I look at my smeared make-up and unkempt hair in disgust. Sighing, I wash my face and dry it up with a towel before combing my hair and pulling it up into a side bun.

I don't apply much make-up like I had before, just a bit of lipstick and mascara. I stand in front of the mirror and look at my appearance. Not that bad.

And, thankfully, I don't regret buying this pink dress anymore. It feels just right. I take out a pair of pink earrings that go with and put them on.

Taking one last look at myself, I leave my room. I don't understand why my heart is beating so damn fast than when I had left for my date with Noah. And strangely, I am not even mad at Noah anymore.

And he is never getting another chance though, and something tells me there is another reason behind it.

A bigger one.

I close my bedroom door once I am outside and find Ace sitting on the couch. He stands up when he sees me and I feel his eyes drift down my body, so slowly that it makes me feel hot and fuzzy.

Butterflies.

I also take in his appearance. A light blue button-down shirt with black pants, sleeves rolled up showing his forearms. His tones chest peaks from underneath the shirt and I find myself biting my lips.

The tension in the room rises, the air feels suffocating and Ace gives me a hungry look. Like when you are really hungry but the food is too hot and you can't help but stare at it.

He surprises me when he turns around and picks up something from the couch, handing it to me.

Red and white flowers in a small bouquet.

My heart flutters. When did he get it?

I take it from him before saying thanks and putting it in a vase.

"Uh.. we should go," I say, my voice coming out a bit breathy. Ace looks at me for another few seconds before he holds his hand out and I take it.

"Yo, Vee. Where are you going?" Samantha calls out from her room.

"Dinner. I'll be back by an hour or two," I shout back before walking outside.

Ace takes me to a restaurant, one that is a little too posh for me. Again, I am glad I wore this dress. Else I'd be so out of place. The dinner passes smooth and we talk about stupid things, no serious stuff.

We lose the track of time and it is midnight when we leave the restaurant. He takes me home and the car ride is silent yet so comfortable.

So comfortable that I lean against the window and fall asleep. Sometime later, I feel like I am lifted and cradled into by a hard yet soft thing. I snuggle closer and that causes it to chuckle.

I find myself smiling before drifting into sleep again, burying my face into whatever it was.

It pulls me closer to itself.

. . .

I wake up in my bed, late might I add, thanks to Ace. But, it was really fun, I can't deny it. I change into a pair of jeans and a peach t-shirt and pull my hair into a ponytail. Grabbing an apple, I run to my school. Quite literally.

The day is extremely busy and by lunch, I feel so tired. Ava is the same.

"I hate school," she grumbles as we walk to our table. I chuckle at her and sit down.

"So, how was your date?" Ava asks, the tiredness in her eyes completely gone. Wow.

"Well.. it was great. But.."

"What? Did you kiss?" Ava squeals loudly. I shush her.

"Noah didn't show up," I sigh. Ava frowns.

"Then how was it great? Did you have an imaginary guy with you or something?" I roll my eyes at her question.

"No, Ace took me out."

"What!" Ava chokes on her spit and I pat her back. A few tables turn to look at us. Why was it so unbelievable?

"You don't find it suspicious?" Ava questions. I shake my head no. What is so suspicious about it?

"So, Noah asks you out. He doesn't show up. Instead, Ace magically appears and takes you out. Not to forget, Ace and Noah have this cold war going on."

Either I am dumb, or I trust too easily. Well, either way, I am dumb. And blind.

"So, Ace had something to do with it," I confirm.

"Have you seen, Noah?" I question, looking around.

"I haven't seen him," Ava says.

"So, did Ace ask you to be his girlfriend?" Ava's voice is filled with hope. I shake my head, trying my best not to let the sadness show.

"Oh, my poor Vee. Maybe he is just scared that you'll reject him. Why don't you ask him?"

"If he wants to be my boyfriend?"

"Yup."

"No way," I say, my voice comes a bit high pitched.

"Think about it. I know you like him. I think he does too."

Yeah, right.

. . .

I walk to the painting room. My eyes again fall to his painting and my heart stops beating. The blue eyes are pained to perfection and the face is also completely painted. The girl's lips are pulled into a grin and there are white flowers in her long blonde hair.

And, she is wearing a very familiar pink dress. Ace covers it like it is nothing but I remain frozen.

It is me.

Ace painted me.

A colorful painting of me.

I'm hyperventilating.

Don't freak out.

I look at Ace and I know he doesn't want to talk about it. So, I drop it for now hoping he would bring it up when it is finished. I start to uncover my canvas and I gasp. It looks horrible. My anger got the best of me yesterday.

I pass him a sheepish grin when he shakes his head at my painting. The sun doesn't even look like a sun. It's hardly round.

I remove it and Ace helps me put a fresh canvas. I look at him and wait for him to tell me what we are doing today.

Instead, he sighs and scratches his neck awkwardly before meeting my eyes.

"I... I want you to... well, do something for me, kitten."

"Yeah?" I frown.

"I have a family dinner tomorrow. Come with me?" Ace says in a pleading voice, one that makes my heart constrict. His brown eyes look at me with so much emotion.

"Please," he whispers.

"Of course. I will," I assure him with a small smile. His eyes are filled with relief and he heaves a small sigh when I don't ask him anything.

Why me?

What is happening? We kissed, went on a date, and now I was going to meet his family. And he still hadn't asked me to be his girlfriend. Does he not want me?

Why do I feel so hurt?