Sometimes I fail to understand how some people can be incredibly annoying at one moment yet are the ones without whom you can't live. The irony of the situation makes me wonder whether it is possible.

And of course I know it is quite possible.

The living proof is the fact that I am best friends with two such people who are currently sitting in front of me deciding whether I should have worn heels or shoes yesterday when I ran from the party.

Jess thinks that I would have made a huge fashion blunder if I had worn shoes beneath an evening dress and would have made me look like the biggest fashion-sense-lacking-idiot. She thinks it's better to trip down thousand times while running up the hills then to make an appearance with shoes under a gown.

While on the other hand, Jake thinks that I should have worn running shoes before hand only so that I would have been way ahead of Ace.

"Let me say it for the 19th time : I didn't plan to run before only. It was the situation which made me run." I said trying to break through their stupid-endless-nonsensical banter.

"Oh shush. We are busy." Both of them said in unison.

God give me the fucking strength to handle these two.

At that very moment our order came which silenced both the parties of the most sensible debate competition going on. They both stopped fighting like nothing happened and they weren't fighting since the last 26 minutes.

These guys really seem to learn something from me.

They attacked the food and I made sure to do the same with the burgers and fries before it vanished under the attack of the other two foodies like me.

I was really tired because of my venturing since three in the afternoon. After coming from the orphanage, I called the driver to drop me to the new house where I and Mr. Apathetic live. I have decided to call that house - 'the hell house' . while I would be calling John and Jennifer's home as - 'the homely house'.

I went to the 'hell house' to get some of my personal and important things like my charger, some books, some undergarments etc. etc. Jenn told me in the afternoon that I would be staying in the 'homely house' for some time because some more family members are going to join us after a week or so and she would like me to meet them. She also said that she wants to spend time with me. I, obviously, agreed instantly. Anything was better than staying alone in a house with Mr. Apathetic.

So after taking my things, I went to the bookstore to buy a book which I was dreading to read but it was the only book which was not in the massive library in the 'Hell house'.

I had my savings left as I no longer had to pay bills or rent and thus had saved a fair amount of money. I do not plan on using a penny of Mr. Apathetic's money. I would use the left money and then think of something else. After buying the book, I went to the adjoining electronic shop wherein I found a camera which made me want to buy it, the second I laid my eyes on it. It was DSLR camera which required quite an amount of money. I didn't have that much money, but I was determined to buy it. So I noted down the details like Model, company etc. of the camera so that I can buy it when I have the money.

Today I realized something, I need to be financially independent. I can't sit down at one place waiting for someone(even though it is my temporary husband) to help me. I am going to look for a new job. I don't want to continue working in the cafe right now. I, for the first time in my life, have the leisure to do anything. So I want to try something different. I had made a mental note to think about this later.

After exiting the shop, I headed to this restaurant and here I am - eating with my heart's content with my favorite people.

Today has been great. I spent it with all my favorite people list which now also included Jennifer. After an hour or so, around half past seven or almost eight, I reached the Parker Mansion. I had asked Jess and Jake to come with me as the driver would drop them before dropping me. They agreed and after making sure that I was perfectly fine and fit, they went one by one.

I went inside the mansion i.e. 'The homely house' to find that everyone including Mr. Apathetic were sitting in the hall, talking about something. I went towards them and then looked closer to see that only Jennifer and John were talking something, chuckling in between, while Mr. Apathetic was busy typing something in this phone. Of course.

Jennifer's attention came to me when she saw me entering the house and said

"You are back! We were waiting for you only to have dinner."

Dinner? I just ate....... I think my stomach is quite full. I think I have to refuse the-

"The Salsa beef and fried chicken is ready. The dessert is almost-" I cut Jennifer off by saying/exclaiming in excitement

"What are we waiting for? Let's dig in! Come on everyone."

Who needs an empty stomach for treats like these! Not me;)

Jenn and John chuckled at my excitement as I pulled Jennifer and John from the sofa and started to guide them towards the dining table. This was the first time we would be eating together as a...family.

Don't get your hopes up, it's just for an year. My inner voice mocked me.

I pushed the thought aside and decided to live in the moment.

"Put a little bit of your cheerfulness in your brooding husband also Eva. Call him for dinner." Jennifer said rolling her eyes at Mr. Apathetic who was unfazed by us, still staring at the phone screen.

What the-

"I don't think my cheerfulness is enough to overshadow his 10^8000000 times brooding nature." I muttered to myself but unwillingly went towards Ace. I looked behind over my shoulder to see that Jenn and John were already gone to the dining table.

I slowly went towards him, trying to formulate words in my brain to say to him. It isn't everyday that I am asked to call Voldemort for a mere dinner.

I stopped in front of Ace who had not turned his attention to me even for 0.00000001 seconds. He was still busy in his phone.

I cleared my throat and tried to ask him even though I knew he was going to snap.

"Jenn wants you to come for dinner." I said in fake confidence.

Nothing.

"Helloooo." I tried to wake him from his phone-my-first-love-stance.

"What the fuck happened?" He snapped.

"I knew it." I murmured to myself.

"What do you want?" He asked again irritated.

"Jennifer wants the dinner to eat you." I said looking at the beautiful Persian mat beneath me.

"What?" He said almost in disbelief and when I realized what I said, I clamped my mouth in horror.

I composed myself and said "You are cooked, Jenn wants to eat....." I did it again.

Ace stood up from the sofa and was about to lunge towards but thankfully I stepped back in time.

"I mean dinner is cooked, Jenna wants you to eat." I said taking one step back with each word.

I looked at Ace's face and then saw his hand getting raised.

He is going to throttle me for saying that he is cooked. what?

I again stepped back and said "you don't want to come? No forcing. don't come." stammering, my hands never leaving the position of defending myself as I kept going back.

"You can stay here brooding- I mean looking at your phone. You don't need to be cooked - I mean eat. Oh god. Forget everything. Jennifer is waiting for you in the dinning room." I said with whatever words coming out of my stupid mouth and then sprinted towards the dining room before he can throttle me.

Phew, close escape!

I sat down on the chair and impatiently waited for the food to be served. In a few minutes, the mouth-watering aroma of food reached by oversensitive nostrils. I don't think I can wait longer.

The housemaids started to slowly serve the food which made me more and more hungry.

Can't they just keep the damn food here and I can take it on my own!

But keeping my food-wild side at the bay, I tried to maintain my human not animal impression in front of Jenn and John, who were talking about something sitting on the chairs opposite me. I was too busy sniffing the aroma to actually focus on what they were saying.

At last. the food was served and then without wasting a second in started devouring it. And let me tell you - it was exceptionally delicious.

Food is my only weakness. Keep that hidden from your enemies, Eva.

At that very thought, Mr. Apathetic came and sat on the chairs beside me. Think of the enemy and the enemy comes.

"Eat slowly, honey." Mr. Apathetic said to me, nudging my shoulders..playfully?

And the heck did he just call me? Honey? Fucking honey?

I choked on my food, listening to the unbelievable words that just poured out of Mr. Apathetic's now smirking mouth. Jennifer and John smiled at us looking at us.

"Maybe you shouldn't have cooked me back there. Honey." Mr. Apathetic whispered to me so that Jenn and John can't hear.

Oh. So he is having act-revenge. Too bad, I am not the one to stay behind in acting.

"Oh darling, don't call me honey. I don't want you to be diagnosed of diabetes." I said in a love sick voice.

"But he already has di-" I cut off Jenn not even listening to her as I said "Oh don't worry Jenn I was just joking."

"yeah! She loves joking around." Mr. Apathetic said.

"What exactly are you implying - that I am a joker?" I asked annoyed.

"I don't need to imply things." He said shrugging.

"Oh so you mean that it is inevitable that I am a joker? And that I roam around with a note saying that glued on my forehead?" I said not caring if I was exaggerating

"When did I say that?." He said sounding as if he was the most innocent living person.

"Oh yeah I forgot. You have the habit of being temporarily dumb sometime." I said snapping at him.

"And you have an obsession of behaving like a runaway asylum patient every second of your life." He said in a matter-of-fact-tone.

"Oh spare me. I haven't seen someone with an ego as big as yours in my life. " I said.

"My ego and arrogance is what makes me ACE PARKER." He said proudly , smirking at me.

"then let me tell you Mr. APATHETIC, my stubbornness and madness is something which will crush your ego into so many small pieces that you won't be able to fix it in your whole lifetime." I said boldly. Damn, I didn't know I was capable of saying something like that.

He really brings the worst out of me.

Shit. I called him, Mr. Apathetic.

"Mr. Apathetic! Oh my god! That is the best thing anyone has ever called Estevan in his boring twenty five years of life!" Jenn said in awe before Ace could say anything.

"Yeah. I don't think there is anyone more compatible for Ace than Eva." John said chuckling to which Jenn agreed.

"Which part of this seems 'aww' to you Jenna? She is in a desperate need of an asylum. I mean who thinks of such idiotic names?" Mr. Apathetic said with hints of anger and irritation.

"Oh really? But I think I established the fact that you are the runaway patient of asylum who is in desperate need of help, during our second unfortunate meeting." I said smirking at him reminding him of the day when I called him that after he told me about the contract marriage.

"But you-" Ace started but he was cut off by Jenn.'

"How can you guys fight so much? If I don't stop you I think you two would go on forever. I really haven't seen a couple like you, who fight so much yet love each other so dearly." Jenn said thinking that we were having those cute-lovesick-unreal fights that couples have.

"Of course we do. The love is so intense that we don't mind ripping each other apart right now." I muttered under my breath. Ace probably heard me because he said "Mutual thoughts."

"Oh enough for now, you could continue your hushing in your bedroom. You have the whole night you know." Jenn said teasingly.

My face went red as she said that and I swore that I wouldn't say even a word till I am on my bed, sleeping. Enough of embarrassment for a night.

The dinner went on without anymore fights or quarrels or embarrassment(thankfully).

I didn't participate in the conversation going on and thankfully I landed in Mr. Apathetic's room few minutes after the delicious-turned-embarrassing dinner.

But now another problem: Where the fuck would I sleep?

.

.

.

.

After an hour of tossing around on the bed while watching the tv in front of Ace's master bed - Mr. Apathetic finally decided to show his face up in the room.

I immediately sat up straight on the bed with the tv still giving the background music. Mr. Apathetic gave me a weird look and then settled on the bed beside me. Wtf?

"What are you doing?" I yelled, as he ignored me watching the television which had Conjuring playing on it.

"Watching the tv. I didn't you were the courageous-enough-to-watch-horror-movie types." He said sounding amused.

"What did you think? I am a timid and damsel in distress types?" I said momentarily forgetting about the fact that we both were on the same bed.

"Timid? Of course not. Damsel in distress? Maybe. You keep falling here and there. Always in trouble." He replied nonchalantly.

"you are the one who is the reason that I get in trouble. Mr. Apathetic." I said.

"Will you fucking stop calling me that?" He said annoyingly.

And what annoys him, brings me pleasure.

"I won't. Mr. Apathetic." I said.

He didn't reply and chose to ignore me, probably because he knew he won't win fighting with me.

"Where did you sleep yesterday?" I asked instead.

"In the other room." He said still staring at the tv screen.

"So why don't you go there today also?" I said.

"Why don't you run again today and then get so tired that I get an excuse to say that I have calls to make which would disturb your sleep." He said bluntly.

"Is that what you said to Jenna yesterday?" I asked. He didn't reply and I took his silence for yes.

"So where are you going to sleep today?" I asked him now focusing at the movie.

"On my bed, of course." He said as if there's nothing to think about.

"And where the hell would I sleep, your majesty?" I asked him sarcastically.

"Do I look like I care?" He said giving me a look which said are-you-so-dumb.

I huffed in annoyance and then absentmindedly started staring the tv screen.

"Oh don't be scared, I care for you, you know that." Ace suddenly said averting his gaze from the television to me. Did he just hit his head with an invisible object or something?

"Uhh...are you-" I started but I was cut off by Ace shifting towards me. Holy fuck.

He was facing me as he shifted towards my side of the bed while I was also facing him. He came closer to me and voluntarily I shifted backwards. But then, the air around us or rather me started getting heavy as Ace further came towards me until we were inches away.

Fuck, I AM CLAUSTROPHOBIC AROUND HOT MEN. STAY AWAY.

But he wasn't noticing my heavy breathing which was due to the proximity. How hard did he hit his fucking head?

He then raised his arm and I closed my eyes fearing what would happen next.

Would he hit me?

Would he touch me?

Would he .... kiss me?

Would he smash my head? most probably.

He, of course, did the unthinkable. I felt his arms wrap around my torso as he leaned into me. Previously I was breathing heavily, but right now it was worse - I was holding my breath, I think I am gonna die of breathlessness. I had my eyes shut and thus I wasn't able to see Ace. That is when, I felt his breath on the neck and then he whispered into my ears - "Jenna is at the door, watching. She heard me saying that I don't care. Just act."

Oh. Oh. Oh. Okay.

I opened my eyes and turned back as I had my back to the door, to see Jenn just walking away from the door. So he was right. It was all an act. What else did you think Eva? That maybe he cared about you?

No...Maybe for a second. But no.

Am I that pathetic that I deserve to be cared only for an act?

You are overreacting, Eva. It's just Ace.

I pushed Ace away from me and jerked myself out of his grasp but in that process, hit my head from the headboard of the bed. I let out a wince in pain. That hit hard.

"oomph." I winced.

"Are you okay?" Ace asked and then started rubbing my head where it hurt.

"Let go of me." I said pushing his hand away.

"what the fuck Eva? You got hurt!" He yelled confusingly as if he cared

"I get hurt every time, jerk. I don't think you care about that I guess. Jenn is gone. Stop acting." I said with a straight face.

"What are-" He started but then stopped something flashed into his eyes. He looked at the door and said "yeah right. Of course." He said with anger and irritation?

After that he got up and went out of the room.

I got up from the bed and went out to sleep on the lounge chair in the balcony. But as I settled there and laid on it, I couldn't help but wonder -

Was it real, his care? That was why he is was irritated or angered?

But then it came to me, why the hell would Ace Parker care about me?!

He wouldn't right?

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