CHAPTER 42: SIMPLY MEANT TO BE

"So," Ace began. "I guess the best way to start this is… congratulations, Jill."

"Congratulations?" Jill repeated.

"Remember that bet we made, where I said that you couldn't scare me?" Ace said. "Well, you scared the pants off of me. You win. Congratulations."

"That doesn't count," Jill argued. "I was using 'Fright Master' the whole fight. You said that was cheating."

"Not what I meant," Ace clarified. "Yeah, you were a sight and a half back when you overblotted… but when you passed out and didn't wake up right away like the other guys? I… I didn't know what to think."

The whole time, both of them stared at the withered black flower in the vase. It was too awkward to look at each other right now.

"I could barely sleep, even though I was exhausted," Ace went on. "And then the whole day, I just kept going between different feelings. Happy that the guys said you were okay, sad that you didn't find your way back, angry that you tried to leave us, scared that things could've gone wrong, embarrassed that I had to shovel out that mushy promise last night…" He turned to the nearest wall, hiding his face from Jill's sight.

"Ace, I…" Jill gulped. "I can never tell you how sorry I am for all that. After all the support you and the others showed me, and how much you tried to help, I still let you down in the end."

And the full force of guilt hit her square in the chest. She had hurt her friends… she had almost killed them. Maybe Minuet-Hand made the initial push, but her doomed runaway plan was all hers, as were the consequences.

"But I won't run away," she promised. "I finally have hope again. Because I know my parents are okay."

"How do you know?" Ace asked.

"The headmage showed me," Jill explained. "He let me talk to them. He told me not to tell anyone the full details of what happened, but—"

"Then don't," Ace told her. "Don't say anything more than what you need to. I don't want you to get into more trouble."

Jill pursed her lips. She really wanted to talk about Minuet-Hand and the Skeleton Key to all her friends… but what if spreading news invited trouble, like Crowley feared? She decided that she would tell everyone once she had the Key safely in her hands.

"My parents are okay," she repeated. "They know where I am and what I've been doing. And there is a way to go between worlds at will—we just haven't found it yet. And once I find that way… I'll go between Night Raven and Earth. I'll go explore other worlds, too, and I'll take you guys along with me. I'll live my life to the fullest, seeing all there is to see, and I won't look back. That's what I've decided."

Ace finally looked at her. "That sounds more like the Jill Bones I know," he said approvingly. "I wouldn't mind tagging along if that's the life you're going to live."

"Yeah… you and me," Jill mused. "Ace, be honest. When you promised to be my card soldier… did you mean it?"

"Did you want me to mean it?" Ace asked.

"I…" Jill shyly threaded her fingers through her ponytail. "Yes, actually. I might as well confess—I've liked you for a long time, Ace. Ever since you helped pull me out of my panic attack."

"That was on the first day of school," Ace said. "When we were trapped in that mine. You liked me all the way back then? Weren't you still mad at me for making fun of you?"

"Yes, I know our first meeting didn't go well," Jill went on. "I was already frazzled with the isekai thing, and then you teasing me… I thought you were a bully. But then you and I were trapped with Grim and Deuce in that awful mine, and I lost control of myself… and you helped me get back. I never forgot it. A kindness like that shouldn't be taken for granted, even if you like to hide it…"

Ace scoffed, staring back at the flower. "I can't exactly wear my feelings on my sleeve," he said. "Especially not in a cutthroat elite school like this." He paused, closing his eyes. "But you saw me at my weakest points, didn't you? Collared by Riddle, trapped by Azul, paralyzed by Vil… and you came to my rescue every time. Maybe you nagged me now and again, but you never looked down on me for my mistakes. You never stopped being kind." He suddenly chuckled. "But you have a temper, too! You're not like the Queen of Hearts, who got mad all the time. You have a slower, righteous fury, and that makes it scarier. When you yelled at Vil Schoenheit and made him back off for cursing me… that might've been the point when I fell for you."

Jill blushed. "So that promise last night was real? That's why you like me?"

"I mean, there are a lot of other reasons aside from that," Ace continued. "See, I told you about that girl I dated in middle school, and how I dumped her out of boredom? That's because I didn't know her enough to really like her. When you're on a date, you need to be on your best behavior—you put on a mask and then slowly peel it off bit by bit. But when I saw you day after day in all sorts of moods and situations… I realized that I didn't have to hide anything with you. I've never felt this way about anyone before." He sighed. "But you were homesick and depressed. You had a whole life back in Crittenden that you were taken away from. Who was I to ask you to stay?"

"Ace…" Jill shyly reached out and took his hand. "When I learned the story of Alice, how she never came back to Wonderland… I thought about how lonely Alice must've felt in the end. To be part of this incredible world for just a moment, only to go back to your mundane life, and not be able to look back. I don't want to be like Alice—I want to be like the Pumpkin King. Connecting to other worlds, meeting other rulers, establishing friendships, doing everything he wanted to do… all while keeping his title and responsibilities. And he was also married, you know. He had a ragdoll Pumpkin Queen that he loved very much. Someone who was by his side, and understood all his feelings…"

Her tears finally spilled out. "I-I always wanted a King… someone like you…"

"I don't know if I can be a king," Ace mused. "I'm just a card soldier. Is that okay?"

"You're a king to me, Ace. You've always been…"

"Even if I run my mouth and get into trouble? Even if I slack off and make mistakes?"

"I know you're not perfect. No one is."

"Even… if this doesn't work out?" Ace asked finally. "What if we get in a big fight someday, or something makes you leave for good, or we eventually get sick of each other?"

"Sure, there's a risk. But I want to try, if you do," Jill said. "Even if it makes me a fool."

Ace finally stared into her eyes. He cupped her chin with his gloved hand, then leaned in slowly, giving her the chance to pull away. But she didn't.

His mouth was sweet, like cherry tarts. Jill reeled as she realized it was her first kiss. After a second which felt like an eternity, he leaned back and licked his lips.

"Hmm, I'd give that a five out of ten." He regained his mischievous smirk. "Your breath kind of stinks."

"Ace!" Jill half-laughed and half-cried. She playfully hit his shoulder. "That was my first kiss, you know! Would it kill you to be a little more romantic?"

"Ah, but you said it was okay if I wasn't perfect," Ace reminded her. "Therefore, you can't judge me."

Jill chuckled and wiped her tears. "True, I did say that…"

"Uh, Jill," Ace said. "For future reference, is it okay if we keep this light? I don't exactly want this to be broadcasted to the whole school."

"Like, you want this to be private?" Jill asked.

"Not private, but… just not shmoopy." Ace frowned. "Like holding hands all the time or kissing in public or having pet names or something. That drippy stuff is kind of a turnoff to me."

"Right." Jill took her hands into his. "Well, you have a little more experience than me. So I'll take your word for it. We'll figure this out."

"Yeah," Ace agreed, and his face broke out into a sweet, tender smile.

Just as Jill was mesmerized, just as she told herself that this wonderful feeling would last forever…

KNOCKKNOCKKNOCK!

"GAH!" Jill flinched. "No one's home! Go away!"

"Hah, it must be the guys," Ace said. "Might as well go see what they want."

"Yeah…" Jill took another look at Ace, then the two left for the foyer.

The black rose remained in the vase, still alive.

Author's Note: This is it, the final push! One more chapter to go! :D