Summer Days (AcexReader)

19

The car ride home was silent. No one knew what to say and you definitely didn't feel like talking.

You sat in the back row or Thatch's car next to the window, Ace sat next to you with his arm wrapped loosely around your shoulders. It was a nice comfort but you couldn't help but feel like you were giving him the wrong idea by gently cuddling into him.

He probably thinks I like him.

No he doesn't. He's just comforting me.

But is he only comforting me because he likes me?

What's wrong with him liking me?

Everything.

With your thoughts in turmoil you decided to shrug Ace's arm off of you and turn your body so you were facing the window.

Ace didn't complain or say anything about the loss of contact. He knew you were upset right now and probably hurting too and were just dealing with things in your own way. But he wanted to help.

"We're back." Thatch cut through the silence. Even though you had been looking out the window the whole drive, you never noticed when the car had pulled into the driveway of the Newgate residence.

You waited until everyone else got out of the car before slowly shuffling out from the backseat. When you stepped foot out of the car Luffy gave you a quick hug before rushing off into his saying he was hungry. Everyone gave you some form of goodbye, they all felt a bit awkward, until it was just you and Ace standing in the driveway.

"I'll walk-"

"Well I guess-"

You and Ace both spoke at the same time. You looked up at him and waited for him to speak.

"Do you want me to walk you to your door?" Ace's had was rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at you uncertainly.

"Oh, umm... you don't have to, it's a short walk." You pointed towards your front door. Your lips were pulled into an awkward smile. You weren't sure what type of face to make in your slightly depressed state; you were hoping if you were smiling then Ace wouldn't worry about you.

"It's fine. I just want to make sure your alright." Ace reached out and gently rested his hand on your shoulder before moving it down to tightly grip your hand.

"I'm fine really." You showed him a bright smile and tried to get your hand out of his grip.

"No your not." Ace wasn't buying any of the bullshit you were trying to sell him.

"No really it's-" you couldn't finish your sentence, your voice suddenly caught in your throat. You knew that you weren't fine after today and that you wanted nothing more for Ace to hold you while you bawled your eyes out. But something about doing that made you feel guilty. Like you were just using Ace when you weren't even sure about your feelings for him.

"I'm just walking you to your front door. If you want me to come in that's fine and if you don't want me to come in that's also fine." Ace reassured you, he placed his arm over your shoulder and started walking you to your house.

You could already hear Royal barking from the other side of the door once the two of you stepped on the front porch. You hesitated grabbing your keys from your purse, wondering if you should let Ace in.

"Umm, I'm gonna take Royal for a walk. Do you want to come with me?" You asked, Royal did need to stretch her legs and it'd be better with Ace's company.

"Yeah sure." Ace grabbed Royal's leash that you kept on a hook next to the door. Almost immediately Royal was circling around Ace's legs and letting out short happy barks, knowing she was going to be taken on a walk. Ace was able to get your excited dog to stand still for a moment so he could clip the leash on her collar, then the three of you were out your door.

Without even thinking your legs took you towards the path along the stream. You had only been there a few times, but it was already your favorite place to de-stress.

It was quiet besides the grass swaying in the wind and Royal barking at every bug that came across her path.

Usually Ace would be chatting about whatever came to mind, but he knew that wasn't what you needed right now. If you wanted to talk then he would listen, and if you didn't then he'd enjoy walking with you.

"My mom left when I was 12." You spoke quietly. So quiet Ace almost didn't hear you. He kept walking, his pace slowing as you moved slower until you stopped walking. Ace stood next to you, waiting patiently for you to keep talking.

"I understood it. My... father he wasn't a good person. Still isn't. But I wish no I thought she would have taken me with her. Instead she got a new family and forgot about me." Fat tears started to swell up in the corner of your eyes as you recalled that day. Your mother hand left early in the morning only leaving a note behind. When your father found out he was angry and since the person he typically took that anger out on was gone, it was directed at you.

"Both my parents were pretty shitty at being parents. Mom liked to hook up with a different guy every other night. And dad, well dad was always in a bad mood so he'd drink which just made him worst." You hiccuped at this point your tears were streaming down your face. Ace reached his hand over and gently wiped the tears from your face.

"Did he ever take his anger out on you?" Ace asked, you gazed up at him confused with your tear filled eyes. "Your father was he ever... abusive towards you?"

Ace hated saying that, he couldn't imagine anyone doing such thing to you or their own kid for that matter.

"No. I was mostly ignored by him, he did umm... he did beat my mom a lot. And then when she left..." Ace didn't let you finish and pulled you into his chest. He didn't want to make you say it when you were already having a tough time telling him as it was. He also didn't want to hear it; he didn't want to hear that you'd been hurt so badly.

The stood there for awhile, Ace's head on top of yours as he rubbed soothing circles on your back with his hands. While you cried into his shirt.

Royal had been running in the grass and jumping into the shallow ends of the stream. But she soon stopped when she heard you crying and was now resting her head on the side of your leg, soft whimpers leaving mouth every so often.

"It's okay. Everything is okay. You didn't let your situation ruin you, instead you got a good education, a good job. A real nice house. Plus you got Royal." Ace looked down at your pup whose ears had perked up at the mention of her name. You sniffed as you wiped the tears from your eyes a weak smile on your face. Ace then pointed at himself," plus you got me too."

More tears came to your eyes they weren't sad tears though. You felt a serge of emotions in your chest when Ace said he was here for you too.

"Thanks Ace. But honestly you're too good for me. I mean what if I just up and leave you like my mom did?" You sniffed, this was something you were genuinely worried about. You had no intentions of ever leaving Ace if you two did start dating, but still you couldn't help but be worried about it.

"Leave me? Wait does that mean we're dating?" Ace asked, suprise written all over his face.

"I- ahh I do like you but I'm worried I'll be just like my mom and leave you. Plus I already have her habit-" you were about to say sleeping around but then you realized you haven't done that since meeting Ace.

"I'm not. Your already so worried about it and you've just told me why you don't date seriously. Which tells me you wouldn't do such a thing or at least you'd come talk to me first." Ace reassured you. He could finally understand why you never said 'yes' when he first asked you to be his girlfriend.

Now everything made sense to him, sure you flirted with Shanks and that ice cream guy. But you never took them to bed (well the ice cream guy was under age) or any other guy for that matter. You were trying, in your own weird way, to be with Ace. To get to know him without getting to attached when you were afraid of hurting him.

"I- can I be your girlfriend Ace?" You asked, you knew he liked you and that you liked him. But somehow you felt like you didn't deserve to be with Ace. So you felt it was better for him to make the decision.

"Of course." A bright smile spread across Ace's face, he felt like he'd just won the lottery.