I didn't enter my front door again till well after midnight, the night my mom smacked me. We stayed out in his little spot for a bit before going for a night drive, down the same roads he showed me before. They looked much different with just the moon shining down to highlight our surroundings, they almost looked magical in a way.
However, once my heart started to calm down, and the anger and frustration dissipated I felt my body start to slow down with it. The time it took before I'd open my eyes back up was growing steadily, and it was getting a bit harder to keep my head up. Ace took notice and started to drive me back home, much to my disappointment. I couldn't very well sleep in his car though, so it was all for the best he takes me home. My mom would only be angrier with me if I didn't show up at all tonight; She might break an ankle with the conclusions she'd be jumping to.
When I entered the front door quietly, I didn't feel near as sleepy as I was just a few minutes ago in Ace car. I was on high alert, almost expecting to be met with an even more brutal blow from her hand than before, as she shot out from nowhere. It was something I grew to expect from our times with Doug, and I never thought I'd have to worry about this again, but here I was.
I was relieved and slightly disappointed that it was so obvious my mom and her husband were asleep in bed. I don't know why I was doing this to myself, expecting my mom to still care enough to worry about me being out after dark like she used to be. Why was I bothering to hold onto these strings of the past? My mom wasn't the same woman she was all those years ago, the swelled and bruised cheek was proof of that. Yet a small piece of me kept holding on to the fantasy that she'd come to her senses.
I pinched myself lightly on my arm as I made my way over to the kitchen slowly, to get my head on a different subject. Ace advised me to hold some ice on my cheek for a bit before I slept, and that was a much kinder thought to dwell on than my mother.
There was enough moonlight and light from the streetlamps outside that filtered through our large windows, allowing me to see where I was going and avoid any unnecessary noises. I wasted no time grabbing a clean rag from the bottom drawer near the stove, and then fill it with a few ice cubes from our freezer. I placed the chilling rag to my sore cheek while I sat at the table, thinking about the enigma that is Ace Merrill.
Bev told me that he was the leader of his little gang the cobras, and that all of them but especially Ace were feared here in town. They were vicious fighters, and have beaten the hell out of adults, teens, and word has it a few younger boys. I wondered if those few "younger" boys were the small group I saw in the ice cream parlor earlier, or if they just knew of Ace's reputation and didn't want to be his next victim. She also told me, he more than the others was known for breaking hearts; only playing with a girl for a short while till he grew bored and dropped them for another.
It all should make me worried about spending all this time with him, but the Ace Merrill, Bev described and from what I heard through the grapevine, just didn't match up with the Ace Merrill I've come to know. I thought maybe I just wasn't his type, but then again, he did say I was hot, and that's why I got the special treatment to sit in his car still damp from the lake.
He never crossed a line with me, not even a little, and I have been alone in his car multiple times, and once damp, and the other time in the middle of the night. He had opportunity to make a move or take advantage of the situation and he chose not to. It was a good thing he hasn't though, I am pretty sure if he had, I'd have fallen for it easily.
Though I wasn't ever one to sleep with a man too early, I was still a virgin after all, but I knew He'd get further than the rest would. I was vulnerable right now, and he saw that clearly, yet had the sense not to use it to his advantage. I was hoping it was because he cared at least a little for me as a person, and not because he was a shark waiting for the best time to strike.
I shook that thought back out of my head. Ace has been nothing but good to me, and I didn't want my thoughts of him tainted by the rumor mill. I was going to make my own assumptions of Ace based on my own interactions with him, He deserved that much at least. Besides if I let rumors and other's account of a situation blind my judgement of people, I wouldn't have made half the great friends I had back in Valence.
The rest of my weekend was not spent how I wished. My mom made it clear that I was not allowed to get away from the house, so it was spent doing only chores, and mostly cooped up in my room avoiding them both. I was able to finish "The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe" though for literature class, and I was able to get the first draft of my Thesis paper done as well. This gave me free reign to now Help Ace out the best I could on his own assignment.
During dinner on Sunday mom asked if I was done being a ungrateful brat, and accept Will's eventual invitation to Homecoming. I was sure I could have grinded me teeth into nubs with how hard my jaw set at her words, but I told her I will accept the invitation to HOMECOMING. I made great emphasis on the word homecoming to make sure she understood that I was not accepting anything else at this point.
I watched her jaw tighten, but Tom spoke up for once.
"That's good, a compromise, one step at a time."
Mom's face brought out in a tight smile. It was clear she still wanted to yell at me, but she wouldn't now.
'This is for the best.' I kept repeating to myself. I just had to play along for the year, have a crummy homecoming, and possibly Prom, maybe a date or two in between, and it would be over. It wouldn't even have to be all bad; I can still dance with other people and spend some time with Beverly during the school events to break up my time with Will, and his possible friends.
During this year, I will just do my best to keep up with my grades and try my best to apply for any and all scholarships I qualify for. If I can't get any, then I will just have to look for jobs anywhere I can, struggling on my own was better than any sad and boring life I'd have with a wannabe lawyer.
Monday came quick, and for once I was excited to get to go to school. I was finally able to leave the house, and I was getting to see Ace and discover what he may enjoy reading. I wasn't sure what guys like Ace would be into, I knew he loved his car, but would he really be interested in reading about them? Other than cars, and fishing, I don't know much of what Ace really enjoys. He did say he wants to escape the baggage of his name, how people assume the worst of him, just because his father was the way he is.
I wondered if he'd really enjoy an underdog story; a man who has nothing going for him, beating the odds, and doing something great in his life. It could motivate him to keep up the good work he was doing, trying to graduate to get out of this town. I kept that in mind as I entered the building a bit earlier so I could make it to the Mrs. Gruwell's room, hoping she'd be there early. I was excited to see that she infact was there, once I entered her practically empty classroom. Mrs. Gruwell was at the board setting up for her classes for the day, before she turned to me hearing the door squeak as I entered the room.
"Miss Young, how can I help you?" She asked with a bright smile, setting down the chalk in her hand and dusting her hands together to get as much chalk off her fingers as she could.
"Good morning Mrs. Gruwell, I was wondering if I could get two passes during homeroom for Ace and me? He was having trouble picking a book for the big assignment, and I was going to help him find something." I asked, hoping she wouldn't question it much. Our homeroom teacher was kind of a hard-ass, and I had a feeling she'd never let Ace and I go without slips saying we could. Mrs. Gruwell smiled and bustled over to her desk to pull out those handy pink slips.
"That's real sweet of you to help out a struggling student, Miss Young."
I blushed and coughed softly clearing my throat.
"Well, he is my friend, I want to see him succeed."
She looked at me almost knowingly, and I swear if I could have willed it, I would have died right there. How embarrassing for a teacher to know darn well that I was crushing hard on someone, and for that someone to be a man with a reputation bigger than his own pride. She carefully tore off the two slips from her booklet and handed them out to me.
"Well, I think he should consider himself mighty lucky for a friend like you." She said, her eyes twinkling. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak coherent words at that moment and shuffled out of the classroom. I shook off the slight embarrassment, and made my way to my locker, now hearing that first bell ring.
I grabbed what I would need for my next couple classes, keeping the two tickets crisp and clean, so Mrs. Bullara had no excuses to assume them to be faked.
When I finally entered homeroom Ace was already sitting in the seat next to my regular spot, and his head snapped up quick when I entered. A piece of me hoped it was because he was watching and waiting for me to come in, but I knew most likely that wasn't the case. I'm sure Ace didn't care that much about whether I show up to class or not.
I took my seat, bidding him a good morning as I did so.
"You're face looks better." Automatically I went to touch my cheek, softly prodding at it. It didn't really hurt anymore unless I was pressing into like I was now.
"Yeah, amazing what makeup could do. I was going to just leave it be, but the bruise clearly shows finger indents, and my mom didn't want the scandal." I said, letting my hand drop to my notebooks in front of me. He seemed to stare at my face a little longer before giving a nod.
"I can see some of it showing through." He said, a finger softly brushing against my cheek. I tried to keep myself from blushing, at the touch of his fingers.
"I brought what I needed to touch it up between classes." I answered, patting the small bag I brought today that was currently hanging off the back of my seat by its strap. He looked as if he might say something else before we were interrupted by a familiar, and unwanted voice.
I looked up from my seat to see the one and only Will Baker standing in front of our desks, giving Ace a nasty look before turning to me with a big smile.
"Good Morning, Robin, I hope your Weekend has went well." He placed his hands on the front of my desk and was leaning over slightly, kind of towering over me uncomfortably. I leaned back instinctively and put on a small fake smile.
"Oh, it could have been better, could have been worse." I answered cryptically.
"Well, that's too bad. I was thinking about you all weekend."
I wasn't sure how to answer that. The thought wasn't mutual I can guarantee that, the only thoughts of him I had were not very pleasant.
"Oh, that's very…flattering-"
"I was wondering if you'd like to go to Homecoming with me?"
There it was, the dreaded question, that I knew was going to be asked. I kept my facial expressions under control, not letting my distaste shine through. Instead, I kept the small tightening smile on.
"Sure, sounds great Will."
He grinned wide throwing a rather smug look at Ace for just a second that I did not like. Ace wasn't batting for my affections, the last thing he needed was some jerk gloating about an unofficial "victory". He leaned further down and for a split second I panicked thinking he was going to give me a kiss, but he stopped thankfully, though his face still too close for comfort.
"Great, I was thinking we could –"
"Actually, I hate to cut this conversation short, but Robin and I have to get going to the library." Ace sounded rough, and looking over at him, the look he had directed at Will looked almost venomous. I was going to ask him if he was alright, but before I could he grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of my desk and towards the front where Mrs. Bullara sat, slashing papers on her desk with red ink.
She looked up at us through the tops of her glasses with a critical look.
"What do you want?"
"We need to go to the library to pick out a book for one of my classes." Ace said gruffly, still not in a good mood. I wonder if the looks Will was sending him was causing this foul mood, or if it was something else that was bothering him.
Mrs. Bullara did not look convinced, and scoffed.
"Yeah right both of you?"
"I already finished my book, and I told Mrs. Gruwell and Ace I'd help." I said, keeping my attitude in check. I was telling the truth so there was no need to feel stressed or upset, she had nothing on us.
"Oh, you did, did you?" Her eyebrows were raised, still not believing. I sighed and then remembered the two magical pieces of paper in my notebook that I still held currently in my hand. I opened the first cover page, recovering the two pink slips and handing them to her with an almost smug smile.
"Yup, here we have permission slips as well." I said sickly sweet. Mrs. Bullara glared down at the two little pieces of paper, before huffing and lifting her hand and waving it off in a shooing motion.
"Alright just go, If I get word, you two are anywhere but the library, you will be immediately escorted back, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bullara, thank you." I said for Ace and me, pushing him lightly with one hand towards the door. I wasn't sure how good he'd be at keeping his mouth shut, and I wasn't going to find out now when we did truly have places to be with so little time.
Once we were out the door, I gave a big sigh of relief and took my hand off Ace's back.
"Well, that wasn't too hard." I said with a small laugh. Ace nodded, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets as we roamed the halls to our destination.
"I am actually shocked you even remembered we were going to do this today. I thought I'd have to coax you into going with me." I said honestly looking at Ace from the corner of my eye. He shrugged in response.
"I figured you would try, and this beats sitting in that room."
I nodded in agreement, Mrs. Bullara despite not having a real class with us was absolutely horrid to deal with. She had pretty much zero tolerance for most of us, constantly thinking we were up to no good. Yet she turns a blind eye to others like she did Will just a few minutes earlier. If I decided to get up out of my desk and go chat with a classmate across the room, she'd bite into me and hand me detention, but since it was Will Baker, with the well-known daddy who had lots of money, she didn't even bat an eye.
I looked over at Ace arms, his hands were in his pockets snuggly, but I could tell by the pulsing veins that they were still clenched in tight fists. I placed a timid small hand on his upper arm, successfully getting his attention.
"Are you okay Ace?" I asked. I searched his eyes as He looked back at me with such an interesting expression. I couldn't place it too well, it almost looked startled or as if he was searching for answers himself. It was replaced quickly with a sly smirk and his arms stopped flexing, all the tension leaving him in a flash.
"Yeah, just wanted to irritate the asshole since he really thought he was getting a one up on me."
I gave a short laugh in response, and let my hand drop from his warm arm. That made sense, he didn't like how Will was acting as if he was winning sone imaginary battle between the two, so of course Ace wanted to have that final "punch". And as a bonus I also get to have some time away from Baker, instead of having to endure that awkward thing he considers flirting.
We made it to the library quickly, and I took him over to the fiction section right away to start.
"Okay what are things you're interested in Ace?"
"Why do you need to know that?"
I stopped in front of the whole back wall filled with novels, and I gestured to it all.
"Because there are many stories here, if we want to find one you can read and retain, we need to find something that peaks your interests."
Ace scrunched his face up in concentration.
"I like mechanics, mostly dealing with getting my car up and running, but I don't think I would be interested in reading about it."
I nodded in understanding and thought to myself where I could go with that.
"How about racing?"
He shook his head 'no', "Racing is interesting to do, not to watch, and definitely not to read." He answered leaning up against one of the shorter bookshelves.
"What about something about bootlegging, or other crimes. They don't always have the happiest of endings, but they are sure to be exciting." I asked, thinking about some of his other "pass time hobbies". He shook his head with a grin.
"Nah, once again, fun to do, not to read about. Besides I thought you'd want me to distance myself from that?" He was giving me a teasing smile after he said it, and I flushed slightly. I nodded and looked across the library to keep him from seeing the effect he had on me.
"You're right, don't want you reading something that romanticizes crime." I agreed. Probably best not to have a man trying to get away from that life reading a story that makes the acts much more interesting, fun, and worth it until they ultimately get caught and die or end up in prison. I don't want him getting any good ideas.
"Romanticizes?" He asked wrinkling his nose up in almost a disgusted way. I laughed at his childish notions on anything being "Romantic", and "Un-Manly".
"It's not like that. I just mean it makes things seem more fun, interesting, or worth-while, than it is in reality." I explained as best I could.
"How do you know it isn't that fun?" He asked with that signature grin back on his face. I gave him a look raising one of my eyebrows and placing a hand on my hip.
"Never living a normal life, never having true relationships with people, running for your life constantly, and facing decades of jailtime, or death is not fun Mr. Merrill." I said sternly. He only grinned back at me and lifted his hands up in surrender.
I thought back to what I was stewing on this morning for him and bit my lip wondering how he'd react.
"What?" He asked. I am sure he noticed my change, so I straightened up, and tried to ask as nonchalant as I could.
"What about an underdog story?"
He raised an eyebrow at me.
"You know, like a person who the whole world seems against. They have to fight, and struggle, but they eventually can overcome it all, and end up on top." I explained loosely. Ace seemed to process the information slowly, before giving a curt nod.
"We can try that."
I beamed back at him and started to think back to what would be a good story that would fit the bill. I thought of a book I have read before, that would fit well and started straight towards the M's. Ace followed close by, not making a sound as I scoured the rows of books. Soon I finally came across what I was looking for and pulled the book out inspecting it. I was happy to see that this library had what I needed, and I didn't need to make a trip to the public library.
I turned around to face the handsome man and placing the book in his hands triumphantly.
He inspected it with knitted eyebrows, before looking at me confused.
"The Kingsmen?"
"Yup!" I beamed back at him and pointed to the book in his hand.
"This is about a young man, poor, and living on the wrong side of town. Into drugs and alcohol, mostly just sells them, but he dabbles in it too. He thinks he is nothing, despite his clear physical talents, because that's what everyone else tells him. However, he has the chance to become a spy." I said not wanting to give away too many details, only sticking to what would be in the book's own description on the back.
"I just read this last year, it's great, I really think you could relate to the main character." I said earnestly. He looked from the book to me, back to the book.
"I guess if you think so, I can give it a try." He teased placing the book under his arm. I feel like I haven't stopped smiling at him for a while now, my cheeks starting to hurt, but I didn't care. Ace really had a way of making me just indescribably happy.
"Thanks, that's all I ask." I told him, before grabbing his arm and pulling him to the front of the library.
"Now come on let's check that out and get back, before Mrs. Bullara comes storming in here."
The rest of the day went by almost smoothly if I didn't count the awkward moments in History and Biology where I realized that I also shared those with Will as well. He came up to me any chance he could to talk, not caring that he was distracting me and some of the other classmates as he tried to make small talk.
I didn't realize we had this many shared classes, I must not have really paid attention to him before now, but he was making it difficult to ignore him at this moment. I was thankful when Mr. Wilder told him to get back to his seat after my own hints of needing to focus did not faze him at all.
I shouldn't really call it a hint, I told him straight up that I needed to have my full focus on the teacher and lesson in Biology if I wanted to get decent grades, and he flat out dismissed me. Saying if I really need extra help, he could tutor me on the subject. I felt a bit sick to my stomach, just how he said it felt like he was making an innuendo about biology, and it made me REALLY not want to go anywhere with him alone.
That was ridiculous though, a man like Will would not make such a joke or imply such things. He's a man with a plan, and if he doesn't plan to have any kids till he was 36 he wouldn't be suggesting we take those kinds of risks. At least that's what I told myself, because the idea that he would think I would be willing to go that far or even want to go there with him so soon made me want to hurl.
I felt relieved in English seeing as we didn't share that class, and Ace was right there bringing me a sort of comfort with his presence alone. I also felt a sense of pride to notice that despite the few times he did "remind" me of his presence with the kicking up of his feet on my chair, he was mostly enthralled in the novel I picked out for him this morning.
He must have enjoyed it at least a little if he was willing to read the entire class period away. I caught Mrs. Gruwell giving us this fascinated look, and throwing me a smile, that made me blush in my seat. I hoped Ace didn't look up and catch it otherwise my cover would be completely blown. I then turned towards my notebook where I written my first draft and started to make the necessary edits before I re-write the whole thing, for the rest of class.
The rest of the day went by fast after that. I wouldn't have any more classes with Will and I was able to talk to Beverly during Home Economics as we partnered up to bake a basic cake. When she asked me about my weekend, I mentioned the whole Baker Situation. I left out the part where my mom hit me, and I ran out and spent hours in Ace's car coming up with a plan to avoid this fate of mine.
Beverly looked a little pale though explaining how Will kept coming up to me in shared classes, annoying me at my seat, especially after I told her about the awkward Biology situation.
"You alright Beverly?"
She shook her head, looking down at the cake mixture she was currently stirring.
"I just know Will's crowd is all." She mumbled, looking down sadly into the bowl.
"What's wrong Bev?" I asked her whispering, not wanting to gain the attention of anyone nearby. She looked like she was in a mental battle, her eyes a little glassy, and her eyebrows knitted, with her face fixed in a permanent scowl.
"Come on, You can tell me. Should I be worried?" I asked her, laying a soft hand on her shoulder, she looked up at me wearily before looking around the class to be sure no one was trying to eaves drop.
"I can't say anything about Will himself, but I dated his friend Harold for a short while."
I scrunched my nose up at the name, Harold was such a nerdy name in my opinion and Beverly laughed softly after seeing my reaction.
"I know terrible name, but he is a good-looking guy, and I thought he was so sweet." She said, her scowl coming back, as she continued to stir the batter almost aggressively.
"On the third date he took me to the movies, and not 20 minutes in, he is shoving his hand up my shirt, and practically laying on top of me, squishing me against the door." She whispered angrily, tears pricking at her eyes threatening to fall.
"I pushed him off me of course, and he was furious. I asked him what he thought he was doing, and he said everyone knows how all us "Greaser" girls will put out, especially to a guy with money." She hissed out the rest, disgusted, and I looked at her with disgust and horror as well.
"He said that to your face?" I asked, surprised at the audacity of this man, to not only think such foul things, but to also voice them out loud to the girl he just groped. She rolled her eyes and nodded.
"He was drunk, and I said he was cute, not that he had any brains."
I laughed, earning a smile from Beverly, and a few giggles of her own.
"I guess it's funny to think joke about it now, but it was traumatic at the time." She said with a few giggles in between.
I gave her a grin, taking the bowl from her and pouring it carefully into the cake pan.
"I am sure, but you got away from that asshole. I'm glad you told me Beverly; I will keep that in mind just in case. Bird of a feather flock together as they say." I said as I slipped the cake pan in the already preheated oven.
The rest of class we focused mainly on the cake, since all we had left to do after it baked was to decorate it. We had fun finding the perfect colors, and Bev let me make little frosting sunflowers across the top, as they were something, I found absolutely beautiful despite knowing they were actually weeds. My Uncle absolutely hated seeing them on his farm and had me pluck them out with my cousins. I took them home afterwards of course to decorate my room before they wilted.
We gained an excellent grade for our work but that was expected, I knew I was a decent cook, and Beverly turned out to be good as well, so we were a shoe in for excellence in this case.
I really enjoyed my ever-growing friendship with Beverly. It was something I thought about during the rest of my day; how I thought I'd be lucky to even make an acquaintance in my time here, and now look at me. I had Ace, Eyeball, and Beverly! I was doing really well for myself in my opinion, and I really appreciated them all.
I thought back to how Beverly reacted to Eyeball and admitted to me of her little crush. It would be so cool to get those two together somehow; obviously they liked each other, if the stares and goofy smiles Eyeball threw her were any indication.
Maybe I should see if Eyeball really liked her or if he was looking for a quick round in the sheets. I figured I could ask what he was looking for, and if it was something more serious, I could put Beverly up as an option, but if all he wanted was a romp, then I could let it die there to save her any heartache.
I kept that in mind for the next few weeks as I was going to set my plan in action as soon as I could.
