Chapter 9: Catastrophic Clarity
I watched for awhile longer, debating when the best time would be to jump in and stop Ace. I was being silly, Ace would probably forget all about those boys, if I put an appearance in. But Ace unnerved me, and I was, (although I'd never admit this out loud) a little scared of him.
The boys were doing their best to persuade Ace to push off, but I guess he had nothing better to do, as he just kept going, terrorising them more and more, before he actually lifted a hand to them.
Ace was not alone, as I had previously thought; he was accompanied by two of his lackeys, Charlie and Billy, to be precise. Neither were doing anything except egging on Ace, both too afraid to get involved in such a public place and both too afraid to challenge Ace.
They'd never learn to think for themselves, if they continued to live in the shadow of Ace.
Gathering up my courage, I gestured to Clara that I was going over there. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she made no move to stop me.
I strode purposely across the grass, passing the swings, until I was roughly a metre from Ace's smirking face.
He deliberately looked me up and down, "ah look at what we have here. Back for more?" He turned to Billy, "they just can't get enough of me, what can I say?" He smirked at them, and they laughed, under his commanding gaze.
Gordie had obviously recognised me, but had had the sense to say nothing. The three others were simply waiting for the opportunity to run.
I tried to distract Ace; to give them a good chance to get away.
"Yes Ace, I think I was wrong," I smiled seductively at him, "completely wrong." Ace's smirk grew wider. But Gordie was standing with his mouth agape.
I stepped forward, as if to embrace Ace, and encircled him in a hug. Over his shoulder I winked at Gordie, and he finally got it. Whispering furiously at his friends, they cautiously began to creep away.
Unfortunately, Ace did notice, despite my best efforts to keep his attention on me. He pulled out of the hug and glared at the smallest kid, who recoiled from him.
"Now Vern, you wouldn't want to wander off and get lost, would you? Don't worry; we'll take care of you." Ace laughed darkly.
Another boy, the oldest looking stepped forward, "leave him alone, Ace." He spoke confidently and I admired his nerve.
"Shut it faggot. Vern and I were having a lovely conversation, before you oh so rudely interrupted."
Once again I attempted to recapture his focus; I put a hand on his arm, "come now Ace, haven't we got better things to do...together?" I was beginning to feel ill. They'd better get the hint soon, and skedaddle, cause I wasn't going to be able to keep this up for long.
Ace paused and looked at me carefully. He wasn't stupid, and I doubted he'd fall for my act easily. I smiled as genuinely as I could.
He seemed satisfied by this and looked back at the boys, "you were lucky...this time. Turns out I have better things to do, than talk to you girls. Bye bye now."
The small boy, Vern, who Ace had been gripping by his shoulder, practically fell over his own feet in his haste to get away from Ace. Gordie followed in his suit, and another boy, who wore glasses, began to feel safe at a distance, and couldn't resist a parting shot, "You don't scare us!" Ace mock lunged and the boy took off scampering after his friends. The last boy, Chris, I deciphered by a process of elimination, waited until his friends were a good distance away, before he followed. He nodded in my direction, as a means of thanks.
Once there were out of sight, I heaved a sigh of relief. And then I panicked.
Ace would be expecting me to come with them, and I wouldn't be able to get away, while he had Charlie and Billy with him. Although, I could find out some things about him, so I could perfect his date, make her irresistible to him. Whew, talk about a job and a half.
Trying to sound irresistible myself I snuggled up to him, "where we going Ace?" I hoped to god he wouldn't refer to anything from the day before.
He shrugged, and leant in to whisper to Billy, who laughed callously, and turned to Charlie, to share the joke. I tried to maintain a poker face.
When we passed the bush Clara was hiding in, she pocked her head out and mimed being sick. A snort of laughter left me, and Ace stopped, "what're you laughing at?"
I blushed, "uh nothing, just remembering something funny."
He lifted an eyebrow, "care to share?"
I frantically tried to think of an excuse, "oh um, you had to be there."
"Hmmmm." Thankfully he didn't press it and accepted my explanation, even if it was with scepticism.
He waited for another short second, and then sighed at turned back to his conversation with Charlie and Billy. I stopped, "I'm just going to the little girls' room."
"Whatever." They stopped and slumped on the bench which was a short distance away. I began to walk in the direction of the bathroom, carefully keeping an eye out for Clara. To my great relief she bobbed out, from the bush where I had left her.
"What're you doing?" She hissed, without bothering with something as insignificant as a simple introductory "hello."
"Look this is the ideal opportunity to find out his weaknesses!"
She narrowed her eyes, "you know he won't have forgotten the other day? He won't just forget about what you did. We aren't the only ones capable of payback."
That had crossed my mind, but I shook my head, "it doesn't matter."
"You aren't going to...?"
"No!"
She smiled in triumph, "so what are you going to let him do?"
"Ummm..."
"That's what I thought. You can't go!"
"Sure I can. I'm a big girl." Her continual "mother hen" act was beginning to annoy me. She clicked her tongue, "It'll end in tears. And don't bother coming crying to me."
I watched helplessly as she walked away.
I trailed back to Ace. Clara's doubts were ringing in my ears and were beginning to take root in my mind. Her uncertainties were slowly becoming mine.
Oh my lord. I was such a fool.
But it was too late to back down now.
He looked up as I approached, "you took long enough."
I didn't have an excuse prepared, and merely shrugged, "long line."
"Ready to go?" Without waiting for an answer, he roughly took my arm, and stood up.
"See you, guys. We've got...stuff to do."
Billy and Charlie ignored me and laughed along with Ace. It didn't matter what Ace said, they'd laugh regardless.
So, I allowed Ace to drag me along with him, thinking the whole time about how I could salvage the situation and work out who the perfect girl was, in his eyes.
The problem was: Ace wasn't a big talker. Well, when it came to girls anyway.
He led us to his car, as I had expected, and I found myself thinking it would be way easier just to trash his car or something...no. I scolded myself; that would be too easy, I was following this through.
"I'll have to go soon, Ace. But why don't we have a little talk?"
"Talk?" he smirked, leaning against the hood of the car, lighting a cigarette, "okay, talk."
"So...what do you like in a girl?" Dammit, that hadn't come out, like I'd intended it to.
He grinned again, and moved closer to look into my eyes. I willed myself to stay still and to not back away.
"What do I like? A nice body, legs, chest. That usually helps."
I moved my head back a little, "yes, but what about personality?"
"Personality?" He answered, like he'd never heard of the word before.
"Yeah."
"Who needs personality?" He flicked the cigarette ash to the ground, threw the cigarette and grinded it into the road.
Without any clear warning, he kissed me abruptly. It was different this time though, this time I found myself wanting to kiss him back.
He cupped a hand to the back of my neck and his body was moving closer and closer. I was getting into it, when Clara's face sailed into my mind, and I remembered everything that had happened. It brought me to my senses.
I pulled back, gulping in a great lungful of air. Now, I had to be careful to not annoy Ace.
He was back to leaning against the car, "enjoy that?" He asked, with a self-satisfied smirk.
I forced myself to smile back, "yes, but that's enough. I have to go home now."
"You sure? I have a free house." He smirked.
Bet he'd get a shock if I said yes, "no, I'm good. I'll see you later."
"Goodbye...Alice." He deliberately emphasised my name, remembering my previous irritation at nicknames.
I turned a shade redder...I didn't like Ace...right? Right.
Oh god. Clara mustn't ever know. Never.
I'd do what I said I'd do. I would. I would. And Clara would none the wiser.
What was it Ace did? How was he doing this to me? I hated him for it.
I had to get away from him, far away. His charms were too damn difficult to resist, and I couldn't think straight in his company.
With the slightest wave I could manage, I began to back away, "yeah...um tattie toe." I mentally slapped myself; that had been a parting greeting I had invented with a friend, a simple slip of the tongue.
Ace smiled, and I noticed he hadn't repeated his last mistake of trying to seduce me. "Right...tattie toe."
Talk about a change of heart.
Never mind. It didn't matter to me what Ace thought. It really didn't.
And now I'd forget about him...and how I'd felt. As of now, I wasn't thinking about it.
I'd go back, apologise to Clara, and we'd find someone to break Ace Merrill's heart.
If only it were that easy...
A/N So I've read in a few stories a sort of Q&A thing, and I thought it seemed like a good idea, so here are a few questions, which I would like you to answer!
1. Should Alice end up with Ace?
2. Should Alice get jealous of the other girl they bring into it?
3. If Ace should fall for either or both of the girls?
4. If Ace should be sincere, like he does have some compassion, or is he completely heartless, and is just toying with Alice?
5. Finally, what do you think of Alice and Clara?
Please answer if you have time! (: Thank you.
