"Come on Ace get up," Mel tries to wake her up.
"5 more minutes." She turns around and ignores Mel.
"If you wake up now, you have time to see Graham and shower before we head out to find your dress. Ace turns around again and opens one eye. "That got your attention."
"Bribing me with my boyfriend."
"If it will work, it'll work, or else I will stick Liam on you." That wakes up Ace.
"How is he this morning?"
"He seems bubbly."
"I hope he is doing better."
"That fight really scared him?"
"It did, and his reaction scares me. The fight seemed like a fight you would see on tv between father and daughter." There is a small knock on the door, "come in Liam." He runs in.
"Morning Dotty." He looks to Mel, "Morning Mel."
"Morning Liam, how did you sleep," Ace asks him.
"Okay, thank you for getting Ace out for me."
"You know I would do anything for you."
"Even," Mel knows what he is about to say.
"Liam, I have fought with my Mom, well our Mom now; a lot, and we have never hurt each other. All we needed to do was walk away and cool off. When you are older, or even as Ace and Graham and you want to spy on them, you two may argue too. Arguing is a part of life."
"What about physically?"
"No, that is not normal."
"Will Graham make Ace cry."
"He might, but one thing I know about him is that he will regret it right away." Graham has told Ace about his dad and why he lives with his aunt.
"Are you sure about that?"
"I am, want to know something."
"Sure."
"Graham thinks you are cool, that is why he gave you that nickname."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Ok." Liam leaves as Mel looks at Ace.
"Get up, shower, go kiss your boyfriend, not make out, just kiss him."
"Ok Mel." Ace gets up and shoots a text to Graham before jumping in the shower. After she gets out she blows dry her thin blonde hair and meets Graham out back. "Morning Graham."
"Morning Ace, so you're getting your dress today."
"I am. I don't like to wear dresses."
"You will be beautiful in anything."
"Graham," she blushes, "I know whatever your aunt forces you to wear, you will look very handsome."
"Really."
She leans over to kiss him, his arm goes around her and her arms wrap around his shoulders. "Really."
"Ace," Mel calls her name.
"I got to go."
"See you later."
"Are you meeting up with us for lunch?"
"I think so."
"I'll see you then," as she turns from him, he picks up her hand and kisses it. Ace walks away and up to Mel.
"How was your talk?"
"We talked about how each of us doesn't care what the other wears."
"Mom cares the most. Do you mind if I offer to drive you two. Otherwise it would be awkward with Dad or someone else driving. If you two decide to kiss in the back, I wouldn't mind."
"You would do that?"
"Of course, I would; you are my little sister." They walk around the house and to the car.
"What kind of dress do you want Ace," Zoe asks as they walk into a dress shop.
"A plain one."
"Ace," Zoe sighs, "this is your first dance."
"I know that, Mom, I just don't like dresses."
"Well, you need to wear one. Just think of it as practice for future events."
"You want to marry my Dad?"
"I do."
"I guess I could use this as practice for your wedding."
"Good, now try this one one," she holds up a blue dress. Ace takes it as Mel, Zoe, and Sarah Jane look for more.
"Mom, I talked to Ace about me driving her and Graham to the dance, is it ok if I go?"
"Of course it is, this will probably save your Dad talking to Graham again." Ace walks out of the dressing room with her blue dress hanging off her frame.
"I don't like it."
"What about this red one," Sarah Jane shows her, Ace's eyes light up seeing it and heads back as Mel finds a deep purple dress for herself.
"Two daughters going to the dance?"
"One is going to save your nephew and Ace from any awkwardness from Harry."
"That's good, what about their dinner beforehand? Graham was planning to take Ace to the Cheesecake Factory."
"I'll give Mel some money and tell her to eat at a table by herself. What do you think of Graham and Ace being official now?"
"It's about time, the way he is around her."
"And the way." At that moment Ace comes out, the straps need a little bit of adjusting and as she turns around her eyes grow big.
"I love it."
"Oh Sweetie, it looks amazing."
"You can borrow my black shawl to go with it," adds Sarah Jane, "you might get cold otherwise."
"Thank you Sarah Jane."
"Anytime."
"You go in and change back into your clothes." Ace leaves them to change, "do you think we will be like this in the far future."
"I don't know. They just started dating."
Mel comes out, "Mom?"
"You look amazing Sweetheart." Mel turns to go change as Ace comes back out.
"What kind of shoes will go best?"
"What exactly are you looking for?"
"I don't know. I have never been to a dance."
"How about black," Sarah Jane suggests.
"My Doc Martens?"
"No, either flats or heels."
"Even dresser boots."
"Ace," Mel comes up behind them, "what about black heels to be closer to Graham's height."
"I will not be wearing I will not be wearing 15 centimeters heels."
"What," Mel asks.
"6 inch heels, Mel," Sarah Jane does the conversation in her head.
"What about 3 inch heels?"
"One and a half pink erasers or 7.62 centimeters."
"Thank you Sarah Jane, and I'll think about it."
"Well we can go and get the shoes now. We have one hour before all the boys show up." While Ace, Mel and Zoe go into DSW, Sarah Jane goes to pick up a tie for Graham. He still fits in the jacket from his mom's funeral. John took him to get his pants.
Ace finds some shoes that have a little lift, she starts to picture herself dancing with Graham. Next thing she realizes her name is being called. She smiles as she sees Graham, her brother and father.
"I got you your favorite."
"How do you know my favorite Graham?"
"You told me last night."
"I did, didn't I?"
"Just kiss already," shouts Liam and people look at them.
"Liam, I will kiss Graham when I want to and when people aren't staring at us." Ace and Graham share a smile and a look agreeing that they will try to not kiss in front of Harry or Liam.
"So who all is going to the dance," Harry asks.
"Mel offered to take us."
"Also Tegan and Nyssa, Yaz is going stag."
"Mel, you got a dress."
"I am also going stag."