Twenty Nine

CHAPTER 29

Cafeteria - Golden High School.

Alicia moved her plate away. She had just finished her lunch in the cafeteria-alone. Because Brittany had chosen to go back to her room to struggle with the history assignment she had to submit it this afternoon to Mr. Wilson Blake rather than finish the meaty pasta. Believe me, the old man was demanding and strict, he didn't hesitate to report students with low grades to the parents and let them get their punishment.

For whatever reason, since leaving the police station yesterday, Alicia felt like she needed to change-or maybe she already had. The Brooklyn-born girl now wears her hair in a ponytail, while a few strands are allowed to fall past her ears. Alicia's emotions also tend to be more sensitive these days. She has become more sensitive to her surroundings and this reminds her of the difficult times she has gone through in the past.

Her stomach was filled to the brim with a portion of meaty pasta and a cold vanilla latte. But that wasn't enough. The blue-eyed girl then glanced at Brittany's spaghetti, which was still intact (considering she only stirred it like she was making cake batter earlier). The smell of meat was quite tempting. Her thin hands were about to grab Brittany's plate of spaghetti, if someone's voice didn't come from behind and startle her.

"HEY FROZEN HAIR!" He exclaimed, as if the two of them were in a deep and terrifying forest.

Alicia took a short breath and let it out in annoyance as Acelah appeared in front of her. Her face looked relaxed, even though all eyes in the cafeteria were now on her. "You ate like a cow today," she said as she sat down across from Alicia.

Alicia pulled her hand back and chose to forgo eating all of Brittany's meaty pasta rather than be humiliated by the dorm owner's son - or the super annoying guy who always bothered her; Ace Blake.

Ace smiled slightly, looking scornful and teasing at the same time. "You're not trying to gain weight because of depression, are you?" Alicia furrowed her brow. Ace quickly added. "I can buy you more healthy food than this leftover pasta, Alicia."

Alicia snorted in annoyance. "Can you stop bothering me?" She folded her arms across her chest, showing her dislike for Ace. "Besides, it's not leftovers. Brittany lost her appetite because--"

Alicia's sentence trailed off. She couldn't possibly tell the real reason that Brittany was worried about Ace's involvement in James or Elena's death. Besides, Brittany wasn't sure who exactly was in Ace's room. It wasn't necessarily Ace who did it.

"Because of what?"

Alicia spluttered, then got up. "Forget it."

But before the girl could leave the cafeteria, Ace swiftly got up from the chair and grabbed Alicia's hand. His movements were quick and skillful. He pulled her back to her original seat. Alicia's puzzled look didn't stop Ace from keeping her seated with him.

Ace's sudden movements and the questioning eyes of the other students in the cafeteria really made Alicia feel uncomfortable. Ace, indeed, was always in the spotlight of Golden High students and Alicia was not used to it.

"Now what?" Alicia snorted in annoyance---sounding impatient.

And Ace's next reaction was just an amused chuckle. "Don't be so rude to me." Ace reached into his varsity pocket and pulled out a red box with a white ribbon decorating the top, which he handed to Alicia. "Sorry for not accompanying you to the police station yesterday," he said softly.

Alicia bent her forehead deeply. She looked at the red box and then back at Ace. The man looked very relaxed, while Alicia looked at him quizzically. "What's this?"

Ace smiled--for the first time--very sincerely. And that bothered Alicia. "Don't ever show that smile in front of me again!" And with a furrowed brow, she snatched the box from his hand.

Ace ruffled his hair, which was already well-organized, just to ease his nerves. Meanwhile, Alicia looked at him warily. "Is my smile bothering your esterogenous hormones, Alicia?"

"Not at all, Mr. Bully."

Ace grinned mischievously, there was a certain satisfaction for him every time he managed to annoy Alicia. And that only applied when he was with Alicia. "What are you waiting for?"

Alicia gasped and moaned softly, before carefully opening the box. A feeling of suspicion instantly arose in Alicia's mind, plus everything Brittany had said about Ace's changeable emotions when he was with her was true. She wondered to herself, what exactly was it that attracted Ace to get close to her--to a rambunctious girl who was far from Ace's type of girlfriend.



"Hairpin?" Alicia looked up and raised both eyebrows--in disbelief--in front of Ace. "You gave this to me?"

The black-eyed man nodded. "As my apology for not coming with you," he said earnestly. "You like it, don't you? I ordered the clip directly from Harry Winston, the best jeweler in the world. I thought it would suit you."

Alicia looked down in shame, a tinge of red slowly gracing her cheeks. She had been mistaken. Ace was never that bad. "Thank you." Alicia looked at the comb-shaped silver hairpin once more, and her feelings became even stranger.

"Alicia, I have something to say to you." Alicia gave her a curious look. "This... might sound a little strange to you, but... I, I'm trying to--"

"Ace, can you just get to the point?" Alicia cut in. She rubbed her temples in exasperation.

And the man who decided to change his haircut to the undercut type immediately chuckled. He never imagined it would be this difficult to talk. Alicia was now looking at him seriously, as if urging him to say it quickly.

"I...," Ace scratched the nape of his neck which wasn't itchy at all.

"Ace, I'm in a hurry right now." The ash-haired girl got up from her place. "I have to go back to my room to see Britt, I promised her." Alicia stepped back and accidentally bumped into Jake who ran past her.

Brukk!

"Oh my!" Alicia screamed in shock as her body fell to the floor staggering backwards. Jake and Ace, in fact everyone in the cafeteria now turned their attention to Alicia.

The two men reflexively helped Alicia back to her feet. "Are you okay?" Ace asked to make sure.

"Alicia, I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry," Jake snapped, then simply walked away.

Alicia let out a long breath. She felt like bad luck happened every time she met Ace. Was this man cursed? "I'm fine, you can take your hands off my body now," she said with emphasis.

Ace, who was still unconsciously holding Alicia's hands and waist, immediately moved away. His cheeks were heating up and it was really bothering him. Ace then looked up and added, "It looks like you hurt your leg, I'll walk you to your room."

"But--"

"I'm not giving you a choice, Alicia," he interrupted.

Alicia considered for a moment before finally agreeing to the crazy suggestion offered by Ace. She was sure that after this, she would be suddenly famous because a dorm owner's son had bothered to drive her.

"Then I'll call Britt first," Alicia said.

She reached into the pockets of her skirt and jacket several times but found nothing but a pen.

"Is there a problem?" Ace noticed the change in Alicia's face.

And the girl nodded weakly, while saying,

.

.

.

"My phone is gone, Ace!"