Blake and I emerged from the car to greet my dad.

"Hi, Dad." I mumbled. My face was burning. Damn it.

My Dad didn't respond, instead he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Good evening, Sir, I'm Blake, Rayce's boyfriend. Blake said extending his arm ho shake hands with my father.

I almost choked on my spit. Boyfriend? Holly shit.

My dad looked at me questioningly. We were all immersed in an awkward silence.

"Well, I better get going." Blake broke through the tension. My dad nodded while turning to walk back to our house.

"Goodbye Blake, take care of my daughter." Blake nodded.

"I'll be right there, Dad." I called back and waited for him to enter the house. Once he did, I turned to look at Blake.

"Did you really mean that, Blake?" I asked quietly, looking down at the grass beneath my shoes.

"Look, I know we've only met for like a week, but I like you… a lot and I was going to ask you to go out formally with me. So, Rayce, Will you be my girlfriend?" I swallowed trying to get my increasing heartbeat to settle down.

Okay, I barely knew the guy, but still I had managed to spill my heart to him. For God's sake, I got a friggin tattoo with him! I've had more fun in three days with him than in a month without him. I was not about to waste this opportunity.

"I'd love to." He grinned before leaning down to kiss me.

We parted breathlessly.

"So, I'll, uh, pick you up tomorrow." I nodded regaining my breath. "Goodnight, babe." He started walking backwards.

I nodded, "Bye!" I waved as he got back in his car and drove away. A feeling of dread came over me as I walked back to the house, imagining the talk between my dad and I about to happen.

My dad was sitting in the living room when I entered the house. I went and sat in a sofa with the coffee table between us.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend." He mumbled and I blushed.

"Well, I don't see you very often now, do I?" My dad's gaze fell to his lap as he swallowed. "I'm sorry", came the soft whisper.

I nodded, "It's okay. Now about Lilly." I saw my father visibly tense as he started, "I'm so sorry Rayce, and I'm going to break it up with her. I never considered your feelings."

I walked over and sat next to him. "Dad, I should be the one apologizing. Don't break up with Lilly; I was being selfish and inconsiderate. You should be able to move on and I have held you back." I felt a stinging in my eyes signaling the tears to come and noticed that my dad's eyes were also shiny.

"Rayce, I want you to know that Lilly is not your mom's replacement in any way. No one can replace her. We both loved her and I know how you still blame yourself for the accident. You have to learn how to let it go, sweetie, your mom wouldn't want to see you kicking yourself about it, okay?" The tears ran down my face, some landing in my hands that were resting on my lap.

"I miss her so much, Daddy, I want her back." He pulled me into a hug and I sobbed into his chest. "So do I, Rayce, So do I." His grip tightened around me.

After my sob fest I went upstairs and took a bath. I slipped into some comfortable pjs and slipped blissfully into bed.

My Dad slipped his head into my room. "Nighty night!" I smiled. "Night Dad, love you." He smiled back, "Love you too." He closed the door behind him as he left.

Not long after, I fell asleep.

"Rayce! Wake up! It's seven already, you're going to be late!" Dad bellowed from the kitchen.

I groaned and covered my face with a pillow.

"Rayce! It's seven thirty! Blake is here!" Shit! Seven thirty? I jumped out of the bed only to find my feet were entangled in the sheets, I fell hard on my head. "Damnit!"

I moved quickly to my closet grabbing whatever. I put whatever on, grabbed some socks and started searching through the junk for some shoes. My vision was still drowsy and blurry so I just felt around the floor till I found something wearable. I then ran to the bathroom and rinsed my mouth quickly, not wanting to greet Blake with morning breath. Ew. As I left my room I was sure to pick my backpack up from its place beside the door and ran fast out of my room.

As if that wasn't enough, my feet decided to trip me halfway down the stairs. I landed with a loud, "Fuck!" right in front of Blake. I saw my Dad shake his head in disapproval. Blake just looked amused. I jumped up, snatched the half eaten Pop Tart from my Dad's hand, and walked quickly out the front door, Blake hot on my heels. Dad yelped a protest from behind, "but that was the last one.." and the door closed.

I sighed in relief when we were safely in Blake's car on our way to school. "So, are your mornings always this eventful?" Blake asked with a grin.

I bent over getting my socks and putting them on. They had pink and red kisses printed in them. I waved my foot up in the air, wiggling my toes. "Cute", Blake said. I nodded while finishing munching on the Pop Tart.

I proceeded to put my shoes on when I suddenly realized something. "Argh. Damnit!" Blake glanced at me quickly with a frown. "What's up?"

Stupid Rayce! Real stupid.

I picked up the two shoes so Blake could see my little problem. One was a red converse while the other was a yellow one. "At least one is right and one is left." He said.. after he laughed for a minute. Ass. I glared at him.

The other little problem I had was that in my morning dash I had put on a black t-shit that was all right and some jeans that reached my knees. Meaning that I couldn't cover the fact that I'd been pathetic enough to wear differently colored shoes.

We arrived at school, and I knew the bell had already rang for the courtyard was empty. I sighed. Great.

Blake grabbed my hand and together we walked into school. I headed to Chemistry while Blake headed to Calculus. He gave me a quick peck on the lips, "See you in lunch." I grinned. "Duh."

I opened the door to my Chemistry class, only to see Mr. Glasbergen was in the middle of giving a lecture and shut up as I entered the classroom.

"Ms. Emerson, Is there an excusable reason for your lateness?" I heard snickers when people noticed my attire. My shoes, exactly. I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't hear the alarm." I muttered. Glasbergen glowered at me. "Well, what are you waiting for? Find yourself a seat!" He turned to the blackboard and I flickered the finger to his back. More people laughed. I ignored them and slumped noisily into my seat.

I slept through the lesson.

When the bell rang, three periods later, signaling lunch, I found Shay and Fey speaking to each other by Shay's locker.

I grinned and caught up to them. Shay stared on my appearance, stopping on my shoes. I wiggled my toes. "Kudos on the shoes." I grinned, "Yeah, I'm imposing a new fashion." Fey laughed. "Sure you are!"

That's when I started jumping up and down in my place. Both girls stared at me in question. "Guys, Blake asked me to be his girlfriend!" I yelped out.

It took them about three seconds to react and when they did they started shrieking and hugging me.

"Our very own virginal Rayce is growing up!" Shay sniffed brushing imaginary tears. I scowled.

"So who's a virgin?" A voice piped behind me. I turned to see Roll, Bold and to my horror Blake.

"Rayce is!" Fey exclaimed. I turned an amazing shade of magenta. Talk about embarrassing. I was going to kill the girls!

"Aw, Rayce's a virgin!" Roll cooed and took me into a bear hug. I chocked form the lack of oxygen.

"Yes! Blake will get to pop her- "Geez! Stop it!" I yelled while extracting myself from Roll who pouted. Blake looked amused with an annoying smirk in his sexy lips. I blushed looking at the floor. "This is so embarrassing."

Blake moved behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist while burying his head in my neck.

"Aren't they so cute?" Roll asked. Everyone rolled their eyes. We all walked outside to enjoy the remnants of lunch.

The rest of the day passed slow enough, and I was eager to pick my baby up from the car agency.

After picking my car up, Blake and I decided to go back to my house and have dinner. When we got there I was surprised to find my dad's car in the garage. I parked behind him while Blake parked his car in the driveway.

We entered my house hand in hand. Dad was in the kitchen preparing dinner or so it seemed.

"Dad, what you doing?" I asked. Blake took a seat in a stool. My dad looked up in surprise. "Hey Rayce. Blake." He said with a nod.

"Good evening, sir." Blake responded politely. Dad chuckled. "Call me Charles, Blake. Sir makes me feel old." Blake chuckled.

I peered at the stove to see what was cooking and grimaced. I stared at the toothpaste substance in the pot. "What is that?" I asked disgusted. Dad looked up from his conversation with Blake.

"Uh, Macaroni and Cheese?" I wrinkled my nose. "No way! Dad! How did you managed to turn it green!?" I grabbed the pot and threw the paste into the garbage disposal. Dad stood up. "Rayce! That was dinner!"

I stared in disbelief. "Where you trying to poison us?" Dad flushed and Blake and I laughed.

"Let me order pizza." I said while reaching for the phone. I was not in the mood to cook, which would only result in me blowing up the kitchen. Seriously! Last year I had managed to make the microwave explode. Insert shudder here. Not a cool memory.

An hour later we were eating pepperoni and mushroom pizza. "So, I invited Lilly over on Sunday. She's bringing her sons over." I choked on a mushroom.

"She has sons?" I asked surprised. My Dad nodded. "Two, one is about your age, Rayce and the other is two years old, the cutest little thing I've ever seen."

I nodded slowly processing everything. "Uh, okay. Sure." My Dad grinned happily. "Blake you can come too if you'd like."

Blake nodded with a smile. "Sure, I'll be here."

After dinner, Blake left but not before giving one of his mind blowing kisses.

I took a long bubble bath, dressed into my boxers and tee, and snuggled into my bed.

I closed my eyes ready to doze off, when…Shit! Homework!

Please read!!

Sorry!. I have no excuses but my own laziness. And lately I've been having some writer's block with this story, and I'm thinking of restarting Tales of a Midlife Crisis.

Anyway, If anyone has any suggestions for this story please do tell.. Any help is appreciated!!

I want to thank you all for your patience, I know what it feels like to love a story but hate the long wait for each chapter so I do feel guilty! I'm going to try my best to start updating regularly.

I'm not sure when I'll update again, for I am having some writer's block with the next chapter.. But I'll try to get some inspiration or something..

Thank you!!

-RAY-