Ten. Nine. Eight.

Oh, come on, time speed up please! Why is ten seconds like ten years?

Three. Two. One.

The lunch bell rang. Everyone lifted their heads from the table and rushed out of the room once dismissed. Not me, though. I was about to get the hell out of here and escape Jace, who was being his usual annoying self when Miss Patricia called me.

"Miss Johnson! I would like to have a word with you."

I groaned. She would really have to stick to a word, because my stomach was grumbling really loudly and if I did not eat, I was ninety percent sure I would die of hunger.

The other ten percent was my exaggeration.

I strode up to her desk restlessly, waiting for her to speak.

"Your math results are not improving, Miss Johnson. I know you are trying really hard at the moment, but it is, alas, not enough. I had asked Mr Jenson to coach you in math, and I hope you can learn from him. It is his second week but his results are catching up. He seems agreeable enough to teach you, so please make some time for him to-"

Wait, Mr Jenson?

"I'm sorry Miss Patricia, but did I hear wrongly, or is it Mr Jenson-"

"You heard correctly, Miss Johnson."

"But...but...Could I just ask Jenny instead?" I asked angrily. Jenny was the math genius in our class.

"Miss Johnson, Jace had agreed to coach you, so you could show a bit of appreciation for him." The note of dismissal in her voice was obvious. I sighed inwardly and left the room. Why did it have to be Jace, out of all people?

I rushed to the cafeteria and went to find Peter and the others, expecting them to be sitting down and bickering as usual. Instead, I found Jace holding court at the centre of the table we normally occupy. He was cracking a joke and my friends were laughing hysterically, Christina doubling up, not able to contain her own contagious laughter.

I strode up, slamming my hands on the table and making everyone jump.

"Mr Jenson, may you kindly explain to me why the hell you agreed to coach me in math?" I folded my hands, looking at him expectantly. For a minute he just stared at me, and then-

"I agreed? Because I want to help you, duh!" He rolled his eyes and looked at me like I was ten.

I could hear snickers from my friends except Peter. He was looking at me with worried eyes. I smiled sweetly at him, telling him with my eyes not to worry, and that I could settle it myself. However, he asked, "Are you okay, babe? Should I tell your math teacher not to let Jenson tea-"

People were staring at us now, especially Zoey, and I suppose I had kicked up a huge fuss about it. Jace would do everything to get his way, and as much as I hated to admit it, I really needed help with my algebra.

Guess I would have to give it a shot.

I sighed in defeat and said, "Don't worry, Peter. But thanks anyway." Turning to Jace, I asked unenthusiastically, "Well, then when can we do it?"

"Today, Kit Kat."

I sighed and replied, "Today it is then."

I stalked away for a hamburger, fuming about how life seemed to not fancy me today.

-

It turned out that Jace happened to stay around the corner, and that was worrying, because it would mean that if he knew it, he would definitely keep on annoying me, and he would definitely know it, because he was coming over to help me in math.

Around four in the afternoon, I was baking, lost in my own world when there came a knock on the door. I sighed. It was going to be a long day. I fixed my clothes and went to open the door. Jace stood there, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Hey, Kit Kat."

I nodded briefly at him before ushering him in.

"So neighbour, are you ready for this?" He smirked and folded his arms.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just get started!" I mumbled. He grinned, getting out his notes. I sighed for the millionth time and prepared myself for the worst nightmare ever - My childhood bully and math.

-

I had expected this to be something Jace could mock me about with my skills with numbers, but I was wrong. He patiently explained the sums till I understood. Two hours passed like a breeze, and soon Jace was getting restless. He fiddled with my pens, juggling them successfully.

"Is there any food here?" He finally groaned. "I'm getting hungry." I rolled my eyes and went to the kitchen. Fetching us two cans of sprite , I took out packets of cookies and threw it to him. He caught it, grinning.

Soon we were eating rather than learning. I took out a bottle of chilli and fries, trying to ignore Jace's humming. Taking one of mine, Jace pretended not to see my glare and mixed it with chilli and cookies. Eyeing me, he fetched a packet of ketchup and cream on the table. There were only a bit of ketchup left, so I grasped for it before he could take it.

He widened his eyes and looked at something behind me. Raising my eyebrows, I turned my head behind, my grip loosening on the bottle, then-

"It's mine, Kit Kat." Jace snorted in laughter, snatching the ketchup from me. Realising in time, I immediately tightened my grip on the ketchup. The pressure we put on it was probably too hard, as the syrup sprouted out and all over Jace. I stifled a laugh at Jace's expression and the state he was in. I did not feel like eating anymore, so I fished for the cream too, and squeezed it over him.

"No you don't-!" Jace growled and opened the bottle of chilli. My eyes widened, realising what he was going to do. I ducked as syrup sprouted all over the spot I was previously at. But his second aim was much too accurate. A second later I was covered in much more chilli then Jace was covered in the mixture of cream and ketchup.

"Jace Jenson you are so dead." I shot him a death glare before getting up and coming back with a cloth in hand.

"Woah, Kit Kat! You started it, so must you be dead too?" Jace suddenly got up so fast that it made me jump. Before I realised what he was doing, he started tickling me so hard that I ended up laughing unwillingly and helplessly. He knew really well that I was extremely ticklish but he still had to do it.

"Jace Jensonnnn!" I shrieked. "Put me down now!" Jace shook his head, grinning. I got attacked so much that I did the only thing I could. I tickled him back, and he doubled up shrieking a really girlish laugh. He released me immediately, and I ended up plummeting onto the couch.

We stopped laughing, breathless. What the heck did we just do?

We sat there for a minute before Jace broke the silence. Rolling his eyes at me, he started mumbling about how insane I was to do something like that.

"Well, may I remind you, Mr Jenson, you started it first, so you couldn't blame me." I smiled at him, battling my eyelashes. It was a pretend, and Jace did not miss it.

"Well, give me a towel." I blinked.

"Why the heck do you need-"

"To clean off the mess you put me in, Kit Kat!" He rolled his eyes and this time it was me smirking as I looked at him.

"Fine, but you started it, may I remind you again."

Jace rolled his eyes again and growled, "You are going out with me later."

What?!

"Yeah, when pigs fly. And they won't fly, so just live with it." I replied, returning with a towel.

Jace advanced towards me with a gleam in his eyes, and it was so scary that I backed off. He cornered me, and attacked me with a series of tickles again. I yelled, giggling. He started laughing too, and lifted me up.

I was reminded of that incident again.

Jace tickled me again, and it seemed like electricity shot through my spine.

"Jace this won't let me come- with - you-! " I finally shouted through giggles. He wiggled his eyebrows and attacked again.

"Then will this do?" He said after my laughs. He reached for the towel and covered me in it. I laughed even harder, imagining if somebody were to see us now.

"I dun-no, Jenson. Let me down!" I shouted. Jace answered, "Alright. Promise me that you'll go out with me." He grinned, and I felt it even without seeing it.

"Argh fine! Now will you put me down?!" I was released, and stood up, glaring at Jace.

He smiled his usual annoying smile and went to the bathroom.

We got into Jace's car after we finished clearing up since he insisted and his house was just right beside mine. After a few seconds of silence, he turned on the radio and ear-splitting sounds erupted out of it. I grimaced and covered my ears, but he pretended not to see it and sang along. Admittedly his voice was not that bad, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

-

The restaurant was packed like sardines. When Jace and I finally got seats, it was near eight. After settling down onto a comfy chair, Jace grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the counter.

"Why don't you help me order, and I'll look after the stuff?" I rolled my eyes.

"Why don't we both do that?" Jace suggestedly lamely, smirking and pulling me towards the cashier again. I sighed and unwillingly followed him.

Seriously, no one could win him in a fight, that guy is strong.

-

Ten minutes later

The cashier was tapping his fingers impatiently, glaring at us like we were wild animals in a zoo. Actually, Jace was. I wasn't sure what we were doing, but it involved us arguing back and forth about my choice of food. A few moments into the argument, I felt my phone vibrate. I signalled for Jace to finish up the order while checking the person who called. Pressing the 'call' button, I pressed my brand new phone close to my ear, squeezing out the background noise.

"Hey babe, wanna hang out today?" The moment I answered, Peter asked me out. Glancing at Jace standing in front of the cashier, I sighed and lied,"No sorry. I have homework to complete. Maybe tomorrow?" I felt bad for lying, but how could I possibly explain that I'm out with another guy, the one I hate the most, alone? I heard a sigh on the other end and Peter replied, "Okay. See you."

"So Kit Kat, why the heck do you even choose sprite over coca cola?" Jace frowned at me after our food is served.

Oh boy, the food was delicious!

I dug into the lagsana, i
We ate in a surprisingly comfortable silence. After that, Nick wanted me to go to the movies with him, and of course, I said no. But he was obviously stubborn, so in the end I was half dragged to the cinema. The show was nice, but the guy sitting beside me was not.

-

When the movie ended, it was already past eleven. Rubbing my eyes, I accepted Nick's offer to drive me home. Don't get me wrong, under normal circumstances I wouldn't had told him to, but today I was really tired to take the bus home. But guess who I had to meet on the way out?

My boyfriend Peter.

I tried ducking to the washroom, but Peter's observent eyes immediately landed on me. A look of surprise registered on his face before annoyance. He also spotted Jace, strolling beside me, his observant eyes taking in what was going on. I braced myself for his questions, but all he said was "Jace, please excuse Kate for a moment. We need to talk." I rolled my eyes a bit, I thought only girls said that? But I still followed Peter to an isolated place, ignoring Jace's stare which was burning holes into the back of my head and started to say, "Look, I lied to you because Jace wanted me to come with him-"

Peter shook me off wearily and said, "I just want to know this. Answer me honestly, is anything happening between you two?" He traced his eyes on Jace, then returning his gaze on me.

I blinked. What? What is happening between me and my childhood bully?

"Obviously no."

"Then do you like him?"

"No."

"Do you think he likes you?"

What the fuc-?

"No!"

Peter looked a bit suspicious, but he dismissed it. But seriously, how could my childhood bully like me?

Talk about absurd.

"I'll believe you this time okay? Make up for me by going out tomorrow, yeah?" Peter smiled, and I breathed out a sigh. I thought he would scream at me or something.

"Okay."

I kissed him goodbye and followed Jace to his car.

-

As I lied on my bed this night, thoughts flashed through my head, and I shook them off almost immediately.

The most disturbing one is, why did Peter not offer to bring me home after the little confrontation?

Maybe I'm being sensitive, but I was still disturbed. But I could not overthink for too long, as I fell asleep not long after that.

Oh my, I'm really sorry for the long wait! As I had been quite busy with schoolwork and other activities these weeks, I couldn't find time to continue writing this story, but I managed to write this chapter today :) I hope you enjoy this chapter as I wrote it longer to make up for the long wait. I promise to write the next chapter soon as interesting stuff are coming up XD This has been kind of a filler chapter except some events here and there but you'll see soon~

{unedited}