Ace leapt out of the passengers side of Bear's pick up truck as soon as they reached Castle Rock. He wasn't sure how late it was in the afternoon and he wanted to see Laura when she got out of school. He walked into Irby's Billiards and seen he still had half an hour. Billy was just about to leave when he seen Ace walk in.
"Hey Ace!," he called out to him, "what are you up to."
"Going over to the high school," he replied, "wanna come?"
Billy shrugged and walked back to Ace's car with him. They reached the school before the final bell and so they leaned against Ace's car smoking.
"Haven't seen much of you lately," Billy suddenly commented.
"Been busy," Ace said shortly.
Billy turned his direction back to the school, it was slowly filling with students.
"There she is," he said pointing Laura out but Ace was already walking. Billy had to slightly jog to keep up with him.
When Ace met Laura he almost tackled her as he collided his mouth with hers. Billy was wondering why it didn't occur to him that this is exactly what would happen.
"Hey Connie," he said as he spotted her looking just as awkward as he felt.
"Hello Billy," she said a little coldly, she had not taken their break up well.
"You look cute," he said trying to catch her eyes.
"Thank you," she said primly.
Billy looked her up and down, she did look cute, really cute.
"You doing anything tonight?" he asked her.
"No," she said starting to lose some of her frostiness.
"You should come out," he said.
"Are you asking me out?" she said a little disbelievingly.
"Sure, why wouldn't I?" he replied. She was looking all kinds of fine, if only she'd loosen up a bit.
"Okay," she said, "only because I have nothing else to do."
He rolled his eyes and moved his arm around her shoulder. It looked like Ace was starting to untangle himself from Laura. He brushed down her dress and the four started walking to the car. On the way Ace handed Billy his keys and when he got to the car he opened the back door for Laura to get into. Following suit Billy opened the passengers side door for Connie before he got into the drivers seat and started up the engine.
Billy tried to ignore what was happening behind him but he couldn't resist glancing a few times in the rear-view mirror where he seen Laura straddled over Ace's lap whilst he ran his hands under her dress. Connie meanwhile stared straight ahead. Billy was sure she was blushing a little.
He parked the car in the most secluded place he could find and left the keys and his two passengers where they were.
"Doesn't it bother you to leave your best friend in the back seat of a car?" Billy asked Connie teasingly.
She shrugged, "She's a sweet girl and she loves him but.." she said a little firmly, "If he ever hurts her I'll break his face."
Billy snorted with laughter at the thought of Ace Merrill being beaten up by a girl.
Ace helped Laura back into her dress and reattached the wings he had thrown into the front seat earlier.
"Weren't you cold today babe?" he asked running his hands up and down her bare arms.
"It wasn't so bad," she said putting her halo back onto her head.
"Come on," he said opening the door and helping her out. He swung his arm casually over her shoulders with a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth and walked into the diner.
It hadn't taken Billy long to make his move on Connie and the two were kissing very publicly at a table they had sat at. Ace grinned widely.
"Car's free," he said kicking Billy's ankle to get his attention.
"You're hilarious," Billy said as he sat back in his chair.
"Well try not to expose my girlfriend to such public vulgarity," Ace smirked.
Billy smiled at the absurdity of this statement since he was staring at the towns number one offender for public vulgarity.
"Come sit over here," Ace said sliding into a booth and sitting Laura on his lap. Billy lit two cigarettes in his mouth and passed one to Connie before he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the booth beside him.
"You want one?" he asked Ace, before he rolled the pack back into his sleeve.
"Just had one," he said dismissively.
He looked at Laura unsure whether he should ask her, he heard her turn down cigarettes the other week but he didn't want to leave her out.
"Oh no thanks," she said hoping she was interpreting his look correctly.
"Yeah what are you thinking," Ace said fastening his arms around Laura's waist, "Angels don't smoke."
When their food was arriving they were joined by Eyeball and Vince.
"Hey where do I get one?" Eyeball said when he noticed the girls still in costume.
"Hey guys," Vince said ignoring Eyeball to sit down.
Ace nodded in greeting, in the middle of devouring his burger and balancing Laura on his lap who he had manoeuvred to rest against him in a way where he could eat without having to put her down.
The bell at the door tinkled again and in walked Vera out of uniform, somehow looking more skanky than before. She snorted with laughter before she made her way over to their booth.
"Hey boys," she said.
"Fuck off," Ace said glaring at her again.
"Fine," she said turning away again, "you know it's funny who you get replaced for these days," she called out before sitting at a table on the other side of the diner.
"What was she talking about?" Connie asked.
"Oh me," Eyeball piped up, "I asked her number the other day but I never called her, I guess she just seen me talking to Jodie in the carpark," he shrugged.
Billy flashed him a quick 'thanks for saving my ass' look. Eyeball nodded back as if to say 'what are friends for'.