Touching the Heart of Ace novel Chapter 6

??I can come with you, if you want.??

??No, Tristian, I will be fine. You know, how crowds make me restless.??

He smiled.

??Stay close to your friends. You will be fine.??

He patted my cheek. Did his hand linger a second more than necessary?

We both looked away fast.

He had dropped me off at the bus station. He did not have to, but he said if he could lessen my nervousness for a bit, he would, and he did.

??Send me a text when you reach there? So I could breathe a bit easier??? He chuckled trying to make it funny.

I nodded smiling.

I had a phone for college purposes. And I had decided I would never give it to an outsider. But Tristian was not an outsider, right?

He was my friend. A kind friend.

He did not have my number although I had his. He refused to leave until I left the station which was... friendly?

Got into the bus safely.

I sent him the text before I could chicken out.

I watched as he took his phone out and frowned.

Then understanding crossed his eyes and he laughed; his eyes beaming.

He waved his hands and I waved back too.

The nervousness only came back after the party was on full swing.

That feeling of something was going to happen, wormed into my heart.

Tristian had said mom would understand if I told her that I would be leaving the party early. She would understand, but she would not be happy.

So, I took his advice and spent whole day with her in her office, letting her shower me with her affection, so it would hurt less.

Tristian was an amazing friend. He was very intelligent too.

He worked as a statistical analyst.

Just boring work actually, he brought one of his work to lunch the other day, and it was just a stack of papers.

But when he changed the numbers the graph colour changed from green to red and he tried to make it sound cool but... he said it paid well.

He admitted he was bored out of his mind half the time and that made me smile.

There was so much ambiguity in making decisions in this field and that was something I was could not understand.

He said nothing was truly black and white, there was always room for fluctuations.

I had decided my robots were better and he laughed hard.

He said he could help me with investing some money in their schemes but I told him about Jason and how he took care of it.

I thought he would get angry or at least be awkward but he was happy that I had it covered.

He was amazing and understanding.

Sometimes, I felt like he liked me more than a friend but Tristian never made a move. He stared a lot though, but then he would carry on the conversation.

I hoped he stayed as my friend.

I had a lot of time in my hands and he was filling it with fun.

It was nice to be treated like a human but not a piece of flesh for a change.

He never tried to grope me or anything. He was treating me at most respect which was good. I wanted it to stay that way.

I liked spending time with him. He said he was too.

I glared at Liz when she stood next to me.

??Stop it.??

??You stop it.??

??What did I do???

??You did not bring the Jerk.??

Jason was disappointed too.

We were so looking forward to punch the life out of him and take away his will to live. Jason would take the first and I, the latter. I could not punch a balloon toy in carnivals, so Jason said, he would add my share too.

??Stop calling him Jerk. His name is...?? I hoped no literal horns were peeking through my hair ??... you know what? Call him Jerk.??

??Ow, don??t you trust me???

??Not one bit.??

??You are a meanie.??

??I am. Are you leaving already???

??Planning to.??

??Hmm... Come see me on 14th next month. I will bring the Jerk.??

??Pinky???

??Pinky.??

I had to go to bathroom before I left, the bus station bathrooms were gross.

I would rather not use the bathroom at the rental car shop either.

There was nothing more satisfying than peeing after a long day. I let out a sigh of staisfaction.

I washed my face and smacked right to a strong chest and the light went off.

His thick biceps started to constrict my breathing.

Familiar. It was too familiar.

Feverish kisses rubbed all over my clothed body. His hands trying to help his lips find my skin.

I was not having it.

I had to get out. It was a mistake coming here.

He was waiting for me.

He was waiting for this moment.

His hands kept mine captive on either sides of my head.

He kissed my lips and I heard my protesting voices trying to take them away from his thin chapped ones.

He was moving along with me, every position I thought would help me get away from him, ended up being compromising.

He knew me.

He knew how I would move and I had no idea how to escape.

??Stop fighting me! I will have you.??

??Get off me, you bastard.??