B I T T E R

C H A P T E R NINE

Two Weeks Later

In just a couple of days, I'd be able to see Aidan again. I kept thinking of what I would say to him. I wondered if he would think I was uglier than the last time he saw me. The only difference between me now and then is that I wear make up now.

Shame washed over me as I realized that Aidan was not the type to change his feelings for me based off my appearance. I was so anxious that I was getting wild thoughts.

I now had the pleasure of walking up to Ace awaiting my arrival at my locker every morning. We'd do the same thing every time. I'd hand him my coffee and we'd have a conversation while I prepared my things for the day. Then, before handing my coffee back, he'd sip it. He said it was like our little secret kiss because we agreed to be friends at school. It was easier that way because there would be no rumors.

We'd been spending a lot of time together, but nothing more than our friends with benefits thing. I honestly liked what we had going on a lot. He did do what he was supposed to since he lost our bet. It was one of the best feelings ever.

I noticed Caitlyn stopped walking through our hallway in the morning. He hadn't gone after her ever since the last time. He did a good job of balancing us out. I realized I couldn't be mad at him for being friends with her since I had Aidan locked up in my closet of secrets.

I was texting Aidan on my way to Mrs. Green's room for lunch. There wasn't a day where I wasn't in there eating lunch with the girls.

"Look what the wind blew in." Mrs. G threw her arms up in the air. She usually made a slick comment when I entered.

"Charlotte, come quick! I have information." Havoc ushered me over. The four of us sat close so no one else could hear our conversations.

"What is it?" I sat down quickly. If Havoc had information, it was usually good.

"Apparently, your boy, Ace, asked Sharon for nudes." She revealed quietly.

"What? Did she send?" I gasped.

"Yes!" she shook her head. We all sat, looking at each other with wide mouths.

"As if he doesn't get enough attention from me! Why is he out here hitting up other girls?" I frowned and crossed my arms. I could never have a good day. Well, ever since I met Ace, I couldn't.

"Char, you can't confront him, though. You guys aren't exclusive, so he's technically not wrong." Riley said. She was right as usual. I couldn't be mad, but I was furious.

"He'll think you're clingy if you bring it up. You'll have to live with this one." Spencer agreed.

"You know what? Fuck him! I'm going to see Aidan in two days." I nodded.

"What? What did you just say?" Mrs. G shouted. She was standing behind me and I talked a tad bit too loud.

"Nothing!" I said quickly, scared of what she would do.

"We don't talk like that around here!" she wiggled her finger. She continued to lecture me about using appropriate language and the kind of image I should present to the public. When she was done, she went to go talk to her favorite senior girls.

"I think people deserve to know the truth." I smirked.

"What kind of people would we be if we kept secrets to ourselves?" Havoc got a mischievous grin.

"Secrets are impolite." Spencer nodded.

"I'm already on it." Riley said as she typed away on her phone.

We carried on small talk for the next fifteen minutes or so and then we took our trip to the bathroom. I heard sobs before we even entered the bathroom.

Sharon was dabbing her face in the mirror. We all looked at each other because we already knew what had happened.

"Sharon, what's wrong?" I hugged her.

"People are talking. You haven't heard?" she looked at me in disbelief.

"Heard what?" Spencer asked.

"They're saying I sent nudes to Ace. I have a crush on him, but I didn't send him nudes. I sent him a picture of me in a sports bra and leggings." She continued to cry.

"Oh, honey, that's terrible." She buried her head in my shoulder and I smirked at the girls.

"It'll blow over in a couple of days. You know there's always a new rumor going around." Havoc said. She would know since she was bearer of them all.

"Seriously it's not a big deal." Spencer patted her back.

"I hate him now! He had to have told people because I didn't." she pounded a fist on the sink.

"That bastard probably did. You should confront him. Let him know he's not worth your time." I encouraged her. The more bridges I burned between Ace and other girls, the better.

"I will, Charlotte. Thanks for consoling me. You all are the best." she pulled all of us in for a group hug. She left from the bathroom and we waited a couple of minutes before busting in laughter.

"Dumb hoe!" I rolled my eyes.

I would make sure no girl ever talked to Ace again if I had to. I was willing to.

"Hey, she's confronting him right now! Someone's streaming it live. It's going down in the cafeteria." Riley alerted us. We didn't have to say anything, We all ran as fast as possible without getting in trouble to the cafeteria.

Ace was sitting with Kaden and a few other boys. He looked bored as she yelled at him.

"You know I didn't send you nudes! You're a liar." Sharon shouted at him.

"I don't know who started this rumor and I don't know why you think I did." He shrugged.

"You bitch! You have no emotion!" she sneered. I knew her struggle. It took me a while to get something out of him, so I knew she wasn't going to get anything right now.

"Sorry?" he chuckled.

Sharon reached across the table and slapped him. Ace pushed his seat back as he stood up. I thought he was going to hit her back, but he walked away instead.

"Go to him." Riley pushed me. I smiled and left the cafeteria after him.

"Ace!" I called him.

"What?" he snapped.

"Hey, don't be angry at me. Sharon is a crazy one." I grabbed his hand.

"I wanted so badly to hit her back, but that wouldn't have been right." He gritted his teeth.

"You did the right thing. One day, you'll look back at this and laugh." I moved my arms around his neck and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging me back. His breath was heavy but it started to slow down.

"Thank you, Char. You're the only person who came to see if I was okay."

"Well, of course. I care about you, ya know." I playfully punched his arm. We got stuck in our awkward silence which wasn't so awkward anymore. It became a thing that we shared. I came to appreciate just holding his stare.

But this time it was different. He leaned down to kiss me. His lips were trembling and he was so, so close. I closed my eyes, waiting for it to happen. I could tell that this kiss was going to mean something.

"Hey, lovebirds! Where are we supposed to be?" a teacher turned the corner.

"We're headed to Mrs. G's room. We got a little distracted. I'm sorry." I apologized.

"You're a good student, Charlotte. I'll let it go this time. Don't let these boys get you off track." She advised me before walking away.

"Let's, uh, go to her room." Ace said awkwardly.

We almost kissed! A real kiss! It wasn't going to be like the other times. I wanted to know what it would feel like.