21|| Debt

Before you start reading I want to thank y'all for 17k+ reads!

"You know I never knew I'd be like this." Nigel started. "After your mother died I snapped, I needed a distraction and you were there." He continued as he grabbed a pocket knife and alcohol.

"I'm sorry" I whispered. "Did I give you permission to speak?" He growled. I shook my head 'no' not wanting to get in any more trouble.

He set the knife and alcohol down as he went into the kitchen. He came back in a worse mood than before.

His breath reeked of alcohol. Something I'll hate forever.

He suddenly grabbed the knife and cut my knee, he gave me four cuts down the same leg each time deeper and longer.

He grabbed the alcohol and poured it down my cuts.

"Soon this will be all over. I promise." He murmured.

I was 8 I didn't want the life I so happened to have.

I woke in cold sweats, I was breathing heavily as I had just run a marathon.

I looked around my room and Ace and Vincent pinning my arms and legs down.

Roman was sitting in a seat looking as if he were in deep thought. Matteo was leaning against the door frame and Asher was standing in a corner quietly.

Ace and Vincent released me and I sat up and threw my blanket off of me.

"Everyone out except for myself and Vincent." Romans' deep voices boomed.

"But-" Ace started but quickly shut his mouth when Roman glared at him.

They left and Vincent sat on the foot of the bed while Roman was still thinking.

"What was the dream about?" Roman asked. I shook my head and went to walk to the bathroom but Roman gently grabbed my arm and put me in front of him.

"It's not good to bottle up your emotions like that." He told me with a blank expression. "It's not good for you either, you said you'd be a better brother Roman. Where is he, huh?" I said then I snatched my arm from his grip and stepped out of my bedroom

I walked down the haul and leaned against the wall with my mind swirling with emotions. I quickly pushed it down and saved it another time cause I had to pee.

I went downstairs to the guest bathroom and did my business.

I then walked to my room hoping the boys were out of my room. I cautiously walked to the door just to accidentally listen to a conversation.

"We have to tell her," Vincent said. "Are you crazy? No, we will not tell her. She needs to heal didn't you see her? Nigel is haunting her dreams, Vincent. It pains me to not be able to take my Princepessa's pain away." Roman said.

I slowly walked backward just to bump into a hard chest.

I turned around and saw Ace smirking down at me. "Listen to secret convos?" He questioned.

"Uhhh" I hesitated to try to think of a quick lie. Should I even lie? It's Ace he's the only one I talk to.

"Yeah, I am. Roman made me mad so I'm probably going to avoid him for a while." I said cockily.

"Nice, wanna go get ice cream before school?" He asked. "Yeah, let me go get dressed," I said as I ran downstairs.

Luckily Vincent had just done my laundry so I have one of my uniforms in the laundry room.

After being dressed I slipped on my air forces and met Ace in the car.

The ride was silent, comfortable silence but there was soft music playing in the background.

Once we arrived at the ice cream shop we both hopped out and walked inside to order.

"Hi what can I get you both today?" A preppy girl had asked.

"Two scoops of Pistachio for myself." He paused and looked at me and I whisper to him cookie dough.

I'm afraid to order myself. Sue me.

"And one scoop of cookie dough for her" he continued.

We got our order after Ace paid and sat down with the creamy, amazing, delicious, I'm rambling, aren't I?

Anywho we ate quietly until I decided to spark up a conversation.

"So, what do you do for fun?" I asked. The question seemed to take Ace back but he quickly recovered and answered the question.

"Oh, uhh parties." He responded.

"You know you don't have to keep the mean bad guy facade around me right? What does the real Ace Moretti do for fun?" I said

Ace blew out a shaky breath and avoided eye contact with me.

"I like to paint" I murmured. My eye lit up like Anton Ego when he tasted the ratatouille dish.

"That's. So. Awesome! Can you do landscapes? Creepy stuff? Portraits?" My questions bolted out quicker than I could think.

Ace finally made eye contact and smiled. "I'm glad you think it's cool." He responded.

"Well I know for a fact you have an art room, so you'll show me after school speaking of which we have to leave before we're late," I said.

Ace checked the time and quickly grabbed his bowl and mine then threw them in the trash.

Luckily I was finished with mine. Rude.

We both briskly walked to the car and Ace drove to school in like 10 minutes. Mind you we were 20 minutes away.

We grabbed our bags and walked into school both of us going our separate ways not before Ace gave me a quick head kiss and wished me luck for the school day.

It was the second period now and that meant algebra yippie.

I sat in my seat next to a guy that never did any work but always dared to ask for MY notes. People these days.

"Alrighty everybody pop quiz today! Only 10 questions so don't go crazy on me" Mr. Yang my math teacher exclaimed.

After the quiz, I get like I was on top of the world Mr. Yang took around twenty minutes to grade our quizzes.

Once I got mine back I flipped it over to see I got a 4 out of 10!

I thought I nailed this.

I huffed and stuffed the paper in my folder. The bell rang and I grabbed my bag and walked out.

Unfortunately, I was the last one out after getting pushed and shoved.

Once I was out the door the halls were practically empty, excluding a few class skippers.

As I was walking to class I heard a whistle. Ignoring it thinking it was meant for someone else I kept walking.

In a split second my arm was grabbed tightly and I turned to see a blond boy around 5'11 smirking down at me.

"You're pretty cute." He stated. "Yeah, I guess I am," I responded trying to rip my arm from his grip.

What is it with guys grabbing my arms today? PLUS, why do I keep getting harassed at this dumb school?

"Feisty." He chuckled. His grip got tighter by the second letting me know I'll have a bruise sooner or later.

"Let me go, you weirdo!" I yelled I tried to punch him but he just grabbed my hand stopping my motion. Where are my brothers when I really need 'em?!

Within seconds a loud bang echoed through the walls and the blond boy was on the ground groaning.

My arm was throbbing and my body was shaking.

"Calm down, breath in and out sweetheart." A deep voice whispered to me.

Once my breathing was under control I turned around and saw River towering over me his eyes were dark and very at first but they softened just a bit by looking at me. Weird.

He stared into my eyes not before looking away abruptly. I quickly took in the time to look at his appearance. He was wearing light blue jeans with a black hoodie and a random rigs on his fingers. Cool.  This is my first time noticing he's the only student who doesn't wear the school uniform.

"T-thanks" I whispered.

"Mhm, you owe me," he said lowly.

He turned around and started walking away. I promise I heated him mutter 'such beautiful eyes' but I'm probably wrong. If I could change anything about myself it would be my eyes there so weird, unusual even.

I started walking to my 3rd period trying to focus on anything but what had just happened.

Thank you all for 17k reads it's literally mind blowing! I also want to thank you guys for your patience I've been pretty busy. I kinda rushed on this chapter so hopefully it's up to par. How did you like it? QOTD: Did you guys see the face reveal? If not should I repost it?  Don't be a silent reader! Xoxo

Mya❤️