Sweet Dreams - Ace Merrill

Shut up Merrill.

The pair sat in silence for what felt like days, but was only a few hours.

Every time Ace glanced over at her, he saw her in the same position. Back facing him, leaning against the bars, he saw she had her knees up and her arms were wrapped around them. Something inside him twinged, she really didn't want to be here.

Every time Vivian snuck a look at Ace, she saw him in the same position. Back facing her, leaning against the bars. She saw he had one knee up and his arm was draped over it. He treated this place like a second home as Vivian thought over everything he'd told her, how he was the leader of a gang and seemed to be used to this place.

The main door finally opened as a female officer walked in, carrying two trays.

"Lunch." She mumbled as she cautiously placed Ace's down and slid it under his door.

Ace grumbled a response but ignored her. Even still, she felt cautious around the male criminal. Gently placing the tray down for Vivian she slid it under as Vivian watched her with eyes like a hawk.

"You haven't eaten your breakfast?" The officer questioned.

"Not hungry." Vivian responded quietly as the officer gave her a sympathetic look.

"Are you ready to talk yet? We can do it over a coffee if you like?" The female officer offered as she stepped closer. They had recommended sending her in, instead of the men, in the hopes of getting the girl to talk or somewhat open up to them.

"I don't like coffee." Vivian snapped back.

"Tea then?" the officer gave her a small smile.

"I don't like tea."

"Water?"

"I don't like water."

Ace stifled a laugh from his spot still on the cot, he could tell Vivian was only winding her up.

"What would you like?" The officer asked her, ignoring Ace's laugh. She too was desperate to help the girl who was so flat out refusing it.

"Bottle of whiskey, pack of fags and this arsehole out of here." Vivian grumbled as she nodded over at Ace.

Ace finally turned his head to look at the officer. "She's warming to me I can feel it." He said sarcastically as the officer glared at him.

The officer gave Ace a glare as she turned back to the girl.

"You know I can't do that." She whispered apologetic.

Vivian shook her head and leant back against the bars. "Then I ain't interested."

The officer sighed as she stepped forward, her hand resting on the bars.

"We only want to help you."

Vivian shrugged her comment off.

"Can't you at least tell us your name?" The officer asked as she leant forward.

Vivian remained silent as she continued to glare at the officer. Ace shook his head slowly.

"Baby ain't gonna tell you nothing." He mumbled as he spun around to look at them.

The officer sighed as she glared at Ace.

"Oh and she'd tell you?" She snapped sarcastically.

Ace shrugged slightly and leant back against the wall, he lifted his feet up and let them rest on the bars of his door.

"You'd be surprised." He winked at the officer.

She grimaced as she turned back to the girl, who was still staring at her.

"We are sorry about him, hopefully he'll be leaving tomorrow." She offered up.

Vivian rolled her eyes and looked away. "Sure you don't wanna let him go now?"

Ace laughed and glanced over at her. "I thought we were bonding baby?" He asked sarcastically.

Vivian scoffed as she returned her glare to the officer.

"You know if you talk to me, we can sort something out?"

Vivian kept her glare as she shook her head.

"I told you baby wouldn't say anything." Ace mumbled as he looked between Vivian and the officer. "You're only gonna get told to fuck off."

Vivian spun so she was leaning against the wall, firing her glare at Ace. "Fuck off Merrill."

Ace laughed and pointed his arm through the bars at her. "Told you! Just like that!"

The officer rolled her eyes as she glared at Ace. "Leave the girl alone Merrill. Wouldn't want to add harassment onto your ever growing list of offences."

Ace shrugged slightly, the whole concept of his criminal record never fazed him.

The officer turned back to Vivian. "Will you at least let me look at your injuries? I can get you cleaned up a bit?" She spoke in such a soft voice Vivian wondered how she ever became an officer.

"I don't fucking need anyone." Vivian snapped back.

"Yeah little baby there is a lone little wolf." Ace commented as he continued to add in his two pence to the girls conversation.

Vivian glared at him before looking back at the officer.

"Would you at least like some stuff to clean yourself up with? If you won't let me do it, you could do it yourself?"

Vivian continued to glare at her. "I don't fucking need anything."

"Except to get out." Ace added.

"Shut up Merrill." The officer snapped at him before turning to give one final attempt at getting through to the girl.

"You know..." she started. "I know what it's like being trapped in something you feel like you can't break free from." Her soft voice floated through the bars at Vivian.

"They know exactly what to say and do to keep you trapped, hook line and sinker. Until you find the courage to break free."

Vivian's glare relaxed ever so slightly.

"Whoever it is or was, I can promise you if you talk to me, they won't get you again. We'll keep you safe." The officer pleaded at her.

Ace scoffed. "Oh please, I could keep her safer than you fuckers." He grumbled.

The officer glared at him but he shook it off, sitting up and looking over at Vivian.

"Trust me, with what I've told you already, do you really think you'd be safer with a couple of coppers or me and the others?"

Vivian responded by sticking her hand through the bars and once again, giving Ace Merrill her middle finger. He laughed slightly as he leant back at looked at the officer.

"That's her way of saying she loves me, ain't it baby?"

The officer rolled her eyes as sighed as she realised she wasn't going to get through to the girl with Ace sat in the cell opposite.

"We'll talk later." She mumbled quietly to Vivian.

Vivian responded by bringing up her other hand and swearing at the officer. She sighed and gently slid Vivian's tray under to her before turning around and walking out.

Ace groaned as she left. He lay back down on the bed and reached his arm down to his tray, bringing up his food. Vivian watched him curiously as her mind replayed the entirety of that conversation.

"You called me baby?" She asked quietly.

Ace shrugged on his cot but didn't make an attempt to sit up and face her. "So?"

"You didn't call me Vivvy baby?" She questioned further.

"Well then she would have known your name?" Ace asked quietly. "Thought you didn't want that?"

Vivian was silent as she realised he'd only called her baby so they wouldn't know her name. She didn't want them to know her name and Ace kept it that way.