Alex felt a stinging sensation she was not used to the build behind her tear ducts. She cursed herself, squeezing her eyes shut so to prohibit any tears from escaping. Alex doesn't cry. Not ever. No since she became a Cobra at least. She remembered when she first met Ace. The Cobras had invaded her home while their parents had been away.
Vince had forgotten about his responsibility towards Alex as soon as the alcohol began to flow. Alex was barely fourteen. She had crept from her bedroom to watch the ruckus unfold as her family home slowly started to resemble a dive bar.
Vince spotted her after only ten minutes. "For fuck sake, go to bed Alex" He had shouted through the drunken noise. Alex was already cocky at her young age, barely raising an eyebrow in response. "Now!" Vince shouted again.
"Come on Vince let her stay" Alex remembered that cool calm voice which she had now become so accustomed to. Alex flicked her eyes across the room to see Ace's already locked towards her. She dropped her gaze but she felt his eyes still on her.
Alex headed towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Her hands shook ever so slightly as she picked up the glass. Despite the persona she donned, the Cobras made her nervous.
Alex felt the presence of Ace before she actually saw him. She spun round on her heels the way she always did to see a younger Ace Merril, barely seventeen. He towered above Alex and squinted at her slightly from his inebriation.
"You're Alex, right?" he stated more than asked. He swayed slightly on his feet, lazily pointing a finger towards her. Alex only nodded.
"How old are you?" Ace asked this time, looking her up an down.
"Fourteen" Alex responded quickly. She raised onto the balls of her feet to look taller. It was Ace's turn to nod now.
"Do you know who I am?" He asked again lazily.
"Doesn't everyone?" With that Alex saw the familiar Merril smirk for the first time.
"What do you know about me?" Ace was testing her and Alex could see this.
"Not a lot"
"Really?" he drawled "Despite the rumours?"
"I'd rather find out for myself than listen to hear-say" Alex quipped making Ace chuckle slightly to himself.
"I like you kid, here" Ace handed her a bottle of beer, freshly opened "You ever drank before?"
Alex had stolen countless bottles of liquor from her parents cabinet but she thought it was better not to divulge her life story to this intimidating stranger so merely shrugged. Ace nodded once more.
"Well come on, the games are about to begin"
Alex was led into her parents living room. Every surface was either covered with a Cobra or an array of empty bottles. The games it seemed were drinking games. Shot glasses were lined up along the coffee table. The aim seemed to be to drink your give shots faster than your opponent. The winner stayed on to fight again. It wasn't long until Alex was roped in. To the gangs surprise she downed her shots with ease. She beat each opponent until she was face to face with Ace Merril once more.
Fuzzy refilled the glasses. He staggered causing the clear liquid to splash on to the wooded table leaving a shining trail between the shots.
Ace and Alex met eye to eye. Sat perfectly still across from each other, hands poised as if about to duel.
"GO!" shouted Fuzzy to start the warfare. The first hit of vile liquid hit their throats, there was no time to react before the second shot slid down to meet the first. By the third Alex was ever so slightly behind. Reaching for her fifth and final glass she saw Ace drain the last dregs of his.
"SHIT!" Alex cried in frustration.
"Better luck next time kid…" Ace managed in-between retching and shivers. Alex felt the couch move as Charlie Hogan sat next to her.
"Don't feel bad, Ace is the master of this" Charlie remarked "Aint you Ace?" He followed on. Ace winked at Alex and she couldn't help but smirk back.
The rest of the night was hazy after that. All either Ace or Alex could recall was being the last two awake. They sat amongst the sleeping boys. Talking about insignificant things.
"You got a boyfriend?" Ace asserted out of no where.
Alex scoffed "….Erm no, oh god no" she stumbled over her words.
"Why not?" Ace asked in his usual cool and collected tone.
"I'm not the right fit. I'm not pretty, I don't style my hair and wear frilly dresses.." Alex went to carry on but was hit by a wave of tiredness. Her eyes fluttered shut for a second and she sunk further into the couch. "What guy would want a girl like me…" she tried to finish but was swallowed by the darkness.
Ace stayed quiet for a long time. He watched her breathe slowly in and out. Then after finally making sure she was completely asleep he uttered in a hushed tone "I would."
