Where I Belong - Ace Merrill

Chapter 24

~~~~~
~2022~
~~~~~

Harper sat outside the back of the 'Blue Point'. Occasionally she would hear her parents shouts as they wandered the streets searching for her and asking people if they'd seen her.

She ran her hands through her hair as she took a few deep breathes, trying to keep the tears from falling.

She had to face her parents at some point. But under no circumstance would she give up fighting to get back to him.

Hearing herself grumble she stood up and slowly headed back out onto the streets.

"Harper..."

She turned and saw her dad staring at her. Yet just as he came close another girl almost ran into her.

"Oh my god! Has anyone ever told you that you look exactly-"

Harper quickly interrupted. "Like Harper from Stand By Me?"

The girl nodded and laughed. "You're costume is freaking amazing!"

Harper's dad slowly came closer as Harper smiled and thanked the girl.

"Can I take a photo?"

Harper nodded at her as the girl got her phone out.

"I don't blame you wanting to Harper, Ace is fucking gorgeous!" The girl said as herself and Harper posed for a selfie.

"He is isn't he?" Harper replied, giving her father a small glare.

"Oh defo! Guarantee he's a proper softie too when he's on his own." She added smiling.

Harper nodded once more. "Oh I'm sure he is, especially around a girl. The type you'd trust your daughter with." Another glare was directed at her dad.

"Oh I definitely would! He'd be so protective of her and make sure she's okay." The girl said excitedly nodding.

"I have no doubt he would." Another glare back to her dad.

He sighed as he took another step closer. "We need to go now."

Harper continued to glare at him. "Of course dad, we were just talking about how nice Ace would be to a girl." She snapped sarcastically.

Harper said goodbye and quietly followed her dad back to the car. Just as her mum got out from the passenger seat.

"Harper! There you are! Where the hell did-" She started.

Harper glared at her and interrupted. "Shut the fuck up." She snapped as she climbed into the backseat and slammed the door behind her.

Harper's mum stood in shock as she looked back at her husband.

"I told you she'd resent us." He said matter-of-factly as he went past her and got in the drivers side.

Her mum soon joined them as the three drove off in silence. Harper leant against the car door door as her head rested on the window, watching as their car slowly left Brownsville.

"I'll be back Ace." She whispered as they reached the open road. "I'm fucking coming back."

~~~~~
~1959~
~~~~~

Ace and Eyeball had been met with the happy faces of the cobras upon their arrival.

They'd told them all about 2022 and how Harper ended up being in the movie. They told them all about Netflix and laptops. They told them all about how Harper's parents had agreed in letting Harper come be with them and she'd be here in a few days.

Yet a few days past and Harper hadn't arrived.

The cobras spent every day in Irbys, constantly checking the bathroom as they got more and more eager for her return.

"I thought she was coming in a few days?" Charlie asked quietly as Ace walked back out the bathroom alone again, for the 30th time that day.

"She is!" Eyeball snapped at him.

"It's been a week..." Billy mumbled as Ace approached them.

"It hasn't been a fucking week!" Ace snapped as he snatched the pool cue from Vince and bent over to take a shot.

"Ace... it's been a week..." Fuzzy mumbled as he stepped back, seeing the look on Ace's face.

Ace took his shot and stood up straighter, glaring at them all.

"It fucking hasn't!" He snapped once more, in clear denial.

"Ace..." Eyeball started.

Ace snapped his head round to him.

"It's been a week..." He mumbled as he saw Ace's face soften, realisation hitting him.

"She's coming back." He snapped as he turned and chucked the cue at Billy and Charlie.

"She's fucking coming back!" He shouted as he turned and stormed back into the bathroom.

The cobras all watched as he slammed the door shut behind him. They turned to each other and gave the same sorry look.

They all hoped she'd come back, if not for them, for Ace.

But she didn't come back.

That week without her turned into another week.

And another.

And another.

Ace spent everyday in Irbys, the cobras tried talking to him but he remained sat at the table, staring at the bathroom door.

"It's been a month..." Charlie mumbled to Eyeball as they all sat away from Ace but watched him closely.

Eyeball nodded at him before looking back at Ace, who was spinning a pen around in his hands.

They all knew Ace had tried multiple times to get back to her but failed every time.

"You still think she's coming back?" Billy asked them quietly.

All the cobras shrugged slightly as they watched Ace continue to stare at the door.

"She has to." Eyeball mumbled. "She fucking has to come back."