"No"
"Nope"
"Too basic", I said with a sigh as I threw the dress over the pile of clothes I've gone through.
"Oh come on we've been at this for over three hours now", April complained.
"That's why is called shopping"
"My legs are killing me over here", Riley said.
"Your literally sitting on a couch",. Riley gave a shrug to that.
"I thought we were just buying clothe for the party....you look like your shopping for the whole year", Riley said.
"It's not like am going to pay for all this....I think", I said making both of them to smack their heads simultaneously.
Ok I may have forgotten to tell you guys that am a compulsive shopper. It's not like I go out even, I just like buying clothes for no reason. My mother has complained about it too.
"I dunno about you guys but I have a 7pm curfew", Aera said.
"Then how are you going to attend the party tomorrow", asked April.
"My parents are going out of town tomorrow morning and then am left with my elder sister....let's just say she's the type that sneaks out to parties", we snickered at that
"Ok fine let's go"
"Finally"
On our way out with our shopping bags in hand we just happened to bump into some annoying set of girls.
"Watch it loser", I heard savanna say.
"Oh boy", Aera muttered under her breath.
"That line is old don't you think", I said amused.
"I don't why you may think your better than me but.....
"Save the pep talk for someone who needs it...news flash your not that important"
Huffing and puffing she said angrily, "Am going to kill you"
"Mind what you say Savannah people might accuse you of murder", I said making my friends and her minions laugh.
She shot them a look making them clam shut and was about to say something snarky in return but was cut shut by a raspy voice running up to them.
"Savannah I got your mocha latte you ask for", Charlotte said panting heavily while stretching forth her hands.
"Wow form someone who acts so high you sure act like puppy", Riley said
Charlotte turned red with both anger and embarrassment.
"You should watch it Riley your climbing the ladder to fast that you might just...fall", Charlotte bite back with a triphumant smirk.
"Your not even making sense", Riley said with folded arms and a bored expression.
"You....
"Anyways", I drawled cutting whatever comment Charlotte dear was about to say. "Also don't forget to come for the party tomorrow... your all invited"
"Why would I come to a party thrown by garbages", Savannah said while her minions snickered behind her.
"I dunno perhaps someone named Ace Collen is in attendance"
"Pfft.....as if Ace would ever attend a party talk less of the likes of yours.. darling your below his league", Savannah smirked at that.
"Why not come see for yourself then", I said giving a smirk on my own.
"I also heard about the party"
"And that Ace is coming", her minions said.
I raised an eyebrow at that "I guess I will see you then". Me and the girls worked over to the car to drop our stuffs.
"Why did you invite them", Riley asked with folded arms.
"Yeah we worked really hard for this", Aera said.
"Don't worry...I know what am doing...plus we need the views, I have something beautifully planned out".
~~~~~~~
I came home and noticed something out of place, a traveling box and a bag was at the middle of sitting room. Something dropped in my stomach at the sight of it..'i hope this isn't what I think it is'
I heard footsteps running down the steps, looking up I was met with my mother she looked disheveled and in a hurry...but for what.
"Oh good your finally back", She said in a raspy breath as she searched her handbag.
"Mum...what's going on", I asked slowly.
"Relax honey am just traveling for a few days for work"
"Oh....ok", I said making a beeline to the kitchen.
"Need any help", I asked and heard her yelling back a "No"
"Well at least your absence will work for my favor", I said taking a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Darling I don't mind you throwing a party tomorrow...am happy you are leaving your comfort zone. It's a good a fresh start"
"Only for special reasons", I muttered.
"But right now there's been change of plans.....am going and....I really don't want to leave you alone"
"And I assure you that am totally fine with it...am seventeen"
"I am not ok with it that's why you will be staying with the Collen's"
I spit out the water with shock on my face "What!", I yelled.
"Mum"
"I know its goiing to be fun", she squealed. 'who is this woman and what have the world done to my mother'
"No no no that's torture....am a grown woman and I can take care of myself"
"Eh no you can't last time I left you for just two days and you almost burnt the house down..I will be gone for a week"
My cheeks heat up in embarrassment 'why is she bringing this up'
"It was just the kitchen and the microwave malfunctioned"
"It was brand new"
"Mum please think this through....I mean you don't really want to leave your girl child with a boy for a while week"
"The Collen's are respectful people and three are two girls in that household, also there's adult supervision"
"Mum please...
"Ash my words are final and I have no time go pack your stuff for the week and let's go", she said sternly.
"This is social suicide ", I said throwing my hands in the air.
"Stop sulking like it's the end of the world"
~~~~~
We stood outside on the Collen's front porch, I with my small box beside, my mother's was arranged in the car already. My mum stepped forward and ringed the door bell.
"Coming"
We heard faintly from the other side of the house.
"Good evening, please how may I help you two", a woman in her thirties asked she was dressed in a neat black uniform, I assumed her to be the head of the staffs here.
"Mrs Collen....is.she around"
"Oh...you must be Mrs West... please come on in"
"I'm sorry if this is such an inconvenience for you.... it was a sudden emergency", my mum said as Ace mother came into the living room.
"No is not, am always happy to help probably because am usually bored right now stay at home mum is really hard", She joked.
"Well it's a full house...you shouldn't be bored"
"I know, but summer is over and now is just me, Ace and Lia.....and then my husband is out on a business trip", she said with a smile. Then she turned to me and said, "But now that your here....I promise we are going to have lots of fun", She added. Rachel called one of the staff over to take my things to the guest room.
"Thank you so much Rachel am really grateful"
"No worries am glad am of help.....Ace George Collen", Rachel yelled.
Ace came down the stairs and shot a look at his mother, apparently he hadn't noticed me yet until I spoke up
"Your middle name is George", I said and chuckled.
"Mum", he whined.
"Ashley will be staying for a week"
"What!...a week", he said obviously not happy about it. 'Me to Ace...me too'
"Don't be rude to our guest"
"Yeah... don't be", I said smugly.
"I should get going... thank you Rachel"
"Wait mum what of my party and all", I said feeling a dread coming.
"You could host the party in one of our Mansion maybe the beach house perhaps....summer is still lingering in the air you know", Rachel suggested.
"And that won't be an inconvenience", I asked
"Why would it be....we hardly use it anyway and we can't use this house to avoid paparazzi following"
"Well....thank you so much", I said happily.
I guess your problem is settled then. I will be on my way now... thank you once again", My mum said and lefft.
It was quiet for a moment as me and Ace was in a staring contest both giving each other a deadly glare.Rachel clapped her hands together and looked between both of us and said happily, "Casserole for dinner anyone".
We both nodded simultaneously at that not breaking eye contact. It was already 7pm.
His mum sighed heavily at our childishness "Ace why not show Ashley your room while the guest room is being prepared"
"Oh am good"
"Yeah I don't want her to see my room"
"I thought You guys were chill with one another"
"Well someone was annoying today", I said with folded arms.
"Are you still bothered by it"
I scoffed at his response, "of course not"
"Good. I will be going upstairs then", Ace said and left.
Rachel left to the kitchen while I sat on the couch awkwardly in my neighbors living room.
"Fine....it's not like he will bite me or something", I said and went up the stairs to his room.
"I thought you didn't want to come", Ace said.
"Shut up", I said and took in my surroundings....the bedroom was ash theme...bed sheet, curtains and all... there was a glass window to overlook NorthCrest city and the sight was beautiful. King size bed was at the middle, closet and bathroom on opposite sides, mini library with lots of books and mix tape, reading table beside. I noticed some paintings on the wall 'Hmmm he must like art', I thought.
There was a small makeshift sitting room with a couch and two bean bags, coffee table in the middle, plasma tv mounted on the wall and video games.
"Wow your room is nice"
"Just nice"
"I hardly go to people's houses ok....talk much of been to anyone's room other than my cousins"
"Figures"
"Do you want to play", he asked holding out a controller.
"Yeah"
We were just ten minutes into the game with me beating him of course. Am usually alone at home so I spend time on video games.
"Acey", a little girl's voice yelled.
"Oh shit she's awake already", Ace cursed.
We little feet patters on the floor and then a little girl with hazel eyes and brown chestnut hair came into view.
"Acey", she said running to hug him.
"You woke up early"
"Awww she is so cute....what's your name"
"Lia", she said shyly and buried her face in Ace chest.
We laughed at how shy she was. Lia looked to be between three and four years off age and she had a really cute gap tooth.
"Dinner is ready" we heard Rachel say from downstairs.
"Yeah....food", Lia said and ran out happily. We shared a laugh again.
"Well, welcome to the Collen's household", Ace said with a smile and I chuckled at that.