Ace knows.

Ace knows.

"Did... Did J-Jackson see you?" I manage to get out, despite my petrified state.

He doesn't answer and that makes my heart beat even faster. I start trembling. The rage in his eyes doesn't falter. Did Jackson see Ace? Because if he did, he is going to send the video to the whole damn school. What if he already has?

Tears cloud my vision and my whole body goes numb.

"No." His voice is hard and sounds forced.

"No?" My voice comes breathy.

"No."

I can finally breathe again. My heart rate slows down a little but another thought enters my brain. Jackson might not have seen Ace but Ace did see me. Ace saw Jackson doing.. things to me.

I take some involuntary steps back. I need to get away. This is suffocating me. And then, I turn around and speed walk to my first class and not to the washroom for once. I hate confrontations. Especially, those of this kind. I feel his intense eyes on me as I walk away.

Unfortunately, Ace is on all of my first three classes. Feeling his eyes on me doesn't help one bit. I can't concentrate the whole time. Thankfully though, I manage to avoid him. I leave all my classes early and sit in the front, making it difficult for him to talk to me.

Lunch arrives after ages. I find Ava, again, to avoid him. She links my arm in hers and we walk to the cafeteria. However, we are blocked from our way by a very familiar muscular chest clad in a black shirt.

"I need to talk to you, Venus," Ace says in the tone that causes shivers to pass down my spine. I feel Ava stiffen too.

"I don't."

"I wasn't asking."

"Okay but she is coming with me," I tell him. Ava starts to pull her hand away but I don't let her. She can't leave me alone. Not again.

"It's about the assignment, we don't want to bore your friend over here," he grits out. I notice his jaw clenching. Many curious eyes look at us that makes me even more anxious.

"Yeah, go ahead, talk. I'll wait for you, Ven," Ava squeaks and walks away. Leaving me.

Again.

Oblivious.

Ace holds me by my wrist and drags me outside the school, the crowd around us separates like in the movies. We walk outside towards the old buildings.

I don't stop him because I know I can't. He is determined to get the answers.

He stops in the exact place where I got lost on my first day. Where I got stuck in a somewhat similar condition. Anxiety fills me. It hasn't even been a week and I have gotten in more trouble than I could even imagine.

There is no one around. The atmosphere is completely silent and the old building gives that creepy feeling, adding to my anxiety. I feel like throwing up. I'm glad I didn't eat anything. Ace stands next to me. I don't look at his face because I'm scared to look into those eyes.

He saw Jackson doing... things to me. He saw me crying. He saw me breaking down. A thought hits my brain. He didn't step in today. He didn't save me like last time.

"I can help you, Venus," Ace's voice is laced with something I don't recognize. I don't know what it is but it sounds oddly honest. He punches the wall behind him, breathing heavily.

Strangely, I am not crying. Not even a single tear, no.

Ace turns to look at me softly, the kind of look that could melt me from inside, but right now, it doesn't affect me. He used to be comforting but right now, I feel cold in the inside. Why didn't he save me?

"Why didn't you save me?" my voice breaks. I shake his hand off my arm when he puts it there. I know it wasn't his 'responsibility' to save me. He can do the hell he wants to do. But he was there from the very first. Was that just a show?

"Because I thought the fucker was blackmailing you. I mean, it took more patience than anything to not strangle him to death, Venus. I don't know what he has against you."

Oh.

I take some steps back. I need to go to class. Ace is messing with my brain, no one can get me out of this mess. And, I cannot afford to skip classes. I was never the kind of student who skipped classes. I don't look at him and turn around. I walk in the direction of my class.

Ava must be waiting for me.

Suddenly, I am turned around by my arm. I look into his eyes.

"Why do you care, Ace? Just tell me. Why?"

"I don't know why. I just do, okay? Seeing you this way is killing me," he yells. I flinch at his voice, a complete contrast to what he said. His eyes soften when I flinch. He mutters something under his breath and closes his eyes.

"Please," he begs. I look at his face, unsure of what to do. His hair is ruffled and messed up, unlike other times. His eyes look tired and a frown is etched on his striking face. I wonder if I am the reason he's this way.

Probably not.

"It's a video," my voice comes soft. He comes closer and I notice the concern in his face increasing.

"At the night of the party," I continue, looking away. His hands come around my arm and he holds my trembling form. He holds me to his chest and runs his hand up and down my back soothingly.

"I-In the video... I am naked, Ace," a sob breaks through me. My voice sounds broken, even to me. Ace stiffens. He continues to run his hand up and down my back. But, I feel nothing but coldness spread through me.

"I'm naked in the video," I repeat against his chest, my silent tears soaking his shirt. He pulls me into him, deeper. I wish I could stay like this forever.

I flinch at his tone when he opens is mouth, it sounds scarier than anything. It is a whisper, a chilling whisper, a dark promise.

"I'm going to fucking kill him."