Chapter 25


    CHAPTER 25: NEW FRIENDS


    or Elise calling me. I hurry over to where my phone is on the charger and grab it, not bothering to look at


    the name. When | connect to the video call, I’m a bit shocked at what I’m seeing. I’m thinking that


    someone misdialed as the view I have is of a male’s body with a towel wrapped so low on their hips that I


    can see the deep V…and are those pubes sticking out of the top of the towel?


    The camera begins to move upward, and I see nothing but abs with great definition, telling me that this


    person works out. My heart is beating really fast as I begin to get the feeling that I know that chest, but it


    can’t be –it’s been three long weeks without a word. Suddenly, green eyes that appear and a smile that I


    will always hold dear, greet me, and before I can say anything, he speaks first.


    “Hello, E. You have been a very naughty girl!”


    I suck in some much-needed air, “Jace…”


    “Oh, so you do know who I am?” he asks sarcastically with a smirk, “I thought maybe you had forgotten


    who I was, since you never bothered to say goodbye, or even tell me that you got into Yale.”


    I’m at a loss for words, and don’t really have an excuse as to why I never told him I was leaving. At least


    not one that he will like. I didn’t think he wanted to talk to me since I hadn’t heard from him after that


    night. How am I supposed to know that he would have epted my call or responded to my text?


    Jace, I never heard back from you after that night. I waited a week and a half before I booked my flight. I


    thought you were through with me.”


    “How many times have I told you that I’m not going anywhere, E? What’s it going to take for you to


    realize that you are mine, for always?” He looks away for a moment, and when he peers back at me, I


    can see a bit of hurt in his eyes, but I know he will never admit to it, “Why didn’t you tell me that you got


    into Yale? When did you know that you would be going to a college all the way across the United


    States?”


    I nce down, closing my eyes, because I know this is going to upset him. When I lock eyes with him


    again, I hesitate. For some reason I don’t want to hurt him, but I know I can’t lie to him either,”Actually,


    my original flight was supposed to be the day after my attack. I was on my way home from grabbingst


    minute items when they stopped me,” I feel a sting starting in my eyes and l’ m not sure if I will be able to


    hold the tears back, “That’s how they knew that I was out and about, because I ran into Kaylee in the


    store.”


    I can really see the hurt now, but then it changes to anger, and I wait for the explosion that I know is


    coming, but then it neveres. This is something new. I wouldn’t have med him for being upset with


    me, but I never expected him to calm his emotions before he tries talking to me again. This isn’t the bully


    that tormented me for two years; it isn’t the bully that got mad at me if I said something out of turn, and it


    definitely isn’t the bully that shoved me into lockers or hit things out of my hands beforeughing with his


    friends.


    “E, I don’t understand why you kept all of this from me. Do you hate me that much because of what


    I’ve done? Is there no redeeming myself with you?” He asks me these questions with no emotion.


    “I don’t hate you, Jace, I could never hate you. I dislike you at times, but never hate. I am working on


    forgiving you, but it’s not something that happens overnight.”


    “How am I supposed to make it up to you if you’re all the way over in New Ennd?” He scoffs.


    I smile because this is the Jace I know, “Well, for starters, what we are doing right now will be enough


    until Ie home for breaks. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, so you could prepare for my absence, but again,


    you left me on the sidewalk without so much as a goodbye thest time we were together.”


    “I know I fucked up that night by leaving it that way, but I needed to get away from you because I didn’t


    want to hurt you. I went back to the training facility that night, and I just got back today. I was trying to be


    better for you, E. It’s hard changing from being a bully towards you to trying to be somebody that you


    would want to be with.” He chuckles sadly.


    “Oh, Jace…”


    “Forget it, E, it’s fine. I will figure it out,” he looks me over and then gives me a weird look, “Why are


    you dressed up, you don’t have a date, do you?”


    I hold back my giggle as I look myself over, “I’m wearing jeans and a sweater, Jace. I’m hardly dressed


    up.”


    “Why are you wearing makeup then?” He lifts a brow.


    “It’s mascara and lip gloss, that’s all. I’m going up to my friend Reece’s apartment because her and her


    roommate are hosting a game night with friends.”


    He grunts, “You know you’re still mine, right?”


    I bite my lip and study him for a moment, “Am I? I guess we will have to talk about it more when I get


    back home.”


    “E,” he says my name in warning.


    “Don’t worry, Jace. I’m not going to date anyone until we have talked, I promise.” I roll my eyes jokingly,


    but a gruntes over the speaker of the phone.


    “Did you just roll your eyes at me?” That voice that does things to my girly bitses through.


    “I’m sorry, Jace.”


    “You’re going to be sorry when I redden that pretty peach of yours the next time I see you.” He’s being


    totally serious but there is still humor hidden in his eyes, “Go to the bathroom, E.”


    “Huh, why?” I’m lost.


    “Don’t question me, just take your cute ass to your bathroom.” I do as he says and then just stand there,


    waiting to hear why he wants me in here, “Do you have any baby wipes?”


    “What girl doesn’t have baby wipes?” | ask.


    “Don’t be smart with me, E. Now, I want you to take one, and wipe off all that gunk from your face.”


    “What? Why, it’s only two little things?” I’m astounded at how upset he is that I’m wearing this little bit of


    makeup.


    “Because I don’t want you going out like that without me. You are beautiful enough as it is, you don’t


    need to be adding any of that shit!” He scowls.


    I can’t help the smile that forms on my face. How can I argue with him when he goes and says


    something like that? “Okay, Jace.” Taking a makeup wipe, I scrub my eyes to make sure all the clumps


    are off myshes and then take tissue paper to my lips, “There, did I get it all?” I smirk as I bat my eyes.


    “Don’t be a smartass, E, and yes, you look much better, thank you.”


    Oh my God, did Jace Palmer just say thank you? “You’re wee, Jace,” I nce at the time, “I better


    get going or I’m going to bete.”


    “Okay, but I want you to call me when you get home. I know you’re only going to your neighbor’s but


    please be careful and keep your phone on you the whole time. Oh, and don’t take a drink from a


    stranger.”


    His warning actually makes my heart skip a beat, knowing that he really does care about me enough to


    remind me to be careful, “I will do all of that, Jace. I’ll talk to youter, bye.”


    “Bye, E.”


    I’m sad when his face disappears from my screen, and I sit here staring at my wallpaper for a moment,


    “What just happened, and who the hell was that?” I ask myself out loud.


    I knock on Reece and Gabe’s door just a few minutes after seven. The sound of footsteps can be heard


    coming towards the door right before it opens. Reece smiles brightly when she sees who’s at the door,


    “Hey E! Gabe said that he invited you, but we weren’t sure if you wereing. Come on in, I’m so


    happy you’re here!”


    “Yeah, sorry I’m a littlete. I got ast-minute phone call that I needed to take.” I return her smile.


    “Oh, you’re fine. We are still waiting on a few more people, so consider yourself early.” She giggles and


    leads me into the living room.


    New Friends


    Their apartment is almost the exactyout as mine, how the front door opens up to a small hallway.


    There is a coat closet on one side and directly across from it is a utility closet. The end of the hall opens


    up to the living space with the kitchen to the left and living room on the right. There is a bathroom that


    faces the hall, with two closed doors on each side of it, which I can only assume are the bedrooms. Their


    ce is just a bit bigger than mine due to the second bedroom, but it’s pretty much a mirror of mine.


    “There she is! Come on over, E, and I’ll introduce you to these assholes.” Gabe jokes as he points to


    two other guys.


    “Hey, Gabe, how are you doing?” I ask politely.


    “Better, now that you actually showed up,” He winks at me and then turns to his friends, “This here is


    Deke,” he points to the guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes, not a bad looking guy, but really not my


    type. Gabe then moves to the other guy, “this is Collin, he’s the brains of our threesome.” The Collin guy


    rolls his eyes and smiles shyly at me as he says ‘hi’. He’s got brownish-red hair, a little on the longer


    side, with brown eyes as well, only he has a pair of framed sses sitting on top of the bridge of his


    nose.


    “Nice to meet both of you,” I reach out and shake both their hands, “I’m the new girl and neighbor from


    the second floor.” I grin.


    “So, how did you and Gabe meet?’ Deke asks.


    “Oh, well, I was bringing my clothes down to be washed and he was down there going through our


    neighbor’sundry and sniffing their underwear…”


    Gabe cuts me off, “What the fuck, E? I was not…”


    Ilean in close to his friends and put my hand to one side of my mouth as though I’m telling them a secret,


    “He had a pair of pink granny panties up to his nose,” I straighten back up, “Creepiest thing I’ve ever


    seen, I tell ya.”


    Both Deke and Collin burst outughing as they point to Gabe, who is looking a bit flushed but is grinning


    from ear-to-ear at me, “Paybacks are a bitch, E.”


    I can’t hold myugh in any longer, so I let it burst out of me as I take a seat in an armchair, “Seriously,


    though, we did meet in theundry room, but he was folding his ownundry. At least I think it was his.” I


    shrug with a smile.


    “Ha, ha, ha!” Gabe throws a decorative pillow at my face.


    “I really like this one, Gabe!” Deke expresses as he continues to chuckle.


    Reecees in with some snack foods and ces them on the coffee table before perching herself on


    the arm of my chair, “Hands off, Deke! That goes for all of you, as she points to the three guys. At first,


    I’m thinking she’s talking about the snacks, but then she continues, “E is off limits! She’s here to


    concentrate on school, not guys!”


    Oh! What brought this little speech on? We are justughing and having a good time, but as if she could


    read my mind, she nces down at me, “I’ve known these assholes for far too long, and I can tell that


    each one of them has already undressed you, fucked you, and sent you on your way, in their heads


    already.” She lifts her brows at me telling me to believe her.


    I feel my face go red as I look at each one of their annoyed expressions, telling me that Reece nailed it


    right on the head, “Well,” || clear my throat, “I hope they at least had a good time and that I didn’t


    disappoint, because that’s all they’re going to get from me.” I give them each a smug smile as Reece


    falls to the floor,ughing.


    “Hell, yes! In your face, guys!” Reece rubs it into the guys before looking at me, “I think we are going to


    be the best of friends, E!”


    Reece is the exact opposite of me. Where I’m dark hair and blue eyes, she is blonde hair and brown


    eyes. I’m five foot and three inches tall with an average body build, Reece is five foot and five inches tall


    and curvy in all the right ces. She is very outgoing and loud, where I’m more of an introvert and


    usually quiet, but thisst trait could be due to thest couple of years. I surprised myself tonight, being


    outgoing and joking around like I was just a little bit ago, but I feel reallyfortable here. I think being


    friends with Reece is going to do me a lot of good. I’m already off to a great start being away from home


    and all the drama that tends to follow me around while I’m there.


    As I unlock my front door, I’m thinking about how much fun game night has been, and I know that Reece


    and Gabe usually host it every week, but I offered to have it at my ce every once in a while, if they


    want a break. Their other friends are not able to host it, and so I thought it was only fair that I offer,


    because I want this to be part of my weekly routine. I want different, I want new, I want anything


    that is not going to remind me of back home; except I still want Jace as well, and that makes no sense at


    all.


    Walking into my dark apartment, I flip the switch, turning the hall light on. I lock my door and then lean


    against it, listening to the


    silence that greets me. It’s the only thing that makes me sad in this new ce; being alone. I’m a little


    jealous that Reece has someone to keep herpany, but I don’t think I want a roommate only because


    I don’t want to live with a stranger. ording to


    “Step back until I tell you to stop. When I do, I want you to strip down for me.”


    An ideaes to me, and I decide to try and be a little bold. I don’t know if it will upset him, but I’m going


    to try and negotiate with my big, bad bully. I bite my lip and try to look somewhat innocent and sexy at the


    same time.


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    Jace, if I strip for you, will you let me have a release?” | sp my hands behind my back, sticking my


    chest out just a little bit, and twist back and forth.


    I can tell he’s taken back by my request, “Do you deserve toe, E?”


    I nod, “It’s been so long, Jace…”


    He tilts his head, “Tell me, E, when was thest time you made that pretty little pussye all over


    your fingers?”


    I stop what I’m doing and just stare at him. Does he not remember thest time he made mee? “I


    haven’t touched myself since before you first told me I couldn’t. You were thest one to make mee,


    Jace.”


    “Jesus Christ, E!” I’ve shocked him.