The Forbidden Fruit | 26

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Arabella's POV

Once I focused on the frustration bubbling beneath my skin I let the adrenaline and force surge through my arm as I sent it flying towards the bag with as much force as I could muster up. The bag swung back viciously and I struck again and again until my fist ached.

Strip that down by Liam Payne blared out from my headphones, giving me the motivation to go outside for a jog and all together exercise till all my phone went limp. But I didn't let myself get carried away as I stepped away from the bag.

I walked over to the treadmill and punched in the cardio exercise before hopping onto it. At first, I started out with a slow and steady pace that soon evolved into a sprint. I could feel my chest tightening and the walls of my throat clenching. My heart slammed against my rib cage to the point where I feared I would slip int cardiac arrest.

But altogether the machine stopped and I squealed loudly as my hands flew to the railing to support myself so that I wouldn't crash onto it and eat my teeth. I seethed loudly and bolted off the ground, pivoting on my heels to face the intruder.

He stood there, a smug look etched on his face. "What the hell Ace!? I could have gotten injured badly, do you ever think before

He shrugged and gave me a tight-lipped amused smile as I b lined around his body and stormed angrily towards the bench. "But you didn't," he exclaimed as I sat down and swiped the towel over my drenched face.

"Yeah, and if I did, I'd rise from the dead and drag you to hell with me." He chuckled and ruffled my damp hair before scrunching up his face in disgust and vigorously wiping it against his jeans.

"Serves you right, asshole." I cackled.

He ignored me and said, "come up for breakfast. You haven't eaten yet."

I placed my chin in my palm and stared at him sheepishly. He shifted on his feet uncomfortably as I cocked my head to the side and studied his passive yet anxious swaying.

"Was Tyler the one who sent you to look for me or is this serious Ace that I met weeks ago at the fighting arena?" I asked, Slightly amused yet slightly serious and curious.

He placed both his hands on his hips and frowned deeply as if I had offended him. "There is no serious Ace. Now get that ass up and come eat!" With that, he crouched down in front of me and snaked his hands around my waist before hoisting me upwards and slinging me over his shoulder.

"Ace, hey put me down!" I shrieked. He cackled loudly and began to trek towards the door. I cried in frustration when the ground began to move, the nausea hit me like a rush of sheer unpleasantness. "Remind me to take a fresh bath after this. You reek."

"Bite me."

~~~

I stepped out of the shower and pulled my damp hair into a ponytail. I slumped down onto the stool and turned towards my vanity.  My fingers enclosed around the small draw beneath me and I pulled it open and glanced down at my untouched makeup that I'm starting to think isn't actually untouched.

I'll deal with Tessa a little later.

Since today was basically our last day here in New York till we left for Dc; we all decided to spend it together and go out to have lunch and possibly go to the movies and spend the night doing god knows what together.

I moisturized my face before I began putting on my makeup. Along the way, Erica joined in.

"I think today is gonna be fun." She squealed excitedly as I hopped off the chair and sauntered towards my half-empty suitcase. "Yeah, I know right. I haven't spent all that long with you guys anyways." I sighed as I pulled out an outfit.

"Yeah, you've been spending all your time with Tyler." She taunted. I scoffed and rolled my eyes as I moisturized my skin then slipped on my undergarments and then my brown dress pants.

"And you been spending all yours with Ace!" I sing sang as I slipped on a brown strapless top that stopped a little below my belly button. "Ugh–yeah, I have I guess." She mumbled nonchalantly.

I stared at her warily as I moved towards the dresser. She quickly got up and scrambled towards her suitcase before pulling out an outfit.

I lowered myself down onto the stool and blow-dried my hair before moisturizing it and curling it over my shoulders with my curling iron.  After attending my hair I clasped on my gold bracelet, hoop earrings and my necklace. "There's something going on between you two, right?" I asked rhetorically.

She pursed her lips in a thin line and didn't respond as she slipped on a blue high waisted faded jeans with a white t-shirt tucked inside and her blue denim jacket with a pair of white air max sneakers. "Well yeah," she mumbled like it was nothing as she pulled her blonde locks in a neat ponytail.

"So why haven't you ever told me!" I snapped as I hopped off the chair and slipped on my brown lace-up block heels. I turned back around and swiped my nude lipstick over my lips once again.

"Because I thought you'd judge him. Seeing as he isn't the brightest and all." She shrugged with an apologetic smile on her face. I sighed and sauntered towards her before pulling her into a hug.

"Ace is a great guy. He's a lot more intelligent than we give him credit for and he cares about us dearly. Don't underestimate his stupidity, it's just a facade."

"I know," she sighed. I pulled away and swatted her against the hand harshly. "Ouch! What was that for!?"

"For not telling me you guys were dating!" I fired back. She clasped her hand over my mouth and widened her eyes. "We're not dating. We're just fooling around...l

"Like sex? Oh my god, Did you let him touch your hoo-ha!?" I gasped in mockery. Her eyes widened as she brought her finger to her lips and shushed me rather harshly and a bit to exaggeratedly.

"Oh my god!" I cried out. She groaned and let her head fall back in exasperation. "I knew I should have waited to tell you," She groaned. "Now look who's the one with the fuck buddy," I mumbled.

"Let's just go!" She grumbled as she grabbed my arm and led me out of the room in a giggling fit. We soon stumbled down the stairs and per usual, the cheerful voice blared out, "Oh look, It's the pretty princesses!"

"If I had a dollar for every time you ever said that. I'd buy a chainsaw and personally cut you to pieces." Max clipped as he glared at Ace who stuck his tongue out towards him playfully.

"Are you jealous that they're way prettier than you. Especially Arabella?" Aaron grinned mockingly as he nudged Max in the waist. "Oh shit, I totally agree," Max smirked as he eyed both Erika and me in adoration.

"Thank you for the lovely compliments, everyone!" I smiled sarcastically as we stumbled towards them. My eyes swivelled around the room, searching for Tyler until I finally found who I was looking for.

I bit my lips nervously as I stared at him, leaning against the wall with his hand stuffed down his pockets. He wore a tight dress pants that hugged his skinny fit frame tightly and a black dress shirt that was unbuttoned from the neck down to his chest.

He wore a smug smirk on his rosy lips that I so badly wanted to smack off in frustration. His brown curly hair tousled over his face and I realized that it was getting a bit longer which complimented his chiselled jawline.

He caught my eyes roaming his body and at that he winked. I frowned deeply, memories of our heated passionate kiss from yesterday still imprinted in my mind.

"I think we should get going now." Ace cleared his throat which forced my eyes away from Tyler. We all agreed and stumbled out of the house. Locking the door behind me, we made our way down the path that led to the large gates.

Outside stood the limousine and our designated Chauffeur who awaited our arrival. We all slipped inside and got comfortable until the car pulled out of the driveway and onto the streets.

"So where are we going?" Max asked as he leaned back and threw an arm over my shoulder. I smiled and laid my head against his shoulder. "I'm officially jealous," Aaron grumbled amusedly. "Awe don't be you big baby!" Ace cooed as he pinched Aaron's cheeks. He swatted his hands away and flipped Ace off who guffawed in amusement.

"I don't know, some restaurant called La Chateau." Erika shrugged as she stared down at her phone.

"Oh sounds fancy," Max exclaimed excitedly.

We all began to converse in unrelated topics. And by all of us, I meant all of us excluding Tyler who wouldn't stop staring at me with those eyes as if he were in some sort of trance.

It was like he loved torturing me and making me feel like complete and utter shit. He'd kiss me out of the blue and show me his soft and vulnerable side then goes back to being an asshole and prick the next.

I hate him.

A lot.

"We're here." I heard Erika squeal. I glanced out of the window and smiled at the restaurant that sat upon four pillars. There was a flight of stairs leading up towards the entrance and surrounding the restaurant were endless trees and bushes, giving off that Caribbean vibes.

"Looks like a family restaurant," Aaron mumbled as we all pilled out of the car and made our way up the flight of stairs. "It is," I replied as we approached the doors.

It was a wooden themed restaurant, almost like a cabin type with the name La Chateau perched upon the wood in cursive above us.  We were currently standing in the balcony that overlooked the view of the area beneath us. It was utterly beautiful and before anything, we found ourselves inside.

Following in suit behind Erika since she's the expert on this particular restaurant, we made our way towards the receptionist table, smiling comfortably at the receptionist who greeted us with a welcoming smile of her own. "Welcome to La Chateau do you guys have any reservations?" She asked softly.

"Yes, reservations for Arabella Smith, please." I smiled. She nodded her head and typed away at the computer sitting idly on the hardwood counter. Soon she rounded the table and gestured for us to follow her inside.

Glancing around the familiar restaurant memories from when Erika would visit me when I lived here stormed into my mind. All those nights we would ditch my father and the twins and come here alone to have lunch or dinner. We would call it the best friend date, the only dates I was ever looking forward to in my darkest times.

Every time I stepped foot inside of here I would get this gust of warm air. It was refreshing being in this place and the good memories that laid behind it made it all the more welcoming. Today we were making more memories and I have my new friends to thank for such.

"Here is your table, a waitress will be back with your menus. For now enjoy this bottle of wine, compliments by Mr. Chateau, courtesy Of Gale Smith." The receptionist winked as she motioned towards the fine bottle of wine.

We thanked her and took out seats. "This sight is utterly beautiful," Aaron mumbled from beside me as his gaze flickered towards the balcony.

"Yep."

"I know right."

"Preach it, brother."

"I totally agree." I snapped my head towards Tyler and frowned deeply as I found his staring down at his lap and then his eyes flickered to me before he smiled. He tilted his head to the side slightly when I realized that I was staring a bit too long.

He arched a brow as if challenging me. I huffed out and mustered up all my strength to look away. I heard him chuckle softly under his breath and in frustration, I pursed my lips in a thin line.

I hate it how he treats this as some sort of game. If I can't keep seeing the happy and open-hearted Tyler Hart that I saw two days ago...

It leaves me no choice but to force it out of him.

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