Chapter 24: Chapter 24

~~

"Did you know that you can't tickle yourself?"

"Yes."

"If you listen to a particular song more than thrice the same day, you sing it for the rest of the day?"

Experienced. "I know." I curtly said, looking out of the car window.

Bryan grunted in irritation, looking at me. A pretty scowl on his well sculpted face.

"Eyes on the road." I snapped, pointing at the road.

He rolled his eyes but turned to face ahead. "Did you know Justin Bieber has more Twitter followers than Canada has people?"

My eyes widened in surprise and horror. My first instinct was to go and search for his Twitter account as I wasn't following him but I held back, not ready to give him that satisfaction. Bryan smirked noticing my dilemma.

"I knew that too." I lied, folding my hands under my chest.

"Liar."

"Am not."

He snorted, wallowing at my despair. "So are."

I glared at the window. "Just drive."

From the corner of my eyes I could see him grinning in smugness but he kept quiet. The rest of the drive was drowned in One Direction and Chainsmokers songs, Ace protesting and cussing the radio jockeys for constantly putting their songs. Bitch, I'm Madonna by Madonna came once and Bryan didn't hesitate to twist his face in disgust and change the song almost instantly.

I think the only songs he enjoyed were Find you by Zedd and literally all Avicii songs. He even sang a few lines of Lana Del Ray songs but made sure that I couldn't hear it. Who knew the bad boy was closet Lana Del Ray fan? I just smirked and leaned back, humming to all the lyrics, ignoring Ace.

"I don't really play video games." I confessed, scowling at the large array of weird car games and stations.

"You girls can do the bowling part." Bryan said, waving at Max who had already reached along with the others.

"Well we girls could have gone somewhere else then." I snapped angrily.

"That's what I said!" Janice exclaimed, scowling at Dylan.

"We thought you could join us and play some games." Dylan replied sheepishly.

"I prefer swimming." Brittany said and we girls nodded in agreement.

"At least try bowling." Ace pressed, pouting at us.

Don't give in!

"No." I shook my head.

"Please." He repeated, blinking his eyes for extra effect.

I could already see Janice and Brittany's restraint falling. We looked at each other and then sighed dramatically. "Fine."

"But you all will come shopping with us the last day." I added.

Looks of horror plastered on all their faces.

"No!" Logan exclaimed.

"I believe the door is that side." Janice told us as she pointed at the door.

"Fine." Dylan immediately said, slapping Logan's head.

"You sure?" Janice asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dylan gulped and nodded.

"Good. Let's throw some balls and pins into the drain." Janice clapped her hands, going in the direction of the bowling area.

Dylan rubbed his forehead, sighing. "Sometimes I worry about her brains."

"This is nothing, see her during shopping." Alan remarked, grimacing at the thought.

"She can be worse?" Dylan gasped in complete terror.

Logan nodded, following Janice. "Just wait and watch now."

"Poor you." I mocked, patting Dylan's shoulder.

He just groaned and rubbed his forehead in response, muttering something along the lines of "She'll kill me one day."

..

"I think my fingers got stuck." I spoke in a trembling voice.

Instantly they all crowded around me, suffocating me.

"What were you doing, you idiot? I told you not touch these balls right? Can't you listen to me for once?" Ace screamed, taking my hand delicately.

I bit my lip. In any other situation I would have swooned but the pain was too much to pay attention to Ace.

"It pains." I whimpered, trying to move my fingers.

"Don't move." He hissed, doing something with the ball.

"How did you manage to do it?" Dylan inquired, smirking at me and Ace.

"I don't know, I took the ball and it almost slipped so I tried to hold it and my fingers got twisted in the holes."

"Wait!" Logan suddenly shouted, removing his phone. "Smile." Without waiting for any reaction he clicked a picture of me and Ace, the ball between us.

"What the hell!" Ace exclaimed angrily.

"What?" Logan shrugged innocently. "I haven't uploaded a good pic on Instagram since ages." He then proceeded to click a picture of only my stuck fingers and the ball. Idiot!

"I am going to hashtag it as #fingersstuckinball or #fingersandballs"

I gritted my teeth. "Don't you dare Logan, I still have that pic of you dressed as Snow White."

Dylan and Max snorted while Bryan laughed. "Send me that pic."

Logan scowled, "You said you had deleted it."

I gave him a smirk. "I said I deleted it from my cell, never said I had no back up."

His scowl deepened. "Cheater cock."

"Enough." Bryan ordered, turning his attention back to me.

"Move your finger to the right." He ordered, I obliged immediately.

"There done." He sighed after a few seconds. He threw the ball at Dylan who caught it instantly.

"Does it pain?" Alan asked.

"A little." I answered truthfully.

Ace took my fingers in his hand, rubbing them delicately. The pain instantly disappeared. My heart thundered inside the ribcage as I stared at his face, wondering if I could ever get over my feelings for him.

Janice cleared her throat, a secretive smile on her face similar to Brittany's. "Should we go home? It's almost 7, we still have to clean the farmhouse."

"Yeah, let's go." Dylan agreed. "Change of places. Janice is sitting with me." He informed and before we could oppose he ran out with a blushing Janice behind.

"I knew we should have got another car." Logan complained.

"We are leaving now. If you and Alan want you two can come with us or go with the lovesick puppies." Max said, swirling his car keys in his forefinger.

I scowled at him. "Speak for yourself."

"Yeah, you're the one who was jealous about an Australian accent." Bryan teased, smirking at Max.

Max turned into a light pink shade of embarrassment while Brittany gasped.

"What?" She demanded, looking at Max and then at Ace.

Bryan shrugged. "Ask lover boy."

"You spoke something in your sleep." Max answered sheepishly, looking anywhere but at her.

"What did I say?" She put her hands on her hips. She meant business.

"Is there a bus or taxi that will go till the farmhouse?" Logan suddenly asked, giving us a glare. "Britt and Max clearly need to speak up and Ace and Joey will probably make me puke by their Aww-ness."

"Nonsense and Aww-ness isn't a word." I pointed out.

"You two can come with us." Ace said, giving Max a pointed look.

Max nodded and gulped nervously. I gave him an encouraging smile.

"Shotgun!" Alan exclaimed, running towards Ace's car.

"What? No! You cheater cock." Logan shouted, running behind him.

"This is going to be a long ride." Ace commented, rubbing his forehead.

"Yup." I nodded, looking at Logan and Alan who were pushing each other from the door of passenger seat. As soon as Alan's hand and would reach the door handle, Logan would push him the side and grab it himself and then Alan would push him back and on and on. Retards.

Finally I was sitting in the front with Ace who was driving and Logan and Alan were behind. I was starting to regret the idea of making them sit together.

"Emma Stone is hot."

"Yes but Amanda Seyfried is obviously better."

"Noways. Emma totally rocks." Logan pressed.

"You wish." Alan scoffed. "Amanda is pretty and sexy."

"Shut up you guys." Ace said and I sighed in relief, until - "Jennifer Lawrence is obviously much hotter."

And let's just say my ear drums were ready to fall out by the time we reached the farmhouse.

*

*

Poke.

Poke.

Poke.

Go away. I screamed in my mind, snuggling deeper into my pillow.

"Muffin?" Someone whispered.

I ignored.

"Joanna."

Ignore.

"Joey!"

Fucking ignore.

"Joile, Joilu, Joai, Joae, Jo-"

"Oh shut up." I shouted finally sitting up.

"Let's go."

I gave Bryan a dirty look. "It's late, in case your eyes popped out by looking at my awesomeness."

I think he rolled his eyes. In the dim light that came from my window all I could see was his remarkable figure, his hands on his knees as he stared at me. His chest was clearly in view, screaming at me to touch it. And then I realized that he was wearing only boxers. His naked chest proudly on display as his tattoo could be seen clearly even in the little light.

"Why are you half naked?" I asked, blinking my eyes away from his firm body before I could pull him towards me and force myself on him. Though I doubt he would do much to protest.

"We are going somewhere." He simply said.

I blinked. "Naked?" I gasped.

Through the darkness I could see his eyes roll. "No, your clothes are fine. Just put some bra underneath, I can see your boobs through this." He flicked my white flimsy tank top as he winked and walked out.

Of course I was blushing furiously, my face redder than a tomato. I didn't know he would come and wake me up. And wearing bras while sleeping causes breast cancer.

I sighed and got up, pulling out a bra, then saw my GAP purple zipper lying beside it. I peeked out of my window and sure enough it was cold. I wore my black bra and a purple tee (didn't want him seeing me braless), took the zipper and stepped out.

I expected everyone to be there, but all doors were closed and lights out. I bit my bottom lip wondering why Ace woke me up at midnight. I debated on knocking Janice and Brittany's door but let it go. Maybe Ace just wants some private time with me. Well he better be apologizing and buying ice creams and fries for me then.

"Muffin!"

I looked to my right, following the whisper. Bryan was standing at his door, gesturing me to come in.

"What?" I asked, entering his room.

He pointed to the window. "Jump."

I looked at the window and then at him with a crazy expression. "Why would I do that? Are you gone mad? You woke me up to make me jump out of your window, we could have done that from mine."

"Your window doesn't have a tree outside. Now jump." He ordered.

I leaned over the window, gauging the distance, although I had to climb down a tree I felt like I had to climb down Mt. Everest, in the darkness.

"Shouldn't you go first?"

"Why? Scared?" He teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Just to be a gentleman, if I slip by mistake you can catch me."

"Can't climb trees?" He grinned, proud to mock me.

"Of course I can. I have degree in rock and tree climbing! I was born doing it." I said sarcastically.

"Yeah your degree in sarcasm worries me at times. But fine, I'll go. That way I can see your butt clearly too."

I slapped his arm. "Pervert. Stop staring at my private parts!"

He blew a kiss, making heartbeat rise. I forced it to calm down. He shouldn't know I like him.

I watched as he climbed down gracefully and then looked up motioning for me to climb down too. I bit my lip almost thinking of locking the window and door and letting him stay out the whole night but that would be too rude. Even for me.

Finally I climbed down the tree successfully, without slipping much. But he being himself, still took the opportunity to grab my ass when I just four feet away from ground and going to jump. I immediately slapped his hand away.

"Hands off."

He sighed deeply. "Co*kblocker."

I obviously ignored him.

"Where are we going Bryan?" I shouted for the twenty sixth time.

"Whenever you're angry, you call me Bryan." He noted, looking at me with amusement.

"That's because I am angry." I started flatly.

"My Mom and dad would call me Booboo when I was a kid." He said in a low voice.

I held back my laughter but failed miserably. "Booboo? MOG! Why?"

"Hey don't judge, I was kid." He defended trying to sound annoyed but the small smile on his lips was a dead giveaway. "I had a pet tortoise that I called Booboo but after six weeks he disappeared. Apparently I missed her so badly that I cried for 2 days and to make me feel better my parents started calling me Booboo."

"I never knew you had a pet tortoise. Where did you buy it from?"

"I got it from the beach. It was just lying there and I liked it so I bought it home." He said embarrassed.

"No wonder he ran away." I snorted.

"Please, I was the best tortoise owner ever."

"More like worst if he ran away."

"Joanna." He suddenly said if a serious voice.

The atmosphere changed and I stared at him. Was he going to apologize properly and confess his excessive and undeniable feelings for me? He better!

"Yes?" I breathed out.

"When is your birthday again?"

I never felt like slapping someone that much before.

"Come on, I said I am sorry."

"You forgot my birthday!" I hissed, jumping out of the car. I looked around. Beach? Why the hell are we at a beach?

"I was just teasing you, I remember your birthday." He said, coming behind me.

I put my hands on my hips, turning and glaring at him. "Well, when's it then?"

"Uh June?"

I gave him a flat look. How many years in jail for murder again? Wait it is midnight and a beach, I'll never even get caught! Hah.

"No, No. In May." He declared.

Another flat look. "Get lost." I turned to walk away.

"Hey." He exclaimed grabbing my wrist. He turned me around, making me fall on his chest. Did I mention he was wearing a V neck thin sleeveless shirt? Wasn't he feeling cold?

His breath tickled my cheek and I would have been grossed out if it wasn't Ace's face. I didn't move away, I just looked up, facing him.

He was gazing down at me with an unreadable emotion, like always. He leaned closer.

"12th July." He whispered.

I gulped, "Right." I breathed out. If he had told my birthday was on 30th February I would have still agreed to it.

He came closer and I could feel his breath on my mouth. He light kissed my cheek, his lips staying there for a few seconds. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of happiness.

"Come." He went back a little but his hand didn't leave mine, instead it curled and my fingers, trapping them between his. The sparks were still present and even though it was chilly outside I felt warm all over.

I followed him mutely. My mind still whirling from the feel of his lips after so long. Manh, I missed them! Why can't he just push me against his car and kiss me passionately? Maybe we can even get into the car and do some kinky shit! Okay, stop. Or we could-. Stop!

It's shocking how just one can person can affect you so much.

He paused about 14 feet away from the water. "We are completing another thing of your bucket list. Skinny dipping at midnight."

"Now?" I squeaked in horror. My bikini area isn't shaved.

He took out his phone from his shorts pocket. "Yes, its 11:53 now, perfect timing."

"It's only 11.53? Why did we go to sleep so early?" We usually stayed up till at least 12 chatting and talking.

"We were all tired and we have a long day tomorrow." He answered.

"Yeah, that's why we are here skinny dipping." I snorted sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes, putting down his phone on the sand and sticking his thumb under the elastic of his shorts pulling it down.

"What are you doing?" I squeaked in horror, turning away my immensely blushing face.

"Why? Getting dressed of course." I could literally hear his smirk and sarcasm.

"Yeah, getting dressed in nudity." I remarked sarcastically.

"I'll be in the water, come when you're naked." He winked suggestively and without waiting for my reply he walked towards the sea.

I couldn't help but peek at his retreating body just clad in God's gift. And let me tell you his butt looked totally hot and delicious. Round and plump, he would lower a girl's self-esteem. I blinked my eyes, shaking away the dirty thoughts as he stepped inside water.

I looked at my shorts and gulped. Stupid bucket list. Slowly I removed my zipper, letting it fall on the sand, besides his phone. I took my phone, placing it on my zipper. My purple tank top and grey track pants were next to go. I was now only standing in my black bra and cotton panties, looking at my worst. A warning would have been nice, I thought scornfully as I unbuckled my bra hook.

I knew Ace wasn't looking because I couldn't feel his gaze on me but just for reassurance I looked at his way. He was in waist deep water, fortunately looking at the full moon. When I was finally naked, I walked towards the water, feeling utterly conscious. He wasn't even my boyfriend and I would be naked in front of him. Great! The sooner my body is in water, the better it is hidden.

When I was few steps away from him, he turned. His eyes roaming my body freely and lustily. Suddenly the water hiding my legs and private part wasn't enough.

"You are fucking beautiful!" He whispered huskily.

I gulped, my eyes involuntarily scanning his front body. "You are fucking huge." I gasped.

He let out a loud laugh. "Thanks. You sure know how to a boost a man's ego."

I blushed furiously, embarrassed by my confession. "Whatever."

He smiled, taking my hand under water. My whole body was already covered in goose bumps by being so close in him. He pulled me close, but our bodies weren't touching just close enough to touch.

We stared at the infinite water and the moon's reflection on it. Beautiful wouldn't describe the scene, it was far more than beautiful and I was glad I decided to come here.

The world is beautiful, you just need the right people to show it.

"Anastasia and I are over." He said out of the blue moon in a low tone.

I didn't say anything, knowing he needed to get this off his chest.

"I thought I was in love with her but now thinking of it, I believe it was extreme infatuation. Being out of house and students in school affected me, she was one of the few who stayed close to me. I didn't want to lose that and begged myself to believe it was love. It never was, not for me."

I didn't face him, my eyes strained on the small waves that shook moon's reflection. "And Anastasia? Did she love you?"

He paused before hesitantly answering. "I think."

"Does she still love you?"

I felt him shrug. "I wouldn't care."

This time I faced him, trying to gauge his exact feelings. "Why?"

He stared into my eyes sincerely. "Because I found someone I care for more. Much more."

I breathed out in a trance. "Yeah?"

He smiled, his shy small smile that I loved. "Yeah."

I bit my lip. "So you don't love her?" I asked again but not in a serious tone.

"Maybe." He teased.

I chuckled, slapping his bare arm. "Idiot."

He just winked at me. I stuck out my tongue in response. We stared at the silently moving water again.

After a few short minutes I felt him moving uncomfortably.

"Should we go back?" I asked, not really wanting to leave. I was enjoying the close proximity. After a long time I felt safe and happy.

"Uh No." He shook his head.

"Then?"

He cleared his throat. "So Uh are we like together or something now?" He questioned awkwardly, looking away.

I almost choked on my saliva before smirking. "Well we are standing together mow."

He scowled. "I meant like together, together."

I bit my lip, stopping the laugh. My heart was already on its 25th cartwheel and zoo inside in my stomach had welcomed all the animals in the world they were all performing hip hop, even unicorns seemed to be there. Oh yes, I was high on love.

"You didn't ask me." I pointed out.

He scowled. "Is this like 1900's?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's an unwritten rule, guys should ask first it makes a girl feel special."

He sighed dramatically. "Fine, you are damn irritating and I have no idea why I even decided to let you tutor me but I'm glad. And you'd be so lucky to have me as your boyfriend, so what say?"

I gave him a flat look. "The way you asked wasn't really lovely, I was expecting cheesy or something."

Bryan snorted. "Please, cheesy is so cliché."

I rolled my eyes. "It's nice okay."

He retorted. "This has to be the most romantic proposal." He waved his arms around. "At mid-night, in the sea" he paused and the smirked, letting his eyes roam all over my body, heating my body. "And both naked. What more could a girl want?"

I rolled my eyes. "A better guy?"

Ace ignored the taunt. "So is your answer yes?"

I scowled at him. "When did I say that?"

He snorted. "Anyone can see you like me, you get jealous, possessive, you trust me enough to be standing stark naked besides me. Obviously your answer will be yes."

"Stop that naked rant. And don't be so cocky. I am a girl and we are known for changing minds within seconds." I stated.

His expression changed from confident to fearful within seconds. "Does that mean your answer is no?"

I hid my smirk. "I didn't say that."

"Gosh! Can you answer already? I just want to make out with you." He exclaimed in exasperation.

"Are you going to date me for my body?" I asked, sounding hurt.

"What? No! Do you always look into things so much?" His fingers going through his hair, making them wet.

I shrugged. "That's me."

He sighed before turning to face me completely. His hands grabbed my face. I blinked in surprise and my breathing stopped. "Give me a chance and I'll prove fairy tales do come true."

I gulped as I stared into those chocolaty eyes that stared back at me with sincerity and something so close to love. I didn't need to think twice before answering him.

"Yes." I whispered just enough for him to hear and yet it felt like the deepest and farthest of planets heard it.

He smiled, his eyes filly with pure elation before grabbing my wet waist and pulling me towards his chest. His lips landed on mine, moving against mine fiercely. I kissed him back with the same fervor.

Oh the feelings he ignited inside me were so hard to deny!

When we both could no longer breathe, we pulled back, touching our foreheads. Our naked bodies close, very close. I could feel his arousal – there and I did little to back away.

"You're getting better at kissing." He teased his breathing hard.

I grinned as I noticed I had the same effect on him as he had on me. "This is nothing." I winked.

His eyes darkened instantly with intense desire. "I can't wait to find out."

And then his lips were on mine again.

Maybe Prince Charming and fairy tales do exist. Maybe you haven't found it yet because you aren't looking at the right place.