Ace of Hearts

by Goode, Ella

  “I plan to show you everything, Ace.” His long arm points down the hall. “Let me show you the way.”

  I see a few people turn to look at us. I wonder if it’s because I’m new or if they are looking at Owen who, despite not touching me, is in my personal space. We probably look like a couple.

  “There a certain club or activity you want to join? There’s a shit-ton here, but I don’t participate in any. Just football.” For the first time, he looks slightly unsure of himself.

  That tiny bit of vulnerability speaks to me and some of my annoyance melts away. “I’m going to choose something else. I’m not really cut out for football,” I tease, peeking up at him under my lashes.

  “It’s not all about being on the field. I bet you could come up with some killer plays for us. That’s all head stuff.”

  I laugh at him coming up with a way for me to be involved. I don’t know much about football. Sometimes I’ll read on the sofa while Dad will have a game on. I’ve gone to a few games with him too. I’d be a liar if I didn't admit it can be fun to yell from the stands. I also knew it made my dad happy when I’d cheer along with him.

  When we get to the board I scan it but nothing stands out. When I enrolled they’d already put me into science club, I should pick up another. My eyes fly past yearbook and prom club. I give culinary club a glance before landing on sewing. Now, that could be useful. I am good at it but I want to be better. I can’t become a surgeon without top-notch sewing skills.

  I reach up and pull the tab off the sewing one. At least that’s out of the way and now I can go to my first class.

  Owen grabs one too. “Sewing?” he asks as he pockets the small piece of paper into his jeans.

  “Yeah. I need to sharpen my skills if I’m going to follow in my dad’s footsteps. I can’t be a surgeon if I’m unable to sew.” I shrug my shoulders. “There a reason you’re going to do sewing club?”

  “Make my mom an apron or something. She loves crap like that. These hands can do other things besides catch a football.” Now he teases me. Him saying he wants to make his mom something only makes me like him more than I should. We’ve fallen into easy banter with one another. Too easy. It seems like we’ve known each other longer than we really have. Our shoulders rub together—or my shoulder rubs against his arm. He doesn’t move away and neither do I. I already regret telling him he couldn’t put his arm around me because it was a nice weight and warm. The air conditioning inside the school is making me chilly.

  Conversation ends as we reach the classroom. I head for a desk toward the back of the room in keeping with my plan to blend in. Owen’s hand snakes out and pulls out a chair. It’s either sit down in it or crawl over. Not wanting to make a commotion, I sit down and Owen actually lifts the whole thing—me and the chair—off the ground and slides it out of the aisle and under the desk. I guess I hadn’t realized the muscles in his arms actually did something. My sex clenches between my legs. Fuck. A hot guy that can lift me up like this is doing bad things to my body.

  He takes the seat directly beside me. I wish I’d worn my hair down today. My blush is probably on full display for everyone to see and I’m noticing people are looking.

  I reach into my bag, getting my laptop out to take notes. I concentrate on facing forward and pray that this class will start soon. My mind is all over the place about Owen McCoy.

  “Owen.”

  “Yeah, Ace?”

  I look over to him. He’s staring right at me, not trying to hide his clear interest. There is no game playing. He’s putting it all out there.

  “I don’t date. My mind is on school.” For some reason I have to let him know that. Maybe I’m only reminding myself.

  “Friends then. You do that, don’t you?”

  I lick my dry lips. I don’t do anything but my traitorous mouth opens and says, “Yeah. Friends I can manage.”

  He grabs my desk chair with his foot, hooking it to the bottom and pulling it and me closer to him a few inches. “Then we’re going to be best friends.” He holds his fist up. My eyes go there as I fight another smile. “Come on, Ace, don’t leave your best friend hanging.”

  I reach out, bumping his fist and wondering how I’ll ever manage just being his friend.

  6

  Owen

  She’s smiling. That’s all that’s really important at this point. I can make her smile. Plus, we’re sitting next to each other and it’s clear to everyone in this classroom that has eyes that I’m claiming her. Already people are making a little bubble of space around her.

  I wish I knew some of the girls so I could set up a good friend group for her. I try and think of the guys on the team who are dating. I haven’t really paid attention to the SOs in the group because that shit didn’t interest me before, but now that I’ve got Ace, I’m probably going to be hanging out with those guys more.

  Don’t get me wrong. The other guys are the shit, but they’ve got girls crawling all over their dicks. Ace would not be down for that. And, frankly, neither am I. If another guy so much as breathes near her, my hands will turn into fists. For example, JJ Anderson has been staring at Ace about two seconds too long.

  “Yo, Double J, eyes forward,” I bark.

  JJ’s head turns toward me as if I yanked on a string. His eyes narrow. “Who the hell are you?”

  I’ve been going to training camp with the guys since July so I’d forgotten I was a newbie here. I stretch my legs out and plant an arm across the back of Ace’s chair.

  “The guy who’s bringing home your championship trophy, that’s who.” I arch an eyebrow at him. According to the class yearbook that I memorized in my downtime, JJ is on the crew team, which means he has good upper body strength but probably skips leg day. In any event, I can take him. I’m not worried.

  “Football,” JJ snorts. “Like anyone here cares about that shit.”

  “I care,” says a soft voice at the front.

  JJ’s head spins again. We all look up to see Carter, leaning against the teacher’s desk like he owns the classroom. Probably does, since his name’s on the building.

  “I got this,” I tell him. I don’t need the quarterback following me around and fighting my battles for me. New kids have to establish their own space. I did that the first day I came to practice. I picked a fight with the biggest dude there and took him to the ground. Me and Higgsy are buds now. He knew what I was doing and was impressed I had the moves to down him. I couldn’t keep him there for long. The dude weighs 320, but it was enough that I took him on. This situation isn’t comparable. JJ is a runt, but he’s talking like he’s a big man and so he’ll either back up his words or get his ass kicked.

  “Yeah, okay.” Carter takes a seat, putting his back to all of us.

  JJ, because he doesn’t use the braincells God gave him, assumes that I’m free game. He gets out of his chair and strolls over to Ace’s desk.

  “Yo, pretty girl. Since you’re new here, let me tell you some of the rules. Every new girl has to suck a senior’s dick. Good thing I’m here for you.”

  I’m out of my chair and about ready to vault over the desks when Ace’s fist shoots out and decks JJ right in the balls.

  “F-f-fuck you, bitch,” he gasps out as he folds in half from the pain.

  “I thought you told me to deck a senior’s dick. Did I hear that wrong?” she asks, all innocent. The room fills with snickers. A girl two seats up from Ace says, “Nope. I heard the same thing.”

  Several other girls nod their heads and chime in their own agreement. I walk around the desk and grab JJ by the collar. He stumbles to his feet, red-faced, with his hands cupped protectively around his junk.

  “You’re going to pay for that,” he says, but it comes out like a baby’s cry and so the classroom only laughs harder. I march him out of the room.

  “Get some ice and cool down,” I order and then slam the door shut.

  I walk back to Ace and crouch down beside her desk. “You need anything?” Her knuckles ar
e red.

  “No.” She talks a good game, but her hand trembles as she turns to a clean page in her notebook.

  “All right, but I’m giving you advance warning. I’m not going to let you out of my sight today, which means you’re going to have to come to football practice with me or I won’t be able to do my job.”

  “I can’t,” she reminds me. “I have sewing club.”

  “Yeah, after football practice.”

  I swing into my chair, wishing we had bench seating or some shit so I didn’t have all this space between me and Ace. I inch my desk closer to her. She doesn’t seem to notice or care.

  “The signup sheet said that the sewing club meets after class,” she insists.

  I tap the desk so she’ll look at me. I can tell she’s shaken up, but she’s pretending that she’s not. I wasn’t lying when I said that I was going to need to keep my eyes on her at all times so this sewing club thing we’re doing is just going to have to be at another time. I’ll talk to Carter. I know he can arrange that. For now, I just have to let Ace know she’s not alone but in a way that doesn’t make her think I’m trying to usurp her autonomy.

  “You really going to keep me out of the sewing club and make my mom cry? I mean, she didn’t cry when Peter Parker died in Infinity War so you know she’s got nerves of steel, but this? This would devastate her.”

  Ace’s pretty mouth purses into a circle as she tries to keep herself from laughing. “You sound melodramatic.”

  “Sometimes truth hits you hard in the heart.” I punch my left pec a couple times.

  “I don’t even run the club,” she says and that’s when I know I’ve got her.

  “Don’t worry about that. Just make sure you come to practice. I’ll swing by your class at 2:45.”

  “You don’t even know—” She cuts herself off.

  The corners of my mouth quirk up. “Yeah. I’ve got your schedule.”

  “I just remembered,” she snips. Her cute chin goes up. I’d like to pinch it but I stupidly promised not to touch her without asking permission first. I’ll have to get some kind of blanket consent but she’s not going to give it right now. Besides, her making me ask for the okay before touching her is kind of kinky. There are things I can do with that. I smile to myself.

  “What’s that grin for?” she asks suspiciously.

  “You don’t even want to know.” I wink.

  7

  Alice

  I doodle circles in my notepad waiting for class to be over. Mr. Barker gave out a syllabus for the semester and I was way ahead already. I’ve been a little worried that I could be behind with this being a new school and all. This last year of high school might be easier than I thought it was going to be. There are only a few minutes of class left and I wonder if Owen is going to be waiting for me. He said he would but do I wait for him? I’m sure it will take a few minutes for him to get from his class to mine.

  I was disappointed when I realized we don’t have the same last class together. He’s been at my side all day. It has made my day easier and I was starting to feel like a jerk for how I acted when he put his arm around me this morning. I am still leery about how nice he is being to me but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Everything he has done so far seems genuine besides his vow of only friendship between us. I know that was a façade but I am going to go with it. There is no denying our physical attraction to one another but my focus has to stay on my studies. I’m glad he agreed to pretend that we would only remain friends.

  That stupid asshole JJ made me feel uneasy. I still can’t believe I punched him right in the dick. He had it coming but he could have tried to hit me back. I think subconsciously I knew Owen wouldn't let it happen. I also knew I had to stand up for myself. JJ was a reminder of why I don't date but Owen keeps making me second-guess that rule. He is too handsome and sweet to me for my own good. All day he’s stuck to my side. At lunch he tried to give me all of the food on his plate. He repeatedly asked me if I wanted more of everything.

  Throughout the day I’ve gotten to know Owen a little more with each class we have together. We’ve mastered the art of small talk while learning little tidbits about one another. I was surprised to discover that he is new to this school too. The way he interacted with everyone made it seem as if he had been here for years. He has an air about him that demands respect. He is confident without being cocky. I don’t know how he pulls it off but he makes it work.

  My eyes drift down to where I’m doodling circles to see I’ve written his name out. “Oh my God,” I mutter to myself, slamming my notebook closed. I did not just do that.

  “Hey, you want to partner up?” the girl next to me asks. The same one who took my side this morning. The teacher said we’d need to pick a partner by the end of the week. I was going to feel everyone out and see if I clicked with anyone. I hoped that way it would be easier to pick someone. I learned her name is Melody when the teacher did roll call. She looks artsy with her blonde hair colored in blues, purples and teals. She’s hip without even trying to be. She exudes it. I could never pull that off. “I’m going to be straight with you, I suck at anatomy and physiology but it’s a required class for the college I’m applying to.” This isn't only anatomy and physiology. It’s AP Anatomy and Physiology II.

  She lets out a small laugh. “I’m not selling myself very well as a partner, am I?”

  “No.” I laugh with her.

  “I work hard. I promise. I’m just not great at the subject.” She gives a small shoulder shrug. Dad always told me you don't have to be the best at everything you do. It's not that all successful people are gifted; some just work hard on purpose to succeed. If someone is willing to put in the effort then they are someone worth working with.

  “You got yourself a partner.” I hold my hand out. “Alice. Everyone calls me Aly.” I introduce myself, but I’m sure she already knows my name. This is the second class we’ve had together and both had a roll call.

  “Melody.” She takes my hand. “Promise I won’t tell Owen you were doodling his name.”

  I groan, dropping my head back and making her laugh harder. “I can’t believe I was doing that.”

  “Meh. If you’re going to doodle someone’s name, it might as well be someone who has your back.” She gives me another one of those chill shoulder shrugs. “Hell, some guys would have gotten all bent out of shape they didn't get to stand up for you first. He looked kind of proud that you busted JJ in the nuts.”

  I close my eyes for a minute. “Still can’t believe I did that,” I admit.

  “It was the highlight of my day. Hell, maybe the highlight of my month.”

  “Is everyone talking about it?” I don’t know why I ask. Of course they are.

  “Yep. There is even a video going around on Snapchat of it in slow motion.” I go for my phone to see for myself. “I’m joking,” Melody says. “God, that would be wonderful.” She sighs like she’s replaying it in her head in slow motion for herself.

  “Class dismissed,” Mr. Barker announces from the front of the room.

  “Give me your number.” Melody pulls out her phone, waiting for me to give it to her. It wasn't really a question. It should probably annoy me but I enjoy how straightforward she is so I rattle it off to her and she shoots me a text. I see I have one from my mom too, along with an image on my calendar.

  I can be obsessive about my calendar. Owen watched me add things to it all morning. At lunch he asked me to share mine with his. Like when Melody asked for my number, I just shared it with him. I have no idea why. I think because he was so interested in it. I click to see Owen has invited me to multiple things. There’s a party scheduled in there for this Friday night and my entire Saturday is mysteriously blocked out. Well, if I accept the invites it will automatically block it all out. I click his calendar, which he opened to me, and the only events he has on it are ones he sent me. He set up a calendar to hang out with me. Grr. He’s so freaking adorable. I need to set my own reminder
in my phone. One that tells me daily that Owen is just a friend. I am going to need it.

  8

  Owen

  “You’re bringing a who to what?” Carter squints at me as if by viewing me differently will change the words I said.

  I slam the locker door shut, grab my helmet and repeat my statement. “I’m bringing Ace to practice. I don’t want her leaving school by herself since Double J’s probably waiting.”

  “Fine, but you drop one ball during practice and you’re doing suicides until you puke.”

  I hold out my hand. “You’re on. My hands are glue. You get it close and I’m hauling it in.”

  Carter hits my fingers with his and we simultaneously draw back with a snap. All Carter wants to know is my head’s in the game and it is. I’m good enough I can have my girl sitting on the sidelines while I’m on the field. It’s called multitasking.

  “You going after that Alice chick?” Billy wanders over.

  The grin slips off my face. Billy gives me bad vibes. It’s not that he’s done anything wrong around me but every time he’s close a warning bell ding-a-lings loud enough you’d think I was at the firehouse.

  “I got some stuff cooking,” I say off-handedly.

  “There’s a pool for who can nail the most new girls. You want in?”

  I glance over at Carter, who is ignoring this business, wrapping tape around his fingers. So this is okay but bringing your girlfriend to practice isn’t? Not sure I agree with that.

  “Nah. I’m pretty selective about where my dick goes.” As in, I’m not putting it anywhere but Alice’s sweet pussy.

  “Your loss.” Billy shrugs and moves through the locker room to make his offer to a different teammate. I watch him get turned down repeatedly. Guess it’s the whole team’s loss.