Liability

Chapter 11

"So where are you taking me?" I asked but mentally smacked my head because I totally sounded like an annoying person . Even to myself. Ace looked at me. I waited for his answer but he just stared at me as if I was the hardest math problem on Earth and he was trying to solve me. His stare was burning a hole through my soul because of the amount of intimidation it was giving off. I tried to ask my question again because I thought the noises of the metro didn't let him hear me.

"Where.."

"Your favorite place." He said with a smirk and my butterflies went berzerk in my stomach.

"How do you know where my favorite place is?" I asked and looked at him.

"Resources." He said.

We just sat on the red and yellow seats without talking much and I started thinking. It was weird because I actually never felt calm enough with someone to be able to think with my overactive mind. Sure, Mable, Sadie and Sierra are people that I feel comfortable with but it's so different with Ace. I mentally scold myself and stare at the ground. After we arrive at our destination, we take off and start walking towards my favorite bar, The Falls View Tavern. I looked at Ace and he was grinning like an idiot, flashing his white teeth.

"There resources of yours are too accurate and now I feel a million danger alarms going off in my head Ace." I said with a laugh.

"It was nothing important, I actually like this place as well." He said.

We sat at a table and a waiter brought menues for us. I ordered a Sprout Beer and Ace ordered one too.

"So tell me, why is there a sad aura around you all the time?" Ace asked.

"What do you mean?" I said and felt my heart sink. Does he know?

"I don't know. You always seem so sad as if something is bothering you all the time and you don't show it. It's obvious if someone decides to observe you." He said with a shrug.

"That's not true." I said and tried to laugh it off but he saw through my bullshit.

"I know you're lying Sage." He said.

"Somethings are better left unsaid." I said and took a sip of my beer which arrived in the middle of our uncomfortable conversation which felt more like an interrogation.

"You know you could tell me. I won't judge and I won't tell anyone." He said.

"Fine. Let's make a deal. For every question I answer, I get to ask a question of my own." I said.

"Deal." He instantly said. "So?" He said and gestured for me to answer his already asked question.

"I uh..well.." I sighed. "When I was 9 years old, I went to this language institute in order to learn German and my dad used to pick me up right after I finished my lesson. He used to work as a chief then and he had a very young secretary. She was about 20 something, I think. Basically the same age as my sister. I remember that it was a freezing day in winter and my dad arrived 2 hours after I finished my lesson and I was freezing outside because the institute was already closed. When I sat in the car, I took his phone to play games but my curious ass went through his New Messages and I saw his secretary's name." I tried to contain the tears and my nose started running.

"Shit. Continue." Ace said with a soft voice. It was the second time I heard his soft voice and it made my insides melt. AGAIN. I felt guilty for not giving him the actual reason for my sadness but this will do. It was one of the reasons anyways but not the actual one.

"Um..she said that she misses him and why did he leave the office so soon and she hopes to do it again asap." I said and sniffled.

"Goddammit why did he do such a thing?" He said angrily. "I'm so sorry Sage." He said softly.

"It's okay. I'm fine and I already dealt with it." I said.

"What happened after?" He asked.

"Aah ah ah, it's my turn!" I said and tried to seem cheerful because I didn't want Ace to see my vulnerability.

"Arrrgh." He growled. "Ask"

"How's your relationship with your parents?" I asked and saw his face falter.