The Redemption of Ace Merrill

Pancakes

Stella was soon washed, dried and changed as Eyeball once again helped button up Ace's shirt.

"Thank you." Stella mumbled quietly as she watched his fingers swiftly do them all.

"No worries Artois." He gave her a small smile in response. "Now let's go get some grub. I'm fucking dying over here."

She let him lead her downstairs and out the house.

Ace was waiting in his car as Billy and Charlie were still sat in Eyeball's.

They both gave Eyeball the same look as Eyeball nudged Stella slightly.

"You're riding with Ace."

She turned to face him quickly as he gave her a reassuring smile.

"You're okay love, he ain't gonna do anything. Hurting women physically ain't his style."

Stella nodded slowly as she looked back over at Ace's car, before making her way over.

Staring down at the car door, she saw Ace lean over and open it for her.

Climbing in, she reached out and slammed it shut. He didn't say a word as he took off, following Eyeball.

"Feel better?" Ace finally asked.

Stella turned to him confused.

"After the shower. Do you feel better?" He asked blankly again.

She nodded slowly as she almost studied his face. Did he ever actually properly show any emotion?

Ace gave her a small nod in response as they fell into a silence again.

She twiddled her fingers in her lap as Ace kept glancing over at her.

"Nervous habit?" He asked quietly, nodding down at her hands.

Stella shrugged slightly as she forced her hands apart. She slipped them under her legs and tried to push down so she wouldn't feel the urge to do it.

"I make you nervous." He confirmed as he pulled up outside the diner and turned the car off.

Stella shrugged slightly, although she knew the truth. Ace made her nervous. She knew she definitely felt more comfortable with Eyeball and the others but something about Ace did make her feel safer than the rest.

Ace didn't say a word as he climbed out his side. Stella went to attempt to open her door but was stopped as she saw Ace walking around and opening it up for her before she could.

Carefully climbing out she gave him a small smile.

"I don't mean to make you nervous you know." He mumbled as he shut the door behind her.

She nodded up at him slowly before looking around and realising the others had all joined them.

"Food?" Jack asked as he looked at the rest.

They all nodded in agreement and began shoving each other inside. Ace gave Stella one more look before he nodded towards the door, letting her go in first as he held the door open.

Stella cautiously looked around at how different this place was compared to the guys hangout from the night before.

Yet she felt somewhat comforted as Ace placed a hand on her lower back and guided her over to a booth where the other guys had taken a seat, pulling another table to join it.

Ace let Stella take a seat next to Eyeball as he sat on her other side. Vince slid menus out to each of them as Stella stared down at it blankly.

The frustration grew in her quickly as she shoved it away, across the table back to Vince.