Play House

Chapter Twenty Six: Aurora

You know that gut feeling you get when you know somethings wrong. I have that feeling right now. That the most perfect night with the most perfect boyfriend is about to turn to absolute shit as I watch Ace turn the door knob. It feels like we're almost in slowmo. The door opens and a voice I thought and wished I never heard again fills the room. My stomach sinks, my heart stops and I freeze standing there staring as Ace wraps his arm around my waist. "Ror." Ajax's voice turns cold and closed off. "Ajax."I say back in the same tone and I look over at Layla who's looking down at the floor. I nod my head and walk away. "Care to join us?" All the anger that I felt towards this man and thought had gone away rushed right back into my body. The smugness in his tone. I turned to look at him, smiling as fake as I possibly could. "As sweet as that is Ajax, I just had an amazing night, and now I'd like to get my back blown out by the man that just gave me an amazing night." Ajax's face turns red. I turn to look over at Layla who's still not looking at me. "I hope you use protection, Layla, you're gonna need it." I turn to look at Ace who's smirking at me. He wraps his arm around me and we begin walking to our room. "I'm going to blow your back out huh?" He laughs lightly and I roll my eyes looking up at him. I put on one of his shirts... as he begins to kiss all over my body. "I'm not in the mood Ace." I whisper and he pulls away smiling as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "You know for somebody who is as pretty as you, you sure are feisty. You look all sweet and delicate but your words say otherwise.." he smiles laughing. "And actions." he adds, staring into my eyes before pulling me into his arms. I look up at him and roll my eyes. "I can be sweet and delicate." I whine and he smirks looking down at me. "But you like it rough huh princess?" I feel the butterflies in my stomach which I'm starting to feel more and more. "Ace." I joke and he tilts his head back laughing. I wiggle my way deeper into his hold and rest my head on his chest and within minutes I'm asleep.

When I wake up Ace is still asleep I lay there letting millions of questions fill my head. Is Ajax right across the hall from me right now. Will he try to do something to Layla or myself again? Has he actually changed? I feel Ace move as he groans and stretches his arms. "What's going through that mind of yours princess?" I look up at him and smile. "When he sleeps over, he's right down the hall from me. Just 45 seconds away. That terrifies me Ace." He's no longer smiling, or smirking, he looks concerned. "You don't feel safe here?" He questions and I can hear the hurt in his voice which makes me feel guilty. Because I feel so safe with Ace, but no amount of safety can scare me with the thought of a potential rapist down the hall from me. He can tell I'm lost back in my thoughts and he scoops my head up forcing me to look at him. "I will do everything in my power to make you feel safe, princess, everything. I'll put five deadbolts on my door, I'll put a passcode on my door, anything and everything princess." I pause, taking a deep breath. "Okay." I whisper letting out a long sigh. He cups my cheeks with his hands and places a long but gentle kiss on my forehead. "I want you to feel safe, princess." I nod my head in agreement to his words.

After a while of laying in bed I finally agree to get up and go to the kitchen to get something to eat. Layla's bedroom door is shut but I can see that her lights are on from the crack under her door. I pray she's the only person that walks out of that damn room... but I know... I know deep down she won't be. "Ror... don't focus on them okay?" Ace is leaning on the counter in front of me with a now full plate of pancakes. I nod my head smiling slightly. "Uh can I eat these in your roo-" I'm interrupted by the sound of male chuckles as Layla's bedroom door opens. "Bye Lay, see you later." Layla smiles at Ajax, whose attention is now on me. His smile is gone, and he's giving me an almost challenging look. I can tell he's up to no good... im just not sure exactly what type of no good he's up to. Layla sits beside me and I don't even look at her. I opened up to her, told her everything, what he did to me... how much pain he caused me. Yet he's still here, in our apartment, with Layla. "Ror... don't shut me out please." She pleads and I give in looking at her. My face is emotionless... I've gotten pretty good at that over the past few years. She smiles awkwardly at me and I stare blankly waiting for her to speak. "I really like him, and I know all the things he did to you, but I can't just move on like that. It's going to take time, but eventually I'll get there. I just wanted one more night with him, one more night where I knew it would be my last night." She pauses and I take the opportunity to speak. "But he said see you later." She licks her lips. "There's not going to be a later okay? I promise." She whispers holding out her pinky finger, I hesitate but eventually stick mine out interlocking it with hers. "Okay." I whisper and she nods. "On the plus side I've already met somebody else, his name is Austin, he's the complete opposite of Ajax, he's blonde, browneyes, tattoos, but a motorcycle man of course." She's smiling and her eyes are full of light when she talks about him. I smile but deep down I'm praying he's not a horrible man because I don't think I can physically or mentally take Layla with another horrible man, she's too sweet for all that. "How'd you already meet somebody?" Ace questions leaning on the counter, we both look over at him, both of us forgetting he was right there. "Don't worry Ace, I did a background check this time, learned my lesson with Ajax of course." Ace pinches the bridge of his nose letting a slight chuckle out. "Whatever you say Lay." He sighs looking over at me smiling. "You okay princess? Do you feel better now?" I smile nodding over at him and stand up. "Can we go lay down though I really need to be held right now." Ace nods. "Sure, but Luca's joining. I haven't seen him in a while. Where is he?" Layla laughs and walks towards Luca's room and opens the door. "Luca!" She yells and he comes running out. "Mommy I've been awake for hours, what happened to letting me out of my room in the morning." He questions. Who knew little kids could be so sassy and serious. Layla picks him up laughing. "You were in there an extra thirty minutes longer sweetheart." He looks at her and frowns. "There should be no extra minutes mommy, I want aunty Ror." he whines holding his hands out to me. I smile and laugh. "Come here bud!" I grab him and Ace wraps his hands around my waist. "Want to cuddle and watch the movie Luca?" He nods and smiles. "But Aunty Ror holds me!" Ace laughs leaning down into my ear. "Looks like your Luca's new favorite." I smile looking down at Luca in my arms. "Is this true Luca? Am I your new favorite person?" He looks up at me smiling and nodding his head. "Yes you give the best cuddles aunty Ror." My smile grows wider as I whisper. "Let's go watch that movie bud!"