The Aces

2 - Chocolate Bar

A squeal escapes my mouth as I remember the incident from yesterday. A slight blush warms my cheeks as my mind keeps replaying the stranger's words. Sadly, before I could ask his name, he left. "What's wrong, honey? Are you sick?" my mom asks as she enters the kitchen. "No, I'm f-fine," I stammer, brushing my hair out of the way.

"Did you have a good sleep?" Mum asks as she wraps an apron around her waist. "It was... okay," I say casually. "Why? You couldn't sleep?" she inquires. "Yeah," I reply as she puts a bowl of cereal in front of me. "Thank you."

For as long as I can remember, it's always been mum and me. I don't remember my father's face and honestly, I don't even want to because he abandoned mum and me for a women half his age. However, the absence of a father figure in my life has never really affected me that much as my Mum was there for me as both. She is the most hardworking, brave and gorgeous woman I know.

I check the time on my phone and get up, shoving the last of cereal into my mouth. "I'm going." I say and she nods, tapping her cheek. I laugh as I quickly kiss her cheek before leaving.

~

I listen to music, the volume up high to block out the loud chatter of the students around me. I scribble in my sketchbook, humming lightly. "Okay, class! We have a new transfer today." the teacher announces, her cheerful voice a dull murmur. The students gasp as they see the familiar face of Kai Romano, the leader of one of the top gangs in the region.

"Lucie! Pay attention!" my teacher says loudly, causing me to look up and widen my eyes. I hadn't realized the teacher had come in.

There’s a tall boy standing next to her, easily over six feet, with dark raven hair lazily sitting on his head. However, what caught my attention were his eyes: the colour of the ocean. However, there was something extremely unsettling about him. His blue eyes had more darkness in them than most of the brown eyes I've seen. I look down, goosebumps erupting all over my body.

"Sorry," I mutter, sliding off my headphones. I look up and my eyes meet with Kai's, and our eyes lock.

Something about him made me feel as if I had seen him before.

"You can sit... if you want to... Mr. Romano," the teacher says, stepping back. Kai's eyes scan the room before landing on me, the only one sitting alone. He rolls his eyes, clearly wanting to sit alone, but walks over to my desk.

My heart starts to beat loudly against my ribcage as he approaches and sits down beside me. "That's the leader of the Aces! I heard they sell drugs." the girls behind me whisper, causing me to gasp softly.

I know who they're talking about—the Aces. They’re the gang that took over all the high schools in the region in a matter of months. Every month, some of the gang members come to our school to collect $20 from everyone, including me. I know it does not seem that much, but take that much from around 800 students and you get well over ten thousand per month.

What scares me is that it isn’t even their main source of income. They do all sorts of dirty things for money, like selling drugs, beating people up, and even running number rackets. I know better than to be anywhere near a member of such a gang, but here I am, sitting next to their leader.

My panicked eyes meet his icy ones, and they lock once again. He raises an eyebrow, causing me to break eye contact and cough awkwardly. "So... um, I'm Lucie" I say, introducing myself. I want to be in his good graces, but he ignores me, making me nod to myself.

I didn’t expect an introduction anyway.

For the entire class, Kai's and my hands keep brushing against each other. Sadly, he’s left-handed and I’m right-handed. Every once in a while, I feel the heavy stare of Mister Gang Leader, but I can’t help it. I’ve always been a bright student and I have to keep up since I don’t have anyone to borrow notes from. On the other hand, Kai seems to be just scribbling, but of course, I can’t ask him to move his hand.

~

A few days go by, and after that day when the gang leader came to class, he disappears. He hasn’t attended class for two days now. My hands shake slightly as I walk home. I’m nervous because Mia and her friends were not at school all day and let me tell you, they are never absent.

"Hello, gorgeous." a man's voice suddenly coos, causing me to turn around. I was expecting Mia and her friends to be waiting there with their fancy cellphones and nasty minds. In the terror of meeting them, I stumble upon people much worse.

"You're so pretty. Want a smoke?" one of the men asks as my heart smashes against my ribcage. I notice their necks. They all have one thing in common—they all have the Aces tattooed on their bodies. "No, thank you," I say, but I gasp sharply as he grabs my wrists tightly. "Don't be shy, darling," he says, his voice sickeningly sweet.

"Let me go!" I shout, yanking his hand off me. "Don't make a scene, babe," he says, covering my mouth and dragging me to an alley along with his friends. "Oooh, this is gonna be so fun," he says as he throws me against the wall, gripping me tightly.

"You fucking attention seeker," he spits out as I slip from his grip. My panicked eyes meet the familiar blue ones. At that moment, I don't know what comes over me, but I run towards him. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me, as if I’m as pretty as a sewer rat, but I find myself running towards him.

I know I’m probably going to regret it, but it’s too late. "Help me," I beg as tears run down my cheeks. Kai stares back at me without an ounce of emotion. "Please," I beg, tugging on his jacket. He stares into my teary hazel eyes before looking towards the men.

“B-boss?” the leader stammers as they immediately bow, their heads facing the floor. "We're sorry, boss! We didn’t know she was an acquaintance," the leader says, his voice laced with panic. "We're sorry, boss!" they all say together.

Kai walks towards them, and I hesitantly follow behind him. "Move," he commands, and they quickly get out of the way.

"Hey..." I begin as Kai stops, looking at me. "Thank you..." I say, wiping my tears. Kai looks at my body, causing me to blush. "Are you hurt?" he asks simply, staring at my bruised wrist.

"Uh... I’m okay," I stutter, touching my wrist and immediately wincing. Kai rolls his eyes. "Wait here," he says, motioning towards the bench. After a minute, he comes back with an ice pack and a tube of medicinal cream.

He puts it in my hand, causing me to look up at him innocently. Kai rolls his eyes and walks in front of me, taking the ice pack and pressing it on my wound. "Oww," I let out, and Kai glares at me. "But it hurts." I defend as Kai sighs, opening the tube of cream and applying it to my wounds. "Ahhhh," I let out a low squeal of pain. "Bear it," he says.

He throws the tube in the dustbin and hands me the ice pack. "Bye?" I say as he turns to leave. He nods at me before walking away but stops after a few steps. "Kai," he says, causing me to raise my brows. "That's my name," he finishes. "Oh."

"See you tomorrow... Kai?" I ask, and he slowly nods. "Wait!" I call out, jogging up to him. "Here," I say, taking out a bar of chocolate and handing it to him. Kai raises his eyebrows. "As a thank you," I say, my cheeks burning. "I didn't do anything," he replies, starting to walk away.

"Yes, you did!" I argue but purse my lips when Kai sends a glare my way. "They got scared of you! I was a witness," I insist, speed-walking to match Kai's long strides. "Just take it. Please?" I ask, and Kai stops, looking at me.

"..."

After a pause, he continues walking. "Please?" I ask, tugging on his jacket. Sighing, I sneakily put the bar of chocolate in his jacket pocket. "Bye!" I call out, leaving.

~

Kai Romano

Gigantic boxes of cardboard lay around the room, each one filled to the brim with money as I sit in the middle on a sofa, smoking a cigarette.

I remove my jacket when suddenly a bar of chocolate falls from it. I pick the chocolate up, feeling nostalgia wash over me.

I remember how my father used to give me this bar of chocolate whenever he picked me up from school or when I made a mistake. I also remember how he gave nine-year-old me the chocolate bar before falling into a coma. As much as I could deny and block out my feelings, I miss my father.