Crush

Ch.4 Rivalry

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I stare at Carter in shock. He didn't just say that, did he? I look to Ace and my answer is written on his face. Yep.

Ace stares back at the silently fuming Carter, his jaw clenched but a harsh smile pulling at his lips. "Well aren't you so welcoming? What are you jealous or something?" Ace laughs out, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Carter tilts his head, a dangerous gleam shining in his chocolate eyes. "And what if I am? What are you going to do about it, snowflake?" He questions through gritted teeth, his fist clenched tightly.

Ace laughs. "Alright lover boy, calm down, I understand if you can't handle a little challenge." With that Ace walks off, muttering something to his friends who in return snicker quietly.

I stare at Carter in shock, he was jealous? Why? Did that mean he liked me? No, I shake the silly thought from my head. He was just being overprotective, as usual.

Squeezing his hand gently in a half-assed attempt to calm him down I start walking, his hand still in mine. "Are you okay?" I ask him softly looking at my shoes.

He sighs and brushes me off completely, "Don't worry about it, Lilac."

I huff. "What do you mean? By telling me that you only make me worry more, jeez." I stare at him before questioning him again, "What was that about? Why are you so mean to him?"

Carter groans, rubbing his free hand over his face, exasperated. "Why do you care if I'm mean to him," he pauses and looks at me, "what, do you like him?"

My breath catches at the sight of his darkened eyes. "No, my hearts already taken by someone else." I whisper to him and he stops.

"What?" He asks dumbfounded, his eyes shining with hurt. His hand rubs over his chest, over his heart as if it hurt in that moment. "You like someone? Who?" He questions almost desperately.

I stare up at him, taking in his beautifully sculpted face. "Yeah, I do."

He looks away and his hand releases mine, "I don't think he would like me doing this then." He says, passive aggressively.

My eyes narrow at him as he walks ahead of me, his shoes slapping against the dirty concrete. "So, who is it?" He asks after a moment of silence.

"Just a special guy." I reply vaguely. He groans, "Lilac, tell me please."

I smile at him, "Not yet." I watch as he opens his mouth to say something but is cut of by the voice of his younger brother, Landon.

"Hey! Lilac!" He calls out and runs over to us. I grin and let him wrap his arms around me in a hug. "You didn't hug me this morning." He says into my hair.

I giggle, "I'm sorry."

Carter groans and pulls his brother off of me by his shirt collar. "Alright kid, get off."

Landon sighs and mutters something to Carter who shoots him a silencing glare. After a few tense moments Landon pulls Carters hand off his shirt.

"You're coming to ours after school right?" He asks and I nod, watching his face light up.

"She's coming for me." Carter butts in and I grin. "That's where you're wrong Monkey, I'm coming for your brownies. Remember?" I tease.

He fakes a pout, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Is that all you care about? Jeez rude."

I laugh at him, nodding my head. The action sends my hair flying. Carter bites his bottom lip softly, looking at my messy hair before he leans over and tucks my hair behind my ear. I blush and push at his chest gently, "You're hands are cold." I say. Which was a complete lie, he was warm everywhere especially his hands and chest.

My eyes lower to his worn jeans, taking in the hefty bulge with wide eyes. It seems that his legs weren't the only things that grew when he was away. I gulp and my eyes dart up to Carter's face.

He stares down at me, a mischievous smile on his face. "My eyes are up here, Lilac." he says and my cheeks burn furiously.

"Y-yeah sorry." I mutter bashfully. Still smiling he says, "Its okay I understand how you feel, you've sure grown up Lilac." His eyes rake over my small but voluptuous form and my stomach clenches.

The last time he saw me I was a small girl shaped like a refrigerator, but as soon as he left puberty hit me like a truck and blessed me with the curves of a woman.

A whistle pulls me from my thoughts and my eyes land on Ace. He was standing by the sports shed, a cigarette between his lips, a puff of smoke escaping his mouth. He turns to me, his blue eyes glinting in the sunlight, a dark grin on his face.

Shivering, I turn away from him and my brown eyes clash with Carters. He studies my expression before he shifts his line of vision from me to Ace. His features darken and he rolls his sleeves up angrily. I watch in shock as he walks up to Ace.

Ace grins at him and pulls the cigarette from between his lips, not before taking one more puff, and throws it on the ground, his black boot stomping on it. "What's wrong with you lover boy?" Ace asks, sizing up Carter, who was much taller than he was.

Carters lip turns up in disgust and one minute he was glaring down at Ace and the next his fist was smashing into his face. Ace's eyes widen in shock, his head flying to the left. Carters fist had imprinted into his now bright red cheek, a trail of blood dripping from his nose.

Aces goons gasp in shock but don't come near the two.

Carter wraps his hand around the lapel of Ace's shirt, yanking the bad boy towards him. "Stay away from Lilac." With that he releases Ace's jacket as though he was disgusted by touching him and walks back to me.

I stare up at Carter in shock. "W-why did you do that?" I question as Carter marches towards me. "Lilac, I have something important to tell you. " He says seriously, his eyes traveling over my shocked form with a gentle expression.

"What is it?" I ask my eyes darting back to Ace, bloody and bruised, before I connect gazes with Carter again. Carter opens his mouth and speaks but his words are drowned out by the school bell ringing.

He drops his head defeated, before he grabs my hand with his own and drags me to our next class. "Carter what about your hand." My eyes drift over his red knuckles and I can tell that they hurt. "We need some ice." I tell him and he nods quietly letting me drag him to the nurses office.

Once we arrive I notice Ace sitting in the office as well, an ice pack pressed against his bruised cheek, his hand holding his nose tenderly. He looks up at us and rolls his eyes. Carter jerks against my hand and I squeeze his hand. "Don't, please."

He sighs and nods his head, not saying anything.

I was confused, why was he so quiet? Why did he punch Ace and on the first day back too?

Walking towards the nurse, Mrs Smith, I ask her for an ice pack. She nods sweetly and goes and grabs one for us.

Once she returns I smile thankfully at her before turning and pressing the ice pack to Carters hand. His fist clenches slightly but he remains stoic. "Carter," I sigh, and look up at his face, studying the emotions running through his dark brown eyes, "You and I need to talk about this later at your house." I tell him.

Pressing a small kiss to my forehead he smiles, "Yeah, I've got something to confess."

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YOOOOO what's up

So another chapter aren't you guys proud of me? Anyways I really like the plan I have for this book so i'm going to update it quicker then my other books. Sorry not sorry.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Anyways until next timeee, byeeeee!