Not till I️ do

Chapter 2: Blake

As I️ stepped out into the parking lot of the apartment complex, I began to think about Cleo’s comments towards Alex. Did she not like him? I️ wonder why? I️ mean, I️ know it’s bothered her in the past how much I️ do for him. She previously thought he took advantage of me but I️ didn’t realize that she still felt that way. Maybe I️ should talk to her, clear the air? Like it or not, they are in each other’s lives, so they need to figure it out.

As I reached the main road and began my run, I️ felt the stress from the day leaving my body. The air was chilly as it hit my face and hands. I felt the euphoric power and adrenaline as I increased my pace. I️ could feel my face turning red. “Just a little further” I️ pushed myself. “Almost there.” I️ reached the first mile. I️ looked at my watch to check my time. “9min 13sec, damn.” My goal has been to get back to running a mile in 8min for the last year but I️ never seem to get under 8.5. I️ took a deep breath.

Just as I was about to sprint the next mile, my watch rang. “Hey Mom” I️ said as I️ started to walk in a circle, catching my breath before my next attempt. .

“Hey sweetie! Have you heard from Cleo?” She asked.

“Yeah, I️ just saw her.” I said catching my breath still. “She came by to borrow my skirt. Why?” I️ asked as I️ breathed in heavily.

“Oh! I️ just haven’t heard from her. She blocked me.” She said with a light hearted tone.

“Again?” I said letting out a little laugh. “What did you do?” I️ said knowingly.

“I️ was just asking her about her future.” She said defensively.

“Mmhm?” I️ said knowing she was leaving out some details.

“I️ really liked that Brandon guy. So I️ was asking how that was going.”

“Uh huh. Knowing she had broken up with him.” I️ added.

“Yeah. And th- then I️ asked if she was ever going to settle down.” She trailed off the last words quietly.

“Mom! She’s only 24, she still has plenty of time. Also, that’s not how Cleo is and you know it.”

“I️ know! I️ know! But I’m a Mom and I️ worry!” She snapped at me. “Speaking of.. You sound out of breath. Are you okay?”

“Yeah” I️ said as I️ stretched out. “Just going for a run.”

“At this time of night? Alone?” She barked.

I️ rolled my eyes. “It’s not even that late Mom!” I️ said sounding like an annoyed teenager.

“It’s almost 9pm! The world is dangerous. You can’t be running by yourself at night. I️ raised you to be more cautious.” She said in her classic nagging tone.

“Blake?” She shouted when I️ didn’t respond.

“Mom, don’t make me block you as well.” I️ replied.

“Blake! You wouldn’t dare!” She said surprisingly.

“Gotta go! Love you Mom!” I️ said as I️ abruptly ended the call.

“Uhhh” I️ sighed and began my next sprint.

Frustrated by my times not approving, I️ began my jog home, not bothering myself with the speed of my stride this time.

When I️ got back to the house, Ernie was sitting by the door waiting for my return. I️ scooped him up and carried him to the bedroom. I️ set him down on the bed. Alex was already asleep. He was probably tired since he didn’t sleep last night.

I️ went into the bathroom, took a quick shower to rinse off the sweat from my run. I️ brushed my teeth, slipped into my jammies, and climbed into bed as quietly as I️ could. Ernie came wobbling over to me and plopped his little body down right by my side. He nuzzled his little head on my chest.

“Good night buddy.” I️ whispered as I️ kissed his little head.

*giggling*

“Scarlett, make this one float!” The little blonde girl said as she broke off a pink tulip from the stem.

“Okay, Blake but you have to be quiet.” The little brunette girl said as she grabbed the flower.

She opened her tiny palm and the flower began to float. Higher and higher. My perspective shifted and I️ could see down at the 2 little girls, playing in the woods. Then all the sudden, a shadow appeared from behind the blonde, with glowing eyes.

“Look out Blake!” Scarlett yelled.

*buzz* *buzz*

I️ turned my phone alarm off. Was that a dream or a memory? I️ questioned. It was so vivid! No, I️ don’t remember that, I️ thought. It was just a weird dream.

Alex and Ernie were still fast asleep. I️ climbed out of bed quietly. I️ walked into the kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee. I️ was enjoying my coffee while scrolling through social media, when I️ heard little steps from behind me.

I️ turned around and saw Ernie doing his morning stretch at me. “Big stretch” I️ said looking down at him with a smile. I️ opened the back door for him to go potty. Then I️ fed the handsome prince some breakfast. Just as Ernie was finishing up his breakfast and I️ my cup of coffee. Alex came out from the room yawning.

“Oh good your up.” I said. “I️ had somethings I️ wanted to discuss with you before I️ leave this weekend.”

“Did you make me some coffee?” He said while yawning.

“It’s on the counter.” I️ looked to where it was.

“Thank you.” He said as he grabbed the mug off the counter. “So, what do you need to discuss.”

“I️ just want to make sure you have everything with Ernie taken care of while I’m away.” I️ said as I️ looked at the sweet boy who was now curled up on his favorite chair.

“Yeah. I️ got it, no need to worry. I️ can handle the little guy.” He said reassuringly.

“Okay, you’ll call if you have any questions?” I️ asked.

“Yes, I️ will call but there won’t be any questions babe. I’ve lived with him as long as you have. I️ got this.” He said smiling.

“Okay, thank you again.” I said as I️ came over and kissed his cheek.

“No problem.” He said as he rubbed my back.

“Well, I’m going to get ready for work. I’m just going to drive straight from work, so don’t wait up.” I️ said.

“Oh before you leave, would you mind washing my whites?” He asked. “My lab coats are dirty.” He added

“Umm sure, I’ll do that now.” I said.

I️ went to the room and grabbed his whites from the laundry basket. At least he puts his clothes in the basket, I thought. I️ pulled out the laundry and took it into the laundry room. I️ started the load.

“Alex, I’m not going to have time to put them away before I️ leave for work. So you’ll need to get them from the dryer when their done, okay?” I️ yelled from the laundry room.

“Alright.” He said.

I️ got myself ready for work and began packing my bag for the weekend trip. Just when I️ was about done, I️ heard the front door open. Right on time, I️ thought.

“Oh what a good boy!” I️ heard Cleo say in her baby voice.

When I️ came out of the bedroom, Cleo was on the coach cuddling Ernie.

“Did you have fun last night?” I️ asked.

“I️ guess. Amber was really annoying.” She said.

Amber is Cleo’s best friend. Well, sort of.

“That’s too bad. I️ talked to Mom last night, she said you blocked her.” I️ commented.

“Well, when she stops being annoying, I’ll unblock her.” She said matter of factly.

“You can’t just block Mom every time she annoys you Cleo. You know it worries her.” I️ tried to reason.

“Uhhh Blake! You’re supposed to be on my side.” She snapped.

“I️ am on your side. I️ told her she shouldn’t have brought up Brandon.” I️ said sitting beside her. “The blocking is what I️ don’t agree with. What if there’s an emergency?” I️ tried to ration.

“That’s why I️ have you!” she said as she put her arm around me.

“Fine, you win.” I️ said getting up from the couch. “Will you at least consider unblocking her while I’m away?” I️ asked.

“I’ll consider it. But one mention about me and any boy.. Blocked!” She said.

“Fair enough” I️ said as I️ grabbed my skirt and placed it in my suit case.

As I️ headed out the door, I️ stopped. “Would you mind checking in on Ernie while I’m gone?” I️ asked.

“Ohhh, you don’t trust your fiancé with such a big responsibility?” She said in a baby voice as she picked up Ernie in her arms.

I️ rolled my eyes. “Cleo, please?” I️ asked.

“Yeah, fine I’ll check in on him! And make sure Dr. Useless is feeding him.” She added.

“Cleo?! What’s your deal with Alex? I️ thought you liked him.” I️ said.

“He’s fine. He’s just so incapable of doing literally anything.” She exaggerated her words as if she was exhausted by the thought of him. “I️ mean, if you were going to live with some one so needy. Why couldn’t I️ move in?” She said.

“You live literally down the block, Cleo.” I️ folded my arms Will you please be nice to him while I’m away?” I️ pleaded.

She looked at me with her big blue eyes completely emotionless.

“Civil? At least be civil.” I️ compromised.

“Fine” she said shaking her head and throwing her hands in the air as she headed out the door.

I️ put my suitcase in the car. I️ came back in and said goodbye to Ernie and Alex. Alex had jumped in the shower, while I️ was loading the car.

“Well, I️ guess I’ll just say goodbye to you my little handsome boy! Be a good boy for Mommy!” I️ said as kissed him.

I️ hopped in the car and left for work.