Lost in thoughts, Raine stared at the grass between his feet. Despite the sun burning on his shirtless upper body, he felt cold. Somewhere in the background he heard the laughter and splashing of kids in the water, but it felt like there was a thick transparent wall between him and all the others. As if he was trapped in a small room, alone, while Blaise's words were bouncing off the walls.

"You think you can turn me into a rat?"

Where the hell did that come from? They hadn't talked about club matters at all. After Blaise had told him he was considering to get a new tattoo, Raine had told him about the last thing he had tattooed himself; the infinity symbol that was not only on the inside of his own wrist, but also on that of his sisters. It was a sensitive issue. Although it symbolized the infinity of their family bond, their mutual love, Rosa's short life expectancy had been the reason they had gotten this tattoo. It was a tribute to her, to each other.

He had exposed a part of himself to Blaise, and it had been a slap in the face when the Fox had jumped up all of a sudden, more or less snapping at him that their whole friendship made no sense.

Raine didn't know why it affected him so much. Usually he would've grunted that the other was an asshole, and then he wouldn't waste another word or thought on that person, but now it felt like he was stuck in cement. He couldn't even find the strength to get up, and nor was he in the mood to talk to someone.

He felt hurt – and completely overwhelmed. Again and again, he replayed his words in his head to see if he had accidentally said something that might've upset Blaise, but he really didn't understand his response.

Heaving a deep sigh, he looked at the spot where the man had sat a while ago. The grass was still flattened with his imprint. The thought that he might never speak to Blaise again, hung around his neck like a chain made of steel. He had enjoyed himself the past hour. Somehow Blaise drifted his thoughts away from his sick sister. It weren't his words that distracted him the whole time... somehow his presence was just nice and calming. Even when Blaise himself didn't feel calm at all.

Did he still fear the response of his brothers? Raine had believed he had gotten over it after Angel sat with them. His friend had acted normal – and he hadn't expected anything less. It wasn't like no one around here spoke to members of another club – and nobody would check their background story, and see if they really knew each other because of some high school exchange program.

A shadow fell over him and a moment later, someone dropped down next to him. For a moment his heartbeat sped up, as he hoped it was Blaise who came back to apologize. It wasn't him, however. It was his friend, the purple-haired girl.

"Where did you leave Blaise?" He heard the surprise in her voice.

It did him good, knowing that he wasn't the only one who hadn't seen this coming. He twisted the ring around his thumb, shrugged his shoulders and stared at the lake. "You tell me. He stormed off."

"What? Why?"

"I have no idea."

He cocked his head to the side. Skye bit her lip, studying his face. "What were you talking about?"

"That I wanted to become a tattoo artist until my mom got sick. We talked about our tattoos and I told him about the one I gave myself and my sisters. And suddenly he jumped up and snapped that I was trying to turn him into a rat." He sighed. "It really makes no sense. I thought that we kinda... respected each other by not asking questions about club shit. I don't get it – was it because I was talking about my sisters? About our strong bond?" Something started to gnaw. "Did I hit a nerve?"

When they were trapped in the elevator, he had told him about his sister. Not much, Blaise had mentioned that he barely spoke to her and that she felt more like a stranger than like a family member.

"I can't imagine," she said. "He seems to feel really sorry for your family. I don't think his outburst had anything to do with that. "She turned a little more towards him."You know... Blaise is a pro in overthinking things. Sometimes we talk about something and an hour later, he blurts out something about the previous subject that was bothering him all that time, without me being aware of it. I can see how his insecurity was bothering him all that time and at some point... it just needed to get out. You know – Blaise is an amazing guy; he's the sweetest person I've ever met. But he... he doesn't have a lot of friends. Real friends. Sure, he has his brothers... but they always make fun of him. They mean him no harm, but whenever they want to trick someone, it's him. He's an easy target, I guess. Sometimes it's hard for him to trust other people." She was silent for a while, trying to read Raine. "I think he really wants to be friends with you, Raine. You two clearly have a connection. But let's be honest... the fact that you're supposed to be enemies isn't exactly building up his trust."

Raine was a little overwhelmed by Skye's openness; she had told him a few very personal things about Blaise. He however, was glad she told him all this. At their first meeting he had already discovered that Blaise was a complicated guy. Which intrigued him – and this time too, he felt his anger fading away.

"I like to hang out with him," he confessed. "And I feel sorry for him for not having many friends." Especially now that he was going through such a tough period himself, he knew the value of close friendships. An almost shy smile made his lips curl. "I think they're missin' out on a lot."

Skye looked at him with a smile stretching from ear to ear. "You're a cutie, Raine. I know he adores me, but sometimes he needs a... male friend. But one who dares to open up. Who listens to him, to who he can listen. You know... This won't sound super bad ass biker-ish but that doesn't make it less true. I believe in love at first sight. In friendship at first sight. The day you two met... Blaise hasn't been the same since that day. I don't know if the same goes for you... but something tells me it does."

Raine started to feel warm. Suddenly feeling awkward, he rubbed his neck. This sounded really... unmanly – even if it was true. He hadn't realized it during the past weeks, but the moment he saw Blaise today he knew he had missed the guy for reasons he didn't know. "Yeah... maybe you're right," he said quietly.

Friendship at first sight. Did something like that really exist?

If it was really a thing romantically – then why wouldn't it be on a friendship level?

"I'm going to see if I can find him. Blaise isn't the worst in saying sorry."

Raine briefly looked her in the eye. "Yeah... okay. Well, I guess I will hear or see if he wants to hang out with me again."

"Yep, got your number."

"And that date..." he asked with a crooked smile."Is that still on? Or was Blaise the reason you wanted my number?"

"I like hitting two targets with one shot," she winked. "So yeah, that date's certainly still on, handsome." She leaned into him, kissing his cheek. "I'll call you!"

The prospect cheered him up. There was a strange feeling in his stomach since she had asked him out – something he hadn't felt in years. It made him smile.

. . .

Skye was a little worried when she found out that Blaise had gone home without telling her. His brothers hadn't seen him either, although she told them he hadn't felt well this morning.

Eddy gave her a ride home. She knew the prospect had a little crush on her , and although she usually didn't like to take advantage of his feelings, she ignored her conscience today.

"Blaise?" she asked as she entered the house. The door towards the balcony was open. As she headed for it, she saw a few empty beer bottles scattered across the floor. He was sitting in the white swing chair she used for reading in. Although the chair wasn't made for two people, it had carried their combined weight many times before. She sat down on his lap, running a hand across his Mohawk. He sighed deeply and avoided her glance. The pot he smoked and the beers he drank hadn't improved his mood much.

"Raine told me what happened."

Blaise bent his head.

Her hand slid to his neck, massaging his muscles. "I don't believe he's using you to get Intel about the club, Blaise."

"I know," he muttered. For a long time he was silent, studying the wooden floor. Skye let him be, knowing he would speak his thoughts if she was patient. "I don't know what's going on with me." His voice sounded shaky. He still refused to look at her.

Cupping his jaw with her hand, she lifted his face. She swallowed as she saw his teary eyes; it felt like he was about to cry. "Sweetie... what's going on?"

He shrugged his shoulders and tried to look away, but her grasp on his face was firm.

"Blaise... It's me. You always tell me everything."

"I don't know," he muttered. He wiped his eyes on his shoulder. "I panicked; I didn't know what to say, so I accused him of using me."

"So that wasn't the real reason?"

He shook his head quietly.

"Then what was?" She caressed his cheek. As their eyes met, he started to blush. They knew each other so well that she knew there was no way she could make his cheeks flush, because of that she could piece the puzzle together. Oh... She didn't say it out loud; it was better for him to translate his thoughts into words himself.

As he bent his head again, she didn't stop him this time. She kissed his temple. "You know there's nothing you can't tell me baby."

"It was just..." He took a deep breath. "When he took off his shirt... I – I got turned on," he whispered. His voice was dripping with shame.

She chuckled softly. "I've seen that body too. I totally get what you mean. I'm sure he has that effect on everyone."

"It was not just that," he muttered. "We were in the middle of a conversation – and suddenly I couldn't hear anything anymore. And – and all I could think of... was how it would feel if he'd touch me. How it would be to kiss his neck, his chest..."

His cheeks turned into a deep red. It was the most adorable thing she'd ever seen.

"I... I panicked. I – I just don't understand myself. Why I was thinking those things... Why I kept seeing those... images. Why those thoughts won't leave me alone. Not even – not even now."

Her fingers glided across the ink on his scalp. "I know why."

He looked up, desperately longing for an explanation that would be miles apart from the real explanation. Although he wouldn't want to hear it, she told him the truth. "You're in love, sweetie. You're madly in love with him."