. . .

I rub my sweaty hands on my jeans clad thighs for the thirteenth time that hour.

"Are you sure?" I ask softly.

"Yes."

"I mean, do you really want to?"

"Yes, kitten."

"But-" I am cut off with a throaty groan. I turn my head to the side and look at Ace nervously. His gaze momentarily leaves the road and stays on my face before going back to the road.

"I really don't care what people think, okay? If anything, I want every fucking human to see us together," he says softly. I sigh and look outside wondering what the reaction of people would be.

I again find myself looking at him. His brown hair is touselled to the side, making him look so good. His eyes stay on the road and I am reminded of how striking he looks with that serious expression on his face.

"Ace?"

"Yeah baby?"

"You remember my first day at school?" I try to drift my mind away.

"Of course, kitten. You looked fucking adorable. And lost, like a kitten," he grins. I giggle softly, so that's where the nickname comes from.

"How did you know where I was? You saved me from those guys but how did you find me?"

"I saw you going the wrong way and I had a bad feeling," Ace says. I laugh when his ears turn the lightest shade of pink.

"And...." I drawl out knowing there was something else.

"I might have followed you," he mumbles. I laugh loudly and lean to kiss him in his very pink ears. Who knew this man could be so cute?

My forgotten nervousness again returns when Ace pulls the car inside the school. Once he parks, he asks me to stay there. He gets out and opens my door. I feel heat creep on my neck when his hands wrap around mine and we walk inside the school, hand in hand.

"Uh... Ace," I mumble stupidly, "everyone's looking."

Ace looks down at me and gives a boyish smile before leaning down and pecking my lips. I gasp loudly earning a low chuckle from him.

"I hope everyone saw that too, my kitten," he whispers in my ear and we start walking to the locker. Every eyes are on us now and my face feels hot like an inferno. I catch the sight of my friends- Ava, Sam and Blake looking at me with huge grins on their faces.

He waits patiently while I take out my books for the first class. English literature. I smile at the memories fondly, the same class that brought Ace and I together.

However, I see some movements from my peripheral vision. I turn my head to the side and find Noah looking at me, more like glaring at Ace and I. Once I look at him, his eyes widen and he runs away. Literally.

I turn around and face Ace.

"What was that?"

Ace shrugs innocently in reply and I am reminded of how Noah had never shown up at the date and Ace had something to do with it.

"What did you do Ace," I fully turn around and put one of my hands on my waist.

"What?" He again questions innocently. Too innocently. I give him a glare and walk away before slamming the locker loudly.

"Kitten," I hear Ace call me out but I ignore him and walk the same way Noah had run to. I had to know what had happened.

"Venus," Ace calls out again. I let him be.

After searching around, I find Noah sitting at one of the benches outside. I sit beside him and his eyes widen and he stands up to leave.

"Noah, wait," I groan. "Please," I add. He sighs before sitting down.

"What's wrong?" I ask softly. He doesn't reply.

"What did Ace do?" I push. He laughs coldly and I suck in breath. That was so unlike him.

"What would he do? He beat me up because I asked you out," he grits out before standing up and walking away. I run after him.

"Noah, why are you angry with me? I didn't ask him to do it!" I say in exasperation. He turns around.

"I really like you, Venus," he sighs. I purse my lips and look at the ground.

"I am sorry."

"It's okay," Noah sighs.

"We can still be friends," I suggest. "And, Ace will apologise."

"Of course, unless Ace again decides to beat me up." He laughs and pulls me into a hug. I sense eyes on me and I see a fuming Ace glare at us before walking away.

Oh no.

"I'll see you later?" I ask Noah.

"Sure," he says. I sigh and run after my pissed off boyfriend who thinks he can beat the shit out of someone and then be angry.

"Ace," I call out. He just ignore and walks to the garden before sitting down and laying in it. He closes his eyes.

"Ace," I repeat before sitting down. He ignores me and clenches his jaw.

"Why did you do that to Noah?" I almost yell. His jaw clenches painfully at my question. He sits down and opens his eyes. His brown eyes are so dark, they are barely brown but black.

He doesn't answer but I'm going to stand my ground. He finally gives in.

"Because he is everything I am not. I was afraid, okay?" He grits out.

"Afraid that you'd like him. Afraid that you and him would be together," he clenches his jaw before continuing, "he is sweet, like you said. I am not. And, seeing you hug him like that. I know I was wrong but," Ace sighs and shakes his head. I see sadness in his eyes before he masks it up with anger.

He stands up to leave and I remain rooted at the ground. He starts walking away.

"I love you, okay?" I yell at him.

"I love you, Ace. Not him, not anyone but you. You were the one who wouldn't ask me out," I say, sighing. He turns around with wide eyes. The sun falls on him and for a moment, I just stare at him. How did I even find someone like him? No one had stayed as long as him.

"Say that again," he demands.

I stand up and walk to him. There is no one around us, maybe the class has already begun.

"I love you?" I whisper softly when I am close enough, our chests are touching.

"Again," he whispers, looking at my eyes and I look at his. I feel my heart beat wildly, afraid that he wouldn't say it back.

"I love you, Ace."

Ace pull me by my waist, plush into him and crashes his lips to mine. After ages, we break apart.

"I love you too," he puts his forehead on mine, breathing heavily. I feel warmth spread through me.

"Now let's go and apologize Noah," I say cheerfully. Ace groans loudly.

"Way to spoil the mood. You had to take his name," he grumbles pulling away.

"We have to get rid of that insecurity, Ace," I giggle. He smiles at me and kisses my forehead.

"You still have to apologise," I tell him with a smile.

"Only if you keep telling me you love me, kitten. I can't fucking let it sink," he says pulling me to him.

I laugh loudly.

"Sure."