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I make my way to the bathroom at the back of the house. Ellen’s soft voice fills the air as she sings a tune. Locking the door behind me, I stare at the girl in the mirror. The same long brown curls frame her face and big brown eyes. The same freckles dust her sun-kissed nose. But something is different. The smile she wears no longer reaches her eyes.
It hasn't for a while.
Senior year is supposed to be the time of my life. Homecoming. Prom... Graduation. But nothing is the same anymore, and the thought of putting on the charcoal blazer, royal blue tie, and pale gray knee-length skirt that all the girls insist on rolling up to skim their ass, fills me with nothing but dread.
After waiting long enough, I wash my hands before slipping out of the bathroom, only to walk smack bang into a solid chest. “What the—“
“Easy there, Princess.” Ace smirks, his hands gripping my shoulder a little too tightly as he holds me at arm’s length.
“Get the hell off me.” I jerk back but he stalks forward, forcing me further into the bathroom.
“This isn’t funny,” I say firmly, despite the ratchet of my pulse.
“Do I look like I’m laughing?” His pierced brow rises. “I thought we could get to know each other better," he mocks.
“Oh my god,” I breathe, disbelief clinging to every syllable. “Just who the hell do you think you are?”
Ace steps closer, and I edge back. He thinks it’s a game. It’s right there, glittering in his frosty blue eyes.
But I know guys like Ace, guys who think they can just take whatever they want without consequence, and I have no interest in becoming his sparring partner.
My back hits the counter, and my hands shoot out behind me to steady myself. He leans in, putting us face to face, and I’m sure he must be able to hear the gallop of my heart in my chest.
Calm down, I mentally demand.
Moving closer still, he inhales deeply, and my breath catches. “You smell so fucking good.”
“Ace...” I suck in a harsh breath. “Let. Me. Out.” The words leave my lips through gritted teeth as I try to maintain some control, but it’s futile. Ace holds all the power, and he knows it.
His mouth curves into a wicked grin. “Scared, Princess?”
“Stop calling me that.” I’m not a princess, not like most of the pretentious spoiled girls in my class.
His hair is unruly, falling over his eyes a little. The sudden desire to push it away washes over me. I internally groan at myself. I’m such a cliché, letting myself fall under the bad boy’s spell.
“Move or I’ll scream.”
Ace moves his mouth to my ear, his warm breath dancing along my neck. “Screaming only makes it sweeter.”
Without thinking, I shoulder him out of the way and dart around him.
“I’ll be seeing you around, Princess,” he calls after me. I glance back, scowling, but it only fuels Ace’s rumble of laughter.
I march out of there, wondering what kind of hell I’ve landed myself in.
I barely eat. Between Conner’s innuendos and Ace’s proximity, I feel nauseous.
“Is something wrong with your chicken, sweetheart?” Mom asks, frowning at all the food left on my plate.
“I’m just not hungry, sorry.”
“If it’s going spare, do ya mind?” Conner reaches for my plate.
“Jesus, Conner, show some manners,” James scolds him. “If you want more, I’ll have Ellen—“
“It’s fine. He can have it.” I push it toward him and he digs in, like he hasn’t just cleared his own plate.
My eyes flick to Ace. He and Cole are having some kind of silent conversation. I allow myself a second to look at him, really look at him. The dark hair, piercings, and tats peeking out from under his t-shirt and running up his neck make him look scary, but I know b
