crossed paths

Chapter three

This would be the first time I would ever be in detention. Is this what it felt like to get into trouble? Ace sat down peacefully, obviously he has gotten used to it.

"I'm going out for lunch, you better not talk or do anything other than sit there," the teacher in charge of detention said.As soon as she walked out, the silence became more awkward, and the room suddenly became uncomfortable. Sitting down here with the school bad ass jerk was what I wouldn't give a thought. This was all his fault; if he hadn't opened that damned mouth of his to talk trash about me, probably none of this would not have happened.

"This is all your fault!" I couldn't help but tell him. Everything was all his damn fault.

He didn't respond.

"Can you hear me at all?" I demanded, getting pissed off.

Still no word from him.

"Hey!" I yelled again. "I'm talking to you!" I exclaimed angrily.

With this, he looked up. "I know,I heard you the first time, I just don't give a f**k," he stated, staring intensely into my eyes.He continues. "So If you will excuse me, I am trying to observe my detention quietly.and you know you're not supposed to talk in detention that's part of the rules"

He chuckled and glanced at me for the last time, then went back and laid his head on the desk in a sleeping position.

What the heck? I know he is a rude jerk, but not to this extent. He was trying to observe a “rules” when he is the one who broke it in the first place and got both of us in trouble and now he wants to sleep. I was too tired to argue with him any further, so I just went back to my seat.

The rest of the day was just as bad. By the time we stayed back after school for another one-hour detention, I did my best to stay away from Ace as much as possible because he has caused more than enough trouble for me in just a day .The week went by peacefully. Well, at least not peaceful enough, I had to spend my lunchtime and after school in a damned deserted room with Ace hunter. Not to think of the awkward silence we both had been sharing since the start of the detention.

"Jerk!" I muttered, staring at my book.

"I heard that!" He hissed, not raising his head from his locker.

I scoffed. He even had the audacity to talk back after all that he had put us through. "Well, no one cares , no one asked," I retorted angrily.

"Bimbo," he mumbled, raising his head to look at me. "No wonder you got ogled by a guy.”My eye lids narrowed. What is he trying to pull here? Almost immediately, images of last Friday flushed in. The drunk guy in the bathroom that was trying to have his way with me and Ace who saved me from that almost incident . Somehow I wanted to thank him, he was a jerk who does nothing other than bring trouble to people's lives but he still helped me still.

When I finally got out of the detention room, the usually crowded hallways were now deserted, and so was the parking lot. Sofia, who has always been my ride, had gone home since I was in detention this week. I began to find my way towards the exit of the school, dreading my walk home.

Shortly, a black car pulled up beside me, then the glass was wined down. When the driver came into view, I wasn't surprised who it was. Ace hunter .

I fizzled, then started walking.

"What the f**k are you doing?" He asked , raising his voice so I could hear him.

"What does it seem like I'm doing?" I retorted without reducing my walking pace. Why was he even speaking to me?

Ace started driving at the same pace I was walking. "Get in the car!" He commanded.

"No!" I replied sharp and immediately. He had no power over me and couldn't tell me what to do.

"Stop being stubborn and get in the car while I am still being nice," he scoffed.Was he serious? I'd bet nothing good had ever come out of those mouths.

"I said no! What's your problem anyway don't you have someone else to annoy, just leave alone dude" I simply stated.

"Okay Suit yourself." He yelled back before driving past me.

What was that? I had barely walked out of the school premises when I saw his car parked a few feet away from me. When I looked up, I saw him leaning against his car. What the heck did he want from me? Was he blind to see that I was trying to avoid trouble? and I thought he left already.I ignored him like he wasn't standing there and walked past him.

"Just get in the car already and stop being stubborn." He called after me.

"No! I'm not going with you. I'm pretty sure I made that clear a minute ago" I insisted. I don't even know why I was still talking to him. I didn't wait to hear his reply, so I just walked faster hoping he will give up eventually. What an annoying jerk.

"Just get into the damn car!" He yelled, behind me. Before I knew it, I was scooped up by a pair of strong hands in a bridal style then carried towards the car.

"Let me down you jerk!" I cried out, stomping my feet in the air and struggling to wriggle out of his hands.

He tightened his grip on me, with a silly smirk plastered on his face. He opened the passenger door, then dropped me on the seat. He brought his face closer to mine to fasten my seat belt, and I was uncomfortable with the sudden closeness between us.

"Just think of this as a favor, and don't get any mixed signals dummy. I - " He paused, gazing at me to check my reaction. "I don't like getting a ' no ' for an answer, and I only wanted to help you because it's bad for you to walk to school, and also walk back." He concluded, then winked at me before rising up to shut the door.

What was that all about? And How did he know I walked to school? Sofia only takes me back home every day.

"I don't like getting a no." I mimiced "Whatever," I let out a loud hiss.

The whole car ride was in complete silence. I glanced over at Ace, who was chewing his jaws so hard. His hands on the steering wheel were so tight that his knuckles were white.

Why is he always angry?

A couple of minutes later, we pulled up in front of my house.

How the hell does this dude know where I live ? I looked over to him to ask but was interrupted.

His brows drew together. "Stop staring at me and get out!" He said practically raising his voice.

What the hell is his problem? I haven't done anything, so why leach his anger out on me?"Don't raise your voice at me," I retorted, becoming angry myself.

I got out of his car without saying thank you. He doesn't deserve one anyway. I wanted to slam the door but I reconsidered that thought and quietly entered my house.

Since it was Friday night, I was in bed doing the usual. I was browsing the latest movies on Netflix when Sofia rang me.

"Hey ella, I wanted to text, but I knew you'd be awake, so I figured I'd call instead." Sofia's voice sounded rushed.Like how you would talk when trying to wear a really tight shoe or a tight dress.

Either way, I've missed her voice. I was robbed of my beautiful best friend's company all thanks to Ace. Even the thought of him made me frown.

"Whatcha doing ? You sound busy, something wrong? " I asked her.

"Yeah." She hesitated then continued. "I'm getting ready for a party, Jason invited me."

It took some seconds before the words finally settled into my head.

Another party.

Jason invited her..

Which means, Ace would be there…

‘After Sofia told Jason about her feelings, the two of them had been hanging out lately and

She has been smiling a lot too. If he's really making her happy, then it's a good thing, and now he's already inviting her to a party.’

"I want you to come with me," Sofia cooed on the other end of the call.

I lifted an eyebrow; I already knew that this was coming.

"Sofi, you knew what happened the last time; he nearly had his way with me," I said, referring to the drunken guy and the toilet incident.

Deep down in my heart, it's not really about what happened the last time Well most of it, but actually I just used that as an excuse. Cause I was trying to avoid Ace.

"I'm sorry about last time, but I really wish you could come. I swear we won't stay long this time . Please 🥺 and besides on't you rather excort your bff rather than Watching a movie alone in that small room which just sounds miserable," she spat.

I rolled my eyes, She knows me too well. I never miss watching my favorite TV series on Friday nights. She continued to beg me, promising that it will be more fun this time, like it was any fun before.

"I know but…." I started.

"What the heck!" I yelled at my laptop screen that's now all black.

"What's wrong, ella?" Sofia questioned me.

"My laptop screen just went blank," I cried.

"Oops! I think it's a sign you should come.”I'm sure that there would be a big grin on her face right now.

"Fine," I grunted. "But we're leaving before midnight."

"Okay!" She chimed in.

We ended the call with her promising to pick me up in the next thirty minutes.

I quickly changed out of my pajamas then put on a pair of jeans that's tighter than my usual. I'm only trying to appear casual; it's not like I was the one invited. I hurriedly dropped a note for mom, telling her I went to a party with Sofia.

The party was the same as last week's; tons of students, drunk people, and smoke of cigarettes everywhere. Why didn't I stay back and stare at my ceiling or try to do else like laundry or something rather than being here , as usual Sofia disappeared as soon as we got there, telling me she had to look for Jason.

Isn't he supposed to come down and pick her?

And once again like all Disney prince at the beginning of the movie ‘I felt alone ‘. I sat on the couch for at least one hour enjoying the different verity of food and drink before Ace came by. I stayed silent as his eyes met mine.

The corners of his mouth lifted and he teased me. "Look who's here."

I rolled my eyes back at him.

"I'm surprised to see you here," he told me.

"Yeah. I'm also surprised as you but still I just happened to end up here again," I said before he walked away.

For once, I was grateful that he let me be.

A few minutes later, Sofia and Jason walked in, hands intertwined with Sofia grinning from ear to ear.

"That's her over there," I heard Sofia's voice even though the music was loud.