It was officially Halloween time, seeing as it was October twenty-fourth.

A lot has happened in the past month but nothing big has really changed.

Jace got better at skateboarding. He was still bad but he was definitely better for doing it every single day for the past month. He has been trying hard to be friends with Blake but she just kept walking off.

Blake on the other hand is not on good terms with her mom like she was before. Susie's new friend, London from her yoga class moved into the spare bedroom they had. She was very nice and always looked after Susie which made Susie not need Blake like she had before.

So Blake had been crashing at Chris' house for the past week. His son Jack who is seven was in the kitchen eating breakfast as he was brought to day care before school.

Chris gets Jack every other week.

"I'm off to school" Blake said as she laced up her combat boots.

"Alright, bye sweetheart" Katherine smiled.

"Bye Blake!" Jack beamed at her.

Blake always thought he was cute with his little glasses.

"Bye Jack" Blake said as she ruffled his blonde hair.

Katherine smiled at the two.

Blake always wished she had a sibling. But it wouldn't be the same if her mother had a kid from another guy.

She grabbed her skateboard and rode off to school.

Since football season was coming to an end, everyone was getting ready for the last home game that was November eleventh which was the homecoming game. It was eighteen days away and they had a lot of practice to do seeing as they lost the last two games.

Blake ignored the conversation of the students around her as she listened to her music. She looked around the poster filled walls talking about the homecoming game, homecoming dance and some random clubs that need more members to join.

She wasn't interested in any of that.

§

Once school was out Blake waited because Chris said he was picking her up from school today.

"Hey Blake."

She rolled her eyes at Jace's voice and watched him sit down next to her from the corner of her eye.

"Shouldn't you be at practice?"

"Yeah but I wanted to talk to you for a second."

She rolled her eyes once more before turning to him.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to know if you were going to the homecoming dance" Jace said.

He was nervous, he wanted to ask her to the dance. He knew she would reject him, he prepared himself but he still wanted to at least try.

"Nope."

He thought that her not even going to begin with was slightly better than her rejecting him.

"Oh, why not?"

"Because they are lame dances with stupid decorations. It's just a poor version of prom."

"Not necessarily."

"Well they are still lame and everyone who attends is too preppy for me so no I am not going."

Blake was over their conversation and wanted Chris to hurry up before she started skating to his house.

She already planned on going home today. She didn't want to bother Chris and his wife even though they told her they loved having her. Blake just felt out of place and didn't want to overstay her welcome.

"Oh, then what are your plans that night?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business" Blake shrugged.

"Where the hell is Jace?! I will make that kid run five laps for keeping me waiting!"

Jace groaned loudly and stood up just as a black car came down the street of the school.

"I have to go, but maybe we can hang out homecoming night."

"Don't you have to be at homecoming?"

"Yeah..."

"You stay at your lame dance and I'll do my own thing."

Chris pulled up and he had tinted windows. Jace was curious on who was picking up Blake.

"I'll catch ya later Blake!"

"I hope not!"

Jace's shoulders deflated as she got in the passenger seat with her skateboard.

"How was school?" Chris asked.

"Usual."

Their car ride was silent on the way to Chris' house. When they got there Blake walked into the house.

"Hey Blake?"

She turned to face Chris.

"You okay?"

She nodded and looked around the kitchen where they stood.

"I'm gonna head back to my house today."

"Oh... why?"

Chris didn't want her to leave but if she wanted to leave then he would let her. He saw her like a daughter and wanted to give her the same love her own dad gave her. But he knows he could never replace him.

"I don't want to overstay my welcome and I think it's time I head back."

"You could never overstay your welcome, but if you want to leave I won't stop you."

Blake sent him the tiniest smile before going to the room she was staying in. She packed up the clothes that she had brought. When she finished Jack walked in the room.

"Are you leaving?" he asked sadly.

"Yeah buddy, I'm going back to my house."

Jack sighed but nodded.

"You can always come visit me J, you know that, just text me whenever okay? You have my number."

He nodded and when she passed him she ruffled his blonde hair.

She walked passed him and Chris was on the phone.

"Want to come with us J?" Blake asked.

Jack nodded happily and he grabbed her hand while leading them to the car.

She got him situated in a booster seat and she hopped in the passenger seat.

"You want to see my room when we get to my house?" Blake asked.

He nodded happily and Chris got in the car.

"You ready?"

Blake nodded and buckled up as he drove off to her house.

Once they got to Blake's house, Blake grabbed her stuff from the floor and hopped out. Jack quickly climbed out as well leaving Chris to turn off his car and follow after them.

Blake walked right in and she saw her mother watching a movie with London.

"Look who finally decided to come home" Susie said as she paused the movie.

Blake only nodded and grabbed Jack's hand to go show him her room.

London already knew about who Susie married and how they are close friends with Chris Pratt. But she didn't care, she liked Susie because they were the same. They both lost their husbands and both liked very similar things.

Chris walked in the house and London smiled at him before excusing herself to the kitchen so the two of them could talk.

"Cool room!" Jack beamed.

"Thanks, I decorated it myself" Blake said as she started putting her clothes away since they were washed yesterday.

"How did you get all these records?!"

"My dad gave me all of them besides one. I bought myself the Beatles one."

"Who are the Beatles?"

"You don't know who the Beatles are?!"

Jack shook his head and Blake sighed loudly.

"Your dad did not teach you good enough. When you get home you need to have your dad play the Beatles."

"Okay Blake!"

She ruffled his hair again and he observed her skateboard.

"Would you teach me to skate too?"

"Of course bud, whenever you want I can teach you to skate."

He clapped excitedly.

"Go on to your dad, I bet he is waiting. I'll see you later okay?"

He nodded with a smile and she kissed his cheek.

"Text me whenever."

He nodded and gave her a hug.

"Bye Blake."

"Bye J."

Chris stood in the living room with Susie.

"Chris I'm sorry she bothered you by staying at your house."

"She didn't bother me, I like having her there, so does Jack and Katherine."

Susie only nodded and crossed her arms.

"You know I love you Susie but you need to stop with the victim act."

She looked at Chris in astonishment.

"Excuse me?!"

"I know you're upset and grieving over Adam but-"

"Exactly! I'm upset and grieving over my husband! You weren't married to him Chris you didn't love him like I did!" Susie snapped.

"I get that but you aren't the only one who lost him. I lost my best friend, Blake lost her dad, his millions of followers and fans lost their idol!" Chris said harshly.

He wanted to get a point across without alerting Jack or Blake.

Susie stayed silent so Chris took a deep breath to calm himself before continuing.

"You handled it hard I know you did and I'm incredibly sorry. But Blake has been looking after you since he died. She was only sixteen when it happened, losing her best friend who was there for her since the minute she was born. You are her mother, you were supposed to look after her but it turned out to be the other way around. I hate to say this Susie but stop acting like her daughter and act more like her mother. You are an adult, for your daughters sake please look after her. You don't know what she is capable of doing."

With that Chris left walked out of the living just as Jack walked down the stairs.

"I'm just going to say bye to Blake."

Jack stood next to London as Chris walked up the steps and peeked in Blake's room.

"I'm heading out, call me if you need anything."

Blake only nodded and sent him a smile.

She only ever smiles at Chris, his wife and Jack nowadays. Her mom and her are no longer close and she has no reason to smile at anyone else.

"I will, thank you Chris."

"Anytime Blake."

He gave one last smile to Blake before heading home.
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9-28-20