the price of being ace

Chapter 26

I get home and take the leftovers out of the fridge for supper Since I missed family dinner then sit down at the table
"Your phone" Bella calls as my phone starts ringing in my pocket
"Can't I just get a break" I say then answer it
"Hey ace you up for swimming?" Erin asks right off the bat
"Like right now?" I ask
"Yeah but only if you want to" she says and I look over at kate
"Yeah you can go out" she says guessing what I'm going to ask
"Sure just let me eat real quick and I'll meet you at the house" I say and she laughs
"Oh yeah you just got home from the game didn't you" she says
"Yeah but it's fine I'll be right there" I say then hang up and quickly finish my food

I get to the party house and find her waiting in the backyard in a bikini which is very different from my
t-shirt and shorts
"Hey" I say walking up to her
"Hey you ready to learn some more" she says and I laugh
"Is it true about the can't swim within half an hour of eating or is that a myth" I ask and she shrugs
"It's a myth although you might get stomach cramps" she says
"Cramps I can deal with" I say before cannon balling into the pool which not my smartest idea but that's ok
"Hey!" She says then splashes me back as I grab the wall and I laugh
"So like who owns this house?" I ask looking up at the 2 story borderline mansion
"Used to belong to a rich family a while back I mean I didn't know them but apparently my dad was in the wife's class but anyway they live across the country now making millions or something" she says casually like it's no big deal they were millionaires

The lessons resolve into more both of us playing around and splashing each other with water especially after we put on some music
"I think someone's in the bushes" she remarks and I turn fast towards where she's looking
"I'll check and deal with the creep" I say and get out of the pool
"Be careful" she says as I approach the bunch of bushes
"There's nothing here maybe it was a bird" I say after checking and finding no one
"Yeah I'm sure it was so just come back" she says so I do
"You know you sounded upset on the phone and like you urgently needed this" I say and she sighs
"Yeah I was just really bored at home" she says and I know how that feels
"Yeah with Bella being back I try to stay out of the house as much as possible lately" I say and she nods
"Jackson told me you two don't get along" she says
"Yeah well we do now I just don't know with her you know" I say running a hand through my hair
"Yeah" she says like she knows what it's like to be careful around a person

After asking if she wants to stay the night since my house is closer and it's dark out we head to my house
"Hey Erin you staying over?" Kate asks as I walk in the door after her
"Yeah I hope that's ok mrs.hill" she says and Kate nods
"Of course but you know the rules ok" she says and she nods
"Erin,I thought I heard you" he says with a smile on his face
"Hey Jackson" she says as Bella comes up behind him
"So this is the girlfriend" she says and Erin nods
"Yeah I'm Erin and I assume you're Bella,Jackson's older sister" she says and Bella nods
"That's me" Bella says

I wake with a start after having a dream about the fire and look over to see Bella watching me from the corner by the door
"Uh Hi" I say confused as to why she would be there
"There's someone in the tree outside your window" she says and I look over at the window
"It's the middle of the night Willow why are you trying to climb the tree?" I ask walking towards the window and see Willow sitting on a branch trying to get in
"I wanted to see you" she says and I shake my head
"I have my cousins girlfriend sleeping in my room" I say and she frowns
"Well having people around never stopped us before"
"That was in prison,there was no privacy but this is my family I don't want you to come in when they're around" I say and I realize I have been not exactly clear with her
"Or at all" I add and she freezes as Bella comes up beside me
"There's only room for one crazy person in this house and it's me so ace is too polite to say it but I'm not,get the fuck out of here and leave her alone" Bella says and my eyes widen but surprisingly Willow just starts climbing back down the tree

I get up at 6 woken up by Erin who has to get ready for football practice
"Sorry for waking you" she says and I shrug
"I should get ready for school anyway" I say then take some clothes off my floor and head to the bathroom to change but Bella stops me in the hall
"You know you really have needed to tell your ex she's not welcome in your life anymore instead of trying to pussyfoot around it giving the idea that it's possible" she says blocking my path
"She went to jail for accessory to murder at age 11 shes 18 now and probably better at what she does" I say and she frowns
"And what's that?" She asks
"Stalking people she knows where jo and my friends live she followed me here ok it's more complicated than telling her off because she's dangerous" I say and recognition flashes in her eyes
"So I made things worse is what you're saying" she says and I shrug
"Honestly I don't know if I want her out of my life completely because she was my first girlfriend" I say I mean I'll have to see if she actually will stay away when I see her again

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Hey guys hope everyone is staying healthy and safe and enjoy this new chapter -Kat :)