a breath of relief and couldn't help the warmness spread throughout her body at just hearing his voice again, in person and not over the phone.
"We have to be careful." Nellie muttered and glanced around the parking lot. They were stood around the side of the bus, covered by another school bus so nobody could see them, but if anyone were to walk around the corner they'd be seen.
Blake sighed, tickling the skin on Nellie's neck lightly. "What time is your dance?"
Nellie frowned slightly, trying to remember, and turned around in his arms, setting her own hands on his chest. "Three. We can hang out for a little while before I start rehearsal."
"Hmm," Blake started, his fingertips brushing against the strip of bare skin between her jeans and sweater. He went to open his mouth again to speak, but Nellie leant up and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss.
"I better go and get my bag." Nellie said as she disconnected their lips.
Blake nodded and stepped away from her, knowing that it was risky being out in the open with Nellie's teammates just around the corner. "I'm in room 220. Come and find me when you can."
"Sure," Nellie responded and stepped out of his arms. "See you in a bit." She said before she started walking backwards to where the rest of the team were.
"Hey!" Blake called out before Nellie had got too far away. She looked up at him in question, their brown eyes meeting in the middle. "I missed you." He said softly, sending her his signature grin.
Nellie smiled again before she nodded and said, "I missed you too, Jenner."
Nellie walked with a spring in her step as she made her way down the long corridor, searching for Blake's room. It had taken her awhile to get away from the team, she had been put in a room with Katie so that wasn't so bad, the younger girl wouldn't question her sneaking off to be with Blake. She only had a few hours now until she would have to start rehearsing for the competition and though Nellie loved dance almost more than anything else in the world, she wished she could spend just a little while longer with Blake before she'd have to run off.
Once she finally reached his room she gave it a couple of knocks and Blake was there within seconds. She couldn't help the blush that rose on her cheeks as he appeared without a shirt on.
"Hey," She muttered, glancing at the floor.
Blake didn't seem to notice her embarrassment and lightly grabbed her forearm, pulling her into the room and shutting the door quickly. "Did anyone see you?" He asked quickly, looking slightly out of breath.
She frowned and shook her head. "No, but the girls wouldn't let me leave. Sorry it took awhile."
Blake let out a relieved sigh, but still anxiously ran a hand through his shaggy hair. She noted that he needed a haircut soon.
"Hey, what's going on?" Noticing his uneasiness, Nellie stepped toward him, finally able to get over his shirtlessness and reached up, letting her hand settle on his neck, her fingertips tickling his cheek slightly.
Blake shook his head and let out another breath. He was about to open his mouth and respond, but a knock on the door interrupted him.
"Are you expecting somebody?" She frowned and stepped back in confusion, glancing between Blake and the door.
"Shanna's here." He said as another knock sounded from the door.
THE END.
What did you think? I hope you liked it and again, apologies for the wait and for the short chapter, but hey, at least I'm updating right? :) Anyway, thank you so much for all of your reviews, I really appreciate them and I love to hear what you all think of the chapters and what else you would like to see in the future! So keep it up! :D Hehe, thanks for reading!