ace // luke hemmings {slow updates}

prologue

ASEXUAL
a·sex·u·al
noun

lacking in interest or desire for sex.

***

There were plenty of things that Victoria Knight regretted doing in her life. Things like accidentally introducing herself as Victoria instead of Vee on her first day of school and that unfortunate bobbed hair cut in third grade. Deciding to attend the party she was currently at was another one of those things that she regretted doing.

She wasn't sure why she'd managed to convince herself that this was a good idea, or how she'd managed to make herself think this was going to be any different to the other times she'd gone out with Lisa and Amy. The two of them were best friends who'd taken pity on Vee in primary school and at this point it was too late to cut her loose. The two of them did everything together and a lot of the time they didn't even seem to realise that Vee was there.

It wasn't like she really cared that they'd ditched her, by this point she was well beyond used to it; the thing she was annoyed about was the fact that she hadn't figured out it was going to happen and now she was stranded. Amy had driven them so Vee had no way to get home - because walking really wasn't an option - and she'd never felt more out of place in her entire life.

Vee didn't party; it was as simple as that. She didn't drink, she didn't do drugs, she didn't get along well with people; and most of all she didn't hook up. If you weren't doing any of those things at a party there was virtually no point in being there which was something that Vee was remembering very quickly.

There was a guy to her left that had been trying to talk to her for about ten minutes already and he didn't even seem to care that she wasn't listening to a single word he was saying. Most people would have made up an excuse (polite or otherwise depending on the specific person) to get away from the unwanted conversation but Vee didn't even have the energy to tell the guy to piss off so she was just blatantly ignoring him instead.

It was no surprise that Vee kind of had a reputation for being a bitch; she didn't care for social niceties and didn't waste time trying to accommodate people's feelings. It was all easier that way.

"Do you want to go and find a room?" The guy next to her shouted, trying to be heard over the repetitive dance music that was shaking the house.

"No."

"Aw c'mon." The guy slurred. He tried to take hold of Vee's hand but she just shook him off. "Don't be like that baby. We could always just make out a little down here."

Vee shook her head and rolled her eyes. The guy tried to put one of his arms around her but she just stepped out from under it and pushed him away slightly.

"Dude, back off. Go find someone else to harass, you're not my type." After the words had left her lips she realised that probably hadn't been the best thing she could have said but by this point Vee didn't really care.

"What? Are you a lesbian or something?" The guy cocked an eyebrow and pinned her against the wall. "That's cool, I'm into girls too."

He laughed and that was kind of the last straw for Vee. She scoffed and mustered all of her strength before pushing the guy away again. Luckily he was drunk otherwise she wouldn't have been effective at all, but he fell off balance slightly and stumbled back a few steps.

"I'm not a lesbian, I'm asexual you asshole." She cringed slightly as the words passed through her lips because that was information she hadn't really needed to share.

With that said she tried to walk off but the same guy caught hold of her wrist. Could he really not take the hint? Vee was just about to cuss him out when a tall blonde guy stepped up and gently pushed the guy back again.

"Man she clearly doesn't want anything to do with you, just leave her alone."

Vee didn't take the time to get a good look at the guy that had stepped in to help her out, nor did she thank him, before she turned on her heel and headed for the door.

The cool air outside was a welcome change from the stifling heat caused by the closely packed and gyrating bodies inside. For about two seconds Vee was content; that was until she remembered where she was and the fact that she couldn't leave even if she tried.

With a groan she pulled out the lighter from her back pocket and flicked it on. She watched as the wind made the flame dance this way and that, a sort of calm settling over her. She shut off the flame and then ignited it again.

"Can I bum a cigarette?" At first Vee was convinced that whoever it was had been talking to someone else, but when no one answered she looked over her shoulder.

It was the same guy that had come to her aid inside. She wasn't absolutely sure because she hadn't gotten a good look at him but she hadn't really seen any other guys around who were quite so tall - or blonde for that matter.

"I don't smoke." She responded simply, slipping the lighter back into the pocket of her jeans.

"Why have you got a lighter if you don't smoke?"

Vee rolled her eyes before turning so that she was facing him. "Why do you have condoms when no one wants to have sex with you?"

It was harsh and it was also mostly a guess, but by the shocked expression that briefly passed over his face it would seem that she'd hit a nerve.

"Hey, I know that guy back there was a dick but that's no reason to be a bitch to me." He crossed his arms as a pout appeared on his handsome face.

"Just leave me alone." Vee sighed, pushing her hair out of her face as she turned back towards the street and away from the stranger. "I shouldn't have come." She muttered to herself.

It was quiet for a few moments and just as she was beginning to think the guy had left he spoke up. "How about I drive you home?"

Vee scoffed, once again turning around to face him. "I don't even know you, why would I get into a car with you?"

"Because you don't want to be here and I'm offering you a lift." He pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and shrugged his shoulders, his eyes never leaving Vee's face.

"I still don't know you." She argued back even though she could already feel her conviction wavering.

"We could always change that on the drive home." He suggested with a charming smile.

Vee tried to remember that this was a terrible idea, but the thought of staying at the party any longer made her want to tear her hair out. So with a sigh she reluctantly nodded her head.

-

i really need to stop starting new stories before i've finished other ones. oh well.