Where I Belong - Ace Merrill

Chapter 35

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~2022~
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Harper hadn't wanted to explain much over the phone as the bartender was still standing there but her dad agreed to instantly come pick her up. Harper thanked the bartender as she hung up and handed his phone back over to him.

"Mind if we wait for my dad?"

He shook his head with a smile as he gestured to any of the tables.

"You girls want a drink while you wait?"

Harper nodded quickly. "My dad will give you the cash when he gets here. I'll take a whiskey on ice and she'll have water."

Betsy was about to argue but saw Harper's clenched fist and stayed silent. The bartender quickly got their drinks and Harper walked over to a table, sitting down with a huff. Betsy quickly followed with her glass and sat down next to Harper.

"What's the movie?" She asked quietly.

Harper continued to glare down at her glass as she spun it slowly.

"There's a movie, made in the 80s, called Stand By Me. It had all the cobras in and those younger boys Chris, Vern, Teddy and Gordie in."

"Eyeball and Billy's brothers?"

Harper nodded slowly. "It was based on a book written by Stephen King. Technically you're all just fictional characters. When I first arrived it was like the movie had just started and I was with the cobras the whole time. When it finished I came home but I went straight back, turns out when I did Ace then came here. He stayed with my parents until me and Eyeball found our way back here then my parents sent them back alone. I eventually found my way back to them before I was then sent back here with some cock knocker."

Betsy's face dropped as she tried to work it all out in her head.

"Am I in the movie?" She asked quietly.

Harper shook her head. "Probably why I didn't meet you till it was over."

"What happens to Ace after it?"

Harper turned her head and glared at her. "Don't act like you care. You're not getting him back and as soon as we find our way back to them all the cobras will know what you did and then we'll see how much of a chance you have with Ace." Harper snapped quietly.

"And how come you care so much about him if he's just a fictional character?" She snapped back, her sarcastic tone returning.

Harper shrugged slightly. "He's saved my life, more times than I can count. I love him..." her voice trailed off.

Betsy sat back in her seat. "And have you told him that? I used to tell him everyday." She retorted.

Harper thought for a second but shook her head. "I was going to tonight." Her mind flashed to their conversation they'd had that morning.

She'd bet their future against them having sex that night.

And now they weren't going to, their future was gone.

The universe had heard her bet and accepted the challenge.

Harper sniffed as she felt tears form in her eyes, quickly reaching up and wiping them away she took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry.." Betsy mumbled quietly as she saw Harper's guards come down.

Harper glared up at her. "Like you fucking care. Just shut up and drink in silence." Harper snapped as she took a sip of her drink.

Betsy nodded slowly as she drank some of her water. Her eyes fixated on Harper and how broken she looked. Guilt was slowly beginning to fill her as Harper quickly chugged the rest of her whiskey and slammed her glass down on the table.