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"Audrey, baby girl, I missed you!" Ashley exclaimed, squeezing me tightly. I couldn't breathe or turn around to reciprocate the hug. "It's good to be back in school," she said, as if we didn't see each other every day. Nancy warned, "Let her go, her face is turning blue!" Ashley released me, inspecting my face before apologizing and running away to avoid my comeback.
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Ashley, Nancy, and I had been friends since junior year, now in our final year of senior year. We stuck together like family. Suddenly, a girl bumped into me without apologizing and hurried away with her blonde friend. "Ace is here," Nancy said, pointing and dropping her hands.
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I tensed, looking around frantically, but he was nowhere to be seen. Nancy smiled knowingly. "There's only one reason you'd react that way to his name. Is there something you want to share, Audrey?" I evaded the question, dumping a textbook into her arms. "We don't have all the time in the world, but I could use your help with my book."
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Nancy teased, "Stop avoiding the topic. He's not just some regular fuckboy, you know?" I remembered meeting Ace at the mall with a pretty curvy girl. I felt weak in the knees when I bumped into him, and he caught me. Ashley whispered, "You'll love him, you'll see."
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I hated matchmaking, fearing I'd fall deep if I disliked him due to a setup. I sat alone at the back of the class, lost in thought, until someone sat beside me. I turned to lock eyes with the most beautiful blue eyes I'd ever seen.
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After a minute of silence, I said, "This seat is taken." He chuckled, running his hands through his chestnut hair. I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. "You're not upset," he asked, amused.
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I noticed his new tattoo: "My heart is bruised. Some place deep down, my emotions are tangled." Tears pooled in my eyes as I asked, "What does it mean?" His eyes followed my hands on his wrist before settling back on my face.
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He rubbed his thumb on my cheek, and I let him. "You don't need to worry about me, princess." His deep voice sent butterflies down my spine. I wanted to ask how I became his princess but stuttered until the teacher arrived.
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As the teacher began the lesson, I focused on the board, trying to shake off the awkwardness. But my gaze kept drifting to Ace, who was now scribbling notes with his left hand. His tattoo caught my attention again, and I wondered what had hurt him so deeply.
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When the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Ace turned to me and smiled. "Hey, princess, want to grab lunch together?" I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to spend more time with him. But his warm eyes put me at ease, and I nodded.
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As we walked to the cafeteria, Ashley and Nancy joined us, chatting excitedly about their plans for the weekend. Ace listened attentively, asking questions and making them laugh. I watched, fascinated by his effortless charm.
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When we reached the cafeteria, Ace insisted on buying me lunch, and we stood in line together. He asked about my favorite foods, and we discovered a shared love for pizza and ice cream. The connection felt natural, and I found myself relaxing around him.
Suddenly James signaled to him so he left to seat with his friend.
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