Rylie's POV
I hadn't been expecting Blake to come in at the moment that he did. Then again, I hadn't been expecting Asher but yet, here we were. Why exactly did the universe keep shoving me between both these guys anyway? The reason was quite obvious. The universe was in a word, a dick!
Anyway, back to how the very awkward situation I was in came about, I had been in my dressing room, reading my script and preparing for my next scene when I heard a knock at the door. I took it to be Blake and bounded excitedly to the door only to find out that it was Asher.
"Oh! It's you?" I tried not to sound too disappointed but I obviously didn't try too hard. "Yes, it's just me. Try not to sound too disappointed," Asher remarked as he walked in.
"I'm sorry, Asher. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. Of course I'm happy to see you here. But how exactly did you know I was here again?" I sat on the sofa beside him.
"You mean, despite you not telling me that you were cast in a fricking movie?" he exclaimed, eyebrows arched.
"It happened just recently. I guess it escaped my mind or something. You don't have to sound that sad. You're making me guilty. So how exactly did you find out?"
"Olivia told me."
"Oh, she did?" I was a bit surprised since the last time we spoke about Asher, she was pretty much convinced that he was lying. It surprised me that she was the one to inform him about what I had been up to. "But how exactly did you get in?"
"It was actually kinda easy. The lady at the desk thought I looked like an extra so I was allowed right in."
"Well that was weirdly convenient."
"I know right. I must be even hotter than I thought," he ran his hand a little proudly. I rolled my eyes at him and playfully punched him. "Wow! Are you playing a MMA fighter in the movie? That actually hurt," he complained, rubbing his arm.
"Yeah right. How could a little punch from a lightweight like me affect a big strong man like you?" I rolled my eyes again.
"You have no idea," Asher groaned and flexed his arm.
"Nevertheless I'm happy you're here. I have a scene up next. Wanna help me practice?"
"Sure. Why not?" He accepted the script I handed him and we stood up to act out the scene.
"You don't have to do much, okay? Just read the lines that aren't marked and I'll read the marked ones. Got it?"
"Aye aye, Captain." He raised his hand in salute.
I gave him a pointed look that made him squirm and mumble "I'm sorry" and we started the scene. In this scene, I was having an argument with Kristen's character, Valerie and explicitly telling her to leave Blake —or Chase as his character was called— alone. The climax of the scene was me pushing Valerie to the floor.
After the scene was done, I concluded by pushing Asher who fell on the chair behind him.
"Great. That was just amazing," Asher applauded while still lying on the chair.
"Thanks. Come on. I'll help you up." I reached out and let him take my hand. I'd just pulled him up when I suddenly lost my balance and fell forward. Luckily, Asher caught me just in time by wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Phew! Thanks Asher," I exhaled and looked up at him to find Asher staring at me in a peculiar manner. Slowly, he brushed tendrils of hair away from my face and cupped my cheek. I had a pretty good idea what was to follow but for some reason, I felt powerless to stop it. Just as Asher leaned down, I heard the door open behind us and in walked Blake.
On sighting Asher and I in the very compromising position we were in, the look on his face mirrored my feelings at that moment: shock and devastation. After seconds passed with neither of us saying anything, Blake turned and left.
Almost immediately, I pulled out of Asher's grip and made to run to the door but he held me back.
"Rylie, please! Don't do this," he implored not meeting my gaze.
Without missing a beat, I pulled away from him and ran out the door to search for Blake. He hadn't gone far so I was able to easily catch up with him.
"Blake! Blake! Wait up!" I blocked his path. "Whatever you saw back there, it isn't what you think. Honest! You've gotta believe me!"
"It's okay, Rylie. You don't have to explain anything. I completely understand. Asher was your first love so it's only fair you guys end up together," he remarked casually but I could tell that he was faking being okay.
"But that's the thing, Blake. We're not back together and we never will be because I don't love Asher."
"Who do you love then?"
I paused on hearing his question. I so badly wanted to say "You! It's always been you! You're the one I want to kiss! You're the one who makes my heart race! It's always been you!" but instead, I took a step back and mumbled "Somebody."
"Oh! Okay then. Well good luck on your scene then." And he walked away. As I watched him leave, my body drooped and I hugged myself while fighting back tears. I felt more crushed and distraught than ever before.
Had I lost Blake for good this time? I had no idea.
***
Later that evening, I was moping on my bed, debating whether or not to go over to Blake's and try and fix things. If we were being realistic, I had nothing to explain to him. After all we were no longer together but I didn't feel that way.
The look on Blake's face when he had walked in on Asher and I had just been too heartbreaking and was forever imprinted in my head. So yeah, despite the fact that I had no reason to explain myself, I felt the need to do so. All I lacked was the courage.
I was still trying to summon the courage to walk over there and talk to Blake when my phone beeped beside me. I reached over and switched it on to find a message from Blake?
Excited and extremely curious, I tapped out the message which opened up to the words "Come over to your window."
I quickly rolled out of bed and padded over to my open window. Blake was standing by his, wearing a black hoodie that looked way too good on him than it was supposed to be.
He didn't say a word to me. Instead, he just pointed up at the roof and walked away. I was a bit lost. What exactly was his purpose for calling me and why point up? Eventually it occured to me that he wanted me to come up to the roof but why?
Still lost, I slipped on a jacket and headed out. Ava let me and I headed to the roof. As I did, I was reminded of the last time I'd been up there and the circumstances that had ensued. The memories still pricked my heart but I shook it off and opened up the hatch that led to the top of the roof.
Almost immediately, I was hit square in the face by a sudden blast of cold winter air. My body longed for the warm confines of my room but as my eyes fell on Blake, I made the decision to power through and eventually I was sitting beside him.
Few minutes later, Blake still hadn't looked at me since I sat beside him and I was worried. Being up on the rooftop was bringing back a lot of painful memories, memories I didn't want to remember at all.
"There's always been something about seeing the sunset that always got to me especially from a high place," he uttered, out of the blue. I looked at him and at the sight of the sun setting in front of us and smiled. "It does look pretty beautiful."
"Yeah but I know something even more beautiful."
"What?" I cocked my head to the side just as he did same. Our eyes met just as he said the word "You."
Almost immediately, I looked away as a blush spread from my cheeks to my neck and I bit my lip to keep from giggling.
"When I walked in on you and Asher today, my brain came up with a lot of conclusions, each hurting more the last. Perhaps the most painful one was that I was too late and you'd gotten back together with him. I couldn't bear the thought of that, Rylie. It hurt too much." His words came out slowly but with force like he was pained.
"Blake–" I started in an attempt to comfort him but he raised his hand to stop me. "You don't have to say anything, Rylie. I just need to get things off my chest for now." He met my gaze and looked away. "What I did to you wasn't okay, Rylie and I'm sorry I ever did it. It was an incredibly selfish action and using Grandma Nellie as an excuse was horrible. I know that now. I've wanted to apologize to you- so many times but I stopped myself each time. I was scared and for the most part, I felt I didn't deserve you. I felt that you deserved someone so much better, someone who wouldn't hurt you for stupid reasons so I thought it was best to stay away.
It wasn't. First seeing you with Sky and then with Asher, it killed me every damn time. I wanted so badly to take you away from them, keep them from touching you and knowing that I couldn't nearly broke me.
And now, with what happened today and the fact that I could lose you to someone else, the thought scares me, Rylie. I know you deserve someone better, so much more better but I don't think I can let you go. You mean too much to me.
I guess what I'm saying in essence is that I love you, Rylie Myers. I'm in love with you."
Blake's last two words affected me more than I thought. As I stared at him, my breath held in shock and disbelief, I had no idea when my eyes watered and a tear trailed down my cheeks and on my hand.
A look of affection and concern appeared on Blake's face as he cupped my cheeks and cleaned my tears.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," I sniffled, drying my eyes. "I have no idea why I'm crying. I guess I'm a little shocked is all," I chuckled and took a moment to collect myself. Blake kept his eyes on me until I was able to speak again. "Are you okay now?"
"Mhmm, I'm good," I nodded as confirmation.
"So," he paused briefly then continued, "I've said all I have to say about us. The only question is– do you feel the same way I do?" he caressed my cheeks and looked me dead in the eye.
I gulped, my face growing warmer the longer he had his hand on my cheek. Did I feel the same way about him?