The next few weeks went by pretty much the same day after day. I talked Ace into brining in homework to homeroom if he wanted to work on it together. He seemed offended at first, not wanting my "charity", and said he wasn't dumb enough to need a "Tutor". However, I was able to get him to calm back down quickly.
"Ace I just meant that while we are both sitting here together, we can work on our homework together. It will get done faster, and if you do happen to be struggling, I can help, and vice versa. We all need help sometimes."
He sat in silence for a little bit pretty much pouting, not that he'd ever admit to it, but the next day he did actually bring some work in. Every day after that he had something he brought in, and I was more than happy to help with. He quietly and grudgingly admitted that his year off when he dropped out before set him back quite a bit, and the teachers were not about to give him any special treatment.
I thought it poor of educators to have a clearly struggling student, and not even bother to try and help him. He dropped out for a year, big whoop, at least he was back now, and it was clear he was putting in an effort. I thought previously that he just didn't do homework since he never brought any in to homeroom, but throughout the few weeks of helping him I figured out he did do his homework, he just wasn't understanding some of the new concepts.
I tried to fill in the gaps as best I could for him, which was more difficult than expected if I didn't want to risk offending him. He hated to be seen as stupid, and I tried my absolute best to make it clear that I didn't think that at all. I simply wanted him to be able to pass his classes, so he had a chance to accomplish his goal.
I will be damned if Ace never got out of this stupid town, and showed them all that he wasn't some angry hoodlum.
Another little project I've picked up lately was my ever sneaky plan to get Eyeball and Beverly together. I wasn't rushing into anything by any means, I first started out just feeling out the waters. I paid attention to what Eyeball talked about with the other guys in their group, to see how he talked about girls, and I was able to sneak the information out of him that he was currently free.
Alright to be honest I wasn't so sneaky, he instantly knew what I was doing, but luckily since he knew of how much I liked Ace, he knew it was not because I was interested. I had to admit that I knew of a girl who liked him, but I didn't want him hurting her if he was only interested in easy girls.
After a long couple days of pestering I Finally admitted that it was Beverly, to which Eyeball was pleasantly surprised.
"That cute redhead who walks with you to home Ec?"
I nodded, "One and the same."
He was more than giddy about a girl as pretty as Beverly interested.
"She's real classy, why she like me?"
I shrugged, "Maybe she sees your potential, you're not a bad guy nor bad looking Richard." I said earnestly, giving him a pat on the back.
After that talk, I made an effort to get those two closer, like pulling them both into the same conversation, to encourage them to talk to each other while we walked to our last couple classes. I also started walking on the other side of Beverly, leaving her to walk between Eyeball and I. The plan seemed to be working well enough, They were really digging each other it seemed, and soon I was standing closer to Ace while they walked side by side.
"Playing matchmaker are you?" Ace asked one day, while the two love birds were too invested in their conversation with each other to hear him. I looked over to my two friends, and felt a little warmth of happiness in my chest seeing them both so infatuated. I looked over to Ace with a smile and a shrug.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that, but they do seem rather cute together."
Ace rolled his eyes at that comment before changing the subject to his current situation on one of the vehicles he was working on with the boys, and sometimes solo on the days he doesn't hang out with them all. I didn't really understand much about cars, but I loved hearing Ace get animated about the details of his work.
Another little obstacle I have been having the past few weeks came in the form of one Will Baker. He found any and every opportunity to come and bug me. He never once asked me about myself either, to get to know me a little better. No, every time he came around he did nothing but brag about his accomplishments on the football team this season, or brag about how he already has an in to one of the most prestigious colleges in the state.
I had a feeling he wasn't just trying to sell himself to me either, cause he constantly shot these little smug, or snide looks beside me. Ace would not have this though, sometimes he'd straight up tell him we were busy and then made a point of us trying to finish our homework or study. Sometimes while he was boring me to death, Ace would make a smart comment on how the only reason he was that successful was for his dad's money, not his own talents.
This eventually led to Will standing in front of Ace's desk, literally getting up into Ace's face, egging on a fight. I had enough at this point and hissed at him myself.
"Will back off! You are pretty much asking for a punch to the face." I hissed out, knowing that if Mrs. Bullara heard me I'd be the one in trouble not Will.
"I don't see why you are constantly sticking up for him, and being near him, he's white trash."
"He's my friend, and if you had any sense to you, you'd back off him, otherwise the fist in your face will be mine." I growled back out. Will was taken back by that, but not wanting to gain attention and lose face, he just straightened up, and ran his hands across his hair.
He was calming himself down, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, before his face broke back out in that sweet smile, that I now knew was fake.
"Alright sorry babe, didn't mean to insult your… friend." He spat that last part out, as if the thought of Ace and I being friends physically harmed him.
"I do think that he is rubbing off on you a bit too much though, I doubt your parents would like to hear that you talked to me like that." He said, his smile now looking a little too toothy as he threw in that vague threat.
I looked at him pointedly after that morning, and when he tried to come up to be during history I blatantly ignored him. I thought when I got home that day that my mom would be livid that I dare threatened someone of Will's stature, and was still friends with "That hood", but it never came.
The next day Will came up to me at my locker before classes started and apologized for his behavior, and for threatening to tell my parents. He wasn't really sorry for anything, I think he figured I would never go to homecoming with him if he got me in trouble with them. Little did he know that if it wasn't for the threat of me being kicked out on the streets I wouldn't be going with him anyway.
I decided him not getting me in trouble as a godsend though, and left it at that. Will still came up after that to bore Ace and I with his football and hoity toity talk. He and Ace went back to their normal few jabs here and there, but no more straight up vicious fighting in front of me. I wondered why Ace would even play into it though, he knew I didn't like Will, and he should know that he didn't need to be involved.
He could just ignore him if he really wanted to. Sometimes it almost seemed like he could be a little jealous. That was stupid though Ace had no reason to be jealous, he didn't like me like that, and he knew the whole situation. He knew I didn't care for Will, and it was all to keep my mom and her husband satisfied enough with me to not disown me.
Sometimes I wished he might be a little jealous so I'd believe that I had even a small chance with him, but I couldn't dwell on those thoughts long. That would only disappoint me further I am sure.
One day during homeroom while Ace and I worked on history together, I grew curious about his classes, and how he always manages to be gone before I get out of school, no matter how early I am.
"Hey Ace what is your last class anyway?" I asked, filling in one of the answers in on our sheet, and pointing it out to him so he can follow suit.
"Why do you ask?" He said almost defensively, shooting me a guarded look as he copied down the answer I found, before looking at his textbook to do the next one.
"Just curious, you are never around when I get out, even the few times I get to leave early from choir." I answered with a shrug. I leaned over the table and rested my head in my hand, facing him. I waited a few seconds watching as Ace's face went through a flurry of emotions before he looked around the room to be sure we weren't being listened in on.
This was one of those rare days where Will was not in here, probably doing some warmups or something for football. I wasn't too sure and didn't really care where he was, I was just happy he wasn't in here. This also meant that we wouldn't be interrupted anytime soon.
Soon he leaned on his own desk, and leaning his face a little closer to mine. I fought off the blush that wanted to make it's way to the surface, and tried to focus solely on whatever Ace was about to say.
"My last hour isn't really a class." He started, his gaze shifting across the class to watch and see if anyone looked like they may be evesdropping.
"I go and work in Wheeler's Mechanic shop, Dave Wheeler then gives a full report of my progress each day or week. I am not sure exactly how often, I just know he reports in on how I am doing. Then the school makes up a letter grade for me depending on whatever the report brings back." He whispered quietly to me, then leaned back into his chair, and looked over at his textbook pretending to still be studying.
"That's really great Ace!" I whispered cheerfully, throwing him a bright smile. He huffed, and shifted into his seat, rather irritably.
"You can't say a damn word to anyone, you hear?" He growled out, not looking me in the eye, choosing to glare angrily into his textbook, holding his pencil tightly in his grip. It looked like the pencil could snap at any moment between his fingers.
"Why?" I whispered softly, not taking any offense to his angry attitude. After all this time getting to know Ace I have come to get use to his flares of anger. It was never really directed towards me, He just gets frustrated, and defensive, and this is how he keeps people at a distance. No one wants to poke an Angry bear.
"If word get's out that I have a job, I lose my entire reputation, everyone will think I've gone soft. People will get bright ideas, and I will have to put them back in their place the hard way." He hissed out quietly, turning his glare to me for just a second before it narrowed as it filtered across the room. He seemed kind of paranoid with others around, not that I really blamed him, these guys were known gossips and this ofcourse isn't something he wants getting out.
I couldn't figure out why though, shouldn't him having a job, and a particular skill set be a good thing to be known? He was getting a head start for whatever he may be doing after school, and this just proves that he has more worth than these idiots think. He isn't just his violent reputation, nor the bruises on his skin left by his abusive father.
"I won't say a word Ace… But shouldn't that be the point?" I asked, looking over at him, unconsciously biting my lip once again. His eyes softened a bit in curiosity when he met my gaze.
"What is?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me, his hand loosening up from the poor pencil.
"To prove to people you aren't what they say you are. That you have skills, that you can and will make something of yourself? That you refuse to be just some aggravated trouble-maker, whose only future is to end up an abusive drunk like his dad?"
His eyes softened completely after that, he seemed at a loss for words, just staring back at me in the back of the classroom. I don't think he'd admit it, but I hope that I made a really good point for him. Maybe this town would not see his accomplishments as proof, maybe they would stay stuck in their ways, and just refuse to do business at Wheeler's just because Ace worked there. That's why I would never tell Ace's secret to anyone, not even Beverly.
Just incase this town is just as unaccepting as Ace seems to think it is, and I don't blame him for that. They have made it abundantly clear how intolerable they can be to anyone new, or anyone without money. To me though it should prove to this town that John Merrill was just trying to better himself. And I think it wouldn't be too terribly bad for this town to know that Ace was making an effort; there has to be some people in this town that would be impressed right?
Any matter, I was impressed, and wherever he choses to move to, they will be lucky to have such a skilled Mechanic in their area. That was all that really mattered, that Ace has the opportunity to get his ass out of this town, and to make a name for himself elsewhere.
A few days after that conversation, I was shocked to see that Ace was sitting in his car outside of the school. I looked at him curiously, and I made my way up to him.
"Hey you, Why are you sitting here, didn't you go to Wheeler's?" I asked once I got right next to the driver side door of his car.
"I was, usually I go straight home afterwards, but I was wondering if you wanted to see Wheeler's, kind of see what I have been doing. And then see the progress on the car."
He seemed almost nervous, but I didn't think that could possibly be right. Ace Merrill was never nervous around girls, especially one like me. He probably just didn't want anyone else to know about his little job. Though I didn't understand much about vehicles, or what it takes to fix one up, I was excited to spend any time I can with Ace, and flattered that he even wanted to show me this part of his life.
I agreed quickly, throwing him a big smile before jumping into his passenger seat. He was off in an instantly, speeding through town, and going down a few roads I have never been on before. It didn't take long for Ace to pull up into the lot of an old shop, that had a few gas pumps off in front, and a few roll up doors where vehicles can be worked on within the building.
While Ace and I pulled up, a man probably in his 40s or so with black and white peppered hair, and a nice even beard came out the shop, wiping his hands on a old rag.
"Who's this John?"
The man asked nicely, jutting his chin in my direction with a soft smile. His dark eyes crinkling, little wrinkles becoming more noticeable as he grinned. He was clearly a man who smiles a lot.
"This is Robin, I wanted to show her what I have been doing." Ace answered from behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I couldn't see his expression from behind me, but whatever it was, it made the middle-aged man smile brighter and take step towards us.
"Well Nice to see John has friends other than the idiots he usually brings around." The mad said.
"I'm Dave Wheeler, nice to meet you Robin. I'd shake your hand, but I was just elbow deep in grease." He said grinning down at me, I smiled back at him. He seemed like a really kind man, and I was also surprised to hear him call Ace by his actual name, and not be corrected.
"Pleased to meet you too Mr. Wheeler."
"Please, just call me Dave. Well don't mind me, I was just about to head to the office and fill out some paperwork." He finished up continuing to wipe his hands down on the rag, before turning and walking into the shop. Ace pressed a hand on my shoulder, to guide me to follow Dave into the shop, but once inside Dave went through a door on the left leading into a small office area, with a large class window so he can see out into the lobby.
Ace guided me through a door on the right, that lead into the inner workshop area. Currently there were two vehicles sitting inside. An old rusted up pickup, and a newer sleek red car obviously belonging to a richer man around here.
"I'm working on both of these, the car is just in here for a check up pretty much, new tires, oil change, nothing interesting. This chevy though –" Ace said lifting up the hood to look inside.
"We had to tow in, wasn't starting, I've been working on the engine, seeing if I can't revive it. It took a bit of work but I finally figured out the problem. I should be able to get it back up and running for old Farmer Joe in another week or so." Ace was so different here than he was in school or around his buds. He was so animated about his work, and started to really go into detail about everything he was doing on the truck.
I admittedly didn't understand much of it once he got into the details, but I loved to hear him be so interested in something. He really cared about his work, he wasn't skipping corners in the work he did on these vehicles, he was precise and meticulous.
I asked questions the best I could to keep him talking, which worked wonders. He was more than happy to explain to me what the different pieces were under the hood.
"So can people like Farmer Joe afford all the work you put in?" I asked, wondering if a man who can only afford this old pickup truck can handle the fees of mechanic work. Ace motioned for me to follow him, and I did so. We exited a door on the other side of the room, facing towards the back of the building, and Once we got out there, the questioned was answered immediately.
There were so many vehicles parked out here in the grass, all with various parts missing. I wouldn't have been able to see all this from the front, as there was a large wooden fence around this area blocking the view of the vehicles and keeping people from breaking in here to steal parts themselves.
"For people who can't afford new parts that are shipped in here, we will try to find what we can use from the working parts on these vehicles first." He explained. I looked out at the lot, pleasantly shocked. I thought it was wonderful that they figured out a way to make service cheaper for those who aren't well off in this town.
"How did Dave acquire all these vehicles?" I asked.
"A lot are donated or sold cheap from customers who been here for a while, as a way to give back for our service. Sometimes Dave gets them cheap from auctions, or junk yards." Ace said rubbing the back of his head.
It was during this time that I realized something. I turned to Ace with a sly grin.
"What's that look for?"
"You don't steal all the parts for those vehicles on your property, you get some from here." I accused. There was no question about it, even without him saying so I just knew that he was getting the parts from his job, probably a perk Dave allowed him. Ace rolled his eyes at me, but did eventually confirm my suspicions.
"Yeah well I can't risk getting caught with theft now, especially while working here, it would run Dave's name into the ground." He said crossing his arms, trying to act "tuff" despite playing on the straight and narrow.
"So you do care about other people." I teased him, squeezing his arm a little as I said it and giving him a big grin to show him I wasn't making fun of him, but rather fond of his efforts.
"Don't go telling people about this, otherwise I'll make an example out of you." He shot right back, but his small smile told me everything I needed to know. He was mostly kidding, but I knew better than to tell anyone anything about Ace Merrill anyway. I cherished Ace's trust, and I wasn't about to betray that for anyone or anything. Besides I loved our little moments where I got to see this side of him no one else saw.
"I wouldn't dream of it Johnny." I said, testing out the new nickname to see how he'd react and how it would sound on my tongue. I rather liked his real name, to be honest.
"Watch it." He growled playfully before I felt a ver light smack on my rear. I yelped surprised looking at him with big eyes. He only laughed at my reaction before placing an arm right around my shoulders and started to lead me back through the shop.
I started to laugh with him, as it seemed contagious, and I was rather giddy about the affection he was giving me. It certainly felt a little more than friendly to me, and though I usually dare not give my hopes up, I was practically on cloud nine. I couldn't help but bask in the butterflies that were now going crazy inside my stomach.
We walked out of the shop, and headed towards Ace's car once more, and I hoped into the Passenger side once more. This time we were on our way to his house, where his two projects lie. I sat in the seat slightly turned over, a knee on the seat so I could better face Ace as I talked with him on the way there.
I watched how his face moved, and really soaked in how bright his eyes looked right now. It wasn't just the sun giving that light to them, I knew he was really passionate about his projects, and that was why his eyes looked so full of life, instead of cold, and dull before. His eyes were beautiful, don't get me wrong, but it was clear that there wasn't much life to them normally, he didn't find enjoyment out of life.
Now they were completely different, practically shining, and just giving off a sea of emotions. At some point he stopped talking and looked over at me. I must have looked rather funny cause he took a sort of did a double take before taking a sip of his coke. I have begged him not to drink and drive while I was in the car, something I absolutely hated after living with Doug for so long.
Actually Ace has never been drunk around me period after talking with him more about my old step-dad. He drank a beer or two, but he never seemed out of his mind, around me, and I really appreciated his efforts.
"Ace have I ever told you how much I appreciate that you never get drunk around me. Or drink and drive with me in the car anymore." I laughed the last part.
"It's no big deal."
"It is to me, you know how much I dislike it, and even though it was a regular thing for you, you avoid it. It means a lot to me."
"I just don't want to hear you whine about it, besides I don't want to be the town drunk remember." He said batting away my Thanks once again.
I stared at him for a few seconds and placed my lips to his cheek briefly before sitting back in my seat with a satisfied smile. Ace seemed taken back by the gesture looking at me with questionable eyes, then back at the road.
"What was that for?"
"Just a thank you. One you can't brush off." I laughed.
He took a short puff from the cigarette he keeps placed behind his ear, still staring at the road.
"You can thank me like that any day." He said coolly, his face rather unreadable. It only made me laugh more, as he still tried to keep up his tough guy attitude despite liking the soft gesture. I kept it in mind though that I wouldn't mind using that as a thank you for him often. I rather liked the feel of the scruff of his incoming beard on my lips.
Soon we were actually at the old run-down house, and Ace parked right in front of it where there was laid gravel to substitute as a driveway. When we exited the vehicle, he led me straight to the back, and I kept a cautious eye to the house, worried that Mr. Merrill might be just inside and ready to come out here ready to scream and yell at both of us.
Ace seemed to know exactly what I was thinking and paused his steps to take ahold of my wrist and lightly pull me forward to keep in step with him.
"He isn't here, he is always at the bars till late. I wouldn't invite you over here anyway if he was going to be around." I nodded, but stepped closer to Ace, taking advantage of the excuse of being comforted by his presence at the moment. I trusted him when he said he'd never invite me over while his father was around, but the legend of the angry man, the only man to step up to Ace Merrill was still one that made me uneasy.
We got to the back in no time, and I could already see the vehicles set up and sitting in the same spots they were the first time I saw the, but they did look like they were both making progress. The car more than the truck if I was honest.
Ace dropped my wrist as we grew closer opening the car's hood to show me what he was working with.
"This has been my project since the beginning of the summer."
I looked in but it didn't really make a difference, I still couldn't tell much about a vehicle just by looking at it.
"What about the truck?" I asked pointing to the other vehicle not too far off.
"That's something Jack is supposed to be working on." He said with a roll of his eyes.
"I take it, he hasn't been around to mess with it often." I suggested looking at the truck and noticing that hardly anything was actually different with it, besides looking a little cleaner, but that could have been due to the rain we recently had.
"No, he probably has been here a handful of times in the past couple months, and most of the time he is here, he isn't touching the truck." He huffed; his hands now already busy doing something inside the engine of his personal project.
"So, what is your project for, the car you drive now is pretty nice." I said, kind of hoping he didn't plan to switch out the cars. I am sure once this one was fully done it would look great too, but I really can't imagine Ace without his black chevy convertible.
"I'm going to use it for racing."
I perked up about that, I didn't know Ace was interested in street racing.
"Like for a county fair or the illegal kind?" I asked with a crooked smile, watching him work on his 2nd baby.
"Both." He said with a wicked smirk. I laughed but nodded all the same, now that sounded like the Ace I know. Can't be all straight laced, he was always meant to be a rebel at heart.
"Can I go with you sometime?" I asked innocently. Ace gave me another look, before shaking his head. I frowned deeply at that, that mad him give a short bark of a laugh.
"Don't pout, racing can be dangerous, you aren't going to be a part of that." He said, pointing the tool currently in his hand straight at me, before turning back to his work.
I sat there silently for a bit, certainly NOT pouting, with my arms crossed over my chest. I don't see why it's safe enough for HIM to go, but not safe enough for me to join, but I would be lying if I said I didn't like him caring enough for me that he wouldn't want to put me in any danger.
"Would you at least bring me to watch?"
He looked up at me for another few seconds pausing in his work, before giving a shrug.
"Yeah I guess I don't see the harm in that, as long as you're cheering for me." He spoke, head back under the hood, so I didn't even bother to hide the goofy smile.
"No problems there, there is no one else I'd rather root for."
