Blake's Saga V Chapter 7B
Blake's Saga
Book 5 – Chapter 7 – Part 2
The Gift
Blake still has not read the note from earlier today, but now he is even more curious about the shy secret admirer. He's yet to see the guy hiding behind notes and a gift. Wondering who the secret admirer is, the young man grabs his friends at lunch.
"Guys, I need your help. Can you guys keep your eyes out for my secret admirer? He seems to be dropping off notes at my locker, but I've never seen him at my locker. I was wondering if you guys would keep your eyes out for me?"
Wanting to know who the guy is, his friend agrees to see if they can catch him dropping stuff at their friend's locker. Blake's friends are right there with him. They want to know the kid's identity, so they'll do what he asks.
***
Across the cafeteria, Jamal is watching Blake wanting to go over and see him. His shyness is restraining him. He is usually quiet and reserved, so walking up to Blake would be so out of character. Jamal is wondering what everyone is talking about at the table with Blake. He wishes that he was there with them. He wonders if they can see him watching them. Worried that they might come over to complain about him watching them, he gazes down at his empty tray and walks it up to put it up to be emptied and set up to be washed. When he sits back down, he decides to write a bit in his journal.
"I really need to get over my shyness."
This is all he writes, and then he closes the journal. Opening his sketchbook, he works on a drawing that he's doing for a contest.
***
As he works on the drawing, his mind returns to Blake. He wonders if Blake knows that he is alive. Blake does know he is alive; however, he's never talked to him because Jamal always seems so standoffish. Jamal hopes that his crush doesn't think he's a snob. It's a thought that often crosses his mind. He's not a snob and expects people to know that about him. Many people don't know that about him, and a few of them do think he's a bit of a snob. It's all good because they realize he is an okay guy once they get to know him.
***
Blake knows the guy, and it would surprise Jamal that he even knows his name. The problem is Blake doesn't know that Jamal is his secret admirer. He also might be surprised to learn that if Jamal approached Blake and asked him out, Blake would agree to date him. Again, it all comes down to Jamal being shy. Jamal needs to just get the nerve to walk up to him. He wants Blake to notice him the way that he wants him to.
***
When Trace and Colin arrive home, Trace asks to see the backpack, knowing there is a note in the folder from the teacher. There had been a message sent out via a text to both dads about something that had happened at school. Colin is worried that his dads will treat him bad like he was used to before coming to live with them.
"Colin, what is this note about Buddy?"
Trace asks his son. Who just stares at his dad with sad little puppy eyes.
"I hit a kid because he called my brother a name."
Trace tries so hard to hide his smile. He can't help but feel some pride; at the same time, he can't have his son hitting people. There is a bigger problem, though, right now. Colin's fear is the problem. He can't have his son worrying about being hit whenever something bad happens at school. He decides to sit down with him and calm those nerves.
"Colin, come here, buddy. I want to talk with you."
Despite the calm voice, the little boy is apprehensive about coming to his dad. He doesn't know if he trusts that Trace won't spank him for this. He does indeed trust his dads, but sometimes his past boils over into his life.
"Okay, Dad."
Colin comes near his dad, and Trace reaches down and picks him up. He can feel the fear in his son.
"Look, Buddy, are you scared of me right now?"
Colin nods his head.
"Colin, Daddy and I are never going to hit you. We will ground you and give you time-outs, but we will never hit you. You know that, right?"
The little boy looks at him and nods yes, yet there is some doubt in his mind. Trace's and Ian's little boy has been through some crappy stuff, but with some work, he'll know that he is loved. Trace knows he needs to address the school problem but also wants to pat his son on the back for sticking up for his older brother. Maybe, he can delay the talk a little until his husband comes home. When he looks at his son, he realizes he can't put it off.
"Colin, I need you to listen to me. You know what you did to the kid at school today was wrong, right?
The boy looks at Trace and frowns.
"He said Blake was a bad word, and I hit him. He wouldn't shut up."
Colin told his dad. The older guy understands what his son is saying.
"You can't hit people just because you are mad at them. Next time, you need to either tell your teacher or another teacher."
Colin isn't about to disobey Trace. He can be a little intimidating, at least where kids are concerned. Fifteen minutes later, Ian and Blake walk into the house.
"You can go play, Buddy."
Colin gets down and heads off to his room to play. Trace pulls Blake to the side while his husband walks upstairs to the office.
"Got to tell you something, Blake; your brother stood up for you today. He hit a kid who was bad-mouthing you."
Blake is smiling at the thought of his little brother hitting a kid because the kid was being mean.
"Are you serious, Dad?"
His dad hands his son the letter from the teacher. Reading over the letter, Blake can't help but smile. He hands his dad back the letter.
"I guess you were being serious."
He tells his dad. Trace grins at his son.
"I was being totally serious."
Ian comes upon them, looking at his husband and son.
"So why were you being serious?"
Ian asks his husband.
"Your youngest hit a kid for making fun of his older brother."
Ian pats Blake on the back. Blake goes upstairs to find his little brother. He finds his little brother inside the room.
"Hey Colin, I just wanted to say thanks for standing up for me at school today."
Blake smiles at his brother. Colin gets up and hugs his older brother.
"You're welcome!
Colin is happy to have his brother in his life.
"Blake, do you want to color with me?"
Blake smiles at his brother, then disappears for a second and grabs one of his coloring books and colored pencils. He reappears in Colin's room with his stuff, and the brothers sit down to color together.
***
After coloring for a while, Blake needs to seek his uncle's advice. He calls his Uncle Michael. Uncle Michael picks up his phone.
"Hey Blake, what's up?"
Blake isn't sure how to talk this over with his uncle. He doesn't want Uncle Michael to embarrass him or be rude, which has never happened before. Whoever this person is doesn't deserve to be poked fun at by someone else.
"I have a secret admirer. He's been leaving me notes at my locker and even left me a gift. Trace and Ian have been a little weird about the whole deal. They're worried that this secret admirer might be a scheme to hurt me."
Michael kept quiet while Blake was talking. He never interrupted his nephew, but now that Blake is done talking, he can throw in his two cents.
"First, judging you or your admirer is not my place. I think your dads need to trust you a bit more. Is there something else you need to tell me, though?"
Blake isn't sure what else to tell him, and then he remembers something.
"Well, in his first note, he reveals quite a bit about the family; just little tidbits, to be honest, but it was enough to get my dads' attention."
Michael understands why that would draw his brother's and brother-in-law's attention.
"That is a bit strange, don't you think, Blake?"
Blake gets it. He really does.
"I do, yeah. He shouldn't have put our life into the note."
Michael changes the subject a bit.
"Is it a little exciting to have a secret admirer?"
Blake is quick to respond to his uncle's question.
"I don't know about exciting, but I am super curious to know who my admirer is. I mean, there are a TON of kids at my school. It could be anyone. Today, I asked my friends to keep their eyes open for anyone by my locker. I want to know who he is."
Anyone would be curious if they had an admirer. Michael wonders if Blake doesn't already have some idea of who it might be, but he's keeping it to himself.
"Blake, I hope all the best, dude, but I need to run."
Blake ends the call and goes off to figure things out on his own. After a while, he decides to call his aunt.
***
Blake calls his aunt to see if she has heard or seen anything. He's not counting on her knowing anything, but it's worth a chance. Sadly, Ashley knows nothing. She didn't even know about the admirer, but she agreed to keep her eyes out. Blake is hoping that someone knows something about the guy behind his gift. Maybe, he'll come clean soon, and Blake won't need his aunt or friends to keep their ears and eyes open.
***
At dinner, Blake looks at his dads and thinks about the admirer.
`Are my dad's right?'
Could it be that Trace and Ian are right about the kid? Blake is beginning to think that they might be correct. They might be right, but he doesn't want to hear the truth right now. Blake just wants them to be wrong. He doesn't want any of their doubts and suspicions to come to be. His secret admirer being a bad guy would be heartbreaking. Still, what will his dads do if the guy ends up being a baddie? All they can really do is stand by his side.
***
On the weekend, Blake gets a visit from Rick. He stops by to see Blake. The guys spend most of their time playing video games. When they get tired of playing games, Rick asks if Blake has heard anything about the secret admirer.
"I have heard nothing."
Rick feels terrible for his buddy. He pats his friend on the back. It would be cool to see another guy join their little band of friends. It's easy to join the group and a whole lot harder to leave the group.
"I would love to find out who this guy is, and he better like video games."
It might be a few days before Jamal will appear in their little friend group, maybe anyway.
***
Blake goes to bed worrying about what Ben might think of his secret admirer. He wraps himself up in his blanket and rests his head. When deep sleep comes over him, he sits on the bed. While he is sitting on the bed, the door to his room opens up, and in comes Ben. Blake is in disbelief. Ben walks up to the foot of the bed. He looks at his friend and smiles.
"Blake, get your head out of your butt. Quit worrying about what I think, what your dads think, or what anyone else thinks. This admirer is a great guy. I would date him. By the way, you were right. I was being a big ass."
Blake questions the comment that Ben just made. He would date this guy.
"You would date him? Do you know this guy?"
Ben turns to leave the room. Blake can hear him softly humming. Before he leaves the room, Ben turns to the bed.
"Blake, not only do I know your admirer, but you, too, know him. Don't push him out of your life. Sometimes things may be rough, but I believe he is one of your soulmates."
Blake notices that once dark hallway is filled with an intense white light as Ben leaves the room.
"LOVE HIM!"
Ben shouts out as he completely disappears. Blake wakes up, looks around, and then goes back to bed. He feels like Ben is right; he needs to quit worrying about who Jamal is and what everyone thinks of the admirer.