Love Without Fear

Chapter 3- Sabotage

Chapter 3- Sabotage

*Blaires POV*

Monday 11th May 2022

When I came to I was led in the nurses office on the examination table, my head and ankle throbbing painfully. Liv was sat next in a plastic uncomfortable chair, the moment I let out he littlest groan she lept up and held my hand.

“How you feeling?“ she asked apologetically.

“As good as I can be, what happened?” I groaned pulling myself up to comfortable position.

“You were sabotaged that’s what happened” growled Finn, who I hadn’t realised was sat in a chair across the room, his arm resting in his legs as he hunched over.

“What?” I questioned, switching my gaze between them both waiting for a clearer answer. Then we heard the shouting in corridor, a all to familiar voice joining in. Ali. I jolted up, my head spinning as I pull myself off the table hissing as I put pressure on my ankle.

“Blaire sit down you have a concussion!” Liv pleaded, taking no time in following after me. I hobbled to the door and yanked it open. Ali and Jay were in a face off between Tia and Amber.

“What do you call that Tia!” Ali screamed, people began looking and whispering.

“I fell so what” Tia grinned happily, and now I understood what they meant when they said sabotage.

“I don’t think so! Not even someone as thick as you can fall that distance Tia” hissed Ali, her hands balled into fists as she stepped forward. I went to take a step forward but fumbled and would of collapsed to the ground but Finn was quick to react and steadied me. All eyes were on me and I blushed at the thought of everyone seeing Finns hands resting on my waist.

“Look she’s fine” Tia gestured, giving me side eye before turning to walk away.

“I don’t think so” Ali roared as she reached for any sort of grip on Tia, Jay instantly grabbed her waist and pulled her back as Tia ran off squealing.

“Calm it Ali” Jay muttered, we had now drawn attention of teachers who were peering out of classrooms. Ali stood up straight and composed herself before walking over towards us.

“She’s a wretched evil cow” Ali hissed quietly, and I let out a small chuckle.

“Young what are you doing up!” called the school nurse from down the corridor.

“I tryed to tell her miss” Liv added, way to rub salt in the wound Liv.

“I’m fine, I need to get to class” I smiled, pullling myself out of Finns grip and trying to walk.

“I don’t think so your going home, I’ll call your parents” she scorned me back and I sighed.

“But miss there at work and won’t be able to leave to come get me” I advised her, the last thing I want to do is interrupt my parents at work.

“I can take her home” Finn proposed and I turned to him raising a eyebrow at him.

“Fine, take her home and come straight back, the rest of you class starts in 5 minutes better get going” She agreed before walking back into the office. Liv and Ali gave me a apologetic hug goodbye and said they would call me later, Jay said he hopes I get better feel then rushed off. Finn stood smirking at me before wrapping a protective arm around my waist to support me as we walked out to the car park.

“There was no escaping this Blaire” he joked as picked me up and carried me bridal style down the steps taking me by surprise.

“W-what do you mean” I stuttered, memories of the dream I had popping into my head. He carried me to the bike and gently settled me on before plucking his helmet off the handle bars.

“The ride home?“ he laughed looking at me quizzically “What did you think I meant?”

“Nothing” I awkwardly smiled pushing the mental image of him in my bed out of thought.

“Put this on” He offered the helmet to me and I took it sliding it on reluctantly, however it didn’t smell of sweat as I thought it would instead it smelt of coconut shampoo. He climbed on in front of me and put the keys in the bike.

“Where’s yours?” I asked, worrying about his safety was the last thing I needed to add to my list of problems.

“As long as you have one it doesn’t matter about me, anyway it’s a 5 minute journey I’ll be fine” he shrugged, that thought still gave me no comfort.

“Right now wrap your arms around my waist and hold tight” he instructed, I did as I was told and wrapped myself basically around him. Then the nerves fell away, I squeezed my eyes shut as he kicked away the stand and pulled off. The feeling of motion made me clutch on to him tighter, I could feel his abs under the his T-shirt. It felt like we were floating on air, every motion and turn was with ease and you could tell that he knew what he was doing which comforted me. I pried one eye open and I saw houses and trees blur past, before he did a careful stop at a red light.

“See it’s not that bad is it” he turned to me and smiled. I smiled back although I don’t think he saw through the helmet.

“Not it isn’t” I laughed, he turned back as the light turned green and he pulled off and turned off onto our road. He pulled up on his drive and climbed off before the time I had even taken off the helmet. He plucked it from my hands and rested it on his seat before picking me up off the bike and carried me towards my house. I gasped and went to tell him to put me down but I knew I’d be fighting a losing battle. He walked up my path and placed me outside the front door, and when I thought he would walk away and go back to school he was still stood there.

“You didn’t think I was gonna leave you on your own with a concussion?” He chuckled as if he read my thoughts.

“You really don’t have to and you need to get back to school” i replied, my breath quickening.

“Im not taking no for a answer” he grinned and straightened himself up. I shook my head and sighed, pulling my keys out of the house and unlocking the front door. He pulled me back into his arms and walked me through my house and led me on the sofa. He then went over to close the front door before smirking at me.

“Where’s your aspirin?” He asked, and I rolled my eyes.

“I can do it myself you know” I grumbled, pulling myself up.

“Stay there, just tell me where it is!” He laughed, and I groaned lying back down again.

“Downstairs bathroom in the cupboard” i muttered and he nodded before walking off. My head began throbbing, and I winced as I tryed to her comfortable. I heard a tap go in the kitchen and then Finn reappeared with a glass of water and 2 aspirin. I nodded and took them from him, taking them in one with a big gulp of water, that unfortunately didn’t get rid of the horrible taste in my mouth and I shook my head in disgust. Finn chuckled at me and I glared at him.

“Pick something to watch” he said settling at the end of my sofa, placing a pillow on his lap then laying my legs on top to support my ankle. He passed me the remote and I looked at him shocked. He was really skipping school to sit with me after I made a complete fool out of myself. The same guy I met the day before and was more hormonal then a women going through menopause. I took it quickly and flicked on to my favourite tv series ‘Teen Wolf’ and he groaned.

“You told me to pick!” I laughed placing the remote far from his reach so he wouldn’t try and grab it.

“Yeah but I didn’t think you’d pick something like this” he moaned, fidgeting to get himself comfy.

“We’ll buckle up because this is gonna be fun” i grinned and led my head back and watched happily. After a few minutes he was on the edge of his seat screaming at the Tv.

“Oh come on Scott your not that that dumb!” He moaned annoyed, I erupted into laughter. He frowned at me.

“You started this!” He groaned and I stuck my tongue out at him. We watched the whole episode and we only had to stop a few times to explain what was going on. I pressed play on the next episode when the front door was thrown open and my mum walked in, I gasped in shock and took my legs off Finn, jolting them slightly. I swore under my breath as she looked at us curiously.

“Why are you home already? Hi Finn” she looked at me sternly for the first sentence and then gave Finn a warm smile after.

“Hey Mrs Young, Blaire hurt herself at cheer practice so I thought I’d drive her home, nurse said she had a concussion so I didn’t want to leave her, sorry if intruding” Finn smiled politely, getting up to leave. My mum looked between us, her face unreadable, I held my breath even though everything he said was true I was still worried.

“Don’t leave on my account, im just more shocked she was at cheer tryouts! Anyways it’s nice to have another one of Blaires friends around the house besides Liv and Ali” my mum grinned walking towards the kitchen. Finn settled back down in his seat gave me a reassuring smile, he handled that situation with such ease it made me wonder how many girls he had wished away to safety because I couldn’t be the only one. I gave him and a half hearted smile back and got comfortable again. We led watching another episode in a comfortable silence, he kept checking on me every now and then and I kept sneaking quick glances. My dad brought Zach home from school who was gutted to find only Finn in the house, dad greeted Finn politely before helping my mum cook dinner.

“Are you staying for dinner Finn” mum called from the kitchen and I looked at him waiting for his answer.

“Wouldn’t miss it Miss Young” he called back, giving me a smile before turning his attention back to the tv.

Half hour later mum called us to the table, Finn supported me over which left Dad looking at us confused, mum filled him in. Finn sat beside me, pulling my chair out for me. My mum beamed at him obviously very impressed before turning to me and raising a eyebrow, I shrugged quickly and looked down at my plate.

“Pizza!” Cheered Zach, reaching forward and grabbing a piece, I chuckled joining in and soon it became a hand mosh pit over the pizza in the middle. We all sat with our slices, chatting happily away.

“So Finn how was your first day of school?” My dad asked wiping his hands on a napkin. He looked at me as if he was going to mention what happened at try outs and I gave him a pleading look.

“It’s was good, a lot better then my last school” he politely smiled.

“Where did you move from? Blaire hasn’t told us anything” mum chirped, involving herself into the conversation.

“Has she not? And I thought we were friends” He jokingly teased, and my cheeks burned up “Im from Michigan” he smiled before taking a bite from his slice of pizza.

“How was the drive down?” My dad asked, relaxing back in his chair.

“It was good, my mum and brother followed the moving van in her car and I rode my motorcycle” Finn explained, I looked between my parents to see their reaction to his choice of vehicle. To my surprise my moms face stayed completely neutral and it was my fathers jaw that dropped, I prepared myself for his hour long lecture on safety. Instead his jaw closed and he broke in to a huge grin.

“You have a motorcycle?” He beamed, and Finn smiled and nodded.

“I love motorcycles” Zachary cried, food half chewed in his mouth.

“Yamaha YS125” Finn chuckled, I looked between them completely baffled. My dad turned to me and laughed.

“I used to have a motorcycle before I met your mother, I even had one when we first got together” Dad grinned and I looked between my mom and dad in disbelief.

“Then why did you stop?” I asked, resting my arms on the table.

“We had your sister, I thought it would be the more sensible investment to see the bike and get a car instead” He shrugged “But doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a beauty, mind if we go look?” my dad asked, Finn nodded happily standing up. As they were about to walk past my seat Finn stopped and offered up a hand, I smiled and took it allowing him to pull me up. The painkillers had started kicking in and I could manage a few steps before needing to fall into him for support. He walked with me out of the house first and my dad and Zach followed behind. I leant on the wall of his house as he opened the door to the garage, his mum must of put it away for him. The walls were lined with boxes that still hadn’t been unpacked and the bike was placed neatly in the middle. My dad and Zach rushed over to admire it as we stood behind.

“Do you know what would be really cool” i grinned mischievous, Finn turned to me and raised a eyebrow.

“What’s that sweetheart?” My dad replied, his eyes still glued to the bike as he inspected it.

“If Finn drove me around the block on it” i said innocently to my dad, summoning on my inner Liv and pulling the best puppy eyes I could muster. My dad looked at me frazzled before turning to Finn who was stood smiling next to me. He turned to Zach and sighed.

“One go around the block by NONE tells your mother, she would have my head” he groaned and I burst out laughing, it was true if my mum every found out I was on the back of one of these. Finn walked with me towards the bike and supported me as I climbed on, his warms hands lingering on my waist before quickly moving it so we didn’t draw attention from my dad. I sat patiently waiting as Finn crossed the garage to grab a spare helmet. My dad looked at him approvingly and held Zach’s hand as they took a few steps back. Finn handed me the helmet and slid it in quickly, strapping it on so it was secure. Unfortunately this helmet didn’t smell the same and I silently groaned. Finn climbed on effortlessly and I wrapped my arms tightly around him rest my head on his shoulder. After flicking up the stand, he put the keys in and started her up, the familiar purring sound echoed through the garage. Zach was giggling and smiling away, stamping his feet in excitement, while my dad looked at us worried.

“Be safe” he worriedly asked and we both nodded in unison, Finn pulled out of the garage before my dad could change his mind. The feeling of wind brushing past my skin as we rode around the block, but I was hugging Finn so tight there was no way I could fall off without him coming with me. He rode so flawlessly it made me wonder where he learnt it from and how long he had been driving, reminding myself to question him later. Before I knew it and much to my dismay we were pulling back up to our houses, dad and Zach stood but he door of the garage beaming at us, I could tell dad was happy I was still alive. He pulled up into the garage and I climbed off before I clipping the helmet and returning it to its spot on the shelf.

“Well that wasn’t so bad” I chuckled and Finn joined in.

“Don’t get any ideas” my dad interjected seriously, that made me chuckle even more and soon enough him and Zach were in fits of laughter with us.

“Right I’m gonna take little man home before mum turns into Sherlock Holmes and starts asking questions, Goodnight Finn” Dad chuckled.

“Goodnight Mr Young” Finn grinned.

“Be home in 5 or she’ll come searching for you” Dad continued to warn me. I gave him a nod and a smile and he dragged a stroppy Zach out of the garage and across the garden.

“Thank you for that” I turned to Finn who was now leaning on the door to what I can only guess into the house.

“It’s not a problem, since I did you a favour you owe me one, and I would like to turn that into a question” He smirked.

“What is that?” I raised my eyebrow at him confused.

“Are you gonna keep staring at me through the window? Because if you are I need to be more prepared” he smirked but his words were so alluring, my cheeks blushed crimson and I diverted my eyes to the floor. Then my ankle gave way sending me tumbling to the floor and yet again Finn was there to catch me.

“Not that I’m complaining about having my hands all over you, but you really need to stop falling” he chuckled holding me in his arms. I hung their speechless, gazing into his dazzling hazel brown eyes. I hadn’t noticed how dreamy they were until now. I could see a smile creep up on his lips and it pulled my out of my thoughts.

“Well I better go before you know” I mumbled, this is the first time ever I am grateful for a over protective mother.

“Goodnight Blaire” he leant down whispered into my ear and it sent chills down my spine.

“Goodnight Finn” I stuttered as pulled away to help me stand up. The moment I was back on my own two feet I rushed out the garage as fast as I could without falling flat on my face. Once I got to my door I took a few deep breaths but I could feel his gaze still burning into me from here. I yanked open the door and walked in trying to steady my breathing. I rushed up the stairs, and into my room before slamming the door closed. I need help and if anyone was going to give good advice it was Tara. I searched my room for my phone, throwing everything around in a frantic hurry to find it. I swung open my door and ran downstairs, my eyes scanned the coffee table and sofa but they were bare. Where else could it be? From the corner or my eye I saw my bag leaning on the sofa and launched myself at it, grabbing the bag and retreating back upstairs without even checking. Once I was in the safety of my own room, I closed the door and rummaged through my bag. Luckily enough it was in there wedged between my math and history homework, I pulled it out and keyed in the password. As soon as it was unlocked I scrowlled through my contacts and found Tara’s name. I hit video call and flung myself on to the bed, the annoying ringing sound only repeated twice before Tara’s face flashed up on my screen, she was stood in a kitchen that was littered with red plastic cups and countless empty bottles of alcohol.

“Tara!” I cried, and she grinned back at me.

“Blaire!” She laughed back, I could hear loud music and laughing coming from her end, Ofcourse she was at another party.

“Bad time?” I asked, my tone was laced with disappointment. She looked at me sympathetically and shook her head.

“Never for you” she gave me a reassuring smile and I tried my best to give her one back. As much as I loved Liv and Ali, Tara had always been my first ever best-friend. Mom and dad used to tell us story’s of how much Tara adored me when they finally brought me home, she wouldn’t leave my side and was infatuated with the thought of having a little sister.

“What’s up? You usually text me before you call” She questioned, it was true I always messaged to see if she was busy before phoning.

“I missed you” I lied, I was debating wether telling Tara about Finn was a good idea.

“I miss you too but tell me the real reason you called” she chuckled, her background had changed as she was now stood outside with a patio door behind her that reflected the flashing strobe lights of the party behind her.

“We have new neighbours” i squeaked out, hugging my pillow comfortingly with my free hand.

“You called me to tell me we have new neighbours?” Tara laughed, she was clearly intoxicated and they glassy look in her eyes confirmed that.

“Yes-No-Kinda” I groaned, face planting my pillow in embarrassment. This was not going well.

“Is it a boy?” Tara gasped, and i instantly regretted calling her. Despite looking practically the same, Tara had plenty of guys falling at her feet while I struggled to get any boy in my grade to notice me. I let out a small brown and lifted my face. She was grinning happily at the camera.

“I want details!” She squealed excitedly after I didn’t respond.

“There are no details to give! He’s not my type” I whined, rolling over and propping my phone up on my spare pillow so I could lay down.

“Oh come on Blaire you do not have a type” she chortled, I glared at her and was tempted to hang up the call.

“What’s his name? What’s he like?” Tara continued to question.

“Don’t you have a party to be at?” I mentioned, trying to change the topic from me.

“Nope, my little sisters love life is definitely more interesting. So stop changing the subject and answer me!“ she ordered, the corner of her lips tiring upwards.

“First of all there is no love life, I am happy on my own. Secondly, his name is Finn he’s in the grade above me and he’s not my type” I muttered defeatedly.

“But he has you frazzled enough to call me” Tara grinned and I planted my face back in the pillow.

“Can you just forget I called? I have homework to be doing and you have to continue ruining your liver” i snarled, grabbing my phone.

“Someone’s snappy! You know I love you B and I only want the best for you, maybe he is the best” Tara smiled, all my anger melted away and was replaced with disappointment.

“I don’t think he is” i muttered disheartened.

“You won’t know if you don’t try, Goodnight Moon” Tara giggled. This is how we always used to say goodnight to each other when we were younger.

“Goodnight Sun” I smiled, hanging up the phone. I laid there for a moment, staring at the ceiling deep in thought. Maybe Finn wasn’t the person I was stereotyping him to be, that I was just seeing the worst in him to push myself away subconsciously. I shook the thoughts from my head and got up to get my homework out. I sat down at my desk in the corner of the room staring at the work, but all I could imagine was Finn led shirtless on my bed with me cuddles up next to him.

“This is useless” i groaned to myself, tossing my pencil on the desk and pushing myself up. I wondered over to my bed and stopped at the window to have a glimpse and there he was led on his bed in a pair of shorts and black v-neck T-shirt, headphones in reading a book. He looked so peaceful and happy, oblivious to the world around him. I stood stunned for a moment, the last thing I expected from him was that he read willingly in his free time, maybe it was for class. I walked towards my chest if draws in search for some night wear. I decided on a baggy band T-shirt and shorts, I decided to change in the bathroom away from prying eyes. Once I was done I walked to my window to close the curtains when I saw a piece of paper taped to Finns window.

‘Goodnight Blaire’ written scruffily in sharpie. I let out a small giggle before walking over to my desk. I ripped a piece of paper out of one of my notebooks and wrote neatly.

‘Goodnight Finn.’

I walked over and taped the note to the window before closing the curtains. I climbed into bed smiling to myself. It didn’t take me long until I drifted off into a blissful sleep.