For the next three weeks that followed, my day followed a particular routine. In the mornings and evenings I worked out with Ace, after our workout we joined Cyclonis for a meal and during the day I either worked with Cyclonis on crystals and ideas or if she was busy I would study, work, or work on my own skimmer.

Today was only slightly different, normally after breakfast, Cyclonis and I would go to work or we would all go our separate ways. Today I was going with Ace to test drive my skimmer.

"Have fun you two," Cyclonis said after we had eaten and about to go our separate ways, her to her study and Ace and I to the hanger bay.

I grinned at her, "Don't we always?"

She laughed, waved and left.

I looked over at Ace and found him grinning at me. "What are you grinning like an idiot for?"

"Nothing," he said still grinning and nodded towards the direction of the hanger bay.

I grinned slightly and stepped around him, walking towards the hanger bay.

He fell into step at my side, his arm an inch from mine. We walked into the hanger bay and I found my skimmer next to his.

My skimmer was a lighter and more streamlined then the Switchblades Elites. It was a deep red like the Cyclonians' but there was no insignia on my skimmer. I climbed on to the skimmer and Ace climbed on his.

"Are you sure you know how to fly that thing," Ace said over the engines of our skimmers.

I revved the engine, grinning at him. "Of course I do! I built it, remember!?"

He grinned and took off to the opening.

I smiled and took off after him. The engine ran smooth, roaring as I shot towards. Unlike my brother's bike that shook and shuddered, my skimmer moved smoothly. I shot off the edge and twisted and pushed in a switch. The wings unfurled and the tires were closed in metal.

"Well done," Ace moved alongside me, pacing.

"Did you have any doubt?"

He grinned. "Never."

"Good."

"Follow me and we'll put it through its paces." He took off and I followed on his tail.

We moved through the spikes that Cyclonia had scattered about. My skimmer moved just as smooth in the air as it did on land and kept the pace with Ace and could surpass him if I put on more power. I followed him, till we came to a small deserted terra and landed, around lunch time.

"Why are we stopping here?"

"I thought we'd stop for lunch," he said, pulling a picnic basket out of nowhere.

I stared at the basket. "Where did you keep that? Or did you pull it out of a top hat with a fluffy white bunny in it?"

He laughed and climbed off his Switchblade.

I switched off my skimmer and climbed off. Ace was walking to the only tree on the terra, the basket and a blanket over one arm. I walked to him as he spread the blanket under the shade of the tree, near the trunk. I stood and watched him.

He looked up at me and reached a hand out to me. "Shall we?"

I smiled at him, "we shall." I took his hand and sat down on the blanket my back to the trunk of the tree.

He pulled out our lunch. Sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle with two goblets (a/n: to those that don't know goblets are what most wine glass are).

I raised an eyebrow. "Ok, the sandwiched, I get, the fruit, I get, the wine not so much. You know I'm 15, right?"

He laughed, "It's not wine, its cider. There's no alcohol in there."

"Ok then what's with the glasses?"

He shrugged. "I just thought it would add some kind of class to a simple picnic."

I laughed. "You forget that you're talking to a simple girl."

He put his face close to mine. "I believe I told you the first day you came to Cyclonia that you are far from simple."

I breathed in with a controlled deepness, I could smell him. He smelt sweet yet slightly musky, but it was a nice smell. "Yeah," I said just above a whisper, "you did."

He looked into my eyes for a bit longer, causing my insides to melt. He nodded and pulled back.

We ate holding a casual conversation, talking about nothing, telling jokes, and laughing. I don't think Ace looked away from me once.

"Have you decided what you're going to call it," he asked indicating my skimmer.

"Sky-blade," I said, glancing first at it and then to him. "It has some components of the Switchblades, but it cuts through and lighter than them."

He grinned and leaned closer to me, staring at me attentively.

"What are you looking at?"

"You have something right here," he said putting his hand to my cheek and jaw, his thumb brushing crumbs away from my lips. He looked closely at me again then closed the gap between us and pressed his lips against mine.

My breath caught suddenly, and I jumped back from him, getting to my feet in seconds.

He had fallen on his back when I jumped away and was looking up at me. His eyes were wider than normal.

I was breathing hard as if I had been running, staring down at him. "What the hell, Ace?!"

"Skylar," he sounded unsure and embarrassed, which were two words I never thought I'd use to describe Ace. Then again I never thought I'd be in this situation with him.

"Why did you kiss me," I said quietly.

He stood up, slowly. "I-I," he swallowed.

I shook my head. "Never mind! Let's just get back." I walked over to the Sky-Blade my mind was spinning trying to process what had happened.

Behind me, Ace gathered the remains of our lunch and blanket. Once he got them together and mounted his Switchblade, I kicked the Sky-Blade into life and took off.

He followed behind me; the only noise was the engines. Even if I was simple my life certainly wasn't, not anymore!