“I’m not leaving until the game is over,” I stated firmly. “If they are here, there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
“Why are you so difficult?” Ace asked.
This evoked a smile from me. “It’s just part of my charming personality,” I said, turning on my heel to leave.
“I can’t let you just go sit there without protection,” Ace tried to argue.
“Then come with me. You know, show some school spirit or something,” I yelled, from over my shoulder.
I left the bleachers and made my way back out to where the concession stand was. Most people were heading back to find their seats as the clock showed halftime was almost over. I knew Ace was following me, but I never turned around to check.
When I found my friends again, everyone turned to see me; and I smiled when I realized there was a bottled water sitting where I had been sitting. Kade’s smile faded when he spotted Ace walking behind me.
Maylee exchanged a knowing look with Ace, but she didn’t look surprised to see her brother here.
And, Sawyer and Garrett were still flirting and I doubted they even knew I had been gone.
Ace sat two rows behind us and didn’t talk to any of us for the rest of the game.
I did notice that Kade sat extremely close to me and kept rubbing my knee with his hand. I kept waiting for a spark or heat to hit me, but nothing ever happened.
After the game ended and we all cheered for the team for winning, we all stood ready to leave.
Sawyer and Garrett were holding hands and already making their way down from the bleachers. Kade looked over to me and together we began to climb over the seats.
The night air had a nice chill to it that seemed to calm my growing nerves. Maylee was in a heated discussion with Ace and I wasn’t sure if I should wait for her or not. We had arrived at the game separately, but it felt odd to just leave without saying goodbye.
“Hey, I need to tell Maylee bye,” I said to Garrett, tugging on his arm.
He stopped and eyed Maylee and Ace. “It looks like they are in the middle of a fight or something. Just text her later,” Kade finished, shrugging.
For a moment, I considered that thought, but I just couldn’t do it. Maylee had been one of my first friends and I couldn’t just leave, yet.
“They always fight,” I chuckled.
I stood my ground and Kade sighed as he waited alongside me.
In one swift motion, both Maylee and Ace turned my way.
I had been caught red handed staring at them and there wasn’t anything I could do to save myself now.
“I’m leaving, just wanted to wait and say bye,” I stuttered awkwardly.
“We can give you a ride home,” Maylee offers, looking between me and Kade.
Kade clears his throat to remind us all that he is still there.
“I can take her,” Kade states.
I open my mouth to respond, but Ace cuts me off.
“She lives near us, we will take Lizzie home,” Ace’s voice is deep and menacing and I can feel Kade shaking beside of me.
I remember the stories I had heard about Ace and Maylee and the way people stared at Maylee when we went to lunch, I knew there was no way Kade would be arguing.
“I will call you later,” Kade offers, before quickly retreating.
Realizing I have just been ditched, I turn to Ace with a scowl on my face.
“Why did you do that?” I ask, throwing my hands up in the air.
Instead of answering me, Ace brushes past me, his arm caresing mine in his quick movements.
Maylee just shrugs and there’s nothing left to do but to follow Ace.
Chapter Eleven
A Whole New World
I
sit in the back of Ace’s car with the wind sweeping through my hair.
It would be a nice ride, if not for the stuffy tension floating in the car. No one dared to speak as Ace kept his steady gaze on the road. The only sound was his grunts and sighs, indicating that he was angry.
As we turned off the Main Street and onto the long stretch of country road that led to my house, Ace finally started talking.
“What were you two thinking going to the game tonight?” he blurted out.
“Are you really going to do this now?” Maylee asks, glaring over at her brother.
I sat frozen in place, unsure of whether or not I was supposed to answer his question or not.
Ace slams his hands on the steering wheel and both Maylee and I jump.
Fear courses through my veins and I realize that for the first time since I’ve met Ace, I’m afraid of him.
“Stop!” I yell out, causing Maylee to turn and look at me.
Ace slams on the breaks and the car skids to a halt. The screeching of tires sends a billow of smoke behind us.
Once the car is stopped, I climb over Maylee and jump out of the vehicle.
Feeling freed and like I can finally breathe again, I quickly stretched my body over the seats until I had climbed out of the car like a spider monkey.
“What do you think you are doing?” Ace reprimanded, his tone scolding and filled with a white hot rage.
Spinning on my heels, I glared daggers his way as I stood just outside of the car. Maylee watched us with glistening eyes.
Shaking my head, I exhale a deep breath before I find the words to speak. “Enough,” I bellowed into the empty sky. “I am sick and tired of you always showing up and then acting as though we are causing you problems. Why are you so determined to ruin our lives?” The words flew out of me like vomit and I winced as Ace’s expression momentarily morphed into something similar to pain.
Ace opened his mouth to speak, but then thought better of it.
“Spit it out,” I ordered, focusing all of my energy on Ace.
“I don’t know why you have to be so stubborn and argumentative about all of this. I told you that I would take you to Crow Haven, but there are rules you must follow. Danger lurks everywhere and you keep putting yourself right in the center of the storm,” Ace shouted.
“I can’t stop living my life. I’ve survived sixteen years so far,” I began, but Ace refused to allow me to finish my thought.
“No,” he shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. I swear the air shook as his fists punched through the invisible walls. “You don’t understand. Your presence here brings unfathomable danger and risks to all of us. Until you comprehend the magnitude of your role with the Seekers, you have to walk on the side of caution. It is beyond exhausting following you and having to check everywhere you go for danger.”
“I never asked you to do this,” I cried out.
“No one asked me,” Ace yelled, his hearty voice causing the ground below me to shake. “Your assignment to me was never my choice, but here we are,” he laughed, though there was no humor at all lacing his voice.
Hurt registered in my heart as his words struck me down. Sure, I wasn’t a huge fan of Ace’s but to hear that he never wanted to work with me was painful to hear.
“Then don’t bother anymore. Whatever is going on, I will figure it out on my own,” I said, fighting to hold in my betraying tears.
Shaking his head, Ace folded his arms tightly across his chest. My eyes betrayed me as they focused in on the line of muscles bulging through his taut skin.
Even amongst the darkness, his yellow, glowing eyes lit up our surroundings.