♡ Shoutout to Creativity-Bean ( my tags don't work ugh!) we all know how frustrating Wattpad can be so let's just give this sweet, friendly writer a chance ♡

I shut my phone, my tears dried up on my face. I turned around and closed my eyes, Pokerface's messages replaying in my head.

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I was walking down the school halls,yawning profusely. I had tossed and turned for hours before finally sleeping. Only to be woken up seconds later from my alarm clock. The day had passed so slowly I could've fell asleep if my math tacher wasn't glaring at me with a watchful eye. But finally, the day was over and I could go sulk in my dorm.

I saw Felicity and the kings walking by. Oh shit. No way I could see them now! Yeah, I just hooked up with one and broke another's heart, no big deal. I stared at the floor, with any luck I could pass pretending not to notice them.

'' Elly, darling.'' I heard a heavy British accent call. Blast it.

'' Oh hi there Felicity.'' I said with a smile plastered on my face. I looked at Tristan, his light blue eyes with dark circles around them. He had a smirk pulled to his lips. That fake smile, I remembered when he trusted me enough to let down his walls. Now they were held up higher than before. 

'' Hey Elly.'' Adrian said while giving me a small smile. I looked away, blushing, remembering what happened last night. '' Are you busy?''

'' Yes, we're heading off to taste the best chocolate.'' Felicity chirped. No way last time it was living hell.

'' Is Ace going?'' I asked. I knew this was the last thing he wanted to do, drinking hot chocolate while his ex endlessly discussing Paris.

'' I'm actually busy.'' He responded, ignoring Felicity's glares.

'' And you, Tristan?'' I muttered hesitantly. For the first time since yesterday, he caught my eye. His look was stone cold, shutting me out. I knew I lost something special. Tears pricked my eyes. '' Sorry that was a dumb question. I can't go, I have studying to do.''

'' They're no tests for the next month.'' Lamented Felicity, but I didn't even bother to answer. I waved at them before slumping to my dorm.

To my surprise yet relief, Ace followed.

'' Want to come in?'' I proposed, leading him inside.

'' Elyse, is everything ok?'' He asked, his voice genuinely worried. 

Funny, how a couple of words can make a heart open. Seeing him, standing there, made me feel so happy yet guilty. '' I don't deserve this.'' I whispered. 

No I did not. I toyed around with people's feelings, I was so caught up in my own little world. I was someone who I didn't want to be. 

'' What do you mean?''

'' I don't deserve any of this. When my mom got back with my dad, I was furious at her for making me leave Brooklyn, I was too blind to see that she was finally genuinely happy. When I started Trinity-K, I met 3 amazing guys.'' He cracked a smile. '' But once again, I was too selfish. I only cared about me. I never stopped and wondered how my actions could make even the most beautiful vase shatter. As I said, I don't deserve this.'' I hung my head, admiring my defeat.

'' Neither do I.''

I looked up at him. He was staring at his hands with a incomprehensible emotion. 

'' Do you know Beauty And The Beast?'' He asked me as I nodded. '' Sometimes I feel like the beast, so ugly on the inside but not on the outside, with no fairy to cast my curse.''

I didn't know why, but I understood him. Like an invisible string tied us together and only the ones attached could feel it. Ace, such a mystery.

'' Why you? What did you do to make you say that?'' I questioned.

'' Not something I did. Something I let happen while I watched in silence, not trying to stop it.''

'' The world will not be destroyed by evil but by those who watch them without doing anything.'' I recited Einstein under my breath.

'' Exactly.'' He gave me a small smile,

We laced down on my bed, our backs sinking into my bed as we talked. Talked is an understatement. We shared. Shared all the dark thoughts in our minds, shared the demons we hid. He looked at the ceiling but his gaze seemed to be lost in his thoughts. He was tricky, the more I thought I knew him, new layers appeared. He had depth, such a mysterious but bemusing thing.

Soulmates are usually lovers, two people bounded to be together, each the person's other half. But I felt that he was mine, not because of any romantic feeling but because he understood me. He knew what I meant just by my eyes, and so did I. 

'' It's getting late.'' He stared as he rose up. I felt such disappointment in the thought of him going.

'' No, don't go.'' I said my voice laced with plea. I took the TV removed on my bedside. '' You get to choose the channel.''

He hesitated before sitting back down and opening the TV. The news report flashed as I read the headlines. 

🅰🅽🅰🅻🆈🆃 🅲🅾🆁🅿, 🅲🅷🅰🆁🅶🅴🅳 🆆🅸🆃🅷 🅵🆁🅰🆄🅳

My blood ran cold. Wasn't that Adrian's company? I felt Ace stiffen by me as well. Images flashed on the screen before a video of Adrian walking out of a chocolate shop with a police man by him appeared. 

'' Adrian Darkwell, heir to the company, is going to be investigated at the station.'' The announcer said. '' Analytic Corp, a multi- billion business company, exposed as a lawsuit was filed by none other than the Genovese Bank.''

No... I shared a look with Ace, horror on my face. He didn't even protest. The Genovese Bank was his family's. And they sued his best friend. 

'' This can't be happening.'' I whispered in disbelief.

So that was what he meant by letting something awful happen without intervening. I knew he was serious, but I never imagined this.

I couldn't help seeing Adrian's confused face as he entered the police car. After last night's comet, I felt like I knew him. No, I felt like I liked him. A lo too. He doesn't deserve this to happen to him, especially by his trusted friend.

'' Elyse...'' He said weakly.

As much as this was his family, I couldn't blame him. Sharing wit him made it impossible to be mad at him because he knew. He knew what he did was terrible and by the despair in his voice, I knew he didn't have a word in this.

'' Don't. Don't try to apologize, because it wasn't your fault.'' He looked at me with a relieved confusion. '' Analyt Corp was all Adrian had left from his parents, but now it's gone. And you are left with guilt and self hate. I don't know why, i can't find a reason to justify but-''

I wrapped my arms around him. I felt his chest rise and fall as his tears soaked my shirt. He was human. Every human actions should be seen in depth, because nothing is black and white. Nothing is as it seems. 

And as the dark times settle in, I know Ace wishes things could be different.

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Sorry for this sfjklgvkuyg chapter 😀 

As the writer, I beg you not to think Ace is a bad person because he couldn't have a say in any of the family business until he comes of age. Don't hate him ♥

Anyways see you next chapter!

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