Ace’s POV
“Can I have your old motorcycle?” Adam asked me.
My parents had bought me a brand new Kawasaki Ninja 650 for Christmas, which was fitting, seeing as my old one was currently out of order and gathering tiny specks of dust in the garage.
“Maybe when you’re old enough.” I ruffled his hair.
He let out a groan as he continued fidgeting with his new dinosaur toy.
“Ace, can you give me a tattoo?” Della asked. Another gift that I had gotten from my dear parents: a tattoo gun.
I know what you’re thinking.
What kind of parents get their seventeen year old son a tattoo gun?
And what kind of parents allow said seventeen year old to get tattoos?
Well, At first they were against it. In fact, they were pretty adamant in their decision that i was not allowed to get one.
I didn’t listen to them, of course.
After all, it’s my body, and it’s my choice.
“Cash or credit?” I counter-asked.
She scoffed, throwing an empty box at my head.
“Adelaide, what have I told you about throwing things?” My mom entered the living room, dressed to kill, which could only mean one thing.
She was bailing.
“Not to do it?” Della responded.
My mother sighed. “Play nice, kids. Your father and I are headed out for dinner with clients.”
“But it’s Christmas.” Adam frowned, dropping his toy onto the ground.
“I know sweet bunny.” Mother dearest leaned down toward Adam and kissed his forehead. “When we get back, we’ll play a fun game, how does that sound?”
“Okay.” Adam’s response was withdrawn.
He slid off of the couch and picked up his fallen toy before trudging his way upstairs.
“Alrighty, be back soon.” Mom said, click-clacking her heels to the front door.
I switched the channel on the tv as Della began to laugh. Whatever was on her phone must’ve been amusing.
“What are you laughing at?” I wondered.
“Nothing” Was her answer.
I rolled my eyes at her as I looked down at the text that Charlie had sent me earlier today.
Do you want to come over later?
It felt as if everything was happening too fast. I had attempted to reply to his text, but I didn’t really know what to say. I was confused.
Charlie confused me.
Charlie’s POV
It was past eleven o’clock when I slowly placed Cinnamon’s collar in one of my many memory boxes, closing the lid after I did so.
I couldn’t believe he was gone.
I picked up and carried the memory box to the closet and tucked it up on the shelf where the other boxes were.
Each of them were arranged in a particular order.
The box I had just returned to the closet was filled with things that make me sad.
Then there were other boxes. A box of small trinkets that I have received throughout the years.
A box filled with my happiest memories.
Another box was filled with letters and cards: Christmas cards, birthday cards, report cards and letters.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket to see if there were any new notifications.
I was only interested in one.
And it wasn’t there.
I inhaled a breath, turning off my bedroom light before I walked back to my bed, the lamp on my bedside table still illuminating the room in a soft and amber glow.
He’s not going to text me.
And I’m not going to keep waiting for him to do so.
I plugged my phone into a charger, sat it down on my nightstand then hopped into bed, eager to fall asleep.
I let out a sigh of exhaustion as my head hit the pillow, then, after taking a moment, I turned over to turn the bedside lamp off.
I tried my best not to think of Ace, because all it was doing to me was giving my heart pins and needles.
It didn’t work.
I wondered what Ace was thinking about.
Was he thinking about me?
About our epic kiss in the snow?
Did he even care?
I rolled over in my bed and closed my eyes shut, imploring sleep to engulf me.
I could use a good dream right about now.
The sound of rustling leaves startled me. Stupid raccoons.
I shifted in my bed again with a groan.
Then a knock on the window distracted me from attempting to sleep.
I was startled enough to fall off the bed, my body thudding against the cold carpet.
I shot back up and turned the lamp on, adrenaline kicking in.
I walked cautiously towards the window, throwing open the curtains to see Ace standing on the roof.
I reached forward and opened up the window.
“It’s almost midnight! And it’s snowing! Why are you on the roof?” I asked.
“I didn’t want to wake your parents and I needed to see you.” He said, causing my heart to beat rapidly in a panic. He pulled a massive wrapped up present into view and pushed it in through the window.
How the hell did he manage to carry that onto a roof?
“You know, you really didn’t have to get me a Christmas present.” I told Ace after helping him with the present.
“Just open it.” He demanded, exhaling a shivery breath.
I kneeled onto the floor and quickly opened up the present, tearing the wrapping paper up and littering on my bedroom floor.
My breath caught in my throat.
It’s a telescope!
“You said you had one growing up but then you broke it. So I got you a new one.” He gave a sly smile.
It’s a Celestron Telescope Advanced VX nine point two-five SCT! A really good telescope, and seriously expensive.
“Wait, these cost thousands of dollars. How did you get it?” I looked up at him.
“You do know my family is rich, right?” He let out a low chuckle.
Oh, right, that totally slipped my mind.
I rose from the floor and hugged him. “Thank you.”
After a second or so, he pulled me off of him. “Hang on.” He spoke gently.
Was this the part where he friend zones me?
“Where’s my present?” He inquired, causing me to release a breath I hadn’t realised that I had been holding.
“What makes you think I bought you one?” I raised an eyebrow.
“If you didn’t, I might have to keep this telescope for myself.” He half-grinned.
“You’re gonna think it’s lame.” I prayed my lips.
“It’s the thought that counts.”
I slowly walked over to my closet and retrieved the gift that I bought for him.
“Since I ruined your leather jacket during that paintball game, that I won, I got you a new one.” I held it out for him.
He unzipped his jacket and threw it onto the floor before eagerly trying on the new one.
“It’s awesome.” He smiled, dimples and all. “Thanks.”
An awkward silence ensued, causing me to pick at my fingernails.
“About the other night…” I decided to break the silence.
I glanced up at him before turning my eyes down to my hands.
“After the paintball game when we kissed and then you didn’t talk to me for a few days so I feel like maybe you didn’t like it. Or maybe you don’t remember it happened? Or maybe it just didn’t happen and I dreamt that part. Or maybe you just don’t like me like that and you wanted to avoid the elephant in the room, and that’s okay. I mean, it was just a kiss. People kiss all of the time-” I spoke so fast the words basically blurred together.
“Shut up, nerd.” Ace interrupted me, his right hand grasping my collar and pulling me closer to him.
His lips crashed against mine in a smooth and fiery passion. I swear I could hear my own heart exploding in my chest like a glitter bomb. His left hand clasped my right cheek as his right one snaked behind and held the back of my neck.
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