My Bully’s Love by Stacy Rush

Chapter 25

 

CHAPTER 25: NEW FRIENDS

or Elise calling me. I hurry over to where my phone is on the charger and grab it, not bothering to look at the name. When | connect to the video call, I’m a bit shocked at what I’m seeing. I’m thinking that someone misdialed as the view I have is of a male’s body with a towel wrapped so low on their hips that I can see the deep V…and are those pubes sticking out of the top of the towel?

The camera begins to move upward, and I see nothing but abs with great definition, telling me that this person works out. My heart is beating really fast as I begin to get the feeling that I know that chest, but it can’t be –it’s been three long weeks without a word. Suddenly, green eyes that appear and a smile that I will always hold dear, greet me, and before I can say anything, he speaks first.

“Hello, Ella. You have been a very naughty girl!”

I suck in some much-needed air, “Jace…”

“Oh, so you do know who I am?” he asks sarcastically with a smirk, “I thought maybe you had forgotten who I was, since you never bothered to say goodbye, or even tell me that you got into Yale.”

I’m at a loss for words, and don’t really have an excuse as to why I never told him I was leaving. At least not one that he will like. I didn’t think he wanted to talk to me since I hadn’t heard from him after that night. How am I supposed to know that he would have accepted my call or responded to my text?

Jace, I never heard back from you after that night. I waited a week and a half before I booked my flight. I thought you were through with me.”

“How many times have I told you that I’m not going anywhere, Ella? What’s it going to take for you to realize that you are mine, for always?” He looks away for a moment, and when he peers back at me, I can see a bit of hurt in his eyes, but I know he will never admit to it, “Why didn’t you tell me that you got into Yale? When did you know that you would be going to a college all the way across the United States?”

I glance down, closing my eyes, because I know this is going to upset him. When I lock eyes with him again, I hesitate. For some reason I don’t want to hurt him, but I know I can’t lie to him either,”Actually, my original flight was supposed to be the day after my attack. I was on my way home from grabbing last minute items when they stopped me,” I feel a sting starting in my eyes and l’ m not sure if I will be able to hold the tears back, “That’s how they knew that I was out and about, because I ran into Kaylee in the store.”

I can really see the hurt now, but then it changes to anger, and I wait for the explosion that I know is coming, but then it never comes. This is something new. I wouldn’t have blamed him for being upset with me, but I never expected him to calm his emotions before he tries talking to me again. This isn’t the bully that tormented me for two years; it isn’t the bully that got mad at me if I said something out of turn, and it definitely isn’t the bully that shoved me into lockers or hit things out of my hands before laughing with his friends.

“Ella, I don’t understand why you kept all of this from me. Do you hate me that much because of what I’ve done? Is there no redeeming myself with you?” He asks me these questions with no emotion.

“I don’t hate you, Jace, I could never hate you. I dislike you at times, but never hate. I am working on forgiving you, but it’s not something that happens overnight.”

“How am I supposed to make it up to you if you’re all the way over in New England?” He scoffs.

I smile because this is the Jace I know, “Well, for starters, what we are doing right now will be enough until I come home for breaks. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, so you could prepare for my absence, but again, you left me on the sidewalk without so much as a goodbye the last time we were together.”

“I know I fucked up that night by leaving it that way, but I needed to get away from you because I didn’t want to hurt you. I went back to the training facility that night, and I just got back today. I was trying to be better for you, Ella. It’s hard changing from being a bully towards you to trying to be somebody that you would want to be with.” He chuckles sadly.

“Oh, Jace…”

“Forget it, Ella, it’s fine. I will figure it out,” he looks me over and then gives me a weird look, “Why are you dressed up, you don’t have a date, do you?”

I hold back my giggle as I look myself over, “I’m wearing jeans and a sweater, Jace. I’m hardly dressed up.”

makeup then?”

and lip gloss, that’s all. I’m going up to my friend Reece’s apartment

“You know you’re still

my lip and study him for a moment, “Am I? I guess we will

my name

date anyone until we have talked, I promise.”

voice that does

“I’m sorry, Jace.”

next time I see you.” He’s being totally serious but there is still

“Huh, why?” I’m lost.

as he says and then just stand there, waiting to hear why he wants me in here, “Do you have any baby

doesn’t have baby wipes?” |

smart with me, Ella. Now, I want you to take one, and wipe

two little things?” I’m astounded at how upset he is that I’m wearing

without me. You are beautiful enough as it is,

that? “Okay, Jace.” Taking a makeup wipe, I scrub my eyes to make sure all the clumps are off my lashes and then take tissue paper to my lips, “There, did I get it all?” I

and yes, you look much better,

Palmer just say thank you? “You’re welcome, Jace,” I glance

your neighbor’s but please be careful and keep

heart skip a beat, knowing that he really does care about me enough to remind me to

 

“Bye, Ella.”

screen, and I sit here staring at my wallpaper for a moment, “What

before it opens. Reece smiles brightly when she sees who’s at the door, “Hey Ella! Gabe said that he invited you, but we weren’t sure

a last-minute phone call that I needed to take.”

still waiting on a few more people, so consider yourself early.”

New Friends

front door opens up to a small hallway. There is a coat closet on one side and directly across from it is a utility closet. The end of the hall opens up to the living space with the kitchen to the left and living room on the right. There is a bathroom that faces the hall, with two closed

Come on over, Ella, and I’ll introduce you to these assholes.” Gabe jokes as he points to

how are you

his friends, “This here is Deke,” he points to the guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes, not a bad looking guy, but really not my type. Gabe then moves to the other guy, “this is Collin, he’s the brains of our threesome.” The Collin guy rolls his eyes and smiles shyly at me as he says ‘hi’. He’s got brownish-red hair, a little on the longer side, with brown eyes as well, only he has a

their hands, “I’m the new girl and neighbor

did you and Gabe meet?’

down to be washed and he was down there going through our neighbor’s

“What the fuck, Ella? I

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