Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Freedom

A few days pass, and my beloved puppy started to come out of his shell a bit. He'd even chase around the butterflies outside, jumping up in the air and trying to trap them in his tiny jaws.

But alas, he was too short, and could never reach them.

But he was good at running.

He was a quick little guy, and would often chase after me, his little body bounding up and down as he leaps after me in the lawn. His tiny tail wagging for the first time, and I felt like a proud parent.

He was already a fast runner, which was surprising because of his size.

Ace comes out side, and sticks his hands in his front pockets as he watches the little puppy with a small smile on his face.

"Did you think of a name yet?" Asks Ace.

"I have, actually." I reply.

"And what is it?" Ace asks in curiosity.

"Duma. I am naming him Duma. That name means cheetah in Swahili, and seeing that he's already fast for his age, I think it's a perfect name." I say, smiling.

Ace smiles back and says, "Duma...it's a different name. Unique. I like it." He nods his head in approval.

Duma then bounds over to Ace's shoes he had left by the door. Duma wags his little tail quickly, before putting his mouth over Ace's shoe, and attempting to run away with it.

"Hey! That's my shoe you're taking!" Ace exclaims as he runs after the pup.

I laugh, and for a moment, I imagine him being a father. My mind drifts off to him with his children. We would have 2.5 kids....whatever that means. Or we could just have as many kids as we decide. We could have a dog, or whatever animal the kids want. A nice house....not too small, but not too large, either. We could live in a-

"Dakota?"

Ace's voice brings me out of my embarrassing daydream, and I immediately scold myself for already thinking such thoughts way too early!

"Oh...yes? Sorry...." I reply awkwardly.

"What were you thinking about? Or should I ask who were you thinking about?" Ace teases.

I just laugh awkwardly and shoo him away with my hand. "I was just in deep thought, it was nothing, really."

Ace just rubs his chin in thought, before raising one eyebrow in smirking at me in a...attractive way.

"You still didn't answer my question, though, Dakota." He says.

I smile awkwardly, before picking up the puppy and turning to walk inside in an attempt to evade his question.

"Where are you going?" Ace asks.

"Just...going to do my homework like the responsible human I am." I reply.

I still had some more time before my party started, so I might as well get some homework out of the way.

Ace and Duma follow me inside, and into my room, where I throw my backpack over my shoulder. I head into the kitchen, where Ace and Duma still follows me, and I sit down at the kitchen table to do my homework. I start taking my books out, when I look up to see Ace standing over me with a toothy grin on his face.

"What are you doing?" Ace asks again.

"My homework. I already told you." I reply.

"Is that so?" Ace asks.

"Uh...yeah?" I reply as I chew on the end of my pencil.

To my surprise, Ace sits down next to me, and glances at my book.

"Geometry, eh?" He asks.

I nod. "Yep, and I hate it with a passion. I suck at math." I say.

"I know a thing or two." Ace tells me.

"Really?"

"Yep! I was a math whiz at school....even though I didn't attend much school. When I did do my homework, I would ace it." Ace chuckles, "Haha, see what I did there? I would ace it." Ace says, winking.

I laugh sarcastically and slap him playfully on the arm and say, "Oh haha, you're so clever and funny!"

Ace just snorts and rolls his eyes.

And so for the next half hour, Ace showed me how to do proofs, a major part of geometry that I cannot understand for the life of me. It is a little more clear to me now since Ace talked me through several of them, but to say I completely understand proofs would be a lie.

"Well, thank you so much for helping me with my homework, Ace." I say, standing up and shoving the ten pound geometry book back into my back-pack.

"My pleasure." Ace says, his voice low.

Katelin bursts through the door suddenly with bags of groceries and party decorations.

"It's party time!" Katelin exclaims as she throw her arms up in the air; all the bags falling to the ground with a large crash.

"Oops...." Katelin says, squatting down to pick up the fallen items. "Just a little excited here..." She mumbles.

I laugh, and help her pick up the items.

"I got all the things you need to make that chocolate cake of yours. Is it really that good?" Asks Katelin.

I nod and say, "Yes, it's the best cake I make. I would make it often for....my dad's gang. They never said it was good, but I could tell they liked it. While their mouths never expressed their feelings of my cake, their eyes revealed all."

"...I stole a bite of it every now and then, and....it was very good." I add.

Times like those were tough. I wasn't even aloud to eat my own food that I would cook for them. I could only eat when they had given me permission to. I had every single part controlled, it was like I lived under a dictator.

"Well, I certainly could use some good ol' cake. After all, a boy's gotta eat." Ace says, standing up and rubbing his belly.

"Ace, you're twenty-five, you're not growing anymore." Katelin says.

"Don't patronize me, Katelin. The point was I think we could all use some good cooking for once. I love you and all, but sometimes your boxed mac and cheese gets quite....boring." Ace says.

"Really, Ace? I...I thought you liked my mac and cheese...." Katelin says, sounding torn. "My life has been a lie."

"Look, I didn't say I didn't like it--you know what? Let's just set up for the party. I know a certain someone is excited for it." Ace says, glancing at me.

I smile and say, "How about you two go set up while I bake the cake. And please do try to get along."

"Yes, mom." Ace says in a teasing manner.

Katelin just laughs and playfully slaps Ace's arm. "I'm sorry, Ace only acts like this when he's around a girl he likes."

My eyes widen and my face feels hot.

At this point, I just know by the heat arising from my face that it's as red as a ripe Fuji apple. Ace looks equally as uncomfortable, in fact, I think I even see a slight red shade on his cheeks.

Cute.

I cough awkwardly at the thought, and Ace rubs the back of his neck shyly. Katelin, all the while, her eyes are twinkling in mischief, and she looks like she's utterly enjoying this moment.

"Alright! Well I think someone has run her mouth a little too much today. Isn't that right, Katelin? So...without further ado, let's decorate this party for the house! Wait...I-I mean....let's decorate this house for the party!" Ace says, sounding completely flustered.

I bite my lip to hold in my laughter. And once Ace turns his back on Katelin and I, we look at each other in burst out in silent laughter.

I love this side of Ace.

I love seeing how he's shy around me.

Nobody has ever liked me like this before....so this is different for me. A good different.

At least I know he feels the same way about me that I feel for him.

I soon shoo Katelin out of the kitchen and start baking my cake. It's a rich chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. I need coffee to make the cake, however, once the cake is done, you can't even taste the coffee. The coffee just makes the cake nice and moist.

So, I get busy, and turn on the playlist I have on my phone and sing as I bake.

Soon the whole house is filled with the sound of my voice and the scent of the cake.

I can easily tell that this is the best birthday I have ever celebrated.

* * *

"Ace! You really didn't have to get anything more for me. The puppy was enough." I tell Ace as he hands me a little gift bag.

Katelin, Shontell, Jordan, Drew, Ace and I are all sitting in the living room. They are wearing the pointy birthday hats, and they look great.

Well, Drew joyfully put his hat on. However, Jordan was more reluctant, as he explained that he has a "manly image" to maintain. However, when I gave him the classic sad puppy face, he obliged, but not before mumbling, "I've already played hide and seek with her, a birthday hat is harmless."

Duma's little body is curled up in my lap as I pull out the tissue paper of the gift bag, revealing a little jewelry box.

"Ace! You shouldn't have." I say as I open the little box, revealing a beautiful silver necklace with a pendent.

"I wanted to. It's your birthday after all." Ace says.

"Well it's beautiful, thank you so much." I say, as my emotions overwhelm me.

My first birthday as a free woman.

And I couldn't have spent it any better.

"Aww don't cry." Katelin says as she hugs me.

"I-I just can't help it. This is the best thing that's ever been done for me. I feel so spoiled and thankful for you all. This is my f-first real birthday as a free woman." I say, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Thank you so much everyone." I add.

Katelin sits back down, and Drew speaks up.

"Hey, you're my first real woman-friend. All my lady friends aren't exactly friends....they're more like....friends with benefits, minus the friend part--"

"Just get on with it already. We don't need to hear about your sexapades." Jordan interrupts Drew.

Drew just scoffs and continues, "The point is, you're like a little sister to me. I'm just as happy meeting you as you are meeting me."

Jordan then speaks up. "I agree with Drew, you're like a little sister to me, and I vow that I will protect you with my life."

I smile, feeling flattered. "You two are too kind, really."

"I've got something to say." Says Ace, "Ever since my men and I raided that house you lived in, I knew you were a strong woman the moment I picked you up in my arms. The ride hasn't been easy, heck, the ride still won't be easy, but knowing that you're a strong woman who can make it through anything, gives me hope for a strong future."

I smile, and unable to contain myself any longer, I throw myself into Ace's warm arms. I hug him with all my might, and he returns the hug with the same zest. I can feel his strong arms around me as I embrace him, making me feel protected.

"Thank you so much for everything." I whisper.

"It's not a problem." Ace replies.

"Thank you for rescuing me." I tell him through tearful eyes, full of joy.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm the one who rescued you, or if you're the one who rescued me." Ace whispers back.

Rescued him from what?

But now is not the time to ask as I pull out of the hug. Shontell is fanning her eyes trying not to cry while Katelin is just staring at us with a tearful emotion.

Jordan's eyes are wide, and Drew's bottom lip is quivering.

"Damn it, so I'm an emotional man. Stop staring at me and hand me a tissue." Drew says.

Everyone laughs at Drew, the laughter helping to break the emotions swirling around the room.

"Now, who wants cake?" I ask the group.

The moment those words leave my mouth, everyone shoots up and runs into the kitchen like a hungry herd of cattle.

And for the first time, I'm able to share the cake I love with everyone I have learned to care about.

For the first time in my life, it is indeed a happy birthday.