Chapter five

Second day of school, I was now excited; too ecstatic. Elle dressed me up again; my hair was packed up into puffy bunches with cute flowery pink and black hair bands, pink cold shoulders crop top, black high waisted stock jeans and Nike sneakers, pink and black to be precise. My handbag was black with pink zippers and a fluffy fur ball dangling at it front side. Elle made my makeup all pink and black; pink blush and eye-shadow, black lipsticks and my eyelashes brushed up with thick mascara. That's the best I can describe.

To say the least, I looked like a flamingo, a pretty flamingo.

'...I thought I should buy him something nice for our third anniversary but I just don't know what to buy.' Elle lamented. She had been lamenting all morning about her third anniversary with Dermot, she was yet to do something nice for him.

'What did you get him for the past two years?'

'First year, a hopeless wristwatch,' she sighed sadly, rubbing her arm.

'Why do you think it's useless?'

'He's literally the crown prince, he has much more nicer and expensive accessories, anything I give to him is worthless.'

'Did he complain?'

She snorted. 'He didn't but he gave the wristwatch out to Gomez, that hurts.'

'And is a stupid thing to do. Even if he doesn't like it, something from the lady he loves should always be valued. I might not know much about love, – or at all – but I know that what he did was wrong.'

'That is exactly what Ace said,' she murmured. 'I spent so much on that wristwatch, suffered to gather the money to buy it. I thought he would see the effort and value it but he didn't, he threw away my sweat like that...' She laced her fingers with mine. 'He makes me feel like a low class bitch with how he treats everything I buy for him '

'I thought your dad is rich?'

'His wife hates me, remember? I try my best to avoid them so I won't scatter their marriage. Even when he sends me money, I send it back or donate it to orphanages and widows.'

'Do you ask Dermot for money?'

'You know I love being independent, since when I was a kid.' I nodded, she indeed loves independence.

'Your house?'

'Oh, that one was all Ace, he bought the house for me.' She said with a blush, playing with her hair.

'Ace don't like Dermot, does he?'

'Only pretending for my happiness, he hates Dermot's guts.' She giggled.

'And you like your best friend hating your boyfriend?'

'They don't fight, that is what matters. Plus, I think it's kinda cool knowing Ace is being protective of me.'

'Do you perhaps like Ace?' I asked with a puzzled look.

'Nope,' she popped excitedly. 'Just love it when he is overprotective, like my big brother.'

'Okay...?'

'Last year, I threw a party for Dermot, he didn't like that.' She lamented.

'Again?'

She waved her hand, showing me the glittering bracket on her wrist, a very beautiful one. 'I think Dermot wants something other than presents, I know what but I just...'

'What's this?' I asked, taking her wrist.

'Oh! My last year birthday gift from Ace!' She squealed loudly. 'It is a very rare precious stone here in Twilight, star crystals...'

'Crystals are stones?' She shrugged and played with the shining blue chain.

'This is moonstone chains, very valuable as well. Star crystals and moonstone chains put together glows at night and once a year, it grants me one wish.'

'Wow, that is amazing!' I exclaimed. She nodded proudly, I felt something called jealousy. 'So, back to Dermot, what are you gonna do?'

'If I knew, I wouldn't be lamenting to you.'

'Have you tried asking Gomez?'

'He won't speak,'

'And Ace?'

'He doesn't involve himself with anything that concerns me and him, he doesn't approve of our relationsh...' She trailed off as she tilted her head. 'Is that Ace being chased by a demon bull?' I averted my eyes to where she was looking at. True enough, Ace was running to us as he laughed, a scary large pitch black bull with red eyes and four 20inches horns running after him.

'Er...should we run?'

'Everyone in red! Run for your life!' Ace shouted. It seemed the whole school weren't surprise, they didn't move. Elle moved me out of the way, letting Ace and the bull run past.

'What was that?' I asked, not sure how to react.

'Ace probably tried to milk the bull again,'

'Huh?'

'He believes demon bulls has the sweetest milk, so every time his foolishness over burns, he tries to milk them.' She explained as she waved at Twyla.

'The school have bulls?'

'Yeah, for the hockey of bulls, duh!' Twyla squealed.

'Bull hockey?' I laughed. 'Is that a thing? How do you play it? Hit the bulls with a stick?'

'Do that and you'll be singing kumbaya with the grim reaper,' Elle chuckled. 'Bull hockey is like Polo on a bulls back.'

'Isn't that dangerous?'

'That is what brings out the enjoyment in the unusual activity!' Twyla squealed.

'We have seven sport games and other school activities. You can join in one or two.'

'I love fire ball dragon and water basketball!'

'Fire ball what?'

'Soccer with a flaming ball and basketball on water. Mystical creatures are crazy Rinette, deal with it.' Elle said with a tired sigh.

'Too crazy.' I murmured.

'You have gotten Dermot the boyfriend a worthy anniversary gift, no?' Twyla asked as we approached my class.

'That was what I was lamenting to Marinette, any ideas?'

'You know Dermot the boyfriend wants you to lose the title of the virgin to him, why not give it?' Twyla asked sneeringly.

'You are still a virgin, Marielle?'

'I am not ready.' She said with a shrug.

'And he doesn't disturb you? He still loves you?' I asked quizzically.

'He never asks but he wants it.'

'What planet is he from?' I laughed. 'Why not give it? Three years, Marielle.'

'She won't admit it but friend Elle does not trust Dermot the boyfriend at all, she doubts her emotions and love for him and that is it.'

'I don't doubt it, I just...'

'Just like Ace friend, I agree to the breakup.'

'You don't like Dermot?'

'His aura is not to the liking, Twyla don't like the boyfriend of the friend Elle.'

'Seems like Dermot has a lot of enemies.'

'I don't care,' Elle said with a shrug.

'What if I try asking Ace? He ought to have an idea of what will please a man?' I suggested.

'Ace is not that easy to trick, he isn't tricky at all.'

'Let me try,'

AN HOUR LATER

I walked along the empty hallway, I was hurrying to class after getting my chemistry book. I stopped when I felt like someone was watching me. I looked around but saw nothing. I felt uncomfortable and fear was starting to kick in, I could hear footsteps heading towards my direction. I squeaked and ran, I didn't know where I was running to but I knew I had to be around people.

'Oomph!' I grunted after colliding with someone. I fell down on the floor, an intense sting coming from my ass. I looked at the person I bumped into and my mouth fell open. Not just because he was scintillating, but because he was covered with yellow thorns and a large wood protruding our of his shoulder. 'Ace?'

'Oh, hi Marinette, what ya doing running so fast?' He asked grinningly. I twinkled my lashes and burst into laughter. 'Thanks for your concern.' He said sarcastically.

'I guess the bull meant serious business,' I said between my laugh.

'Yeah, but we came to an agreement.' He said with a smug smile and proud nod of his head.

'Or you can admit that the bull knock you into a thorn bush...how did you get the stick?'

'Body magnet!' He squealed with a clap. 'I finally achieved my dream of being the only living being to magnetize wood!'

I chuckled and stood up. 'Does it hurt?' I asked softly, trying to touch the wood.

'Only when you touch it,' he whimpered. 'Do me a favor?'

'What favor?'

'Help me,' he whined. I smiled and nodded, completely forgetting about the earlier encounter. I followed him to an empty gym, he sat down and pulled me closer to stand between his legs. I ignored the butterflies in my stomach and focused on removing the thorns one after the other.

'Seriously, why did you try to milk a demon?' I huffed. The thorns were too much and tiring.

'Why don't anyone understand my delicious theory?'

'Have you drank one before?'

'If I haven't, would I be so obsess with it?'

'And how did you achieve that?'

'Why do you want to know?'

'Why won't I know?!'

'Why must you know?!'

'What's with the question against question thing!'

'What's with the questions you are asking me?' He was messing with me, the nerve. I intentionally tugged the wood out of his shoulder. He screamed like a girl and cursed under his breath. 'You're meaner than your sister.'

'Mean is the last thing I am right now.'

'Yeah, I know, you're a dork.' He said drily. I giggled, feeling my cheeks burn. I suddenly registered how close we were, the butterflies in my stomach returned. Never in my life had any guy made me feel so beautiful and special. He wasn't abusing me, yelling or saying nasty words to me, a real first.

'My sister, she loves Dermot, right?'

'How is it my business?'

'Please answer, for me?'

'You can literally feel her unsure love for him oozing from a distance,' he said sarcastically. 'Their love makes me feel like I will die single, if I care.'

'Sarcasm, why?'

'This conversation bores me,' I yanked out a thorn. 'Ow!'

'I thought vampires feel no pain,' I taunted.

'And yet we can die, fish head,' he scoffed. I giggled deviously and yanked another one out. 'I'm beginning to regret asking you for help.'

'Glad you are starting to realise... Ow!' I ended with a cry as he pricked me with a thorn.

'Ha! Now you know how it... Ow! Ow! Ow! Okay I'm sorry!' He shrieked. I giggled and stepped back, folding my arms. 'I said I'm sorry...'

'Nah uh, beg me on your knees,' I smirked, cocking my hips.

'Hey! I just created a new fashion!' He squealed again. 'Vampire thorn suit!' He stood up and started making feminine poses while I laughed. 'Am I awesome or what!' I shook my head smilingly and pushed him back on the chair. He took in a sharp breath and moaned. 'The way you pushed me right now, it made images in my head.'

'Images?' I asked, tilting my head in confusion. He smirked and wiggled his brows suggestively. I went crimson, the double meaning of the words registering in my head. I knocked his head. 'Pervert.'

'That's my name, don't wear it out.' He winked at me, increasing my red face.

'You will die single,'

'That only hurt 0%, should I be crying over that?' He laughed. I winced and pouted. 'Damn it! You look cute with that face of yours...say! Why don't we take advantage of the emptiness of this gym, huh?' He wiggled his brows.

'Ace, stop it,' I whined sheepishly. He laughed more.

'Gosh! You must have been the kind to starve your boyfriend of good and quality sex, you and Elle are the same. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that you were raped, I can swear on my dick that you would have still remain a virgin.'

'If I had a normal life, I would have had boyfriends,' I defended myself frowningly.

'Elle is dating a bastard, for three years now and is yet to let him pop her cherry. What makes you any different?'

'I am Marinette, not Marielle.'

'Okay,' he smirked, cunningly sliding his hand across my waist. 'Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that if you had a boyfriend, you would willingly give yourself? Let me rephrase that question, do you even think you would have cared about men?' I smacked his head, having no words to argue back because he was right. Even as a kid, all I thought about was succeeding and making mom proud.

'You are too blunt.'

'I prefer to see myself as a honest guy,' he looked down. 'Like I'm honest enough to say I love the size of your breasts and want to take your perky tits into my mouth...'

'Ace!' I yelled sheepishly. He turned his cheek to me.

'You can slap me now, I understand if you are wet already...' I pushed his head and turned to walk away, but I saw two pairs of pink eyes. Just eyes, no face, nothing else, just eyes. I screamed and jumped back, colliding with Ace's chest. I turned around sharply, whipping my hair around only to see a tall bronze statue grinning at me. I screamed again in fright.

'Hey! Hey! Hey! Earth to Marinette!' Ace yelled, snapping his fingers on my face. I blinked my eyes flustered, I was back at the hallway. Was I hallucinating? Ace had no thorns or wood, he was absolutely fine. 'What are you doing sleep-standing in the hallway?'

'What?'

'You were standing here sleeping, didn't you sleep at home?' I stared at him with mouth open. 'Marinette, are you okay?'

'I'm...m...m...m...m...'

'You are having a mental breakdown,' he said worriedly. I was quivering. 'I will take you somewhere to cool off,' he turned me around. 'Baby steps.' I moved my shaky legs, my heart hammering against my chest. Whatever was that? Where was he taking me to? He smelt and felt weird, something in me screamed that I stay away from him.

'Marielle junior!!!' Ace's voice boomed, blaring into my ears. I looked to my side and saw him running to me with a giddy smile. He was shirtless, his torso stained with mud and his pants torn. My mouth watered at the sight of the shirtless charming. Every muscles of his chest was calling out to me, the structure of his breastplates, the hard nipples and of course, his fascinating flat stomach and abs. My fingers tingled with excitement, yearning to reach out and touch it.

Then it dawned on me. I spun around sharply, the other Ace was gone. 'Ace, did you see that other you? The one holding me?'

'What other me?'

'You were here just now! You took me to the gym, we talked, we argued and then somehow I...' The look in his eyes made me shut it. 'Where have you been?'

'With him,' he replied with a jerk of his head, pointing at the bull he must have wrestled to the ground. I opened my mouth and closed it back, I was hallucinating.