21 | t h e u n e x p e c t e d

I stayed in the room practically the entire weekend, only coming out to use the bathroom and to grab snacks. I had made Noah sneak into Ace's room to grab my duffle bag full of my things so I wouldn't have to face him.

It's safe to say that I had not had a good weekend and for the first time, I was ready to go back to school; where I would see Ace. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

On Monday, I moved sluggishly, taking a shower, getting dressed; all the necessary things. Lilli was picking me up five minutes earlier than the time Ace left for school. I trudged downstairs with my backpack on and didn't even stop in the kitchen because

I heard far too many voices.

Her car was already parked on the sidewalk and I hopped in, not even telling her 'good morning.' She gave me the side eye the entire way until that didn't work. So she started sighing dramatically. She wanted to know what had me so upset.

I had yet to tell her because it hurt too much to even think about, let alone discuss for the second time. After I had sobbed to Ryder and Ace about my feelings, I had felt empty inside. I had let my feelings out, why let them crawl back in?

"I know you told me not to ask you about it, but Rose, I'm dying here. I hate seeing you sad," Lilli told me, pleading in her voice.

I sighed dramatically like she had just been doing. "Ace and I's fake relationship is over." She raised an eyebrow. "And so is whatever real one we had too," I added.

"What happened to the plan we came up with on Friday? You know, the whole telling him how you feel about him. It was all romantic and shit. Did it not work?"

I hugged my backpack to my chest. "I never even got to spew how much I wanted to be with him."

"But why?" She egged on. I said nothing. "Alright, Melrose Rae King, I am your best friend. I have been since we were little. And when have I never not been there for you?" I shrugged. "Exactly. Why aren't you telling me why you're sad?"

"Because it hurts," I whisper softly.

We had pulled up to the school and when Lilli Parked, she turned to me. "I know it hurts. But I just want to help you not be sad anymore."

I sighed and opened the car door, taking my backpack with me. Lilli did the same, begrudgingly. "It's stupid. I'm so stupid. We weren't even together yet so I guess what he did shouldn't even make me upset."

"God Rose, what did he do?"

But before I could tell her about finding the boy I liked on top of the girl I now hated, Ace's car pulled into the parking lot. I heard a squeal behind us and I whipped around to see Sophie running toward it.

We watched as Ace got out of the car and walked toward her. And then Sophie kissed him on the cheek but Ace held a hand to her cheek and pulled her into a full on kiss on the lips. I turned back to Lilli, feeling sick to my stomach.

Her eyes were wide and her mouth was sewn into a grim line. "What the fuck?"

"Yeah," I whispered and turned back to the oh-so-happy couple. I caught Ace's eyes and his shown in guilt but his lips turned to a smirk.

-

There were a few things I never expected from Ace James Carter.

One: I never expected him to be the sweet guy I had come to know. I had always thought he was just a mean bad boy.

Two: Ace Carter was a cuddler. Definitely didn't expect that one.

Three: I never thought Ace Carter was capable of holding my heart in his hands and crushing it beyond belief. I never thought he'd steal my breath from my lungs just so I wouldn't be able to breathe. And I never thought he'd stoop so low to want to hurt me so terribly.

And four: I didn't think I'd ever be the girl to fall in love. Even after breaking my heart into a million shattered pieces, I didn't think I'd fall in love with Ace Carter. But I was falling.

-

Sophie and Ace passed right by me and he didn't bother looking my way. Lilli pulled me back into the car and tried to calm me down. I told her I was fine but she could always see right through me. She offered to take me somewhere, anywhere but I didn't want to miss any school.

And so I went to class with Lilli beside me and I ignored the stares that followed us. I sat in my seat and kept my gaze down the entire hour. And that's what I did for the rest of the day; the rest of the week.

Eventually I started going over to Lilli's house most days for dinner so Anna and Austin had no reason to ask me to come to the dinner table. And then I'd fall asleep in the guest bedroom at Ace's house, knowing he was directly across the hall from me. And I knew I couldn't do it anymore. I had to go home.

So that weekend, I had Lilli drive me back over to the apartment where I lived with Charlie and had her drop me off by my car. I hadn't told her I planned on moving back in because if I had, she wouldn't have allowed it. But I needed to get away from Ace and I didn't want to put my burden on my best friend who had dealt with my moping the entire week.

I opened the front door with the key I still carried everywhere and stepped in.

For once, I hoped Charlie was there. My wish came true. "Mellie?" I heard the soft voice from the couch.

"I'm home," I deadpanned and started walking to my room. There was someone sleeping in my bed. "What the fuck?"

"What are you whining about?" Charlie yelled from the end of the hall.

I turned and walked to him, stopping in front of his face. "Who the hell is in my room?"

"I needed more money so I rented your room out," he slurred.

Oh great.

"You-" I paused, catching my breath, done with his bullshit. "It's my room."

He chortled. "You left with your little boyfriend Mellie. I didn't think you'd come back."

"You're the most unbelievable person I've ever met Charles King. A terrible father and a terrible man. No wonder mom left you," I spit out, disgusted.

He pushed me against the wall by my shoulders. "What did you just say to me?" Her ground out.

I push against his hold and surprisingly, his arms fell away from me. "I said, you're a disgusting human fucking being. I don't deserve to be treated like this."

Wow.

Standing up for myself felt amazing and I was surprised I didn't do it more often. Charlie glared at me with an intimidating look. Two weeks ago, I would have been scared of that look. But now, I was fed up with being treated like a rag doll with no emotions. I had feelings and I could be hurt. But I no longer was going to let Charlie's words or Ace's actions hurt me or make me weak.

Fuck that shit.

"You little bitch. Who told you you could speak to me like that?"

I rolled my shoulders and stepped closer. "I did."

Charlie shoved me against the wall again, my back hitting it with force. But

I shoved right back. He wasn't expecting it but he should have been. This past month had taught me to expect even the most unexpected things.

He fell back and I leaned over his sprawled body like he had done to me two weeks before. "You will never fucking touch me again you pig. Now get the goddamn guy in my bed out of my room."

Charlie eyed me with surprise and respect and even a little bit of fear. "You're a big girl Mellie. Get him out yourself."

I shrugged and walked back to my room and ten minutes later after a lot of yelling and shoving, the drunk as hell man was out of my house.

Sometimes, you just had to do shit yourself if you wanted anything done.

Um hi. Mel just did that.

I'm literally proud of her which is dumb because I made her do that. But still.

So this chapter had 1,400 words and I wrote in all in less than an hour.

From this point on, I got some DRAMA planned so get ready for that.

I really do appreciate everyone who's reading my story. Thank you so much!

See you next chapter.

-Haley