Chapter 37

He glared at me, but I could see the humour in his eyes. “Just get on with it.” I laughed, before composing myself. I began the training session, which was weird to refer to it as that because it’s Jace. I was training Jace on fighting? There is something I never thought I would be doing to fill up my evenings. “Right first thing you need to learn is to act.” I began. “Act?” He furred his brows, before shaking his head “I was never really born to be on stage.” I actually had no idea if he was joking, but I just ignored his moronic comment “No, not as in drama act, shit for brains, as in act out.” I made clear, and his mouth formed into an O as he realised what I meant. I guess he really was being serious. He may have the beauty but clearly brains were something God did not give generously when creating him... “I did act out, I punched the hoe.”He defended. I shook my head “No you reacted. That is what you need to learn, act before you react.” I explained, and he cocked his head in curiosity “If you react, then the other person always has the upper hand because your acting on impulse. If you act, then you make the first move which almost always keeps you one step ahead.” He nodded his head, taking in my words. “So basically your saying punch before I am punched?” “Exactly, If you suspect someone is about to pull a gun out on you, then don’t wait for that to happen before you knock the guy out. Get in there first.” He smiles slightly, and I look at him questioningly “What?” His expression is soft and the smile is genuine “Nothing, it’s just the teacher vibe I’m getting off you right now suits you.” He compliments, and I actually smile back. Then Jace being Jace, he had to add “And of course the image of you wearing glasses, a pencil in your hair and spanking me with a kane in detention for being a bad boy is also very alluring.” I scowl and have to clench my fists from gouging his eyes out. I let the comment slide, but I can see my clear anger is amusing him. “Anyway, remember act before you react.” I tell him slowly, like he is a bit mentally challenged. I raise a hand and gesture for him to hit me, a teasing smile on my lips “So show me you’ve learned the lesson...Mr Dixon.” His face lights up as he spots my teasing tone, before he burst out laughing as he realises what I am asking him to do “I’m not going to hit you Faith.” “Don’t give me the ‘my mum told me not to hit girls crap’ because you already broke that rule once today.” I remind him, and again he smiles at the memory. He once again shakes his head, trying to contain his laughter. “Still not doing it.” I raise my brow, my face looking at him mockingly “Are you scared Jace?” He furs his brows, looking at me like I’m crazy “Scared of what? Of you?” he scoffs. I shrug, knowing very well that this will eventually get on his last nerve “Well I mean if you’re worried I am going to retaliate, I promise to be easy on you?” My voice is sweet, patronising. His laughter is completely gone as he glares at me while I take a few more hits to his male ego. “Faith I am not hitting you because it’s you...I am not scared of you.” He informs me, his voice almost a growl. I try to contain my laughter and I realise maybe Plan B is in order. Piss him off until his anger wins and he lashes out. “Are you sure you’re not going to do this?” I ask cheerfully, his glare making it really hard not to laugh. “Positive.” My hand reaches up and connects with his cheek so fast if you blinked you would have missed it. By the time he turns his face back to me with his eyes wide from shock at my action, my hands are behind my back and I am smiling at him innocently. “Still don’t want to hit me?” His eyes narrow and he rubs his hand along his jaw. The slap was not hard; it was more to the point of pressing his buttons “No.” Before the word is fully out of his mouth, my hand lashes out again and slaps his cheek, the sound of my palm connecting against his cheek echoing around the gym. As he rolls his head around back to me, his jaw is clenched as he is clearly running short of patience. My smile is still sweet and my hands are once again behind my back, keeping up my schoolgirl innocence routine. “How about now?” He closes his eyes and takes a deep calming breath, before shaking his head “I am not falling for this Faith.” This time, my hand not only connects to his now red cheek (which must sting like a bitch by the way) but my other hand also lashes out as I slap his forehead. The sounds of the slaps made it sound like a rhythm, and I had to bite my tongue from bursting out into hysterics. His teeth are gritting so hard by now I can almost hear them grinding together, and his eyes are almost slits as I can tell his anger is boiling over. The smile I was throwing him right now probably didn’t help either. I was almost patting myself in the back, because I knew in mere minutes I would get the reaction I wanted.