Grace's P.O.V

Monday rolls around and I'm walking through the crowded hallway. I walk to my locker and opened it putting up my French notebook and grabbing my Science book. I close my locker and then I'm pushed hard against my locker. I look up to see Albert Schlesinger and his buddies surrounding me. I push him off of me and he stumbles.

He glares at me as he storms towards me and slams his hand against the lockers. I flinch at the sound. I hear him chuckle in my ear, "This will be done quickly." After he says that, I feel a stinging sensation on my cheek. I drop my book and cupped my cheek.

"Hey!" A voice yells. Our heads snapped to the owner of the voice. To my surprise it's Tom with his friends. My breathing is heavy with my body shaking from fear. Tom has a hard stare on Albert. I look over at Albert and he crosses his big arms over his chest. I look over back at Tom he walks towards us. He's standing face to face with Albert.

Albert smirks and drops his arms putting his hands into his jean pockets, "Tom, my man. Want to help me get rid of this n*gga?" He gestures towards me. I look at Tom and he glances at me and back at the dark haired boy, "Just leave her alone. She didn't do you anything. So get to class Schlesinger." Tom backs away from the stunned boy.

Tom turns away and I see anger roll onto Albert's face from the betrayal of Tom not helping him hurt me. Albert reaches to Tom and turns him around, "Hey man don't tell me you're going soft." Tom swats his hand off his shoulder, "When are you going to get it Albert. Times are changing. Look at her. What do you see?" Tom points at me.

Albert swallows and glances at me. He looks back at Tom, "A n*gga." Tom rolls his eyes and grabs my hand. He pulls me next to him, "No. Try again." I'm looking at Albert. The hallway is quiet with all eyes watching the scene. Albert sighs and finally looks at me. We lock eyes. The hatred he once had for me leaves his eyes.

I give him a small smile and gives me a smirk. He looks back at Tom, "A person. That's what she is." My smile grows and Tom squeezes my hand in victory. Albert looks back at me, "I'm sorry." I nod. Just like that he walks away with his friends following him. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I let go of Tom's hand and look up at him, "Thank you." I smile at him. He looks down at me with a soft smile on his lips, "Anytime." He gives my shoulder a little tap and walks towards his next class. I turn and grabbed my book from the ground. I stand back up and smiled at to what just happened. Shaking my head in amusement I made my way towards my class.

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I walk up the few steps to my porch. I open the screen door and turned the wooden door knob. It doesn't open. It's locked. My mom should've been home by now. I bend down and grabbed the extra key and opened the door. I walk in and closed the door behind me. I set my stuff on the couch and set the key on the side table.

I make my way to the kitchen to get me a little snack. I opened the refrigerator and roamed through it. Nothing. I closed it and looked over at the fruit bowl. I walk over and grabbed a red apple. I took a bite and there's a knock on my door. Walking towards my door with my apple in my hand. I open the door revealing the all too familiar Australian I've fallen for.

"Hey." He smiles at me. He knows I love his smile. It makes me melt. I admire him. I look at him from his new hair cut he got a few days ago to his dressy shoes. His hair is natural with no product in his hair letting his curls fly around on top his head. He's wearing a cotton, peach short sleeve button up shirt, with a few not button revealing his chest hairs. The sleeves are rolled at the ends to make his muscles look bigger. Tucked in the black slacks, that are kind tight around his legs being held up with a black belt. All in all he looks hot. "Hey. Come in." I motion with my head walking back to the kitchen to get me some water. I hear him close the door. I hear his footsteps stop in the kitchen. I turn and he's leaning against the island.

He looks at me with a smile forming on his lips. I hum and turned around. I open the cabinet grabbing me a plastic cup. I turn on the facet and then I feel a presence behind me. Then I feel my hair being pushed to the side. Then a pair of lips make contact to my exposed skin. I smile at the contact. I move my head so he can have more access. I set down my apple and turned off the water putting the cup in the sink. 

His hands start to roam my body. My body starts to get warm from his touch. I hum in satisfaction from just his touch. His hands make their way to my hips. He spins me around making me face him. He brings my arms around his neck. I smile up at him.

He dips down leaving soft kisses on my cheek, neck, and shoulder. My hands make their way to his hair pulling slightly. He comes back and places a kiss on my forehead.

We look into each other's eyes. I pray this feeling I have him never fades. My hands gentle cup his face just feeling his smooth skin. His hands make their way behind my thighs making me jump. I wrap my legs around his hips. He spins around and places me on the island. I loosen my legs and his hands rub up and down my thighs. His eyes leave mine as he looks at me.

He pulls back making my hands fall into my lap his hands still rubbing my thighs. I take the ponytail holder off my wrist and put my hair up in a ponytail since it got really hot. Ashton moves closer to me pulling me close. I giggle when our bodies collide. A smile forms on his lips. I bring my hands to his face. My thumbs rub his cheek. He closes his eyes relaxing to my touch. He opens his eyes and captures my lips to his.

The sparks fly everywhere from the contact. I wrap my arms around his neck deepening the kiss. I hear a car door shut. I pull away, "Did you hear that?" He shakes his head, "No-" I shush him by putting my hand over his mouth. He chuckles but I glare at him. He stops. Then I hear the screen door being opened. I gasp. I pushed Ashton away from me and got off the island. Once my feet hit the floor the wooden door opens.

I spin around and was met with a happy mother. She looks up and notices Ashton and I are in the kitchen, "Oh hey, how was your weekend?" She looks between Ashton and I. We look at each other and laughed. "It was good mama. How was your weekend?" I ask, walking towards my mother who was now sitting on the couch.

I sit next to her as Ashton walks over to the recliner and takes a seat. She starts to explain her weekend with the Browns as Ashton and I never stop looking at each other. After of couple of hours Ashton leaves and I'm alone with my mother.

We're in the kitchen cleaning up, "So, how was really your weekend." I look at my mother who was washing the magi-line pot she used tonight. I stop wiping the island and leaned against it, "What you mean, mama?"

She rinses the pot and put it on a hand towel so it can dry over night. She rinses her hands and grabs an extra hand towel to dry them. She turns around with a soft smile, "I seen the way you two were looking at each other tonight Grace. Is there something you're not telling me?"

I smile. I start to think on how Ashton asked me to be his. I never felt more whole in my entire life. "Well?" My mother asks, walking towards the island leaning against resting her head against the palm of her hand. I sigh with a smile on my face, "Ashton asked me to be his." I look at my mother and she leans back with the smile she once had disappears. My smiles fades. After awhile of neither of us saying a word my mother cheers.

I laugh. She runs around the island and brings me into a hug. She pulls away and places her hands on my shoulders. She cups my face, "My baby is growing up. Now tell me all about it." She grabs my hand and drags me to the living room. I look at her and started to tell her. All night we talked about Ashton. I've never felt more close to my mother then I did that night.

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While writing this chapter this song was stuck in my head. Such a good tune✊🏾❤️ ENJOY !!