Helllllo agian!
Firstly I would like to apologise for not updating last week.
I was in a really foul mood. Possibly one of the worst.
Also have I spelt Quidicello's right? Sorry for any speliing/Punctuation mistakes I have probably made.
Don't forget if you have any ideas for chapters you would like me to attempt then PM me, let me know.
It was finally morning. The sun had risen, the birds were singing, it was going to be a beautiful day in Castle Rock.
But I didn't feel any better.
I wanted to go back to bed, or couch, seeing as that's where I finally fell into a dreamless slumber. But Eyeball had started snoring, and once he started, it was difficult to make him stop.
Instead, I was now stood in the Merrill kitchen, watching the breakfast I was making the two boys as way of thank you, cook slowly.
It wasn't until I felt an arm around my shoulder, that I realised I could no longer hear the loud snores that had bothered me so much.
"You know you're burnin' that?" Eyeballs voice spoke from next to me. When I looked at him, the question of 'What the hell are you talking about?' spread across my face, he motioned his head towards the bacon that was in the frying pan.
"Shit." I muttered, turning the gas off.
"You always did know how to burn stuff." He chuckled to himself. "What are you doing up?" He became serious now, pulling me a little closer to his side.
Usually, I would have come up with some sarcastic remark, but I didn't feel my usual self. "Making Breakfast."
"Why?"
"It's my way of saying thank you."
"What the fuck for?" Was he really asking that question? He didn't sound angry though, he really did sound curious.
"Well, for looking after me, for bringing me hom- here, for cleaning me up, for everything."
He didn't say anything. Just nodded his head a little, squeezed my shoulder, and sat down at the table.
"You still like Pancakes?" I turned back round to check that I had actually made the Pancake mixture instead of just imagining it.
"You still make Pancakes?" He asked now putting his feet up on the chair next to him. When I nodded, his face broke out into a smile. "Only if they have chocolate chips in 'em?"
"Or blueberries." A new voice sounded from the doorway. As usual, Ace was leaning against something, in this case the doorframe, and had what looked like a cocktail stick in his mouth. He was watching me move round the kitchen now as I searched for the other ingredients they wanted me to add.
I wondered how long he had been there. Usually I could feel his gaze on me. And as I jumped up onto one of the counters to get a better look into the cupboards, the shirt rising a little with my arm, I could certainly feel it on me now.
"No. You don't have either of those." Eyeball lost the smile.
"Eyeball, why don't you go down to Quidicello's?" Ace spoke up. It wasn't really a question. It was of course a demand. And he hadn't even bothered to take his eyes off me to say it.
I shared a worried glance with Eyeball. His face told me that he wanted to stay, but he knew he would be in big trouble if he didn't scram.
Again, without bothering to check Eyeball was paying him any attention, Ace flicked his head towards the front door. His way off saying 'Get the fuck out, Now.' And Eyeball instantly knew what it meant.
"Eyeball, there should be some in my house." I didn't want him spending money on things that would only go to waste after I had left.
He relaxed a little. He had understood the double meaning in my words. 'I'll be fine.'
"Could you bring me some clothes too?" He nodded before leaving the room. Not ten seconds later he re entered. "The key is where it's always been." I said before he could ask. He left the room once more, and the front door slammed. It was just me and Ace.
He moved over to the other side of the kitchen now and patted the spot next to him as he leaned against the counter top.
I didn't want to move. But I could tell that if I didn't he would get angry.
I had never been afraid of angry Ace. It was just something that I tried to avoid at all times.
So instead of holding my ground, I moved.
I leant against the counter, making sure there was a gap between us. I had expected him to talk. But he said nothing. We just stood in silence.
"You know, Eyeball is gonna be back soon. Say whatever it is you didn't want to say in front of him before it's too late."
Thirty seconds must have passed before he finally opened his mouth. "You still wear your ribbon."
I opened my mouth to reply, closing it after nothing came to mind. If I was honest, I really didn't know what I had expected him to say. But 'You still wear your ribbon," Was definitely not on my list.
"What?" I asked. To my ears I sounded stupid.
He picked up my wrist that still had the ribbon wrapped round it. The bow Teddy had made was still somehow neat and perfect. "You still wear your ribbon."
"Of course I do. It's the only thing I can find to tie my hair up with." My answer was not a lie. Whenever I had gone out and bought proper bands for my hair, within a couple of hours of my purchase, they had vanished like they had never existed.
I had always just put it down to my Mother. She sometimes crept into my room and 'Borrowed' whatever took her fancy. Thankfully it wasn't anything I cherished, so I had always just let it slide. But the amount of hair bands she was taking was getting a little ridiculous. So in the end I had just stopped buying them and stuck to my trusted purple ribbon.
"You remember the day I gave that to you?" Ace asked now, bringing me out of my thoughts of my Mother.
I nodded. We had been ten years old. It has been his Mother's birthday. I had been lying on the floor on my front with Ace sat next to me on my right. I had been colouring, Ace had just watched.
By that age, my hair was long overdue for a haircut and reached just below my waist. My fringe was long enough to stay tucked behind me ear, but the rest of my hair was stubborn, and liked to get in my way. It didn't matter what I was doing, my hair was always a part of my view.
I was getting angry with it now and was on the verge of just pulling it all out when Ace had got up and left the room.
My curiosity had taken my mind of my locks for the time it took for him to come back.
When he finally did, he held in his hand the purple ribbon that had been wrapped around the box of chocolates he had got his Mom for her birthday.
Without saying a word, he had sat on my butt, and gently pulled my hair into a ponytail. He tied it into a neat bow, and made sure my fringe was tucked behind my ear before getting off.
He had sat down in front of me, and lay down on his stomach, our foreheads almost touching. He began to join in my colouring; he must have been really bored.
"Better?" He had asked without looking up.
"Much." I had replied. He only nodded letting me know that he hadn't ignored me. We had gone on colouring until Mrs. Merrill had bought us a slice of cake each. After stuffing our faces with it, we had gone out to find Eyeball, and the ribbon had stayed with me since.
I looked at it now, my wrist still in Ace's warm hand. It was a little frayed, and had a few stains on it, but apart from that it was like brand new.
I crossed my arms across my chest when his grip loosened. I didn't move away, but I didn't move any closer either. We just stood. Leaning against the counter, and waited for Eyeball. A peaceful silence settled over us. A silence it seemed, neither of us wanted to break.
It was probably the most peaceful I had been around Ace since my fourteenth.
Eventually, Eyeball came back. He had a pile of clothes in his arms, and on top, was the Chocolate chips and Blueberries. I headed over to him taking the food from him as he placed my clothes on the table.
"Pancake special coming up." I said as I began. The bacon that I had burned moments ago was now in the bin. I could practically feel the smile radiating from Eyeball.
I could certainly feel Ace watching me again.
A/N: A MASSIVE thankyou to everyone who has favourited/followed/reviewed this story. It means a lot to me.
Let me know what you think?
Love Always.
