The first month of school flies by next thing Ace knows she is forced to not only go for another day for Zoe to find her wedding dress, but her own Homecoming Dress, same with Mel. "Ace, try this one one, it will look amazing on you." Zoe says, handing her a blue dress.
"Mom, Graham told me he doesn't need to see me in a dress. He wants me to be happy and comfortable at the dance. This isn't a turn around dance."
"Come on Ace, just humor me, this could also help me get a sense of your bridesmaid dress." Mel is heard chuckling.
"I know you don't mind wearing dresses, Melanie, but they aren't me."
"What about if and when you get married, probably to Graham, not going to wear a white dress for that?"
"That is way too far in the future, we are only juniors in high school. You are closer."
"Yeah, the sister that is single and isn't even looking for anyone."
"That day will come; I didn't think I would fall for the first person outside of you that I saw would be the one I fell for. We know Mom and Dad were the same way."
"She's right, sometimes love comes and bites you when you least expect it." Zoe looks at both of her daughters, "I didn't ever think I would find someone that loves me and you with his whole heart. I fell hard for him and what he told me about his two kids that he wanted custody of." She pulls out a slim white dress that Ace picked out.
"I think no one knows how happy I am that you two got custody of Liam and I. I just wish there was a way you could officially adopt us. If something happens to Dad, what will happen to Liam and I?" Zoe, who was trying on the dress, steps out and moves to sit next to Ace.
"Nothing will happen to your father, but he already has that taken care of. Your Mum isn't allowed custody of you after everything. He named me Guardian, your Mum's lawyers only agreed with that if I don't try to officially adopt you or your brother. I hated agreeing to it, but I needed a way to protect you. I love you both like you're my own," she hugs Ace.
"I love you too, you are my Mom in every right way."
"I know," she kisses Ace's crown, "Mel, come join the hug." Mel gets up from her spot and joins the hug. After the hug is over Zoe gets up and turns to look at herself in the mirror. "Wow."
"Mom, it looks amazing on you," Mel says, Ace has gone silent and a blank look on her face, she envisions something in the far future, her in a dress with Melanie holding a hand of a toddler who is saying Mommy while reaching out for Ace. She can't see the face of the young child. Ace is in a big white dress. "Ace," Mel says, "Ace," again.
"What, sorry, I just saw something that I don't know how to explain," Ace looks up at Zoe who is looking at Ace very worriedly. "Mom, you look absolutely fantastic."
"Thank you Sweetie, are you ok?"
"I am, it was just a little weird."
"What did you see?"
"Mel, a toddler and me in a white dress."
"Wedding dress?"
"I think so. Just the toddler called me Mommy. You know Graham and I haven't even had sex yet."
Swiping hair from Ace's face, "I know, but maybe your heart knows something that you don't. Everything will catch up in time. I need to get out of this dress and order it. Then the three of us will go get lunch. After that."
"I don't want to find a dress. Graham told me he is just happy that I am his date. Especially with everything happening with Rochelle. She really doesn't like me."
"She doesn't like anyone pointing out that she is a total bitch."
"MELANIE!"
"What Mom, it's true. She likes to break up couples. I think she has her eyes on her next target, Ace and Graham."
"Be careful around her then."
"Don't worry Mom, nothing she can do will make me want to break up with Graham," Ace smiles.
"Is it because the only person you could see yourself wearing a big white dress for?" Mel teases Ace.
"We are too young to even think of that." Ace replies as she fails to hold back a blush.
"Don't tease her right now Mel, come on you two; I am changed, let's order the dress." As they walk out Ace spies Rochelle coming out of a store with her best friend Mary, Rochelle looks up and sees Ace and smears at her before laughing. Ace brushes it off as she moves to the food quart with Mel and their mom. Hours later Ace is in the backyard waiting for Graham.
"Hey love."
"I saw her when I was out with Mom and Mel."
"Yeah."
"I think you may be right, but," she wraps her arms around his neck; "I will not let her or anyone get in between us. I have a few things in mind for us after we graduate. I know it's over a year off, but." She is stopped with a searing kiss as he backs them into the small wooded area.
"I also have some ideas, we are taking the SATs this year, and maybe start applying to schools, what if we apply to the same ones, or ones near each other."
"I like that idea, and we can see if there are any rules about freshmen being off or on campus; that way we can be together." She is against the tree with Graham against her, "where we can do this," she leans up to kiss him and makes sure to run her tongue along his bottom lip, as he opens his mouth she breaks the kiss. "Anytime we want and won't have to hide."
That night while asleep, Ace is having a dream- a dream she doesn't like. 'Your girlfriend isn't here.'
'I love her Rochelle, please leave me alone.'
'Are you sure that you love her?'
'I am, she is my heart.' Graham walks away as Rochelle makes him turn around and tries to kiss him. He pushes her away and walks fast and almost runs away. He leaves the school and gets in his car.
The next morning Ace wakes up and reaches for her phone and texts Graham; feeling uneasy about her dream. She trusts Graham, but can't trust Rochelle. She puts on her jacket and some shoes that she keeps near her bed.
"What's up?"
"Yesterday and last night I've had these visions, or dreams that feel real. The first one was Mom, Mel, a toddler that called me mom, and myself in a wedding dress."
"That doesn't sound bad," he smiles.
"That one was a good kind of shock, but the second one; I didn't like." She grabs his hand. "Rochelle tried to kiss you."
"I will not let that happen."
"I wasn't there, you tried to get away from her before it happened."
"I promise you that I will not let her kiss me. You are the only one that I want to kiss."
"Graham, I'm serious."
"I am too, I love you with all of my heart."
"Graham."
"You Dorothy Gale McShane, are a big part of me."
"I'm worried."
"I understand, and I don't like what she might try to do, but we can't control what others do. I can control that I will keep my distance from her."
"I believe you, but that won't keep me from worrying."
"Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"I don't know. I can't lose you."
"You won't. I won't let her," he leans to kiss her, nice and slow.
"That helps a little bit. I hate this; I don't want to come off as a jealous girlfriend or worried girlfriend, probably about nothing."
"If anything worries you; it worries me. I also don't like her myself. We are secure enough, right?"
"Right. We should head in before anyone wakes up. I love you."
"I love you too," Ace starts to walk away, "and Ace," she turns around, "nothing will change that."
"I know," she smiles, "and nothing will change my love for you too." As walks into the house to find her father making breakfast.
"Why are you up so early," he asks her.
"Had a dream that involved Graham that I didn't like. I also told him about a daydream that I had yesterday that I don't know how I feel about it yet. Both seemed so real."
"Can I help talk through those dreams?"
"I don't think so, but thank you dad."
"I will do anything for you; I hope you know that?"
"Is there any way we can dissolve Mum's parental rights? She has proved to be an unfit mother more than once."
"I don't know; even with what happened earlier this year, it would be difficult and maybe having you testify in court and maybe Liam."
"I wouldn't want that. He needs his childhood."
"So do you."
"Dad, I never had much of one. From the moment you left because she cheated on you, I started protecting Liam. It didn't take long until she met Glitz and well, you know the rest."
"I wish I knew what was going on, I would've fought harder."
"Dad, she knew how to trick people. You wouldn't have won. I would've done anything to protect Liam, and still would."
"I know that, why don't you go and make sure your brother and sister are awake, we need to make a Costco run."
"What if the three of us stay home, it gets packed there on Sundays. That way more homework can get done, like extra reading. Mel can help me study for the Pre-SATs.
"No Graham ok?"
"Ok, Dad. No Graham until you and Mom get home."
"Good, we have that rule in place for a reason."
"Dad, I have told you many times that I am not ready for that."
"That day will come, and I am not ready to be a grandfather."
"Dad, I am not ready for any consequences that could happen either, that is the main reason I am not ready for the next step with my boyfriend."
"Good," he kisses the top of her, then goes back to cooking dinner.
The following weekend Ace is dancing with Graham at Homecoming, his arms wrapped around her waist, her head in the crook of his neck, his resting against her cheek. "I love you, and no matter what happens in our future, I will cherish you and the moments we have together."
"I love you too, and I will also cherish every moment we have. We don't know what will happen," Ace sees something in her mind's eye, she is dancing with Graham again, they look a few years older, the few things that are different, they are in a small room, she's not in a deep blue dress and his hand is on her swollen stomach. "I thought of a name."
"Yeah?"
"Manisha."
"She would've loved our daughter."
"I know. I still miss her. I wish she could've met you." She is drawn out of the dream by the feel of lips on her cheek. "Yes?" She looks up at him
"Where did you go?"
"I had another vision."
"What was it about?" She blushes and hides her face.
"Was I in it?"
"Yes, just you and I dancing in a room. Your hand was on my stomach?"
"Why?"
"Graham, what is the main reason a hand will be on a stomach?"
"Oh- oh, you were?"
"Yes, I am not ready for that."
"Neither am I."
"Good, I just wish I knew what is happening?"
"Maybe your heart knows what is going to happen in the future."
"Two of them I don't mind happening in the far future. One I don't want to happen at all."
"I will do everything in my power to make sure the one you don't want happening; to not happen."
"Thank you."
"You never need to thank me, I love you."
"I love you too." She relaxes against him again.
Across the room, "so they're your next target." Mary asks her friend Rochelle.
"She needs to learn that she can't speak to me like she did on the first day. I need you to find out who her Mom is in London and call her."
"No. I will not help you do that."
"You need to, remember I have things on you."
"You promised you would never use that."
"Just call."
"Fine, but after this we are done." Mary walks away.
After the dance Graham walks Ace to her door. "Thank you for tonight Graham."
"Any dance you want to go to, I will love to take you."
"Not every school dance; it was my first Homecoming, and I also needed her to know that we are strong."
"I don't think that matters to her, but I don't want to make everything we do because of her. I love you and want to enjoy our time together."
"I love you too, and I will try," she leans up to kiss him. "Different ending than our last dance."
"Only by a little," he smiles.
"Only a little," she leans up again cupping his face in her hands and lays her lips on his, deepening the kiss her mind flashes through major moments including her wearing the dress again, this time she sees a ring on her finger and on his. After the kiss breaks, "I have a feeling nothing will break us up Graham O'Brien."
"I also have that feeling, goodnight Ace."
"Goodnight Graham." She heads back in after kissing him again.