Poisoned Love

29. The Pact

"That's childish." He complains.

"After you did what you did yesterday to me..." I say and hope he understands me so that I don't have to go into further detail. Thankfully, his expression tells me he did understand. "you have the nerve to make out with Penelope? I should've known. That's why everyone was talking about how you moved on."

"You heard that?!" He questions quizzically, his eyebrows knitted. "It's a long story."

"Just drive, Ace. I don't want to have this conversation with you." I said and grabbed my phone out in attempt to distract myself. That didn't work apparently because Ace had other plans. He wouldn't start driving, not until I 'dropped my phone'.

"Say what you wanna say for heaven's sake." Ace says. He can tell I bottled up so many emotions inside and I didn't want to deny it anymore.

"I'm just...Do you regret what we did last night?" The words rolled off my tongue before I can stop them. I needed to know.

"What? No! Of course not." He quickly says as if he was trying to justify himself. I didn't know what to believe anymore. I wanted to ask him about why he kissed Penelope if he doesn't regret what we did but I decided against it.

Ace leaned across the separator and he held my hand, intertwining our fingers together. I struggled not to glance at our connected hands. His touch sent electricity in my body, I felt weak and vulnerable. Can't he just stop with this slow torture? I'd break any second if he doesn't.

"Lydia, let's make a pact." He says in a low voice and begins stroking the surface of my skin with his thumb. I can't say no to him, not when I'm like this. "Whatever happens, we don't separate okay? We'll start fresh." He offers and promises at the same time. My head uncontrollably nods.

"Deal." I unconsciously say. I don't even know why I blurted that out. Maybe I'm just way too taken aback by our handholding that I couldn't function properly.

"Good." He says and snatches his hand away. I whimpered at the loss of contact and warmth. He chuckled lightly as he started the ignition.

I hate how strong of an impact he has on me, it's frustrating. I don't even know why I keep on forgiving him. We're both complicated as hell and we both seek comfort from each other. It's also confusing at times. I don't even know where Ace and I stand.

The ride was quiet and I'm thankful. We reached the house and I waited for a few moments to see if he wants to say something before I leave.

"Goodbye, Ace." I say and unfastened my belt.

"Kiss me." He says and his eyes never leave mine.

"Wh-What?" The corners of my lips trembled. I don't know what game he's playing with me right now but it's working.

I found myself leaning in and kissing him. In an instant, he gave in and I opened my mouth, granting him access to slip his tongue inside. To my utter astonishment, he didn't. I expected him to elongate the kiss.

"You should go now." He says with a smile and I don't find it offending or disappointing, just confusing. He's definitely playing games with me.

"Fine. Goodbye." I say and head out.

I got inside the house and my mom was in the living room with a cup of coffee wrapped between her delicate long fingers. She sipped down little by little and her eyes widened when she saw me. She beckoned me to go in the living room and I reluctantly went in there.

I expected her to ask about where I was or yell at me for not calling her, but instead, she sat her cup of coffee down and turned her whole body around to face me. Her expression tells me to leave right now but I stay, however.

"Hey." She says like we have just reunited after a long period of time. I choose to let it slide.

"Hi." I say flatly. I love my mother, I really do and I want to forgive her but I just can't see myself doing that right now.

"Cara and I are heading out." My mom informs me. There's this stupid thought at the back of my head about inviting Ace here since we're going to be alone. It's bugging me and I pushed it away before it consumes my thoughts. "We're going out with Ademar to see some wedding receptions."

"Why don't you just have the wedding in his house?" I shrug. Ademar's house is big enough for a fancy wedding and I doubt he'll mind having his wedding in his own house, surrounded by dozens of guards.

"We'll consider that. But for now we need to have some options. Would you like to come? Maybe even ask Ace to join us so we can all start bonding together?"

Why is she asking me about Ace? Does she secretly know that we've been hanging out? No I doubt it, Ace wouldn't do that. Maybe she genuinely wants us to bond. I think it will be something I need to consider since I'll have to face reality sooner or later.

"Sure...Just not today." I slur.

"How about next weekend? We can go to Ademar's house and have dinner again." She beams, her eyes glimmering with hope. I highly doubt that Ace will ever go there again with us all. He hates my family and his father but I'd like to think that he doesn't hate me so maybe that can persuade him to come?

"We'll see." I say through a small smile. "I need to head upstairs and change."

She nods wordlessly and I'm completely satisfied yet taken aback by her reaction. Whatever Ace has done or said to her that made her not question anything, I'm unconditionally thankful.

I charged upstairs and changed into some comfier clothes. I don't feel like going out today and I mean it this time. I have no problem with Ace showing up here but I don't feel like going out with him. Not even Tori will be able to drag me out of bed.

Speaking of Tori, I haven't seen her in a good while. I haven't seen any of my friends as a matter of a fact. Alex is probably on that date with the waitress now and Tori is probably shopping for prom dresses. I don't even know what Ryder would be doing now but I hope he's well. I grabbed my phone and dialed down Tori's number, waiting for her to pick up.

"Hey!" She beams. I don't know why but I can picture her toothy yet pearly smile through the phone. I've always admired how cheery Tori is and how she can make a person's mood change in such a little amount of time.

"I was wondering...would you like to come over?" I asked, pulling the sheets off of me so I can go downstairs.

"Sure. I'll be there at nine. I'm shopping now." She says and I squealed. I knew it.

"How could you be so predictable, Victoria?"

"Whatever." She brushes me off. "We need to get you a dress."

"I don't know..." I begin to complain but she cuts me off. The idea of prom doesn't sound so appealing to me and I don't even know who would escort me there. I'd look ridiculous if I were to show up alone. 

"We can go together. I don't have a date either." Tori chuckles.

"Sure you don't. I would've known if you did have one." I snickered.

"We're shopping for dresses tomorrow." She says in a final tone. I made a sound between a groan and a laugh and it amused Tori more than I thought it would.

"Deal." I agree, unwillingly of course. If I protest, Tori will surely kill me and still get me to go to prom. I don't get why all these high-schoolers are so obsessed with it but whatever they love about it, it's surely not just for the dance.

I sat on the couch in the living room and dialed down Ace's number, trying to call repetitively him but he didn't pick up. We literally just saw each other and yet here I sit, calling him like an idiot. He probably thinks I'm crazy. I don't blame him.

I watched a few episodes of some Netflix shows and I can feel myself slowly falling into a nap. Obnoxious knocking bursts through the door and I'm immediately woken and alarmed. I wanted to cuss at whoever stood behind that other side of the door. It's probably Tori anyway.

I opened the door and my gaze slowly trailed up. Tori definitely does not wear tight jeans and her chest isn't as muscular as this chest. And then there's this cheeky grin that I remember so fondly.

"A-Ace?" I say, covering my mouth dramatically in disbelief. How and why is he standing in front of me now?