The Bad Boy Broke My Heart (And My Leg)

___________________ . . . History has it that whoever strives to get something done, they do in the end, or at least contribute to the great strive that finally succeeds in getting whatever it is done. It is a simple law of force that still hasn't been disproved. And I, Hope O'Brien, believe in that law of force. Except what I strive for is a bit more abstract than scientific discoveries and inventions. I want Ace Hunter to love me back, at least with half the intensity with which I love him. And now you are going to think – How old is this girl? And I will say – Sixteen? Why? And you will think – no wonder. Typical teenage s**t. Yeah, I know. It is not some world-changing phenomenon. It is just a minor crush, but one I have nursed ever since I was in kindergarten, mind you, so forgive me if I am a bit attached to the idea of it. I like this boy. I love this boy. And though the chances of me, a total nerd, ending up with him is almost nil – in contrast to the usual nerd-bad boy troupe in books and movies – I can't seem to talk my heart out of this crush of mine. Is it weird that, having said that, I am going to pursue this crush of mine? That I am going to tell this dude that I love him? I am going to say, "I love you. I don't just like like you. I love love you and my feelings are so overwhelming and almost suffocating that it feels like I will die if it stays in my heart any longer." "Don't make it about you." I jumped when I heard the voice. I quickly spun on my heels and saw my dad, Ian O'Brien – or Dad-I as I call him, leaning against the doorframe. "Dad-I, you scared me!" I whisper-yelled – though I don't know why I whisper-yelled in my own house – while clutching my heart. "You can't just walk in on me like that!" "It's called invasion of privacy babe." Daniel O'Brien, my other dad or Dad-D placed a kiss on Dad-I's lips before adding. "Have some respect. She is sixteen now." As you can see, Dad-D is the sensible one out of the two of them though Dad-I is the more laid back one. "I was just giving my kid some boy advice." Dad-I rolled his eyes. "Hoping that she doesn't end up with someone like you." "Pfft." I couldn't help but laugh, covering my mouth while Dad-D gave me a flat look. No matter whatever happened, at the end of the day, I was team Ian and my Dad-D knew it too well. "Who is this boy anyway?" I knew better than to tell my dads that. I would never hear the end of it. And they would probably stalk him on social media and stuff. It was bound to get embarrassing if they knew. Not to mention the millions of YouTube subscribers they have who would hear about it. It was not just my school who would know about it, people all around the world would. "You guys don't need to know." I said, finality in my voice. "Why is that?" Dad-D whipped out his camera while I rolled my eyes. "This is exactly why." Dad-I pointed at the device while giving his husband a flat look. I shook my head. My parents were crazy. "I need to get ready for school you guys.!" I announced. "Tell us in your own time." Dad-I winked as he pulled Dad-D with him and closed the door. I loved them so much. They were the only people I loved more than Ace. I turned around and plopped down on my bed. I tilted my head as I thought back to what Dad-I had said. What did he mean by not making it about myself? How else am I supposed to confess? I don't know about his feelings right? Hell, he probably doesn't even know that I exist. So if it was not going to be about me, who else was it going to be about? Maaaaan, this is so damn confusing. . . . "Here." Aleena Ellis passed me the box of tissues just as I tossed the one I had been using in the bin. "I-I can't believe he did t-that.!" I sobbed as I hugged my knees. "And I can't believe you actually went and confessed to him." Harry Moore, my other best friend was at the foot of my bed, playing Fortnite. I pouted sadly. I was so confident when I told him I loved him. I took a pillow and chucked it at his head. "You are the one who manipulated me into doing it." I accused him. Harry gave me a lame look, not the least affected by the accusation I had thrown at him. Why would he be affected when he, Aleena and I know very well that this is what I do. I do bullshit and I blame others for the bullshit that I do. "How will I show my face in school tomorrow?" I wailed. "It's not like anyone ever notices you anyway." Harry commented, earning a death glare from my only loyal friend. Aleena had taken the day off because she had a migraine, but I am cent per cent sure that she would have stopped me from doing the stupidity that I did if she was there at school with me. "I don't want you discussing this anymore." Aleena said as she hugged me. Aww... She is the sweetest human in the world I tell you, the sweetest human in the world. "What happened, happened and it cannot be undone no matter how much we want to." "That's what I have been trying to say-" "Shut up!" Aleena gave our best friend a warning glare before turning to her aggrieved one who happens to be me. "It will be alright." She said reassuringly. I nodded taking out a few more tissues to wipe my tears and snot off before taking the jar of Nutella from the nightstand and shoving a spoonful of it into my mouth. "Do we have any work for tomorrow?" Harry asked, hooked to the game. "Nope." I popped the 'P'. "I am staying the night." He announced. My heart felt a small tug, a happy one, when I heard him say that. And this, my friends, is why Aleena and Harry took third spot in the list of people I loved the most in the world. They were always there for me – since I was in kindergarten and being bullied for having gay parents to high school when I was crying over the boy who publicly humiliated me when I confessed to him. I sighed as I chucked the tissue box to the empty bean bag lying next to Harry. "Was that aimed at me?" Harry asked, not taking his eyes off from the screen. "No." I gave him a flat look. "Can't be too sure when it comes to you, you know." He shrugged. Now I really wanted to chuck another pillow at him. But no, I wasn't going to do that. "Are you staying?" I asked Aleena. She looked thoughtfully at me for a moment and then said, "I don't think mom would be home tonight." I nodded in understanding. Her mom, Susan Ellis, was one of the most hard working and sweetest person I knew. She worked two shifts a day after her husband died to provide for Aleena and her younger brothers Samuel and Jonas. Since Susan was working the night shift tonight, Aleena needed to be home to take care of her brothers. "I think I should get going now." She said, and placed her hand on mine. "You feeling better now?" "Yeah." I smiled. "I think I will go out with you and get some things from the store." She nodded. "What do you want?" I smacked my other best friend who was too hooked to the game again. "Some soda. Some chips. Some candy." He listed out. Aleena shook her head, a small smile on her face. Aleena had the biggest crush on Harry but this loser was way too blind to see that. Aleena never admitted this little crush to even me but I could see it in her eyes. What she felt for Harry was exactly what I felt for Ace so she cannot hide it from me. "Alright." I said anyway and the two of us walked out of the room. . . . ____________________________