Saving Athena ✓

17) Hugs

A t h e n a

My fingers graze the worn-out covers, so worn out I can barely make out what they say. The library is filled to the brim with books, overflowing into the wood shelves that are held up with books. I smile, grabbing a random book and sliding my back down the wall as I squint my eyes. I even run my hand over the book but it doesn't help me see.

"What are you doing?" Someone asks, I look up to see Ace with his brows pulled together, I gesture to the book. He had brought me with him to his college since he needed to pick up books and I just happened to be with him. I knew he secretly wanted to hang out with me though.

He absentmindedly comes over, sitting next to me as our thighs and forearms touch. He takes the book from my hand and squints his eyes. "Tales of a rose," he mumbles, handing me back the book.

"Ah, this is Miss Sheila's book." I hold the book with a smile, he raises an eyebrow. "She's the old lady that comes to the diner every day."

He nods, we stay silent for a bit until I lift myself up, dusting off my black skirt and putting the book back. He tries to get up only to fall back down. I bite back a smile. He tries again and slips down. He rubs his eyes and holds his hands out. "Help me up."

"Say please and I will," I say, he groans before dropping his hands.

He tries again but he's too tall, his legs are cramped down. He slumps his shoulders and sighs. "Fine, please help me," he breathes out, I reach down and hold his hands as I pull him up with ease. He stumbles a bit and grips my shoulders to steady himself.

"Easy there," I murmur, he lets me go and we walk out of the library, into the white-painted hallways. The college is empty since it's late but it still feels vast, full. We fall into a comfortable silence as I admire the college. I envy the kids who get to go here.

"You wanna go to burger king?" I turn to him abruptly, he raises an eyebrow.

"What is that?" He asks, my jaw slacks open.

"You've never been?"

He shakes his head, I pout my lips out and give his forearm a reassuring pat. Poor boy. "You, Ace Hawthrone, need to have burger king once in your life."

"Put in the directions," he hands me his phone unlocked and all, his phone is organized, everything into folders. I find the directions and type them in before handing it back to him. He stares at it before nodding and typing something. We head to his car and get in, I rub my hands together from how cold it is.

"Why are you always cold?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Hm?" I raise an eyebrow of my own.

"Cold," he points to me. "You're always cold, you're trembling."

"What?" I look down at myself and hug my crewneck closer to my body. "I think I'm just hungry."

"Well, we should probably go," he puts the car in drive and speeds out of the parking lot. We fall into comfortable silence before an idea pops into my head, I reach into my bag and pull out a penny, we stop at a red light so I take his free hand, resting on the arm-rest, and press the penny to his palm. He looks down and back at me. "What are you doing?"

"Penny for your thoughts?" I ask, and for the first time, a gorgeous smirk tugs at his lips, showing the little dimple he has on his right cheek. I smile just looking at him.

✧

"What are you getting?" Ace asks from behind me, I turn and tell him I'm getting the whopper meal. He nods and purses his lips. "Order for me, please."