Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25: NEW FRIENDS

or Elise calling me. I hurry over to where my phone is on the charger and grab it, not bothering to look at

the name. When | connect to the video call, I’m a bit shocked at what I’m seeing. I’m thinking that

someone misdialed as the view I have is of a male’s body with a towel wrapped so low on their hips that I

can see the deep V…and are those pubes sticking out of the top of the towel?

The camera begins to move upward, and I see nothing but abs with great definition, telling me that this

person works out. My heart is beating really fast as I begin to get the feeling that I know that chest, but it

can’t be –it’s been three long weeks without a word. Suddenly, green eyes that appear and a smile that I

will always hold dear, greet me, and before I can say anything, he speaks first.

“Hello, Ella. You have been a very naughty girl!”

I suck in some much-needed air, “Jace…”

“Oh, so you do know who I am?” he asks sarcastically with a smirk, “I thought maybe you had forgotten

who I was, since you never bothered to say goodbye, or even tell me that you got into Yale.”

I’m at a loss for words, and don’t really have an excuse as to why I never told him I was leaving. At least

not one that he will like. I didn’t think he wanted to talk to me since I hadn’t heard from him after that

night. How am I supposed to know that he would have accepted my call or responded to my text?

Jace, I never heard back from you after that night. I waited a week and a half before I booked my flight. I

thought you were through with me.”

“How many times have I told you that I’m not going anywhere, Ella? What’s it going to take for you to

realize that you are mine, for always?” He looks away for a moment, and when he peers back at me, I

can see a bit of hurt in his eyes, but I know he will never admit to it, “Why didn’t you tell me that you got

into Yale? When did you know that you would be going to a college all the way across the United

States?”

I glance down, closing my eyes, because I know this is going to upset him. When I lock eyes with him

again, I hesitate. For some reason I don’t want to hurt him, but I know I can’t lie to him either,”Actually,

my original flight was supposed to be the day after my attack. I was on my way home from grabbing last

minute items when they stopped me,” I feel a sting starting in my eyes and l’ m not sure if I will be able to

hold the tears back, “That’s how they knew that I was out and about, because I ran into Kaylee in the

store.”

I can really see the hurt now, but then it changes to anger, and I wait for the explosion that I know is

coming, but then it never comes. This is something new. I wouldn’t have blamed him for being upset with

me, but I never expected him to calm his emotions before he tries talking to me again. This isn’t the bully

that tormented me for two years; it isn’t the bully that got mad at me if I said something out of turn, and it

definitely isn’t the bully that shoved me into lockers or hit things out of my hands before laughing with his

friends.

“Ella, I don’t understand why you kept all of this from me. Do you hate me that much because of what

I’ve done? Is there no redeeming myself with you?” He asks me these questions with no emotion.

“I don’t hate you, Jace, I could never hate you. I dislike you at times, but never hate. I am working on

forgiving you, but it’s not something that happens overnight.”

“How am I supposed to make it up to you if you’re all the way over in New England?” He scoffs.

I smile because this is the Jace I know, “Well, for starters, what we are doing right now will be enough

until I come home for breaks. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, so you could prepare for my absence, but again,

you left me on the sidewalk without so much as a goodbye the last time we were together.”

“I know I fucked up that night by leaving it that way, but I needed to get away from you because I didn’t

want to hurt you. I went back to the training facility that night, and I just got back today. I was trying to be

better for you, Ella. It’s hard changing from being a bully towards you to trying to be somebody that you

would want to be with.” He chuckles sadly.

“Oh, Jace…”

“Forget it, Ella, it’s fine. I will figure it out,” he looks me over and then gives me a weird look, “Why are

you dressed up, you don’t have a date, do you?”

I hold back my giggle as I look myself over, “I’m wearing jeans and a sweater, Jace. I’m hardly dressed

up.”

“Why are you wearing makeup then?” He lifts a brow.

“It’s mascara and lip gloss, that’s all. I’m going up to my friend Reece’s apartment because her and her

roommate are hosting a game night with friends.”

He grunts, “You know you’re still mine, right?”

I bite my lip and study him for a moment, “Am I? I guess we will have to talk about it more when I get

back home.”

“Ella,” he says my name in warning.

“Don’t worry, Jace. I’m not going to date anyone until we have talked, I promise.” I roll my eyes jokingly,

but a grunt comes over the speaker of the phone.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” That voice that does things to my girly bits comes through.

“I’m sorry, Jace.”

“You’re going to be sorry when I redden that pretty peach of yours the next time I see you.” He’s being

totally serious but there is still humor hidden in his eyes, “Go to the bathroom, Ella.”

“Huh, why?” I’m lost.

“Don’t question me, just take your cute ass to your bathroom.” I do as he says and then just stand there,

waiting to hear why he wants me in here, “Do you have any baby wipes?”

“What girl doesn’t have baby wipes?” | ask.

“Don’t be smart with me, Ella. Now, I want you to take one, and wipe off all that gunk from your face.”

“What? Why, it’s only two little things?” I’m astounded at how upset he is that I’m wearing this little bit of

makeup.

“Because I don’t want you going out like that without me. You are beautiful enough as it is, you don’t

need to be adding any of that shit!” He scowls.

I can’t help the smile that forms on my face. How can I argue with him when he goes and says

something like that? “Okay, Jace.” Taking a makeup wipe, I scrub my eyes to make sure all the clumps

are off my lashes and then take tissue paper to my lips, “There, did I get it all?” I smirk as I bat my eyes.

“Don’t be a smartass, Ella, and yes, you look much better, thank you.”

Oh my God, did Jace Palmer just say thank you? “You’re welcome, Jace,” I glance at the time, “I better

get going or I’m going to be late.”

“Okay, but I want you to call me when you get home. I know you’re only going to your neighbor’s but

please be careful and keep your phone on you the whole time. Oh, and don’t take a drink from a

stranger.”

His warning actually makes my heart skip a beat, knowing that he really does care about me enough to

remind me to be careful, “I will do all of that, Jace. I’ll talk to you later, bye.”

“Bye, Ella.”

I’m sad when his face disappears from my screen, and I sit here staring at my wallpaper for a moment,

“What just happened, and who the hell was that?” I ask myself out loud.

I knock on Reece and Gabe’s door just a few minutes after seven. The sound of footsteps can be heard

coming towards the door right before it opens. Reece smiles brightly when she sees who’s at the door,

“Hey Ella! Gabe said that he invited you, but we weren’t sure if you were coming. Come on in, I’m so

happy you’re here!”

“Yeah, sorry I’m a little late. I got a last-minute phone call that I needed to take.” I return her smile.

“Oh, you’re fine. We are still waiting on a few more people, so consider yourself early.” She giggles and

leads me into the living room.

New Friends

Their apartment is almost the exact layout as mine, how the front door opens up to a small hallway.

There is a coat closet on one side and directly across from it is a utility closet. The end of the hall opens

up to the living space with the kitchen to the left and living room on the right. There is a bathroom that

faces the hall, with two closed doors on each side of it, which I can only assume are the bedrooms. Their

place is just a bit bigger than mine due to the second bedroom, but it’s pretty much a mirror of mine.

“There she is! Come on over, Ella, and I’ll introduce you to these assholes.” Gabe jokes as he points to

two other guys.

“Hey, Gabe, how are you doing?” I ask politely.

“Better, now that you actually showed up,” He winks at me and then turns to his friends, “This here is

Deke,” he points to the guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes, not a bad looking guy, but really not my

type. Gabe then moves to the other guy, “this is Collin, he’s the brains of our threesome.” The Collin guy

rolls his eyes and smiles shyly at me as he says ‘hi’. He’s got brownish-red hair, a little on the longer

side, with brown eyes as well, only he has a pair of framed glasses sitting on top of the bridge of his

nose.

“Nice to meet both of you,” I reach out and shake both their hands, “I’m the new girl and neighbor from

the second floor.” I grin.

“So, how did you and Gabe meet?’ Deke asks.

“Oh, well, I was bringing my clothes down to be washed and he was down there going through our

neighbor’s laundry and sniffing their underwear…”

Gabe cuts me off, “What the fuck, Ella? I was not…”

Ilean in close to his friends and put my hand to one side of my mouth as though I’m telling them a secret,

“He had a pair of pink granny panties up to his nose,” I straighten back up, “Creepiest thing I’ve ever

seen, I tell ya.”

Both Deke and Collin burst out laughing as they point to Gabe, who is looking a bit flushed but is grinning

from ear-to-ear at me, “Paybacks are a bitch, Ella.”

I can’t hold my laugh in any longer, so I let it burst out of me as I take a seat in an armchair, “Seriously,

though, we did meet in the laundry room, but he was folding his own laundry. At least I think it was his.” I

shrug with a smile.

“Ha, ha, ha!” Gabe throws a decorative pillow at my face.

“I really like this one, Gabe!” Deke expresses as he continues to chuckle.

Reece comes in with some snack foods and places them on the coffee table before perching herself on

the arm of my chair, “Hands off, Deke! That goes for all of you, as she points to the three guys. At first,

I’m thinking she’s talking about the snacks, but then she continues, “Ella is off limits! She’s here to

concentrate on school, not guys!”

Oh! What brought this little speech on? We are just laughing and having a good time, but as if she could

read my mind, she glances down at me, “I’ve known these assholes for far too long, and I can tell that

each one of them has already undressed you, fucked you, and sent you on your way, in their heads

already.” She lifts her brows at me telling me to believe her.

I feel my face go red as I look at each one of their annoyed expressions, telling me that Reece nailed it

right on the head, “Well,” || clear my throat, “I hope they at least had a good time and that I didn’t

disappoint, because that’s all they’re going to get from me.” I give them each a smug smile as Reece

falls to the floor, laughing.

“Hell, yes! In your face, guys!” Reece rubs it into the guys before looking at me, “I think we are going to

be the best of friends, Ella!”

Reece is the exact opposite of me. Where I’m dark hair and blue eyes, she is blonde hair and brown

eyes. I’m five foot and three inches tall with an average body build, Reece is five foot and five inches tall

and curvy in all the right places. She is very outgoing and loud, where I’m more of an introvert and

usually quiet, but this last trait could be due to the last couple of years. I surprised myself tonight, being

outgoing and joking around like I was just a little bit ago, but I feel really comfortable here. I think being

friends with Reece is going to do me a lot of good. I’m already off to a great start being away from home

and all the drama that tends to follow me around while I’m there.

As I unlock my front door, I’m thinking about how much fun game night has been, and I know that Reece

and Gabe usually host it every week, but I offered to have it at my place every once in a while, if they

want a break. Their other friends are not able to host it, and so I thought it was only fair that I offer,

because I want this to become part of my weekly routine. I want different, I want new, I want anything

that is not going to remind me of back home; except I still want Jace as well, and that makes no sense at

all.

Walking into my dark apartment, I flip the switch, turning the hall light on. I lock my door and then lean

against it, listening to the

silence that greets me. It’s the only thing that makes me sad in this new place; being alone. I’m a little

jealous that Reece has someone to keep her company, but I don’t think I want a roommate only because

I don’t want to live with a stranger. According to

“Step back until I tell you to stop. When I do, I want you to strip down for me.”

An idea comes to me, and I decide to try and be a little bold. I don’t know if it will upset him, but I’m going

to try and negotiate with my big, bad bully. I bite my lip and try to look somewhat innocent and sexy at the

same time.

Jace, if I strip for you, will you let me have a release?” | clasp my hands behind my back, sticking my

chest out just a little bit, and twist back and forth.

I can tell he’s taken back by my request, “Do you deserve to come, Ella?”

I nod, “It’s been so long, Jace…”

He tilts his head, “Tell me, Ella, when was the last time you made that pretty little pussy come all over

your fingers?”

I stop what I’m doing and just stare at him. Does he not remember the last time he made me come? “I

haven’t touched myself since before you first told me I couldn’t. You were the last one to make me come,

Jace.”

“Jesus Christ, Ella!” I’ve shocked him.