OFF LIMITS

T.H.I.R.T.E.E.N

"Night, Ash," Ellery said as Ashley got into her boyfriends car and he drove away. Ellery glanced over her shoulder and saw Joshua was still locking up. She hitched her bag up on her shoulder and started walking. She didn't want a lift from Joshua, especially after tonight.

She had only made it a few meters down the road when Joshua called out. "Ellery, stop, let me drive you home!"

"You've done more than enough tonight, Joshua," Ellery said and carried on walking.

"Hey!" He yelled and in a few seconds he had jogged up to her. "I'm not letting you walk home at night," he said.

"Joshua, I really don't want to talk to you right now," Ellery said.

"I'm sorry for how I acted, but it was only to keep you safe."

Ellery groaned in frustration. "Joshua, leave me alone!"

"I'm not letting you walk home alone," Joshua insisted.

Ellery stopped walking and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not walking anywhere if you're still here."

"This is childish, Elle. Your brothers would kill me if they let you walk home alone."

"Good job she's not alone then," Jace voice called. He jogged up to them and Ellery's eyes wondered. He was shirtless, wearing a pair of shorts and his very defined chest glistened with sweat.

"You," Joshua snapped.

"Dude, you don't even know me," Jace said and rolled his eyes. "And you don't want me as an enemy."

"You don't want her brothers as an enemy. Leave her alone," Joshua said.

"No, Joshua, you leave me alone," Ellery said. "Jace will see to it that I get home safely and I will tell my brothers that you dropped me home."

"He's a stranger-"

"We're way past strangers. I'd say strong acquaintances, maybe even bordering on friends," Jace said, cutting Joshua off. He winked at Ellery.

Ellery smiled slightly. "See?" She said to Joshua."

"He's dangerous-"

"Ellery and I have already discussed this. I'm not dangerous to her," Jace said. "Now, hurry along, Joshua."

"For all you know he could've been the guy who attacked you!" Joshua said.

"Since you brought that up, Ellery why don't you tell your delightful manager why that's impossible," Jace said, cocking his head to the side.

"He saved me from the attack," Ellery said. "Now, goodnight, Joshua. I shall see you on our next shift."

Joshua sighed in defeat. After a few more moments of glaring and asking Ellery to come with him he walked to his car and drove off.

"Him, I do not like," Jace said.

"He's usually lovely, but then he's one of my brothers friends so I shouldn't expect him to act any different," Ellery sighed. "Jace, what are you doing out here at 1 in the morning? And shirtless?"

"I like to wander around at night and see what girls I can attract with my half nakedness glory," Jace said casually and looked Ellery up and down." Today is the only day I've had any luck."

"Who says I'm attracted to you?" Ellery wondered.

"The look you gave me when you saw my half nakedness glory for the first time," Jace shrugged. Ellery rolled her eyes and Jace chuckled. "In all seriousness, I was out for run."