32 | t e a s e

After falling back asleep for a little longer, Anna woke us both up to eat and to get us out of the bedroom, alone. Austin was at the table, cutting up Noah's breakfast into smaller pieces. Noah sat there, rolling his eyes, but with a huge grin.

"What, can't cut up your own waffles, kid?" Ace asked his brother, sitting down next to him.

Noah turned to Ace. "Why would I do it myself when dad wants to do it for me?"

The kid had a point.

Ace just ruffled his hair and pulled me to sit next to him on the bench.

"What are your plans for the day?" Anna asked us when she came back into the dining room with a plate full of fresh waffles.

I glanced at my boyfriend. Was he going to tell them about Kaz?

"I don't know, we'll probably just go hang out with the guys," Ace answered for us, evading the truth a bit.

Austin nodded. "How are Ryder and Kaz? We haven't seen much of them around here in awhile."

Partly my fault.

"We hang out a lot more at school now, I guess," Ace shrugged, acting weirdly nonchalant. Right then, Ace's phone played a text tone. He glanced at it quickly and gave me a look.

It was Kaz. It had to be.

"Speak of the devils, just got a text confirming our plans. Mel, you wanna come with me to Kaz's house or would you rather stay here today?"

His voice begged me to join him. I had a slight feeling that Ace thought the conversation was going to get awkward and he wanted my support along with him. "I'll go with you, if that's okay."

"More than okay," he told me, placing his hand on my thigh, tracing small circles on my kneecap.

So after we ate, we went upstairs, to our separate rooms and got ready. I pulled on a pair of jeans, a light sweater and vans. I threw my hair up into a quick ponytail and looked in the mirror for anything else to fix.

Oh there was.

I stormed out of my room and knocked loudly on Ace's door. "Yeah?" I heard him answer.

I pushed open the door and found him lying on his bed, playing a game on his phone. "Ace!"

"What?" He looked up and then looked back down to his game.

I moved closer, my feet stomping on his floor. I grabbed his phone and narrowed my eyes when he whined. "You did this," I pointed to the purple bruise on my neck.

Ace chuckled, "awe, you look cute with a hickey."

"No! I can't go out with this thing here! Everyone will know that-"

Ace laughed. "What? That your boyfriend kisses you?"

"That you sucked on my neck like a vampire!"

He smirked, "I did no such thing."

"Ace! That means your parents and your little brother saw it," I frowned, my eyebrows scrunching together. He grabbed my hands and pulled me closer, and puckered his lips for a kiss. "You're hilarious if you think I'm gonna kiss you now."

Ace pulled me even closer and moved his hands up my arms. "I love you?" He told me as a replacement for an apology.

"Can't relate," I deadpanned.

Now his eyebrows scrunched adorably and he frowned. "I'm sorry. But can't you just cover it up with makeup?"

"I could, if I knew how to cover up a hickey."

He smiled. "I'll text Katie."

"No! I don't want your little cousin to know either!" I whined.

Ace stared at me. "Sooooo, what do you want me to do?"

"To NOT GIVE ME HICKEYS ANYMORE," I yelled a little too loud and winced.

He smiled. "I can agree to try but I can't promise anything."

"You're impossible," I told him and then walked out. I heard him chuckle behind me and I ignored him, walking back into my room.

We left half an hour later. Ace drove us both to Kaz's house and I adjusted my jacket for the tenth time to try and hide the purple bruising on my neck. When we got there, Ace grabbed my hand in an effort to control his nerves.

I squeezed his hand and he ran his free hand over my cheek in a loving caress. He knocked on the door and Kaz answered, looking haggard.

"Hey man," Ace said and then cringed at how odd it sounded.

Kaz said nothing but stepped aside to let us in. He glanced at me and didn't look pleased or angry that I had shown up too. I saw Ryder leaning against the back of the couch, waiting for us.

"Hi," I broke the silence as I greeted Ryder and Kaz.

Ryder smiled. "Hey there Mel. Nice hickey."

I gasped and cupped my hand over my neck, ready to yell at him for calling me out.

"Don't tease her," Ace told him with a smirk. "She's already mad at me for doing it in the first place."

Kaz snorted and stepped over to the couch before sitting down. Ryder glanced at him worriedly and bit his lip, anxiously. "So."

"So?" Ace egged.

"I'm gonna sit down," I told everyone to ease the tension but I ended up sounding awkward.

When was I not?

"Kaz, would you like to start?" Ryder nudged his friend.

He sighed and sat up a little taller. "Well I'm sure you can tell now, but I'm gay."

"Aaaaand?" Ryder asked as if he were child.

Kaz sucked on his teeth. "And I shouldn't have kissed you, Ace. I like you and I have for a while. I know it's no excuse, but I was drunk and stupid. I wasn't even planning on telling you anytime soon."

Ace nodded. "I forgive you Kaz. But I'm not the only one you need to apologize to," he told him and squeezed my hand again.

I inched back into the couch, uncomfortable with all the eyes on me.

Kaz took a deep breath. "You're right," he looked right at me. "I'm sorry Mel. I've been terrible to you and I know it. I've been jealous of you. Ace has never liked a girl like he liked you. And I wanted that. I'm sorry for acting like a jackass, and not just last night."

I nodded. "I forgive you too Kaz. But on two conditions." He nodded me on. "No more being mean to me and no more kissing Ace," I told him with a smirk.

"I think I can handle that," he replied with a small smirk.

Okay so this part was pretty short (1,100 words). But I wanted to get it up quickly to thank you guys for 10k VIEWS!

Thank you so much for reading my story. I know I say this every chapter, but seriously.

Anyway, I'll see you next time!

Haley out