A+

FRANKIE'S POV.

''Can we afford this?'' She is watching me with fear in her eyes. It's been two weeks since she came to see me. The money I am paying for the rent of this place is going to take a lot from me but I know she can't keep staying with me in my dorm room. Izzy walks around the apartment and a wide grin creeps up to her face slowly.

''I'll get a job. I promise I will pay you back every cent," She grabs my hand in hers squeezing it gently '' I promise you won't regret this '' her eyes are bright.

I put up a straight face because I know I am about to get serious ''You have to go to school.....you can't just think about now. You've got to think about your future too,'' Her facial expression is dismissive but this is the most important thing to me. I am not going to just let her ruin her life. She chose to run away from everything and I can't do or say anything to make her go back but I can enrol her in a high school, I can help her get a proper education.

''I don't want to go to school,'' she shakes her head immediately, her expression makes me think I sending a death sentence her way.

'' Why not?''

''I just don't want to.''

''You can't be a high school dropout. I won't let you ruin your life'' I argue because this is the only thing I believe. The only way we can escape the life we were brought into is by getting a good education that has been my one motto.

''It's my life. You won't be ruining it. I promise.''

I shake my head '' This is not up for a debate Izzy. You need to graduate, I won't accept it any other way,'' she sighs loudly ''I don't want to go back to high school,'' I know she is hiding something and it must be a painful memory because she is fighting so hard for this but she still has to meet me halfway.

'' Okay,'' I sigh giving in to her demand. ''You can take your GED,'' that's the only other solution I have.

'' OK'' the smile finds its way back to her face and suddenly all is right in the world for her.

I help Izzy settle in for a few hours and somehow she is overly ecstatic. She doesn't understand how hard things are going to get. I am going to help her as much as I can but she is going to have to pull her own weight. We are going job hunting this weekend. I'm sure I can get her a job at the diner. I've been a good employee, so I am sure Denny is going to pull through for me.

Denny is the owner of the diner I work at. He has been of great help to me ever since I started college here. I would have never survived if he hadn't come through for me.

After a few hours of cleaning and arranging of her things, I take a deep breath '' I got to go '' I tell her remembering that I have another tutor session. I am a little excited.

We have been texting constantly. I don't know what this means but I have been going along with it. Ace is a very cool guy; we haven't really talked about anything on the personal level but I know a few things about him.

Like his favourite colour; which is green. I also know that the guy I saw in his house last time—Scott Asher is his best friend. They have been friends since kindergarten. They are almost inseparable. Frankly I do not fancy the guy but ace seems to look up to him a lot.

My phone beeps and Izzy grabs it before I can get to it. She opens the message and a grin creeps up to her face ''He's texting you again,'' She winks and I roll my eyes. I walk over to her and grab the phone from her reading the message.

Ace: I have good news for you. Hurry over ;)

I don't realize I am smiling until Izzy walks over to me ''You totally have a thing for him,'' she teases. I roll my eyes.

''I do not,'' I object. I don't know if she is right but I know that I have gotten a lot more comfortable around him. We have only had six study dates and they have all been in his house but somehow I feel like I have known him for a long time. He is nothing like the other guys in school. I know he is a ladies' man.

Hell, he has told me about the girls he hangs out with. I have seen him around school with numerous girls. I know he just sees me as his tutor; that's pretty obvious but sometimes I close my eyes and imagine being with him for real. I don't know what kind of person he is really but from the little things I know, I really want to get to know him on a deeper level.

Me: Let me guess...you got an A

My phone rings immediately and Izzy chuckles '' your face is so red it's hilarious '' I ignore her and answer the call '' why are you such a spoilsport '' his deep voice resonates through the phone and my heart shivers.

'' I was right,'' I gloat.

I can almost see him rolling his eyes and pouting his lips. He does that whenever he is upset '' I really wanted to surprise you '' I can hear the smile in his voice now. He never gets upset for too long.

''Even if you had shown me, I wouldn't have been that surprised. I knew you could do it.''

He sighs into the phone ''You always know the right things to say. Where are you? I could come pick you up,'' he whispers into the phone and a smile sneaks up to my face. Izzy laughs and I hit her playfully.

I watch her as she jumps to the couch ''You love him.''

I walk away from her and to the side of the kitchen. I know she is messing with me but somehow I like her words. What if I fall in love with him? Would he love me back?

'' You don't have to do that ''

He chuckles '' I really don't mind. Besides I've got a surprise for you '' this has me curious because I can't guess what it is.

'' What is it ''?

He laughs'' you'll have to wait and see '' I walk over to my purse. It is brown and very tattered '' tell me what it is. I am curious''

'' Tell me where you are. I'll come pick you up right now ''

I sigh and give him the address to Izzy's place. Izzy peers up and her brows are furrowed. I really don't know why I just agreed to give him this address but I forget about my worries when his voice seeps through the phone '' that's not too far from my place. I'll be there in ten ''

'' Are you sure about him ''

I shrug my shoulders because I have no idea.

*********

Ace parks his silver Range Rover in front of the building and I stand up from the steps. Izzy's apartment is very close to the campus and I am kind of worried that someone might see us. Ace opens his car door and gets down from it, he walks over to me and the smile is evident on his face. He is holding a piece of paper and I know what it is instantly.

'' I got an A '' he shrieks and I find myself chuckling. He opens the paper and I see the boldly written A+ on the sheet of paper.

''That's great '' I smile widely and he taps my shoulder playfully.

''It's all thanks to you '' he winks and I raise a brow '' where's my surprise '' I ask immediately. He is dressed in ripped jean shorts and a white tank. His sneakers are Grey. He is still as gorgeous as the last time I saw him.

'' It's at home. I just kind of wanted to thank you for everything. I really owe you one '' his smile is genuine and my heart is racing erratically. I just can't understand the feelings I have for him. I have never felt this way and the fact that he is bringing out all these emotions in me is confusing and terrifying at the same time.

'' It's not a big deal '' I assure him but he shakes his head in disagreement '' it is a big deal. I was flunking out of school. I was going to get kicked off the football team. You are my life saver''

He moves closer and I freeze up as he wraps his arms around me in a hug. I don't know what to do. His arms are still around me and mine are just limp beside me. I can't seem to move. I really want to hug him back but my heart is in a state of terror. It feels like it has stopped. I have never been hugged by another guy before. This is new to me and very scary but somehow I feel the butterflies in my tummy. He is way taller than me above six feet and my head is just above his waist.

I sniff slightly and his scent hits me, he smells like fresh pine and some kind of aftershave. He is beyond perfect. I close my eyes ready to take him all in but he chooses this moment to pull away ''Come on,'' he grabs my hand in his and leads me to the passenger side of the car.

I walk into his car and I am very quiet. I don't know what to say. I don't know how to react to all this. This is all too much. I don't know what this means to him. I am excited but I need to know why he is being so nice to me.

We get to his house in less than fifteen minutes and he leads me inside. I have been in his house six times and somehow I know my way around the house. I see another car in the driveway and ace reads my expression'' Scotty's around '' he informs me still smiling.

We walk into the house and I hear the TV and its very loud ''He's watching a game '' he explains to me. I follow him into the large living room and Scott is sprawled on the grey leather couch with a can of beer.

He looks over at us and a smile spreads to his face ''Hey there, tutor'' He winks and I grimace. I don't know what it is about him but I am terrified of him. He makes me quiver.

'' Uh...h...hi''

He laughs'' you are stuttering again,'' He stands up from the couch and walks over to me. I take a step closer to Ace and he raises a brow ''Stop messing with her dude,'' he frowns and Scott raises his hands up in surrender.

'' Sorry...she's just so easy,'' He walks back to the couch and jumps on it chugging his beer.

''Let's go up to my room,'' Scott whistles at Ace's words.

This is not the first time we have had study sessions in his room. I have been up there twice already but Scott was not around those times. Ace punches his best friend playfully and drags me up the stairs. There is only one light on in the hallway making everywhere dull. He leads me up to his room and closes the door.

''Ready for your surprise?'' there is a gleam in his eyes and a smile on my face. I nod my head and he walks over to the table beside his bed and opens the drawer. I watch him as he pulls out a packet and my eyes open instantly.

'' You have got to be kidding me,'' my smile widens and my eyes open wider. He nods his head and reveals his pearly whites ''This is no joke. It's the real deal,'' walking over to me he gives me the pack of candy.

'' They don't make these anymore. How did you get these?'' I shake the colourful wrapper and read the words razz n snazzy's candy? These were discontinued when I was fifteen. I was addicted to them and then all of a sudden they stopped making them.

''I found some guy selling them online,'' he smiles and I can tell it took him a lot to get these.

''I can't believe this,'' I exclaim still in shock. I open the packet and bring one out. I tear the wrapper off and rush it into my mouth. Ace watches me with amusement as I suck on the strawberry flavoured one. The flavour melts into my mouth and my heart melts along with it. I can't believe he did this for me. No one has ever done something so amazing for me before.

'' I don't know what to say.''

'' You don't have to say anything,'' he says genuinely and my heart trembles as his blue eyes look into mine. I look away from him and lick my lips taking in the flavour'' Izzy is going to freak when she sees this '' I remember the times when we used to save just to get them in different colours.

'' Izzy? '' He furrows his brows and I can tell he wants to know who she is. I reprimand myself for bringing her up. I have never brought up anything this personal before. I don't want to talk about it.

'' My sister '' I lie even though in some way Izzy is like a sister tome. She has been there all through and is the only family I have.

''That's cool '' he nods his head and grabs a few books from a table. He drops them on the bed and I walk over to his bed. I go through his assignments with him and help him with a few of his courses. I look at the clock after a few hours and he lies on the bed '' I can't believe time flew by '' he exclaims. I look at him and his tank top has risen up revealing his stomach. He is lean and hard and I get a glance at his abs. he doesn't seem to notice me ogle him.

'' What are you doing tonight ''?

I look up to him and my brows rise '' why? ''

He shrugs'' I've got a game tonight. You wanna come '' I can't believe his words. Is he really inviting me to his game? I have never been to a football game before. I wouldn't even fit in.

'' I don't know a thing about football ''

He laughs'' most of the girls aren't there cause of the game '' he points out and I roll my eyes. They are there because of the hot guys. He watches me and I part my lips ready to turn him down ''don't say no. come on. Just come watch me and if you get bored you can leave. It will mean a lot if you could make it ''

I stand up from the bed and he jolts up immediately '' I don't think it's a good idea '' he reaches out for me and I look at his hand as it rests on my shoulders. I don't know what's happening but I look at him. His eyes are watching me intently and his blonde hair is scattered beautifully on his forehead '' please. I wanna celebrate with you. If we win there's gonna be an after-party. I really want you to be there. You are my good luck charm '' his hand is still on my shoulder.

I am still getting a weird sensation from his touch. I want to agree to this so badly. There is no harm in going to this game. I could go along with Alicia. She always goes to the games.

'' Say yes...come on. I really want you there '' he moves his hand from my shoulder and puts them both in his pockets. He is still looking at me hopefully '' say yes '' he repeats.

I sigh in defeat and he grins.

'' Awesome''

******