perfection of hope | ✔️

XIV

"no way your kidding," my cheeks ache from smiling and my lungs beg for more air as i laugh.

Ace shakes his head. "i swear i didn't mean it, i was just trying to play soccer with Ethan and he got in the way!"

"you hit him in the balls though. how bad are you at soccer?" i don't know how long i've been here with Ace but we have basically gone through every conversation topic known to man.

"uhh," Ace drags out, a light blush washing over his cheeks. aww.

"are you guys done yet?" an annoyed voice comes from beside us. i look up and see the cashier chick from earlier. her bitchy attitude returned after Ace rejected her multiple times.

"uh yes thanks," Ace says sliding out of the seat. i do the same and stand next to him.

"sweet," she mutters before picking up our rubbish and plates and walking away.

"well she's just a big ray of sunshine isn't she hermosá?" Ace winks before pulling me out of the cafe. i look up at the sky and notice the sun is setting. soft pinks and purples wash over the sky in beautiful forms. i smile to myself as i hop onto the bike slipping my helmet on.

we speed off down the road back the way we came. the wind blows through my hair as the colourful sky captures my attention. i throw my hands up letting them catch the wind and scream out in joy. i feel Ace's back shake against my stomach and just hear his laugh over the loud wind.

we reach my street soon enough and pull up into the driveway. we take our helmets off and Ace starts to hop off but i grab his arm pulling him back down.

"hermosá?" Ace turns to me with a worried look on his face. i point to the house.

"Ace i turned the hall light off when i left for school," i whisper never taking my eyes off the light seeping through the curtains, standing out from the darkness now taking over the sky.

"you're parents?" he suggests. i shake my head, they still have another month till they are back. his body goes stiff and his gaze moves back to the house.

"stay here," he tells me sternly, hopping off the bike. i quickly get off and run after him slipping my hand into his. he shakes his head but says nothing. we stop at the front door and my hand tightened around Ace's when i see the door is already opened slightly.

i lean forward and give the door a shove, pushing it open and my jaw drops at the sight. glass is shattered all over the floor from the picture frames that once hung on the walls had found their place on the floor. my mother's favourite flower vase that sat itself on an old wooden table was shattered along the floor. and that was only what i could see from the door.

"holy shit," Ace mumbles quietly. he steps forward into the house pulling me behind him. the rest of the house was worse. nothing was stolen, just destroyed. i didn't even notice the tears running down my cheeks until Ace ran his fingers under my eyes wiping them away.

"hey don't cry," he whispers pulling me into him. i wrap my arms around his torso and rest my head on his chest, my ear just over his heart. we stand there quietly until Ace moves around and takes his phone out of his pocket.

not letting go of me he dials someone's number and moves it up to his ear. it rings for a few seconds before a familiar voice comes through the other end.

"hey hermanó, i need a favour," Ace asks. Sebastian barks out something about how Ace interrupted his game with Ethan and made him die.

"i don't care Sebastian. can me and mi hermosá come over?" he mumbles obviously getting annoyed with Seb. there's more mumbling before Ace hangs up and shoves the phone back in his pocket. taking me by suprise Ace lifts me up and my legs instinctively wrap around his waist as his hand softly sits under my bum to hold me up.