Belle

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I'm not a prude.

I'm not new to the world of sex and I'm not a Virgin. I've had my fair share of sexual encounters.

The thing is though, I don't like to have to come in contact with my one-night stands on a daily basis.

So you could imagine my happiness (note the sarcasm) when I saw Ace the next day eating breakfast at the same restaurant I am currently eating at.

I try not to choke when I see him walking into the small cafe and taking a seat at a bar chair just a few seats away from my own, his eyes never meeting my own.

After a couple of minutes of cowering away from him, I muster up the confidence to walk up to him. I place a 20 dollar bill on the counter and take short strides until I'm right behind him.

"Ace," I say watching his face closely to see his reaction to my voice. To my dismay, he has no visible reaction. He turns his chair to face me and I'm face to face with his beautiful hazel eyes that are no longer the dark color they had been last night.

"Arabella" he smirks and I try my best to cover a flinch at the mention of my full name instead of the nickname I had grown accustomed to.

"Ace we have to talk about what happened between us last night," I say to him curtly.

"About what," he says dragging his smirk further making me want to slap it right off.

"You know about what" I sneer, feeling myself get more annoyed.

"There's nothing to talk about Belle, people do stuff like that all the time, it's normal. It was a one-time thing. Although I'm not happy about that disappearing act you pulled last night" he said, his signature smirk still playing on his lips.

I held a straight face but lord knows how many butterflies were dancing him my stomach to the sound of my name on his lips.

He begins walking and I feel my short legs struggle to him up with his long strides and we leave the cafe.

"Ace I know you obviously don't care and that I'm just another one of your one-night stands but the events of last night meant a lot to me and if you could just listen-" I begin but he cuts me off.

"Belle, you and I both know I don't do relationships so choose your next words wisely" he speaks, his words dangerously low as they cut through me.

I regain my composure.

"As if!" I roll my eyes "I just wanted to tell you how sloppy you were" I laugh although that was the opposite of what I wanted to do.

I wanted to tell him that I didn't know how to act around him anymore and that I was panicking at the thought of Calista knowing.

Shit! Calista! She hadn't been home all night and hasn't sent me her usual "I'm safe" text she sends me every night we go to a party.

I suddenly feel a rush of panic arise and my eyes widen as I struggle to breathe.

"Belle?" Ace says visibly worried.

I struggle to make out my words and catch my breath as I speak.

"Cal- Wh-Where?" That is all I make out and he understands as he ushers me into his rental and drives off.

You may be thinking no big deal she's just overreacting but Ace knew and I knew just how anxious I was after the incident.

The whole car ride to the hotel was full of Ace's hand gently rubbing my thigh as I try to control my breath.