Playing for Keeps[Kingx#1] [COMPLETED]

Chapter 24

Past...

Ellie sniffed as quietly as possible as she sat on the swing placed at the side of the playground.

Archer was guarding her, watching her from the corner, to make sure she didn't move away.

Ellie envied the others who were playing happily on the playground. She didn't care about the dirt on her kneefrom when she fell half an hour ago, playtime was almost over. She didn't have friends anymore. Archer chased them away, scaring them. Threatening to hurt them if they played with her. It happened too often. Mama told her that it isn't good to hate someone so she tried her best not to but she disliked him so much.

He was watching herevery move, glaring at her dangerously. She just wished that he'd be gone so she could have friends to play with again.

Half an hour ago...

"Tag. You're it, Stella!" Nigel shouts and jerked away from her, the other kids too quickly began to run, Stella chased

Lorraine but she was far too quick for scrawny little Stella. Ellie grinned as she stood nearby watching Stella chasing the others around. As if feeling her stare, Stella suddenly ran towards her, surprising her, she wasn't ready enough to outrun her but still ran.

Just as Stella's fingers brushed her back, she clumsilystumbles into nothing and fell on her knees. The other kids stopped to help her. She fortunately didn't fall hard enough to scraped her knee.

"I'm okay" she says and bends to brush the dirt off. Then, she noticed the other kids went silent. She looked up to seeArcher standing in front of her. She looked up at him with wide eyes. James standing beside him. Archer had always been tall even, as a kid while James wasn't. He was one of the small boys in class. He usually sticks with tomboyish Jane, so Ellie honestly don't know how he endedup with Archer.

Little James stepped up, "An order from the King" he announce like he's a royal subject spoken for his King. "No one is allow to playwith Ellie. If you don't obey, Archer will hurt you."

Ellie jaw dropped. No one is allowed to play with her? What did she do to annoy Archer this time!? The order was totally ridiculous!But she knew the kids are going to obey it; they're scared of Archer. The kids backed away from her like she's the vector of some disease. She was hurtby it. She bit down her lower lip as her eyes began to water and tried hard not to cry. She avoids Archer and James by walking back in the opposite direction. She heard footsteps close behind her, she knew it was him right away, she ignored him as she sat on the isolated side of the playground and began to sob. From her peripheral vision she saw Archer pacing like crazy as if he's on patrol. Why can't he let her do the things she likes?

x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x xx x x x x

"Archer will you date me?" she says awkwardly.

"Hmm...I think it's better if you use the words 'go out' " Isaac says, he'd been telling her what and how to do it.

She'd been practicing with him.

"Sorry. I have never asked a guy out" she said seriously. But Isaac, are you sure that I can do it?"

"Positive. Just remember what he did to us. You're going to save all of his future victims"

Ellie learnt from Isaac that it's up to her now. After she'd gone through, he won't order her around and make decisions for her anymore.

"There they are. Just do as we practiced"

Ellie tuned to see Archer and his friends on the other side of the courtyard. He was, as usual, with his friends, leaning against the car out in the school's parking lot. She saw him stiffen when he spotted her. His friends stared at her curiously.

She could totally do this. She chanted as she approached him. She regretted the decision but the look on Isaac's face when she told him just that bought her to this moment.

"Archer, can I talk to you?" He nods and followed her as she leads him to the left where it was less crowded. No one would be really seeing or hearing their conversation. She turned to face him.

"I need to tell you something. I..I.." She wetted her lips and his eyes followed that movement. "Ilikeyouwillyougooutwithme?"

He stared at her. Okay, she had to admit it. That was too fast.

"Archer, will you go out with me?" she stared at his chest. Y-A-N-K-E-E-S she read the world with a sudden interest.

"What do you mean?" His deep voice pulled her interest out of his shirt.

"I like you" There, she said it!

He went silent. Oh, no. She knew it. She failed. She knew Archer doesn't date girls like her, he like cute brunettes. Preferably pressed up against the wall. Half naked.

This is stupid. Now he'll think that she'd like him all along. She needs to go. Like, now.

"Well uh...bye." She murmurs. Before she could move an inch, she was pressed up against the car. His arms caging her. Frack! Maybe he'd see through her lie. She knew it.

He's going to kill her for it. Who doesn't hate lies? She snorted mentally for being such a hypocrite.

"Again."

"Pardon?"

"Say it again." he commands.

"I like you. Go out with me?" She asked, unsure. She hope she did it right. She didn't found 'How to confess to a guy' in any of her books.

His eyes were hooded, making her wonder if he was angry. Maybe his question was a test? She should probably tell him the truth.

His eyes ran leisurely over her body, then when their eyes met, "No tapping out once you're mine." he warns as his voice rumbles with a low growl.

"Y-yours" she stuttered. Holy marshmallows! His? Did he usually treat his girlfriends as possessions? He's a control freak so he definitely will. Ellie closed the case of her doubts.

"I'm sure." Before either of them could say anything more, the bell rang.

"That's it." she blurted and ducked under his arms and ran to the class.

"How did it go?" Isaac asks when they meet up at the empty classroom.

Honestly? She wasn't sure. She thought he agreed for a moment but... what if she's wrong? She shuddered. It's to embarrassing to assume she succeeded before she's 100% sure.

"I failed. Sorry." she said softly

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A/N: wow #42 in teen fiction!! Thank you guys! So a quick chap for you guys.

Thanks for the read, votes and comments.

Edited by: Nellie__Correa