Chapter Twenty-One

I was staring out of the window when Principal Foster came into my history class. He ducked in quietly but the hush that fell over the room alerted me to the fact that he was

there. The principal said something in a quiet tone to Mrs Lansky and then I felt both of them look in my direction.

To be honest, I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts it took me a while to register they were looking at me. I had spent the night at Gordie's although I hadn't managed to

get much sleep. I had tossed and turned so much that in the end Gordie got pissed and slept on the floor. Images of Chris and Ace had haunted me whenever I closed my

eyes and I think I must have had three hours sleep the entire night.

On the school bus, Chris hadn't even made eye contact with me. And it had been the same at lunch. He'd told Gordie he was sitting with Teddy and had left us alone. Being

ignored by him burned me to the core but I still had no idea what to do. The selfish part of me wanted to dump Ace but the side that cared what happened to Chris knew it

could only end badly.

"Miss Willis, can you come with me please?" Principal Foster said. My eyes shot up immediately and I wondered what in the hell it was that I'd done. I could feel the eyes of all

the other students as I got up dumbly, picked up my bag, and followed the principal out.

"Miss Willis, I'm afraid I have some bad news." Principal Foster had ushered me into a seat before he sprung this on me.

I felt my heart sink. This didn't sound like the usual bullshit you got for skipping class.

"Bad news?"

"I'm afraid your mother had an accident yesterday. I'm so sorry to have to tell you this but she passed away."

The room suddenly became extremely hot and my ears began to throb.

"H-how?" I managed to ask.

"I'm not sure of the details but I believe she became involved in a heated argument with your step father."

"Oh."

I didn't hear much else of what he said to me but I remember at one point, him waving a hand in front of my face.

"Miss Willis? Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"

I wasn't sure I did. The world seemed hazy and unnatural and I could feel my lunch squelching around in my stomach.

"Do you have somewhere to stay tonight? A relative? Friend's parents? Your step father is…still helping the police with their enquiries so if you have nowhere to stay tonight I

will have to notify children's services."

"I-uh-" I licked my dry lips and tried to focus. The school had no idea Stan had kicked me out weeks ago and if I wasn't careful I could end up in a foster home. "I have

somewhere to stay."

"Well, I would ask that you call that person and have them collect you please."

"Well, it's- my friend Gordon Lachance. I can stay with him."

"That's fine, I'll have the secretary call Mrs Lachance and come down here to-"

Shit. They needed an adult to collect me. Somebody over 18.

"Erm, could I call her please, Principal Foster?"

"Of course but she will need to come down to the school and pick you up. You can use my phone."

He left me alone in his office to make the call but for the first few minutes I put my face in my hands and wept. So what if she was a lousy mother, so what if she'd kicked me

out? She was still my Mom. I remembered the Mom she was before my father died- the cookie baking, dress making heroine that had held my hand tightly on my first day of

kindergarten- and I cried for that woman.

I cried for all the abuse she'd put up with, for how cruelly life had treated her and how in return, she neglected me. I cried angry tears for Stan, for the fact that I knew deep

down inside of me he had caused this. He had killed my mother.

My call was answered on the fifth ring.

"Hello?" I could already picture Penny from the laundromat snapping her gum, hair scarf wrapped tightly about her head.

"Penny, it's Nina."

"Who?"

"Ace's Nina."

There was a groan at the other end, followed by the noise of snapping gum.

"I already told him I aint his Goddamn secretary. If you want to-"

"Penny, this is important. I have some really bad news. Just please, please go next door and check if he's home."

"This better be really bad news," Penny grumbled before I heard the receiver clatter down onto the counter.

I crossed my fingers and squeezed my eyes tightly shut while I waited for Penny to knock at Ace's. I prayed to God, Jesus and the virgin Mary that he would be home and

able to pick me up. Otherwise Principal Foster would be calling Mrs Lachance and after she told him to go to hell I'm pretty sure the next call would have been to child

services.

"Yeah?"

I had never been so pleased to hear his gruff voice on the other end of the phone.

"Ace, it's me. I need you to get me from school."

"I was sleeping, damn it. Why can't you get the bus?"

Tears stung my eyes as I tried to form words.

"They-uh- won't let me go unless it's with an adult. My-uh- Stan, he- he uh…..my Mom's dead, Ace."

Now the words were out, it all seemed too real. My hands began to shake, my words were slurred. The back of my head felt heavy.

"How?"

Even in the state I was in, I knew that was an insensitive response. I tried to answer him but my voice shuddered and broke before I began to sob down the phone.

Ace's voice became impatient.

"So you want me to come there? Like actually walk into the school office?"

"If you don't, they're gonna find me a foster placement," I blubbered.

I heard him swear on the other end of the line.

"I swore to God I'd never walk into that building again," he muttered. I only cried harder before he snapped: "Alright, alright, I'm coming."

He didn't say goodbye, only hung up the phone but as I gulped back the last of my tears before replacing the receiver I told myself he was at least on his way.

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I was staring numbly into space outside Principal Foster's office when Ace's motorcycle boots came into view.

My surroundings swam into focus as I took in Ace's appearance. Leather boots, ripped jeans, white wife beater, leather jacket. His hair was untidy and a lit cigarette was

perched between his lips. I started to say something as our eyes met but before I could, we were divided by a tall commanding figure.

Mr Farrell.

Mr Farrell hated Ace Merril. Rumour had it that he'd threatened to hand in his resignation if Ace hadn't been expelled from the high school. He'd taken great pleasure in man

handling Ace off the premises and it had taken two other teachers to ensure that a fight hadn't broken out on the school lawn.

Farrell had told Ace he would call the cops if he had ever turned up on school grounds again and Ace has replied he wouldn't return if he was paid.

And now, here they were, face to face.

Ace's lips curved into a slow cruel smirk.

"Farrell."

"What in the hell do you think you're doing here, Merrill?"

"I'm here to pick up my girl. What about you? You here whining to Foster about some kid you can't handle?"

"Get out of this school. Now."

Ace took another step closer and the two of them stood head to head neither backing down until the principal's door swung open.

"What's going on here?"

"Mr Merrill was just leaving," Farrell said.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Mr Merrill, can I ask what you're doing here?"

Finally, I found my tongue and scrambled to my feet.

"He's here for me, Principal Foster."

"Miss Willis?"

"I-uh- Mrs Lachance wasn't home. So I called Ace. He's an adult and I can stay with him until- until-Stan-" I felt my voice catch in my throat and Ace stepped round Farrell to

look at Principal Foster.

"Her folks have had no problem her staying with me. And like she says, I'm an adult. Come on, Nina, let's go."

"I strongly object to this!" Farrell snapped in Foster's direction. "You're going to let a young girl leave with this- this juvenile delinquent?"

"I'm not a juvenile anymore, Farrell," Ace smirked.

"Well, in that case can you put out that cigarette, please?" Foster's voice was clipped and Ace raised an eyebrow before I glared at him and he removed the cigarette from his

mouth.

"Miss Willis." Principal Foster took my arm and turned me towards him. His eyes were kind as he asked me, "Is there anyone else you can call?"

I shook my head, a lump in my throat and he sighed.

"Well, in that case, by all means, you may leave with Mr Merrill."

I let out my breath in one huge sigh while Farrell turned positively purple with rage.

"Prinicipal Foster! This thug is-"

"He's the only adult she has. So unless you think turning her over to children's services is what she needs right now then I don't see we have a choice."

Farrell was spluttering something in response while I reached down for my backpack. Principal Foster put a hand on my shoulder.

"Miss Willis, take some time. But please come into school Monday. You don't have to return to class if you're not ready but if you could just check in, let me know how you're

getting on. In the mean time, I'll try and get in touch with your father."

"Step-father."

"Yes, of course."

"Okay."

"I cannot believe you're allowing this!" Farrell hissed. He turned on his heel and began to march down the corridor.

"Good seeing you, Farrell," Ace called after him. "Always a pleasure."

"Mr Merrill?" Principal Foster's voice cut in icily and suddenly his eyes did not look half as kind. "Don't make me regret this, you hear?"

"Yes, sir," Ace said with a mock salute.

And with that, he gestured for me to move in front and followed me out of the school.

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"You gonna ignore me all day?"

I looked up from the armchair where Ace was chewing on a toothpick and glaring at me.

"Huh?"

"Jesus Christ, Nina, you haven't said a fucking word in hours."

I shook my head in confusion. My head was still aching.

"Ace, my Mom-"

"Was a bitch," he finished.

My eyes widened as I stared at him.

"Don't say that!"

"Why not? It's the truth, ain't it? She chose him over you and he killed her. Fucking karma if you ask me."

"Stop it!" I yelled at him. "Stop talking about her that way, she's dead, damn it! Dead!"

I was hysterical by now. The tears were streaming down my face and I was shaking violently.

"Alright, alright!" Ace threw himself back on the couch. "I just don't get it, babe. It's a shitty thing to happen, granted. But she was a lousy mom anyways. You don't need

her."

He was trying to be supportive, he just had no clue how to do it. And then when I looked at him, really looked at him, I could see he was uncomfortable. Ace wasn't a

shoulder to cry on but he knew in this moment that was who he had to try and be. And that was making him uncomfortable.

"I need to go."

He turned his head towards me.

"Go? Where the fuck are you gonna go?"

"To work." I blurted out.

Ace frowned.

"You don't work a Tuesday."

"I said I'd cover." That was a bare faced lie.

"Well, I'm sure they'll understand."

I ignored him and stood up.

"I'd rather be busy. Can you give me a ride?"

"Nina, for Christ's sake-"

"What do you want me to do, Ace? You want me to stay here moping while you get pissed I'm not talking to you? Let me go to work. Please."

I could see a flicker of relief cross his face as he nodded. He didn't want to play hero and me going to work got him off the hook.

I stayed silent all the way to Blue Point Diner and when we arrived in the parking lot I suddenly worried he might try and come inside with me.

"Pick you up at 11?" He asked.

I nodded as I reached for the door but his voice stopped me from climbing out.

"Look, Nina, are you, uh- are you okay and stuff?"

I looked at him in surprise but he wouldn't meet my eyes. Instead he fiddled with the steering wheel and stared down at his jeans. I wanted to tell him that I was far from okay, that I didn't feel like I'd be okay ever again. But instead I cleared my throat and nodded.

"I'm fine. I'll see you at 11."

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Fran looked shocked to see me and I could tell by her face that news had gotten around fast.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"

"I-uh- I just needed to get out." My eyes were already scanning the busy room for one particular face and although there were plenty of stares, none were from the person I

wanted.

Fran gave me a brief hard hug before she rubbed my shoulder soothingly.

"I am so sorry, darling. Heart sorry. Have you eaten? Let me get you something to eat." She hurried off and yelled something at Tim, the chef before pouring me a cup of

coffee and taking it over to an empty booth. I followed her silently and dropped down into my seat.

"You listen to me, Nina, you'll be okay. My old man died when I was your age, I thought I'd never recover. But I did. You will too."

Her words seemed to float by me, not penetrating the dream like bubble I was trapped in.

"Let me get rid of the after school rush and I'm all yours," Fran said. "Food's on it way."

Food was the last thing on my mind but I nodded. When the burger and fries arrived, I barely glanced at it. The only thing I could see was the clock and my eyes flickered

between that and the door until finally, he walked in.

Chris' frantic eyes met mine from the doorway and he hurried over, sliding into my side of the booth, his arm going automatically around me.

"I have been looking for you everywhere."

"Well, you found me." I buried my face in his neck and began to cry, for once not caring who saw us together. He pulled me more tightly towards him, his hand going up

under my hair to the nape of my neck. His skin was cool against mine and I found the first sliver of comfort since I'd heard the awful news about my mom.

"I thought you hated me," I sobbed.

He shushed me gently, holding me against him.

"I could never hate you."

"But I still- I still haven't broken up with Ace."

"Hey, shush, that's not important right now."

I sat up and looked at him in surprise.

"It's not?"

He brushed my hair away from my face.

"All that I care about right now is you being okay."

I stared into his warm blue eyes. He looked so good. He smelled so good. He felt so good. I never wanted to be away from him again.

I heard someone clear their throat and glanced up to see Fran standing over the table.

Embarrassed, I hid my face in Chris' shoulder.

"Everything okay here?"

"Yeah, Fran. Everything's fine," Chris said.

"I was taking a break to keep Nina company here but it looks like she's in good hands. Can I get you guys anything?"

"No, we're okay." Chris didn't let go of me. "We were probably gonna get out of here anyway. If that's okay with Nina?"

For a moment I knew what it would feel like to be Chris' girl. To feel loved, protected, an equal whose opinion actually mattered. The feeling made me shiver and I sat up and swiped a hand over my damp face.

"Yeah, I'd like that. Fran, can you do me a favour?"

"Anything."

"Well, uh, I told Ace I was working tonight. So if he comes in before I get back for closing…"

"You want me to cover for you?"

"Um, kinda."

Fran smiled at me and then at Chris, a knowing look on her weathered face.

"That, sweetheart, is not a problem."

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