Where I Belong - Ace Merrill

Chapter 32

"Oi!" Eyeball snapped as he reached Ace and Harper.

He heard Ace grumble as he pulled away from Harper as he turned and faced him.

"Don't bite me jeez." Eyeball started as he held his hands up in surrender. "Just thought you want to know, she's been following you since you left the house." Eyeball said in a hushed voice, nodding in Betsy's direction.

Harper was still glaring at her as Ace looked between the two girls in silence before back at Eyeball.

"The whole way?" He questioned his best friend.

Eyeball nodded slowly, "Literally the whole fucking way."

Ace nodded in return as both boys looked back at Harper, her eyes still stuck on his ex.

"You wanna stop staring now love?" Ace asked her quietly.

Harper didn't respond, her eyes still focused on Betsy.

"Or try blinking." Eyeball mumbled as he reached his hand out and waved it in front of Harper's face.

Harper snapped from her trance and faced both boys. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Eyeball laughed as Ace shook his head.

"This really bothering you?" He asked as he laughed slightly with Eyeball.

Harper looked back at the girl at the bar before back at Ace. She nodded slowly as began fiddling about with the pool cue, looking down and avoiding eye contact with both boys.

"I know how these things go." She mumbled.

"How what goes?" Eyeball questioned as he turned and hopped up on the pool table next to her.

"Like this stuff, life, fan fiction, it's all the same. Something else happens, life isn't full of happy endings." Harper mumbled as she continued to avoid eye contact.

Ace took both cues and put them down next to her as he took her hands in his.

"The movies over now. You're not going home, she ain't getting shit from me and we're gonna be fine. Where's the problem?" He questioned.

Harper slowly looked up at him. "Why don't I believe that?"

Ace shrugged slightly. "2022 was fucking weird when we were there so fuck knows what ideas it's given you."

Eyeball nodded in agreement, that time was weird as he was somewhat relieved it was far away.

"It's taught me things are never simple. Even my parents, they're getting a divorce, or they will in 70 years.." her voice trailed off as she mentally tried to work it all out as it still felt strange to her.

"Hate to break it to you Harps, but this is Castle Rock, nothing too interesting happens here." Eyeball mumbled as he loosely placed an arm around her shoulder.

"Except you have a time portal in this bar's bathroom. I came from the future. And let's not go into what happens in fanfictions created all over the world about you lot."

A small smile appeared on Ace and Eyeball's faces.

"Yeah but you're here now. That's all that matters." Ace said.

"And I wanna know these Eyeball stories." Eyeball spoke at the same time.

Harper smiled slightly as she looked between the two boys.

"I just don't want anything bad to happen." She spoke quietly. "I'm finally here and I'd hate it if anything happened."

Ace shook his head slightly. "Nothing will. You still owe me that promise." He smirked at her.