Touching The Heart Of Ace (SAMPLE)

Chapter 16

What was he doing?

Wherever I went I could figuratively see him and only him.

The tea and cake I bought from the bakery other day was surprisingly paid beforehand.

The grocery shopping bag had a teddy bear with his insignia, which sure as hell, I did not pick up or pay at the counter.

Then there were flowers, lots and lots of flowers and chocolates.

I did not know what I was feeling. At least there was no incidents at the college, so far. Or he had not tried to confront me; I was grateful for that.

Well, there was a baby succulent on my desk top in a smiley-face-pot. It was adorable even with his logo.

I could not just throw it away.

Jason was wondering why he was hiding, but so was I. This kind of cat and mouse play was not his style.

Stop assuming that you know this guy, Ace!

I was just, just... what? I did not know anymore. It was good he had not come to meet me.

I had no idea how to handle him in front of me.

He would be angry. And that was putting it mild.

I thought I had time to take care of my unhealthy feelings towards him, but he was early. Of course he was.

I was not ready. 5 months, 19 days and 19 hours was not enough time to get over him.

I was merely existing at this point. Time was so slow, I felt like everything was frozen around me.

At least the dance class was keeping me grounded. I was considering in participating in one of the street dances of our company. It was an awareness programme dealing with feminism, domestic abuse, child abuse and hate crimes. I would be honoured to be a part of it.

Was my dorm always this quiet? It was borderline creepy. I sighed. I missed Liz a lot. She would barge in my room, wear my shorts and shirt and prance around like she owned my place.

I put on some music to take away the heavy silence in the room. It was one of the dance pieces I was going to do in the programme. I swirled my body around remembering the real moves but making no effort to do them. Hell was trying to dislocate all my joints, I was sure.

I hummed around but I was feeling so restless.

There was something.

Was that the open window?

No, something else. I... could not figure what it was!

A brush of perfume passed through my nose but I could not catch it again. Did I imagine it?

I bit my lips.

I was going crazy, wasn't I? I threaded my fingers into my hair.

Probably nothing.

I got used to the feeling of being followed, so now even when I was at my safe haven, I felt the same.

Stupid Ace!

I frowned as the music stopped.

Get a grip, Ace!

I froze when another music started to play.

Alan Kuznetzov!

I gulped. How?

It was that music.

'Our' music.

I stared at my hands that was shaking. 'The Pain' was playing and reminding me everything I was trying very hard to forget.