I couldn't get my mom's words out of my head. 

It was true, that the Miles I knew a few months ago would've never dreamt about lying to his parents and sneaking out at night.  Would've never gone to violent concerts, would've never even held a cigarette, and yet, here I was. Was I trying too hard? For Ace's sake?

"You okay?" 

My reverie was broken as Ace looked at me from the corner of his eye. I nodded diligently. "Yeah. Just..."I trailed off, not knowing how to end. He thankfully didn't pester me after that and for a while, we drove silently through the city. The sky above was clear, littered with a million sparkles of light. 

"How are things...at your place?" I asked slowly, hoping against hope that things had settled down with Celia. 

He shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't seen her since."

I stared at him. "What..do you mean you haven't seen her since?"

He shrugged again. "I just go to my room and sleep. Sometimes."

"Are you starving yourself again?" I asked, my heart sinking. 

"Sometimes," he repeated, clenching his jaw. "It's okay though. I should get used to it anyway."

"Did she say? What she'll do with the house?" I asked reluctantly. I knew he had a short temper during situations like these and could flare up at any moment. 

"She'll have to kill me if she wants to sell it," he said, gritting his teeth. 

"What if she moves? Takes...Allie with her?" I asked, forcing myself to look at the empty road as I waited in dread for his answer. 

"What if she does?" he said and I felt his gaze burning into me. "I told you I'm not moving."

I heaved a soft sigh of relief. Even though I didn't want to leave Ace, I knew that staying away from his sister might not be the best for him. In spite of the way he argued with Celia, he cared for Allie deeply. In a way, it felt like he was trying to fill in for their dad. And failing miserably at that by ruining himself instead. 

"Plus...you were right. Allie should stay with Dave. Like...he has an actual job and a real home. She deserves a real family. Even if I'm not part of it," his voice cracked on the last word and he quickly cleared his throat as I felt my own clog up with overwhelming emotions. Sorrow. Helplessness. There he was again, speaking like he was worthless. Like he didn't care what happened to him. 

"Where're we going?" I asked in an attempt to change the topic. 

He shrugged. "I don't really know. Is that okay?"

He turned to look at me. I nodded almost instinctively. I felt like there wasn't anything Archer Wilde couldn't make me do. And honestly, the thought was a little worrying. 

We drove for a little longer till I realized that we were on the road which led to the promenade. My head reeled with memories of the last time that we were here. When he had told me about the Stargardt's. When he had confessed to me for the first time. 

I had quickly come to realize that neither of our feelings towards each other was platonic. I just needed the courage to admit it to him. Like he had. And then what? Would he be my boyfriend? What would change anyway, except a fickle label?

Ace parked the car near the road and stepped out. I followed suit, glad for my thick hoodie as my face was met with a chilly rush of wind. Then I tasted the familiar salinity of the sea on my tongue. The crashing waves in their synchronized melody sounding all around the otherwise deserted road. I climbed on top of the concrete barrier and carefully jumped onto the other side, finding my footing between the flat pebbles. I turned around to see Ace reappearing from the rear seat with what looked like a bottle in his hand. 

He followed me and I saw that he held a bottle of whisky in his hand. I bit my lip but didn't say anything, mastering my natural instincts to rebuke him as he went and sat near the edge of the ocean on the rocks. I carefully made my way over to him and plopped down beside him, gazing at the dark waters ahead. 

It was easier to forgive the world for its unwarranted cruelty as I sat. The loud sounds of the deep ocean, the waves lapping onto the rocks. The water flowing tumultuously like black ink tumbling over each other in reckless eddies. It was absolutely dark on the other side of the ocean, save for the specks of light that I assumed were luminescent insects or microbes. 

I sat still as Ace opened the bottle and placed it between his lips, taking a long sip of the alcohol. He caught me staring and lowered it, instead raising an eyebrow at me. "What?"

"Can I try some?" I asked, gazing curiously at the sinister liquid. 

His eyes widened. "What, really?"

"Yeah," I nodded, reaching for it. "Let me."

"Uh...are you sure? It doesn't taste very good at first," he said, pulling away from me. 

"Yeah. I am," I insisted, grabbing the bottle and taking it from him. Even though all my life I had stayed away from alcoholic drinks, it had never been a conscious choice. Just something I had subconsciously adhered to. 

I took a sip of the liquid and blinked in surprise at the instantaneous heat burning my throat. 

"That's...kinda weird," I said, shaking my head at the strange sensation. 

He laughed. "Well yeah. Plus it's neat. You're a drinking virgin and taking it neat isn't a good ch-"

He stuttered to a stop as I took another sip, and another. I forced the pungent liquid down my throat. A jolt shot up my brain as I drank some more in rapid succession. 

"It's not that good," I admitted finally. "Why you drink it?"

He chuckled. "You just had almost half the bottle, Miles. If you throw up on me I'm leaving you here."

"I'm not even drunk. I don't feel anything," I lied. While I wasn't inebriated enough to go skinny dipping, my head did feel a little dizzy. "I'm just...sleepy."

"Wow. Can't believe I'm actually seeing a tipsy Miller Spencer," he grinned. 

"I'm not even tipsy," I lied, shaking my head. I quickly realized my mistake as everything spun for half a second before going back to normal. I wasn't sure how high my capacity would be. 

He reached over me and gently stroked my bottom lip. "Okay, I believe you."

"You should. I am very believable," I answered.

He chuckled and the world seemed to stand still for a second at the way his eyes twinkled. I felt like I had never truly appreciated their beauty enough. The way they sparkled like sapphires, with flecks of light that glittered like diamonds.  

"Can I have some more?" I said, reaching for the bottle which he had somehow taken from me and balanced it precariously on the pebbles. He pulled it out of my reach as I groaned. "Stop it, mom."

He laughed as he took it further away before leaning and placing it a good six feet away from me. "I think it's enough. I don't want you to throw up."

"I'm not even tipsy," I repeated and to prove myself, started to stand up. The pebbles, however, seemed to be mad at me that day as my hand slid and I almost fell flat on my butt, banging my head on the rocks before Ace collected me in his arms. 

I gazed up at him, reminiscing the touch of his lips on mine. Rewinding in my head the noises he had made that night. 

"See, I'm not tipsy," I declared, my face burning from the memories as he chuckled harder and put me in a sitting position where I swayed slightly for a few seconds. The ocean looked suddenly smaller to me. 

"You're a lightweight then," Ace said. He stretched out a hand for me to take and I held it, giving it a firm handshake as he laughed carelessly and shook his head. "You fucking dork!"

"What? That's rude," I said, affronted at his appalling behaviour. 

He grabbed my hand firmly and pulled me over to him. "Let's stay here for a while, okay?" he said softly as he turned me around so I was facing the ocean again, my back against his chest. 

"I'll probably fall asleep," I replied honestly. 

"That's okay," he said, pulling me closer so I was sitting between his legs, my own propped in front of me. He encircled my waist in his arms, placing his chin on my shoulder and speaking softly in my ear. "Then I can take care of you for a change."

I chuckled. "Yes, but I'm cranky when I'm sleepy."

"I know," he responded, planting a  gentle kiss on my ear. "I think I can manage that."

"You overestimate yourself, Wilde," I said, my heart fluttering as his hot breath tickled my ear. "Why're you being so...sweet?" I slurred. "It's weird on you."

He kissed the spot below my ear, making me shudder slightly as he whispered. "What's weird on me?"  

"You being...so...sweet," I sighed.

"But you're being so cute," he said, biting my ear playfully as I scowled and immediately burst into giggles.  "I think you're right, I am tipsy," I admitted finally and turned my head to look at him. "Ace, you're so fucking stupid."

His eyes widened and he leaned back, raising an eyebrow. "Wow, thanks."

"Yes, you so fucking are," I shook my head, glaring at him sternly. "Why the fuck do you love me? Or like me even? I have nothing except an above-average sense of humour and a crippling sense of insecurity. It's not attractive. Your choice worries me."

"Because you're amazing," he said, shrugging. 

"I'm not and that's not even a reason. Like why the fuck would you be attracted to me? I'm hideous compared to you."

"Hey and I thought I was the one losing my eyesight," he chuckled drily at his dark joke. 

"Stop it," I whined, burying my face in his chest. "I don't know why you like me. Why do you love me? There's like no reason."

"Why do you love me?" he asked softly.

"Because you're so sweet and kind and caring and you always make me feel so special," I said breathlessly, getting steadily tipsier in his intoxicating scent. "There's a million reasons."

He held me close and kissed the top of my head gently. "That...was progress."

I stared up at him, confused by the sudden change in his voice. Where earlier he had a playful tone, now his voice was suddenly thick with emotions."What happened?" 

"Nothing," he grinned. 

I gaped at him silently for a while, a question forming in my hazy brain. "If you do, then why are you pushing me away?"

He furrowed his eyebrows as if thinking before tilting his head slightly to the side. "Pushing you away?"

"Yes. Like how you asked me to learn driving-" I stuttered to a stop, realisation danwing over me with the strength of lightning. He raised an eyebrow, smiling sadly as he stroked the hair of my forehead gently.

"Caught on, have you?"

I sighed and bit my lip, burying my face in his chest. "I hate the way you talk about yourself sometimes."

"Like what?"

"Like you're...useless and worthless...and how you'll leave...et cetera," I finished lamely. "But you're not..."

He chuckled and I gripped his t-shirt harder. "It's not funny. You...scare me when you talk like that."

"I'm sorry," he said, lowering his voice before he planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I'll try to keep my self-deprecation at a minimal okay?"

"Okay," I nodded, kissing the tip of his nose as he giggled. I leaned back and stared at him, affronted. "What?"

"I think I love drunk Miles more," he grinned, messing my hair playfully.

"Okay," I said, snuggling against his chest again, holding him close, and hoping I would never have to let go. 

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I miss being able to reply to all of you guys' comments. Even though I still read them all, it's harder to respond to them sometimes. I apologize for that. 

What if instead of Miles trying to change Ace...the opposite happens? That would be interesting...

As always, hope you enjoyed the chapter and thank you!

PS: I am done with my presentation and it was a massive relief. Hopefully, I'll be able to upload more. Expect lots of romance :) which is always fucking hard to write but I'll try.