Chapter 1: Excuse me?

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I didn't care it came to this. God I actually knew this would happen one day. But I don't care. I won't - I don't regret anything that happened, because if I did I would have never known him.

Inhaling sharply, I opened my hazel eyes and focused on him,   trying to hold back my tears for what he was about to witness. Smiling I opened my mouth to speak one last time.

"I love you Ashton"

Bang Bang

~~~~~~

5 months earlier

~~~~

Beep Beep Beep

"Acacia! What do you think you are doing?"

Mmm. Adjusting my eyes to light which is pouring into my room, I try to focus on the figure in front of me and when I finally adjust I feel my face screwing into a scowl.

"What do I think I'm doing? You know how important my sleep is." I moaned at her as she responded with an eyeroll and a shrug.

"Sorry if I don't want my sister to be late on her first day of work." She says whilst biting into an apple apathetically.

"Shit" Swearing under my breath I roll out of bed and run into the shower. I can't believe I forgot its my first day at the precinct. Stepping into the shower the hot water engulfed me as I closed my eyes and wondered how the day would go. What will the people be like? Will they welcome me? What cases will I get? Who will my partner be? It's like a rush of electricity igniting in me unable to prevent myself from stopping all these questions.
Stepping out of the shower,  I breathed in getting ready for the new chapter of my life.

Ashton's POV

Not one thing. Not one fucking thing. Slamming down the laptop screen, I couldn't hide the frustration and anger which flooded out of me. It was like the world was against me. It would give me something good then snatch it away from right under me. The stupid records. The witnesses. The evidence. And my family. My knuckles are turning white from me clenching them but it doesn't matter, I knew it was all a sign I knew I was damned from the beginning.
Cough Cough
Interrupting my thoughts, I looked up to see the Chief looking down at me with a concerned expression on his face.

"What is it?" I spat at him more forcefully than I intended to. What can I do he knows how I get.

"Your new partner will be here in a few minutes, so instead of scowling to yourself I'd suggest calming down." Chief says eyeing me as though expecting me to jump out at him from the table.

Pulling myself up from my seat I walk to the front of my desk and lean back on it, combing my hand through my hair whilst I watch the Chief's eyes and mouth widen in surprise.

Rolling my eyes I tell him "I don't need a partner." Crossing my arms around my chest I lower my gaze to his and state "Remember what happened to the last."

As I say those words I can see his lips form into a frown as he hangs his head down in defeat.

"Just be nice" he mumbles and then trudges back to his office.

Now I have someone else to taint. Great.

Acacia's POV

First day as a newly inforced police officer huh. Gulping I reach towards the handle and open the door to the department.

Stepping inside I took in my surroundings. Women and men rushing back and forth carrying papers and folders in their hands, people tapping away at their computers, civilians reporting accidents and a lost child.

"You must be my new partner."  Ashton says boldly behind me.

Startling me I feel myself falling forwards, connecting with the hard tiled floor.

"What the hell?" I snap at the stranger who snuck up on me.

Raising myself from the ground I turn around to confront the jerk that thought it was okay to scare me coming face to face with him.

Damn.

His emerald eyes narrowed at me as my gaze met his. His eyes showed a story of pain, loss and hope, yet although they were dulled they still shone brighter than anything else in the room. His short raven black hair which messily fell down his face accentuating his jawline. And his lips-

"Are you that thick." His voice echoes bringing me back to reality.

"Excuse me?" I say shakily hoping he didn't see how I was looking at him.

"I've been trying to get your attention for the past minute. They could've at least found me a decent partner." Ashton yawns looking annoyed at me.

Defensively I bark back "I may be new, but trust me I'm the best partner you'd ever get."

"Well if you're still alive by the time we solve this case, I'll agree with you." He says solemnly.

What? How many partners has he lost?

Swallowing back my nerves, I smile at him making him scew up his eyes in confusement.
Bringing my finger to his chest I point at him pushing my finger against his chest and say "No one can bring Acacia Coleman down.", giving him a friendly wink to go with it.

And even though he'd deny it, I could swear I saw the edge of his lips curve upwards into a light smile as I saw the tension in his eyes lessen.

"So are you going to tell me your name partner?" I question him as he puts up his normal jerk facade back on.

"Ashton King. Now can I go over the case with you now? I don't feel like playing 20 questions."

Yeah,  he definitely put his facade back up. He seems so different from the usual detective. He wasn't what I was expecting, but then what was I?

As he directs me towards his desk getting ready to debrief me on the case, I can't help but think just how dangerous it is. All his previous partners died. But then he survived. And as much as he judges me in a way I can see myself in him. I'm a survivor just like Ashton.

He doesn't know shit about me. Just like I don't know shit about him.

But then he'll be just like a book, mystery at first but at the end it's solved. And trust me. I always finish a book.

"The Blaze Gang" Ashton says with pure venom dripping in his voice. "That's what the case is about."

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