11 | a c e y

In my rush the next morning, I had missed Lilli's texts regarding the fact that she was staying home with the flu. I frowned all throughout first period without her; even though Ace was there. He was in some sort of mood. He blamed it on Noah waking him up way earlier than necessary.

I was forced to spend my break alone in front of my locker, pretending I had something to do. Ace and I never hung out at break. It was his designated "boys only time" as Kaz had made up.

I dragged my way through my morning classes until lunch time finally hit and I was left with a bundle of nervous energy in the pit of my stomach. Ace was expecting me to sit and have lunch with Kaz and Ryder. And I had been okay with that, until Lilli decided to get the flu.

Now, my best friend wouldn't be here to support me or back me up if I Kaz insulted me. I sighed and walked as slow as I could to the doors outside of the cafeteria. Ace had planned on us meeting here before entering the madness that was the lunch room.

"Try to act less depressing when we go in there sweetheart," I heard the voice from behind me. I whipped around and caught Ace leaning his shoulder against the lockers across the hall. He looked good today.

As if he didn't every time I see him.

"Do something that makes me less depressed," I threw at him sarcastically.

He grinned and strode toward me with a confidence only Ace Carter could pull off. He stopped in front of me and smirked before lifting a hand to brush a stray hair away from my cheek.

"Whatcha doin' Carter?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice above a whisper.

He dropped his hand in one smooth move and placed it on my waist instead. "Doing what I can to help, King."

I shook my head, slightly in a daze from his touch. There was no one out here; aka no one to act in front of. I leaned closer to him before stopping, my lips close to his ear. "Still feeling the same as before."

His eyes were slightly widened when I pulled away and his grip tightened a little on my waist. It slid down to my hip and squeezed.

Oh boy.

I hadn't pulled back all the way yet so my face was still way too close to his. But before I could do anything about that distance, we heard a cough.

"Get a classroom," Ryder smirked, whacking Kaz, who stood next to him, in the stomach to get his attention.

"Get over yourself Park," Ace told him, his eyes had returned back to their usual, bored state.

Kaz scoffed and Ryder looked even more smug than before, if possible. "I'm not the one groping my girlfriend in the middle of the hallway."

"No one is groping anyone for your information," I butted in, only to be ignored. Ace's hand still hadn't removed itself from my hip so I stepped away from his warmth. He frowned a little with the action but I just rolled my eyes and picked my backpack up off the ground.

"Come on Acey, you can maul her with your eyes in the cafeteria too," Ryder joked and Ace narrowed his eyes.

He didn't move from his spot so I walked over to him once more and grabbed his wrist, practically dragging him through the double doors. Ace shifted closer to me and pulled his arm out of my grasp.

That hand suddenly found its way to my lower back, guiding me through the wave of students. He was still grumbling in annoyance at Ryder, who walked in behind us, and it made me smirk. "Stop smiling like that, I wasn't mauling you with my eyes."

"Mhm," is all I said and he groaned.

"I'm friends with a bunch of idiots," he whispered, only to me.

Wouldn't want his friends thinking we aren't actually dating or something.

We sat down their usual table, which sat in the middle of the cafeteria and was next to most of the popular students. I saw a glare from Sophie Roman pointed my way and I turned my head away quickly.

Kaz was uncharacteristically silent while Ryder talked about some guys on the football team to Ace. Ace didn't really talk except for the random, "mhm," and, "yeah," throughout Ryder's stories. I kept to eating my lunch, trying not to look up as much as I could.

About halfway through lunch, I saw Sophie getting out of her seat from the corner of my eye. She straightened her white skirt and made her way over to us. She sat herself on the other side of Ace and sighed deeply.

Kaz looked over at her but then, as if he was bored, looked away and I could have sworn I saw an eye roll. Ryder visibly stiffened and a scowl appeared on his normally cheerful face. When she didn't get the reaction she hoped for, Sophie sighed again but this time, a little louder and exaggerated.

"Yes?" Ace asked her, his expression sort of amused.

She placed her chin delicately in the palm of her hand which rested on the table. "I miss hanging out with you Acey."

I swear Ryder choked and Kaz snorted. My eyes widened cartoonishly as Ace stared at her in blank confusion. His face had a question mark written all over it.

"You know, because we used to hang out all the time. It's been so long. We should do it again," Sophie continued.

Didn't she realize his girlfriend was sitting right there? Fake girlfriend, albeit, but still.

Debating on playing the jealous girlfriend card, I leaned over Ace. "What are you talking about?"

She smirked a little, thinking she got a rise out of me. "Oh nothing to concern yourself about sweetheart."

I didn't like when she called me sweetheart. And neither did Ace.

"Sophie, go away." Ace's eyes held a quiet fire in them. And I didn't know what it meant.

She looked pretty shocked, to say the least. She glanced over at Ace's friends across the table and they were both holding in laughter. To make his point clear, Ace shoved his hand back and held it out to me. I twined our fingers together and saw him smirk.

"Whatever, you'll get bored of her eventually Ace. You aren't one to keep a girlfriend anyway," and with that, she stood up and marched out of the room.

All three of the boys visibly relaxed and I was no longer seeing red. My hand was still in Ace's and neither of us made a move to remove them.

After that, Kaz went back to eating but and Ryder went back to gossiping. But this time, it was less awkward than before. Guess we all had one thing in common, our dislike of Sophie Roman.

After school, I found myself getting into Ace's car and turning up the radio's volume. He had somehow convinced me to hang out and do our homework at his house and he'd pick me up in the morning to take me to school.

I wanted to argue since there was no point to him driving me over when I could drive myself. But I had learned not to argue when it came to Ace Carter. The kid got what he wanted most of the time.

"So, how did you feel about lunch today?" He immediately asked me when he drove out of the parking lot.

I smiled sheepishly. "Kaz wasn't mean."

"I might have talked with him beforehand."

My smile dropped and I glared at him. "You didn't."

He just smiled widely at me, making my heart drop.

"What did you say?" I asked him, sticking my bottom lip out in a pout.

He shook his head. "I just said to be nicer to you, don't worry."

"Ughhhgghh."

Ace chuckled, "excuse me?" And I laughed, turning up the volume even louder, ignoring him.

His house was silent when we walked in. Ace shut the door behind me and locked it. He headed up the stairs to his room without saying anything so I started to follow.

"Where is everyone?" I asked him, looking around in the hallway.

He checked his phone quickly as we walked into his room. "Mom got held up at work, Austin never gets off before 5 and Noah is at a friend's house."

I just nodded and held the straps of my backpack awkwardly. Ace stepped toward me and pulled my hands away from the backpack and tugged it off my back. He set both of our bags down on his bed and sat down.

"So, we're alone?" I asked. He just arched an eyebrow at me.

Obviously you're alone idiot. That's what he just said.

"Don't worry sweetheart, I'm not gonna try anything," he smirked.

Darn.

But instead I said, "you better not." But it sounded more like flirting than a warning.

Ace didn't say anything, he just unzipped his backpack and started pulling out papers. He also pulled out the book we were reading for English, The Kite Runner.

"How far do we have to read today?" He looked up at me and I started taking out my things too.

I couldn't believe he was actually doing homework. "Like 3 chapters." We had recently started the book and weren't very far into it; but I was really already attached.

"Do you want to read it out loud or something?" He asked me, scratching the back of his neck.

I shook my head. "I hate reading aloud. I'd rather read in silence."

"Get to it then King."

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. They started flowing down my cheeks and over my frown. I sniffled, determined to get rid of my tears, but it didn't work.

"Are you okay?" I heard a voice ask me.

I looked up and saw Ace staring at me, his eyes blown wide, filled with concern and confusion. Mostly confusion.

"Mel?"

I shook my head, "what page are you on?" He told me and I let out another sob. "Ask me again in 5 pages."

He looked at me weirdly before patting my head, like I was a dog, and went back to reading.

A few minutes later I heard him quietly cursing. "Holy shit. Oh my God. No fucking way. Oh my God."

Ah, he made it to the part.

"I can't even believe," he paused and looked up at me. "Wow."

I nodded, "I know."

"But-"

I smiled sadly at him. "Yep."

He fell backward on his bed, landing on his back. I sat up straighter, to get a better look at his face. It was scrunched up in a mix of anger and sadness.

My tears had stopped a few minutes before, leaving behind a scowl. "This author is cruel," I told him and he nodded in agreement, putting his forearms over his face.

"I can't even read anymore of this. We still have another chapter to read!" Ace sat up abruptly.

I patted his shoulder and set the book down. "I think I'll save the rest for later too. Let's just move on to math."

"Oh good. Now I'll be upset about algebra 2 instead," he told me, sarcasm dripping from his words.

We worked on our math homework and read a little bit more of the book before finally putting everything back into our backpacks.

"I'll drive you home," Ace told me as I tossed my back over my shoulder.

I smirked at him, "well, I wasn't planning on walking."

"Quit being a smartass," he quipped and flicked my forehead as he passed by me.

I followed him down the stairs and saw that we were still here alone. "You sure you don't want me to stay until everyone gets back?"

He shook his head with a small smile. "It's okay. It's getting late anyway."

"It's 5:15," I deadpanned, trying not to smile.

He looked slightly flustered but lifted his chin. "You can get more sleep tonight if you go to bed early."

"Uh-huh."

"Shut up Mel."

I smiled and he pulled his car keys out and opened the front door. He walked out and didn't even wait for me, getting into his car.

Awe he was embarrassed.

The drive home was like usual; both of us singing way too loud to the radio and laughing when we tried to outdo the other person. We arrived at my house with full on smiles planted on our faces.

I was having so much fun I didn't even notice Charlie's car in the parking spot next to ours.

"Goodnight sweetheart," he told me without thinking of what he was saying.

My heart seized up and I felt the immediate blush engulf my face and ears. Ace's face was a little flushed as well so I squeaked a small goodbye and hopped out of the car, practically running up the stairs.

I gave him a little wave letting him know it was okay for him to drive off and he left. I opened the front door with a dazed smile.

Sweetheart.

"Where the hell have you been?" I heard a loud and angry voice yell.

I glanced over to the couch, where Charlie sat with a Corona in his hand and a few crushed beer cans on the coffee table in front of him.

"I was studying with Lilli," I lied.

He scoffed and tried to stand up but he stumbled a little. "Yeah right. Just like I've said before, you're just like your mother."

I kept my head down and started walking toward my bedroom. He was drunk and the last thing I needed to do was talk back.

"Don't you walk away from me you little brat."

Shit. He was in one of those moods.

I walked back to him slowly, stopping in front of the tv. There was enough distance between us to run to my room if I needed to.

"Tell me the truth. Where were you?" Charlie growled at me.

I swallowed hard, no matter what I said, he'd be upset. If I said I was with Lilli, he'd call me a liar. If I told him I was with Ace, he'd call me slut. "I was studying."

"All alone?" His voice was low, practically a whisper.

I shook my head as a silent answer.

"With who Mellie?"

"With Ace," I told him quietly. I thought maybe he didn't hear me but then he took a step closer and then another.

And when he was right up next to me, I closed my eyes. "I thought I told you not to hang out with that boy anymore." Not wanting to argue, I nodded. "Why did you disobey me Melrose?"

"I'm sorry. But we were just studying," I told him, my voice came out weaker than usual.

This only seemed to piss him off even more. "Is that code for sex?" I shook my head back and forth as fast as I could. "Because you aren't old enough to be having sex Mellie."

"Okay," I told him.

His fists tightened. "Okay what?"

What?

I must have looked confused because he took a deep breath. When he exhaled, I smelt the alcohol on his breath. "Say, yes dad."

But I couldn't. The guy I used to call my father was long gone and replaced with a monster. He was an unrecognizable man. To me, this wasn't my dad, this was Charlie. So I shook my head, no.

He grabbed onto my wrist which was resting by my side. His grip was so tight that I yelped in pain. But he didn't let go; he just held on tighter.

"You're hurting me," I told him, pain clear in my voice.

He laughed, "you deserve so much worse Mellie."

His hand squeezed my wrist harder and it felt like the fragile bone would break. But then when I yelled out again, he let go.

I immediately held my throbbing wrist in my other arm. Charlie gave me one last withering, angry look and then walked back to the couch. He look a long sip off of his corona and turned to the tv.

I launched myself back to my room and grabbed my old wrist brace from when I sprained it in Sophomore year. I put it on my now aching wrist and it felt a little better. I didn't know how I would explain that one away.

Hey there! It's been like 2 weeks since I uploaded anything and for that, I'm sorry. But, PART 11 IS UP!

So this chapter is over 2,700 words, one of my longer chapters. Ive been working on it the whole time but in small fractions.

I've already started chapter 12 so, hopefully, it will be up sooner than two weeks!:)

I hope you guys enjoyed and don't forget to vote! Follow me if you'd like!

See ya next chapter!