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- Ace King -

"I told you—"

"And I told you that I'm not going to marry her!" I yelled at dad. He still wanted me to fucking marry that bitch even when he knows I like—love someone else.

"Ace, I know this is hard for you, but you just have to accept it."

"No way am I going to accept this," I snapped. "I don't even like her as a person, and you expect me to be with her for the rest of my life?"

I don't care if he's my father, I'll kill him without a single care, but Mia was just upstairs, and I didn't want her to hear the sounds of a gun fire echoing through the house.

"Don't lie to me, Ace. I know there's a small part of you that likes her," he argued, and I scoffed. I've hated Mindy ever since I was a sophomore. She'd always try to befriend me, but I didn't need any other female attention since I have Mia.

And that's all I need.

Mindy was getting more and more irritating as the days flew by. She would always try to get close to me, to the point where she'd 'accidentally' touch me in places I did not want to be touched by her.

"What exactly did you do to have this happen?"

His lips pressed into a thin line, and he averted his eyes away from mine. "That's none of your concern."

"Of course it's my concern! I'm involved in this shit that you started! You know what? I'm going to find out what you did, and see why you would want me to marry that fucking whore!"

Dad scoffed. "Don't call your fiancé a whore. She's not like that."

"I thought you told me not to lie to you."

Before my dad could say anything, I walked out of his office, and slammed the door behind me.

I still can't believe that he thinks I'll be okay with this. Does he expect me to just follow through with this shit? If he does, then he's an idiot.

I was about to head towards the stairs when I heard a quiet sneeze. My eyes furrowed together in confusion, and looked around the empty hall until I spotted a stand of bronde hair hiding behind a bookshelf.

I smiled, and quietly walked my way over to her. She didn't notice I was approaching her until I grabbed her shoulder, enlightening a scream to escape her lips. I laughed when I saw her face, as she stared at me with shock.

Recovering from that state, she glared at me, and slapped my chest. "Meanie."

I chuckled, and kissed her forehead. I felt her go still, and I frowned. Did I do something wrong?

"Mia?"

She avoided eye contact with me as she bit her bottom lip nervously. "I-I have a-a question," she stuttered. "W-What did you mean you were going to tell me h-how you feel the other day?"

"Oh, that," I awkwardly chuckled. I can't really tell her how I feel because I don't know how to put it into words. But damn, if I could, I would so her how fucking obsessed I am with her.

I took a hold of her hand and pulled her into an empty room so that we could have a bit of privacy before I practically told her one of the biggest secrets I've been keeping from her.

I don't like keeping secrets from Mia, but sometimes I have no choice since it would keep her safe.

I closed the door, making sure to lock it before I turned to look at her. I frowned when she still wasn't looking at me, so I tilted her chin up. Her eyes locked with mine, a bit of fear was seen in them. There was a silence between us, as I tried to find a way to explain my feelings for her.

Damn it, I'm being a coward, but I just didn't want to say the wrong thing. Shit, now I'm overthinking things.

The next thing I knew was that I suddenly burst it out and started rambling.

"I like you! I really, really like you. For a long time actually and—"

"Ace."

"—it's kind of weird that you don't know since I've practically shown you that I like you, but I know that you're clueless when people give you signs that they like you—"

"Ace."

"—And I already know that you like me. I've actually known for quite a long time, and I really wanted to ask you out but I didn't know when the right time was or if you were ready to get into a r—"

"Ace!"

I stopped, and looked to see Mia had a smile painted on her face. She suddenly wrapped her arms around me, pressing her face against my chest.

"I really like you too," I heard her say.

I couldn't contain the happiness I was feeling right now. Even when I knew all along that she has feelings for me, hearing those words being said by her made it feel like I was dreaming.

And this better not be a damn dream because if it is, I don't think I can wait any longer.

I hugged Mia back, before I pushed her away, just enough for me to look into her eyes. I grabbed her hips as my eyes flicked from her eyes to her lips. I knew, that she knew, what I was thinking because a light shade of red coated her cheeks.

"Can I kiss you?" I asked, begging that she says yes.

"You don't have to ask," she giggled.

I smirked, and crashed my lips with her. She was surprised at first, before she started to kiss me back. I felt her arms wrap her arms around my neck, tugging the end of my hair because she knew it would make me smile.

And it did.

This was her first - well second - kiss, and I was glad that I was her first. I want to be a lot of her firsts.

When we pulled back, we were both breathless. I knew that I wanted to do so much more to her. It took most of my will power to not just pounce on her right now.

I don't want to put pressure on her. I know that she's the kind of girl that likes to take things slow, and I respect that. She trusts me, and I don't want to break that trust.

"Should we tell your dad about us?" Mia asked.

We were currently lying on the bed in my room. My arms wrapped around her small frame as she traced random patterns on my chest.

I shrugged. "Maybe not now since everything's a mess. We'll tell him after this whole situation is cleared up."

She knew exactly what I was talking about. I still had to know why dad wanted me to marry Mindy, and I needed to find a way to convince dad not to make me do it. I hated that he was forcing me into this because of something he did. Why can't he just own it up?

Maybe I was wrong about my father. Maybe he was a coward behind all that money.

I felt someone tap my nose, and I smiled.

"You're thinking bad thoughts, aren't you?" She frowned.

She's too adorable.

I pulled her as close as humanly possible towards me and kissed her forehead. I nuzzled my head in the crook of her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of strawberries that always calms me down. Her scent was intoxicating, and the funny thing is, I don't even like strawberries.

The door suddenly flung open, and I was already covering my body over Mia to protect her. I glared at Jacob who was grinning at the two of us.

"Get the fuck out," I growled.

"That's not a nice way to greet me," Jacob muttered before he smiled again. "Anyways! My mom told me, to tell you, that your mom and dad are going out today."

"Okay, now leave," I demanded, ignoring Mia when she slapped my arm, and told me not to be so harsh.

Jacob was just about to leave when he turned around. Can't he just get our already or do I have to use my fist to show him the exit?

"Sorry for disturbing you guys. You just keep doing what you're doing. Just make sure you keep it everything PG rated!" And with that, he closed the door.

"Idiot," I muttered, dropping into the bed beside Mia.

"You're always so mean," Mia commented.

"That's just who I am, angel."

She rolled her eyes and snuggled closer to me. "You know, you still haven't asked me to be your girlfriend."

"What are you talking about? I did."

"No you didn't," she chuckled. "I said that I liked you, but then you asked if you could kiss me. That's not asking me out."

I groaned. Fine. If she wants me to ask her properly, I'm going to ask her properly. I should've expected this since she reads a lot of romance books, and had expectations that I had to beat.

Even if those guys were fictional characters from a book, I'd still beat their arses.

I looked at her and smiled, giving her a peck on the lips. "Be ready before seven-thirty after school. I'm going to take you out."

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