She pulled out her books from her locker and as she was about to turn someone twisted her arm behind her back and pushed her front into the lockers. His movements were swift and soft, making sure she doesn't get hurt.

He placed two fingers on her forehead, mimicking a gun. "Boom! You're dead" Hunter whispered in her ear.

She smiled and bit her lower lip. "Do it harder" she whispered.

"What?" He asked stunned

"Twist it harder," she whispered slyly.

With wide eyes, he turned her around stared at her bewildered. "Damn, Carter... You surprise me every day more and more." He placed both of his hands on the lockers behind her, caging her between.

"Really?" She asked sarcastically with a mischievous smile. "I thought I was so damn predictable"

He laughed throatily, he squinted his eyes at her.

"Stop being so cute, you guys, it's making me nauseous," Kimberly said loudly walking down the hallway. Ella could see Ace behind Kim, watching her with calculative eyes.

Hunter turned to look at Kimberly but Ella cupped his cheek, turned his face back towards herself, and smashed her lips on his, catching him off guard. He reacted back almost immediately.

Breathing heavily, Hunter pulled away. "You did it to show it to Harding, didn't you?" He asked amused.

Ella leaned closer and pressed the tip of her nose against Hunter's nose, rubbing them together sweetly. "I just want to show you off and maybe rub you in his face" she laughed

"Damn, Carter, you player" he laughed before kissing her one more time.

They walked towards the class, sat together, and smiled. Ella had a little smile permanently etched on her face. No matter how much she tried to suppress it, it wasn't going away.

A paper ball landed on her desk and that smile widened even more. She glanced at Hunter and picked it up.

⊱⋅ ⋅⊰
I told you, you have the most beautiful smile, Ella Bella.
⊱⋅ ⋅⊰

She turned the paper, wrote something on it, and threw it back towards Hunter. He smiled and picked it up.

⊱⋅ ⋅⊰
I wish I could say the same.
⊱⋅ ⋅⊰

He dramatically gasped and threw his pencil at her. It hit her on the shoulder, she laughed and picked it up. She threw it back at him.

"I love you" he whispered dazedly

She shyly looked at him through her lashes. "I love you too" she whispered back.

Later on, Ella was stressing about her extra credit classes. She paced back and forth outside the school building as Hunter tried to calm her down.

"It'll be fine." He said

"My grades deteriorated terribly, even with extra credit classes. I'm not gonna make it to a good college, Hunter!" She explained.

"You told me yourself that whatever happened with those texts and everything, it won't go on your school records," he said

"Yes but---"

Hunter cut her off. "No buts... It'll be fine."

"It's easy for you to say. You have the perfect score in everything, you're an exceptional athlete, anyone would be lucky to have you" she rambled. "And you're so amazing, they'll accept you in a second!"

"That's not how it works" he laughed

"You know what I should do?" An idea hit her and her face lit up. "I should pay someone intelligent to write my college essay for me."

"No! Come on, Ella!" He laughed

"I wish Chloe was here, she would've written a badass college essay for me"

He shook his head and pulled out a box of cigarettes. He took one out and lit it up. Ella watched the cigarette with disgust. He took a long drag and blew out a thick puff of smoke. He offered the cigarette to Ella.

"Try it," he said

"You've got to be kidding me," she said unbelievably.

"It helps with the nerves. Smoking helps me calm down" he smiled

She hesitantly took the cigarette from his hands and placed it between her lips. She inhaled and coughed.

"Ew! Hunter!" She croaked out, cringing. He laughed and took the cigarette back from her.

Ace saw the scene with furrowed eyebrows. His jaw clenched as he glared at Hunter. To control his rage, he went straight to the boy's room. He stopped before the mirror and breathed heavily. He turned on the tap and splashed water over his face.

He stood there for a few seconds. The door opened and Hunter strolled in, whistling with his hand in his pockets. He saw Ace glaring at him. He breathed out loudly and turned to go back out.

"Stop it!" Ace said in a stern voice.

Hunter turned towards him with furrowed eyebrows. "Stop what?" He asked

"Stop corrupting her!" He said

"Corrupting her? What the fuck do you mean?" Hunter snapped. He knew who Ace was talking about.

"I saw her smoking, you are corrupting her. Stay the fuck away from her" he bellowed

"She took that cigarette out of her own free will. I didn't force her." Hunter snapped

"She doesn't know anything!" Ace replied. "She is so fucking naive!"

"She is her own person. She knows what she is doing. She doesn't need me to tell her what to do with her life!" Hunter snapped, he hated the way Ace dictated her life, her choices.

Ace clenched his fists. All he wanted to do was to punch Hunter in the face. "So, you're telling me, you didn't practically force her to smoke a cigarette?" He questioned and threatening stepped towards Hunter. "I know her better than she knows herself. She is like a fucking child. She does whatever anyone tells her to, she is easily manipulated"

Ace practically spat those words on Hunter's face but he stood tall before him threateningly. "She is not... You only got to manipulate her because she wanted to believe every fucking word that came out of your mouth. She is Ella Carter, she does what she wants!"

Shaking terribly with anger, his eyes bloodshot, fists clenched as he closed his eyes. "I love her..." He said he didn't why he told him that. Hunter was the last person he'd ever share his feelings with.

Hunter shook his head. "You had the best thing in the world and you blew it. You blew it all on your own. And now, she wants nothing to do with you." He stepped closer to Ace and looked him directly in the eyes. "I love her, Harding and I will never let you near her ever again."

"What happened to 'She is her own person.' I think it's Ella who should decide if I should be in her life again or not!" Ace answered

Hunter smiled. "You're right... You can ask her and humiliate yourself."

"Do not underestimate our bond. We have fourteen years together!" Ace said

"I'm not underestimating your bond. I know my girlfriend... The way you never did in those fourteen years" Hunter sneered. "So, I'm warning you, Ace Harding. Stay the fuck away from her and let her live... You had your chance but you were too arrogant to value anything but yourself"

Giving him one last disgusted look, Hunter stepped back and turned to leave. Ace stood there alone... Regretful... Fuming.

He walked out and saw Veronica approaching. He sighed and walked to her. "Hey..." She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "I know you're mad at me---"

Veronica cut him off. "No, I'm not mad. I just know now what Ella must have felt..."

"I told you that I can't just throw her out of my life. She was my everything!" He snapped

"Exactly my point!" She snapped. "If you can cheat on the girl you have known for fourteen years. A girl who was your everything as you put it. If you can ditch and hurt her" she laughed humourlessly. "Then I'm nothing compared to that."

"Veronica... I'm sorry" he murmured. "I don't love you, Veronica... I thought I did but I don't. I won't string you along when I clearly have feelings for someone else. I'm sorry but---"

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" She shrieked

He sighed. "We should break up... I don't want to hurt you---"

"Bullshit! Do you think our relationship has anything to do with love?! I never loved you either! I liked you. I liked having a boyfriend of your social status. A Harding..." She scoffed. "But it was not worth it. You're abusive, Ace. You're a serial cheater. I know if Ella had taken you back, you would've tossed me aside like I never existed. I don't know what goes on in your messed up head but I hope you are satisfied with yourself now." Saying that she turned and walked away from him.

Ace nodded and sighed. Her words didn't hurt him at all. "I still want to say I'm sorry... I used you and hurt you too many times"

She raised an eyebrow. "Hurt me? You are not capable of hurting me, Ace. But what you did do is bruise my ego! You made me feel like shit compared to Ella. You completely destroyed my confidence! I have never felt insecure before you! You criticized everything I did because I didn't do things like Ella did. If you liked her so much why the fuck did you bring me in your fucking mess?! You should've stayed with her---"

"I know!" He snapped. "I regret leaving her... I just... I don't know what I was thinking! All I'm asking for is your forgiveness, I'm sorry!"

Veronica cut him off. "You want my forgiveness?"

"Yeah, maybe it'll make me feel less shitty" he sighed

"Maybe you can convince your dad to do business with mine," she said crossing her arms over her chest. She knew she won't get the upper hand on Ace like that again. So, she decided to milk it as much as she could.

A line appeared between his brows. "You're serious?" He questioned

"Very..." She replied cockily.

"I'll try..." He mumbled

"Trying isn't good enough for me..." She said and continued walking on her path.

"I'll convince him!" He blurted out.

She smiled and turned towards him. "Fine... I'll think about forgiving you"

And

A/N
Hey!
I hope you like today's chapter!
I know not much of a thrilling chapter but Ace and Veronica broke up.
Let's do a poll! Comment on your favourite ship!
1) Hella
2) Elace
Let me know your thoughts and I'll see you all tomorrow in HFE.
XOXO, Jane Doe! 🖤