Liability

Chapter 17

"Hello?" I picked my phone after the third ring.

"Long time no talk." I heard Ace's voice and my breath caught in my throat.

"I uh..I've been busy.." Blocking you. I waited behind the line after two minutes of awkward silence.

"What was your reason?" He asked.

"For what?" I tried to play dumb because I hate getting into serious discussions like this.

"...nevermind. What are you doing today?" He asked me in his usual tone.

"My mom's on a trip so I'm alone. I was planning to study physics." I said.

"I'm taking you to Pontchartrain." He said.

"I uh..."

"It wasn't a request." He said.

"I.." I heard the line beeping which signaled the fact that he hung up on me. Asshole. I got up from the couch and filled Pixie's food bowl because it was time for her lunch. I put "Dancing Queen" by ABBA on and cooked some pasta for myself. It's so weird being all alone and independent with a bunch of responsibilities although I should say that being without my mother is a blessing. I spent some time bing-watching random shows on Netflix and ate my pasta. At 7 my doorbell rang and I got up to open the door.

"Why aren't you dressed?" I saw Ace's face which was impatient with a frown.

"I lost track of time. You can wait inside." I said and gestured for him to come inside. After 30 minutes, I was dressed and ready to go. I also wore a jacket because it was chilly a bit since it was September.

"You're fast." He said and got up.

"Tell me something I don't know." I said and rolled my eyes.

"Brat." He said and shook his head. We started walking to the metro station. The ride was quiet and there were not so many people in.

"Why are you so different than other girls?" Ace asked suddenly. I looked at him and thought about it for a bit.

"Probably because I'm not scared to be myself because I'm not trying to impress anybody. Plus I think all girls are amazing, it's just the ones you hang out with who come off as 'cliche'." I said. He nodded his head in agreement and we got off the metro. After we took our spot on the same hill that we went to the first time, we stared at the sunset.

"How's your ex?" I asked.

"She's fine." He said.

"Did anything happen?" I waited for his answer patiently and tried to prevent my heart from dropping dead after his answer because I knew what was coming.

"She told me that she misses me and I met her." He said with sadness painted all over his beautiful face.

"And?" I asked with my heart in my throat.

"I asked her if she loves me and she said she doesn't know so I got mad and told her why she told me she missed me if she doesn't love me and then she said that she didn't say she doesn't love me." He said.

"I think she's playing with you." I said and tried to contain my tears from falling because my heart was aching for him. He doesn't deserve this.

"I don't know. I'm over her anyways." He said and stared at the lake again. We stayed there for a bit and left when it got darker. He walked me back and when we got to the door he stood there in an uncertain way.

"I had fun." I said.

"Yeah, me too." He said.

"Guess I'll see you around." I said and he took his hand out of his pocket for me to shake.

"I only shake hands with my friends." I said that and literally ran inside, slamming the door in his face.