Chapter Eleven: Sneaking In!

Why the hell am I doing this? Ace asked himself for the thousandth time, walking towards Nami's house. It was 4:25 the day after the meeting. By the time he reached Nami's house, Nojiko would've gone to work already. But he kept on walking slower and half turned to walk back the way he came, convinced he'd look like a stalker going down some girl's chimney. What would the neighbours think? They might call the cops on him. And Ace really didn't feel like dealing with Garp right now.

Still. He reached Nami's house, Nojiko's car not in sight, meaning she'd left. Ace looked around. Nami and Nojiko had no trees, instead having tangerine groves that definitely wouldn't support his weight to try and climb on the roof. They did have a drainpipe thingy though that he could possibly use.

Thanks to being brought up in strict training by Garp and playing in the woods all the time with Luffy and Sabo… Ace twitched, remembering how Sabo had passed away when they were just kids. He shook off that thought and continued climbing. He was a good climber and reached the roof eventually. Ace grinned proud that no police sirens had sounded yet. He approached the chimney and looked down, his pleased mood going away, "Geez, when was the last time they cleaned this? Wait, do people even clean their chimneys?"

Meh, he thought and slid down.

Nami was sitting on her bed in her room. She hadn't come out the whole time since she ran away from Ace except to go to the bathroom. She didn't eat, claiming she wasn't hungry even though she was starving now.

"Might as well get something to eat," she decided walking out through the hall. She heard a thumping sound on the roof.

Must be wind, she thought, but since when do winds make thumping sounds?

She shook herself, Stay calm, Nami; you're just having delusions because you haven't eaten anything. Yeah, that's it.

She went into the kitchen, pouring some water since she was mostly thirsty rather than hungry and walking through the living room.

Suddenly, there was a noise in the chimney.

She stopped, "What was that?"

Nami looked at the chimney as a soot-covered person suddenly tumbled into the living room, coughing and spluttering.

Nami did, of course, what any person would do and that was scream, thinking it was a robber or something.

"Huh? Oi, Nami! It's me!" yelled Ace.

"Ahhh!" she continued screaming anyway, picking up and throwing various things at Ace like the remote, a couple of books, a cushion, a couch, a tissue box…

"It's Ace!" shouted Ace, at the same time getting hit in the head with a book, "Ow!"

"Freaking robber!" yelled Nami at the same time, throwing her glass of water at him.

"I can prove I'm Ace!" yelled Ace, "Our mothers are friends in the afterlife or Heaven or whatever! A freaking robber wouldn't know that!"

"Ace?" said Nami, realising.

The glass cup hit Ace in the head, "OW! JESUS CHRIST!"

"Gomenasai!" apologised Nami immediately, "I didn't realise it was you, Ace! Hey… WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ANYWAY? Going down people's chimneys… What? Are you out of your mind? Wait… You didn't care about people's feelings!"

"You hit me with a book!" retorted Ace, "Not to mention a glass cup!"

"I said I was sorry!"

"So would have I!"

"Why are you here, then?" demanded Nami, "I admit, I am impressed you wanted to see me so much, you went down the chimney but what for? Don't think I'll be swayed by just a 'sorry'!"

"I came to ask if you wanted to go to Makino's café with me."

Nami gaped at him for a moment and then, "God, you're unbelievable! First, you don't care about my friend's feelings, and then you practically gave me a heart attack thinking I was being robbed and now you're asking me out like nothing even happened?"

OK, now I'm getting confused… thought Ace, why are girls this complicated? I mean, what happened to the whole 'forgive and forget' thing?

"Nothing even did happen!" said Ace, "How do you know you didn't just misunderstand what Marco and I were talking about?"

"Because I heard it! I know what I heard!"

"And maybe you did," admitted Ace, "But did you hear the whole thing?"

"The whole thing?" asked Nami, confused.

"Yeah. Or, did you cut off and then started listening again and maybe you misinterpreted what we said?"

"Misinterpreted," scoffed Nami, "Do you even know what that word means?"

"Not really, but I think it's relevant. Anyway, did you?"

Nami thought. She had cut off a couple of times in her own little world and probably missed listening to a few things… And Margaret had interrupted once as well…

"Oh…" said Nami, feeling bad now, "Yeah, maybe I did miss a couple of things…" She looked up and saw Ace looking meaningfully at her.

"Sorry," said Nami sincerely, "It was wrong of me to blame you and Marco and just assume."

Ace's face broke out into a grin, "Whoo! So, that means we're going to Makino's café now, right? Because, now you owe me."

Nami smiled, glad that Ace wasn't one to hold a grudge for very long, "Sure. So… friends?" she stuck out her hand.

His face fell for a second which Nami's quick eyes had seen but instantly lit up, "Sure we are!" and, ignoring her hand, gave her a hug instead.

I wonder why he looked sad for a second, thought Nami, but immediately pushed that thought aside. Right now, she wanted to be a good a friend as possible so she could actually feel that she deserved someone like Ace.

"You know, there is school tomorrow," said Nami, "So when are we supposed to go to Makino's café?"

"On Saturday, I suppose," said Ace, shrugging, "Unless you want to cut school."

"NO!"

"It was a joke!"

"Oh, God, Margaret!" realised Nami suddenly, "I have to call and let her know Marco really won't hurt her!"

"Don't worry," said Ace, "Marco still has to prove to Margaret he loves her and this is the perfect opportunity for him to do so. We shouldn't butt in."

Nami didn't say anything. Ace was right, but it was still going to be hard seeing her friend all sad at school tomorrow and not being able to cheer her up.

"Maybe you're right," said Nami, "But won't it be strange when we show up friends again and yet Marco and Margaret aren't?"

"We'll just say we made up," said Ace, "I know Marco is preparing something to make it up to Margaret." No lie there. "They're going to be A OK."

"I hope you're right," said Nami quietly. Because if you aren't, their relationship is dead and it's all my fault.

And… there's the chapter! I actually had a lot of fun, finding stuff for Nami to chuck at Ace. XD I also got ideas off movies and stuff.

Don't forget to review!