"You need to leave with Jake. I can't keep you safe here, Bella. Please," Andy pleads, his voice choked with urgency. His eyes are wide with a mix of fear and desperation. He carefully lifts himself off me, his movements cautious, trying to remain hidden from view. I sit up slowly, my body trembling uncontrollably from fear.
"I'm not leaving without you, Andy," I insist, my voice breaking as tears well up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks.
Without warning, Andy pulls the delicate necklace I once gave him from around his neck. With trembling hands, he places it in my palm, closing my fingers around it to secure it. "Andy, no-" I protest, but my words are cut off as his soft, warm lips meet mine. The kiss is tender but urgent, his hand gently cupping the back of my neck. He pulls away, his eyes brimming with sadness and determination.
"Please, I'll be okay, I promise," he begs, his voice a whisper that barely reaches me. Jake remains hidden nearby, peering around the corner, his gun firing intermittently at anyone who dares come too close as the flashes of gunfire and the sound of bullets pierce through anything in their path.
My heart pounds violently in my chest, each beat echoing the tension of the moment. I nod hesitantly, my resolve wavering but firm. Relief washes over Andy's face instantly as he quickly presses his lips against mine once more, his kiss a desperate plea. He then plants a gentle kiss on my forehead, his touch soft and reassuring.
"I love you," he says, his forehead resting against mine, our eyes closed.
"I love you too"
Before I knew it my shirt was torn away from my torso and tossed on the floor, Charlie's doing the same. Our kiss intensified and I felt him groan against my lips. I swear to god, this boy is making out with me like his life depends on it!
And that's when reality punched me in the gut... the words 'this boy' kept running through my head over and over again until it got through the thick fog of vodlka and whatever else was in those stupid drinks.
I, Ace Loughty, was kissing a guy. A fucking guy. A fucking straight guy named Charlie Simmons who of course had to be one of the most popular dickheads in Meadow Ridge High.
I am so unbelievably fucked.
-----
17 year old Ace Loughty was never one longing to be in the spotlight. In fact, he craved the exact opposite: being left alone. When Ace was 13, the tragic death of his younger sister Eleanor caused him to rapidly gain popularity and pitiful looks. He hated the attention. All of a sudden everyone wanted to be friends with the dead girls brother, they'd promise Ace he would never be alone that they would always be there for him, which he of course knew was untrue, they're all just hungry for attention. Sometime later the school moved onto other drama and gossip, things started to die down and people finally left Ace alone. He moved on with his life, convincing himself he was over Eleanor's death and as quick as the whole thing started, he returned to being lonely, weird, quiet nobody Ace. Just how he liked it.
That is until 4 years later when he found himself sprawled out on a bed. With Charlie Simmons hovering over him. Charlie Simmons who was kissing Ace like he would die if he ever dared to stop. Which was all too true. Without kissing Ace, Charlie was as good as dead.
*WARNING*: This story will contain themes of severe depression, suicide, abuse and somewhat graphic depiction of self harm. If any of these things may trigger you please rethink reading this story!!
Started: January 21st 2020