Over the next three afternoons Laura found herself in Ace's company everyday. He would pick her up from school and either drive to where ever he was planning to be. It would usually start as just the two of them but they would inevitably end up in the company of The Cobras who barely even looked at Laura, let alone spoke to her. Connie had come along once or twice and Laura was able to have a little girl talk with her but it usually dwindled to nothing as they had already covered most of it at school that day.
She didn't really care about any of this however as Ace pulled her on to his lap at the diner to whisper in her ear and at the pool hall when it wasn't his shot he'd stand behind her resting one of his arms over her shoulder, occasionally kissing her on the cheek.
So it was natural on Friday afternoon for her to be at Irby's Billiards standing between Ace's legs, leaning back against him as he sat on a stool, circling his arms around her, watching Vince play against Eyeball.
Laura closed her eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder, breathing in the musty smell of the cigarette that was hanging from his mouth. Her mind was completely blank until she finally remembered something.
"Um Ace?" she said unsure how to proceed with the question. "Do you want to come and watch the baseball game at my school tonight."
Ace snorted audibly.
"What's this babe, you asking me out?"
He broke his hold on her to run the fingers of his left hand through her hair as he chuckled with amusement before stubbing his cigarette in the ash tray behind him.
"Well it's just somebody asked me if I'd be there and I said I'd go," she said innocently, not knowing the kind of reaction these words would cause.
"Who was it," he replied his voice now low and serious as his brow furrowed. She had never seen him look so scary before.
"Peter Mongoose," she replied uncertainly, hoping he wasn't mad at her and wishing she'd never said anything at all.
Ace didn't notice her new look of apprehension as he slid off his seat, grabbing at Laura's hand.
"Eyeball, get in the car," he barked, "Vince, you go pick up the others. We're going to the baseball game."
"Sure thing Ace," Vince replied obediently, abandoning his game at once.
Laura felt panicked as she hurried behind Ace to the car. She really hoped she hadn't said anything wrong.
Peter was warming up when he spotted Laura standing against the fence. She looked upset about something. He ran over to where she stood, realising too late that she wasn't alone.
"Hey Pete," Ace greeted him in a sadistic tone.
Peter tried not to show any signs of fear as he seen six other Cobras join Ace along the fence line. All their eyes focusing on him as they awaited instruction from Ace.
"Get out of here Ace, I got team mates just over there," Peter pointed as confidently as he could back to the dug outs where the rest of his team were lazily preparing for the game.
"I just came with a warning that's all," Ace continued in the same tone, causing the tiny hairs on the back of Peter's neck to stand up.
"Oh yeah, what's that," Peter struggling with his attempted bravery.
"Keep away from Laura," Ace said simply. "Don't talk to her, don't look at her, don't even think about her. Or else I'll find out about it and we'll catch up with you in a place where there ain't so many team mates around."
He jumped the fence swiftly and jerked Peter by the collar.
"She's my girl," he snarled before pushing him down to the ground.
Laura began sniffling softly. She wished she had never said anything. She had never really been exposed to violence and it was making her feel sweaty and nauseous all at once.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed into Ace's shirt as he returned to her side of the fence.
She really felt terrible. If only she had kept her stupid mouth shut.
"Come on," Ace said putting his arm over her shoulders and walking her back to the car. His mind was racing as adrenaline flowed freely through his veins. She was his dammit, nobody else had any claim to her. He knew he was going to have her and even he couldn't stop himself.
"Where's Eyeball," Laura asked nervously noticing he wasn't with them. The change in Ace was unnerving her.
"Don't you worry about him," Ace breathed, looking at her now. He felt like he had been waiting for her for an age, had it really only been a week?
Laura made movements toward the passengers door before Ace pulled her toward the back seat door.