Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Ignorant brat.

I stared with newly formed hatred at the table skillfully situated at the end of canteen away from prying eyes. All three arrogant idiots were sitting there munching on something nonchalantly. I narrowed my eyes at the center guy - Bryan Cooper; I was sure he felt my hard gaze drilling right into his pea sized brains but didn't care to acknowledge it.

"They aren't worth it." Janice said icily, staring at the same direction before popping a cookie into her mouth.

"I knew they were like this. They are bad boys for a reason; they have no care for anyone's feelings." Brittany told, sending a glare to them.

"Leave it. At least Joanna's brother is happy." Logan joked.

I snorted, shaking my head at him, remembering it, when my brother came to know that I hadn't talked to Ace for quite some time, he literally jumped with joy on the bed and then proceeded to squeeze me to death and offer me chocolates.

"Something must have happened that day." Janice muttered.

I nodded my head, it had to be. After Ace gave me the sudden kiss on cheek and disappeared. I was seeing him directly on Monday with Dylan and Max, sitting in the canteen. Even Janice and Dylan hadn't solved their problem and now Janice was pissed beyond limits. They didn't come to the lectures later, no messages, no calls, no replies. Basically they were ignoring us and succeeding in pissing us off.

Ignorance is no fun when you're at the receiving end.

The whole time my mind kept replaying the moment when his lips landed on my skin making me flush and bit my lip imaging those lips directly over mine. And unfortunately some were at incredibly wrong moments like when my brother was talking about his girlfriend problems and when my mother scolded me for attempting to make pancakes. I had a real hard time explaining why I was biting my lip erotically and breathing heavily in such serious situations. It wasn't fun, I can tell you that.

The bell rang and I blinked, realizing I had drifted into Bryan wonderland once again. Sighing, we dragged ourselves to the classes. Of course my class was with Alicia and Bryan, just my luck.

I sat on the back corner chair, hoping no one will see. I heard her before I saw her, her heels clinking and clanking on the tiles of school. I immediately ducked down when she entered, biting my lips from yelping at the desk hit my head. I heard her pause at the door, most probably scanning for any sign of me. When she didn't find me, I heard her sit on her regular chair and start talking to her friend about her latest shopping spree. Oh her poor rich parents!

I straightened myself, smirking contentedly at having fooled her when just at that precise second Ace entered, and his eyes landing directly on me before I got the chance to dunk again. It was the first time after 3 days that he noticed me and I couldn't help but stare back, admiring his perfect face as I sat frozen. As much as I hated to admit it, I had missed him and the feel of his lips on my cheek was still fresh, demanding more and more. Sense suddenly kicked back and I narrowed my eyes at him, swiftly turning my head to the side, staring at the blank wall.

Let him be on the receiving end now.

I felt his presence and my hands formed fists. Go to that Alicia bitch. I wanted to shout but kept staring at the plain wall. Oh white is such an interesting color.

I heard the chair next to me scrape and then Ace sitting on it. I took a long breath to control my anger but it happened to be a mistake as his intoxicating natural scent engulfed me, spinning my head.

"Walls are immune to glares muffin." Ace said, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.

I blinked and cleared my head, folding my hands under my chest. He gave me silent treatment for 3 days and since I am oh so very nice, I was going to return the favor.

"Are you angry at me?" He asked.

Of course not, being ignored is fun. I am ecstatic not angry at all.

When I didn't reply he sighed. "You are angry." He stated matter-of-factly.

No shit Sherlock.

The teacher came in and I turned my head away from the wall to face the front. I felt his strong gaze drilling on the side of my face. If he gaze grew any more intense I swear he could enter the Narnia in my brain.

Look ahead you dimwit. The professor isn't standing on my nose.

"Why are you angry?" He asked in a normal voice, not fazed by the teacher's presence. Why would he be? He's the bad boy. Bad boys are afraid of nothing. Well, you better be afraid of Joanna's wrath.

I rolled my eyes at his stupid question. He didn't reply me when I messaged him, didn't return my calls and then asks this stupid question. Are all guys this stupid?

I swear they would stamp all over you and still be like, honey did I do something wrong?

"When will you tell me why you're angry?"

Probably when people actually start believing in Hakuna Matata, which is never.

"So I am getting the silent treatment, huh?"

Silence is a girl's loudest cry.

"So we'll have a tutoring lesson today." He informed with extreme amusement in his voice.

I looked at the teacher, who was glancing at Ace with irritation but didn't say anything.

"I'll take your silence as a Yes." He smirked.

"No." I stated with finality.

"Silent treatment broken?" His smirk widened.

I twisted my lips to the left and then right, in a whatever-you-think manner.

"Your hands look so lonely, would they like to meet mine?"

I glanced at my hands sitting idly on the desk and intertwined them, ignoring him and my rapidly increasing heartbeat. That pickup line I had already heard before yet it managed to make my senses float. Ugh I hate how much he affects me.

I saw him smile from the corner of my eye at my reaction. "Do you have any raisins?"

I pressed my lips together. I know that one!

"No?" He continued. "So how about a date?"

I simply shook my head although I wanted to laugh at his attempts and my cheeks were starting to turn into a familiar color of pink.

"Are you accepting applications for your fan club? I'll be at the top."

I coughed to hide my giggle but an involuntary smile escaped.

"Where's the like button to that smile?"

And instantly my smile grew bigger. "I am still pissed on you."

He beamed. "Are your legs Nutella because I would love to spread them." The guys sitting on the bench ahead snickered.

My eyes widened and my thighs clenched together. WTF!? "Are you mad? Shut up!"

"Your body is 65% water and I am thirsty."

I pressed my lips. "Eww. Yuck just keep quiet!" I hissed, my previous anger surfacing again. From sweet to sexual, how did that even happen?

He just chuckled, continuing. "My love for you is like diarrhea, I just can't hold it in."

"God that's disgusting! Can you just stop with the dumb pickup lines?"

"Why you gotta be so rude? Don't you know I'm human too?"

"One more word and you'll be a dead human." I seethed, trying to ignore the furious glances of the teacher.

"Your cheeks become red when you're very angry." He noted with wonder, pointing at my cheeks.

Instantly my already red cheeks became even redder with embarrassment. Will he stop staring? It was making me uncomfortable and feel funnily good, deep deep deep down- where there were no brains.

"Are you mad at me?" He repeated after a few minutes.

"No." I finally said with venom.

"Okay why are you mad at me?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Figure it out."

He opened and shut his mouth meekly. I could hear the wheels in his brain working overtime. "Did you fart? Because you blew me away."

I slapped my forehead. "Shut up." This time he surprisingly conformed.

The bell rang and my eyes widened. Time goes pretty fast when you don't even look at the clock.

"So you are coming to tutor me right?" He asked as I took my unopened books from the table.

I didn't reply and as I turned to go. I realized that there was no way out unless Ace moved. Unfortunately Ace realized this at the same time and a huge victory grin decorated over his beautiful face. He stretched his legs on the desk and leaned back, making himself comfortable.

Damn the back corner seats.

I folded my hands and tapped my right feet, glaring at him.

He looked at me, "Want to go somewhere?"

"Yes."

"What's stopping you?" I heard suppressed laughter in his voice, making me even angrier.

"Your damn body." I snapped.

"Get on top then. I love a woman in control." His eyebrows wiggled suggestively.

I glowered at him. I preferred his shut mouth at times. "Not interested."

"Get under me? Submissives are a turn on too."

I gritted my teeth. My inner sexually deprived devil spurting out her vodka and nodding readily, starting to undress. I blinked. "Move, I have to go to class."

"Mrs. Singh is absent, free lecture." He stated, whistling softly.

"Oh, you have to go to class." I pointed out.

He chuckled softly, "I have attended all the lectures since morning, I deserve a break."

"You can attend all lectures for a change."

"Nah spoils my reputation."

I loosened my arms and they fell on my sides. If I jump across the table and land on the seat ahead and was fast enough to run to the door, I could make it.

Just as I was going to jump, his phone rang. I saw him become stiff as he saw the number. I leaned forward to get a glimpse of the caller number but he picked up the phone and pressed it to his ears.

"What?" His tone crisp and rough.

Apparently he didn't like the person who called. I strained to her what the other person was saying but Bryan leaned away.

"No, I won't do it... Yes, I told you that before... I don't care... you wouldn't dare... That's low..." I heard his one-sided conversation.

"Don't you dare!" He hissed and cut the call, throwing his phone on the desk.

I glanced at the phone and fought the urge to go through his call list. My eyes went back to Ace who was deep in thought, his one hand combing his hair and the other in a fist. He looked frustrated and disoriented.

Oh Oh! What was that call about? Trouble in hell!

Suddenly he got up with a determined look on his face. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the almost empty classroom. I didn't protest, knowing it was useless wasting my energy; I could use that energy to shout at him later.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"You are staying with me for at least one week."

I stopped dead in my tracks. Did I hear him correctly?

"What?" I gasped.

He turned to me with a look of annoyance. "You are staying with me." He repeated as if explaining it to a child that eating sand isn't healthy.

He pulled my hand. I pulled it right back. "No."

"For once will you listen to me?"

"No."

"You are coming with your own will or I'll force you."

I glared at him. "I am not coming to that cottage, not when I am beyond angry at you."

"We are not going to the cottage. Now stop being a brat and come before someone catches us." He pulled me forcefully and I followed him, shooting daggers at his back.

We went to nurse's office, well, he went inside. I stood outside, waiting impatiently for him even thinking of sprinting off but curiosity stuck my feet firmly to the ground.

When he came back he had two slips, elucidating that I had high fever and stomach pain and he was to take me home. How he managed to do that, I have no idea.

"If we are not going to the cottage then where are we going?" I asked, sitting on his bike.

"You'll see."

End of conversation. I was already starting to regret my decision of going with him. Let's hope my hormones would be in control and his presumptuous butt too.

"Honeymoon travelers!" I exclaimed in horror, reading the board.

"That's near." He simply stated, waiting for me to get down.

I folded my hands, sitting stiffly on the bike. "What happened to Pride, Four Seasons and Southern Sights?"

"This is cheaper. Get down."

I shook my head. "I am not going in that nasty looking hotel, more like motel. It already looks like it will break into pieces any second."

"Don't act like spoilt brat. Get down." He spoke, aggravation clear in his tone.

I shook my head. "Nope."

"What is the problem now?" He asked, raking his hand through his hair, his biceps popping out from the sleeve.

I glared at him. "First." I counted on my fingers, "you kiss me and then ignore me for 3 days, and then today you don't talk to me until break. Second, you act like you did nothing wrong. Third, you suddenly order me to stay with you without asking about my decision. Fourth, you don't tell me why you are doing all this. Fifth, you bring to this rundown motel that looks straight out of a 1990's scary scene. Sixth, you call me a spoilt brat. Seventh, you ask me what the problem is." I took a deep breath, wondering how I managed to say all that in one breath.

Ace was staring at me with surprise; obviously he didn't expect such an outburst from me. "You think I was ignoring you?" he asked in horror.

My eyebrows furrowed, "You weren't?"

He shook his head. "No, why would I do that?"

"How do I know? You didn't message or anything for 3 days and today you didn't talk to me before lunch." I pointed out.

"I was busy, we all were."

"You could have sent a simple 'I am busy' message then."

He shifted uncomfortably, "I thought you wouldn't care."

"Of course I care." I snapped.

His eyes grew big and I gulped. "Uh I mean I don't, no, I mean I do but not that much, not that much like in clingy girlfriend types, of course why would you text? It's not like I am you girlfriend or something. I was just being silly and irri-"

My next words drowned when his lips crashed down on mine. They were soft and pressed hard on my lips with conviction, moving fast with an intention. His one arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest and the other went into my hair, lightly brushing through them. His lips embraced mine, demanding response.

It took a while for me to register what was happening but when it did, I responded willingly, my lips moving with his in accord. The feeling was exquisite and a strange desire made its way into the pit of my stomach, making me want to do tango with no clothes. I clenched my stomach, my arms went around his neck, pulling him even closer. Our chests touched, lightly brushing against each other and I moaned when he licked my bottom lip demanding entrance. Suddenly the air electrified and raised on an upper notch. He pulled my hair, making me gasp and giving his tongue the desperate entrance to dominate my mouth. Oh my!

I brushed my tongue against his tentatively and soon joined in the battle of ascendancy. He pushed me on the bike, his hand making way into my top and resting just above my ass. I felt myself jump at the sudden contact, feeling hot beneath his touch yet my back arched and hips came in direct contact with his hips. My inner sex devil was already naked, sipping wine, impatiently waiting for the virgin me to get naked. Unconsciously I jerked my hips towards him, moaning as I felt his arousal.

I heard his slight moan and before I knew it, the kiss was broken.

He backed away from the bike, pacing in front of it. He has Janice's habit, I noted with mild amusement. I licked my lips, his minty taste still glued to lips. I blinked, what was all that about?

I hesitantly got down from the bike. My legs feeling like jelly, I leaned on the bike knowing my legs were out of work for a few minutes. I stared at Bryan, he had stopped now but was facing away from me. His back was rigid and both hands were folded. What was he thinking?

Maybe this was all wrong, yes it was. He regretted it. I wanted to howl in despair but fought the urge.

I opened my mouth to speak something - anything, but he beat me.

"We should go in." He stated, walking in, not sparing a glance at me.

I stared at his receding back with intense irascibility. I stamped my foot in annoyance. How can he just kiss the living daylights out of me and then just walk away? Because it didn't mean anything to him.

Body of a Greek God and attitude of a donkey.

I followed him, still seething. The wonderful kiss buried forcefully in a corner. One thing was for sure, this one week was going to change our lives. For good or for bad, was a million dollar question.

What have I got myself into?

~~~