Love or war?

Chapter Eighteen

We pull up to Nolen's house and Ace takes off his seatbelt and starts to open his door not wasting a minute.

"Wait," I say grabbing his arm so he turns back towards me.

"What?" He asks

"What are you going to say? This is going to be so awkward. I don't know how to do this and I-"

"You stay out here,"

"But you guys-"

"Stay out here. I can fix this. Trust me sweetheart," he kisses my forehead then climbs out of the car. Oh boy.

ACES POV

I walk up and knock on the door. Quite honestly I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to say but I know I have to fix this for Alani. Nolen opens the door for me and immediately looks confused.

"Umm, hey Ace come on in," he says motioning me inside and closing the door behind me.

"So what brings you here?"

"Hey uh can we talk somewhere,"

"Uh sure why don't we go to my room?" I nod and he shakily leads me up the stairs I can tell he's scared out of his mind.

"Ok look. You were right kid. I met up with Alani today and we finally talked. I'm sorry if I came off as a total jerk because I know I was being one. But I just want to say thank you so much for what you told me. If you didn't have the courage to tell me that Alani and I would never have a chance. That shows you really care about her and I thank you for that,"

"Hey no problem man. I'm just glad it all worked out. Alani really does love you,"

"And you really loved her didn't you?"

"Will you punch me if I say I did?"

"No man, I don't blame you. She's amazing."

"She really is,"

"And I don't mind you guys still being friends. You deserve her friendship you're the best friend for doing that for her when if you didn't you'd just have her to yourself,"

"Thank you Ace it really means a lot,"

"Now just remember she is mine. You have limits buddy. Your lips touch hers again and I will beat you into pulp,"

"Definitely understood," he smiles a little.

"Alright take it easy man," I say shaking his hand and walking out his door.

I climb back into the car and Alani looks as nervous as ever.

"How'd it go?" She's asks

"I uh I punched him," I say looking down at the steering wheel.

"Ace!" She shouts at me.

"I'm kidding relax babe," I laugh, "it went really great,"

"I do not find you funny Jason Jeremy Smith," she says looking really ticked at me.

"I hate my name," I say glaring at her.

"And I hate when you lie to me. Two way street buddy,"

"Alani I'm sorry,"

"Well you just went in there and if I wasn't worried enough you had to scare me like that?" Her eyes start to get watery and I don't know what's happening.

"Aww sweetheart I didn't mean to scare you," I say reaching to put my arm around her.

"I was just really scared about the whole thing I'm sorry. It's ok, you're fine I was just yeah," she says starting to wipe some tears away. Now I feel awful. I keep my arm around her and rub her arm.

"I'm really sorry babe,"

"It's not your fault there's just been a lot going on lately and it just kinda all came out that's all," she says sniffling.

"Just let it out I'm here for you,"

"Yeah in Nolen's drive way," she laughs tears still streaming down her face.

"We'll go somewhere," I say turning the ignition in and backing out of his driveway. We pull into the park parking lot and Alani just looks at me.

"You want me to tell you everything and cry like an idiot at the public park?" She asks a little annoyed.

"No. We're staying right here," I scoot closer to her. "What's been going on?"

"I don't know just everything I guess. I'm sorry you don't need to hear all this it's really nothing,"

"That's what I'm here for," I say holding her hand in both of mine.

As she tells me everything I feel so bad for her. I can tell she's been really stressed and has needed someone for a while. She needed me. Why wasn't I there when she truly needed it?

"Alani I'm so sorry for everything," I wrap her up in my arms and hug for a while. I can tell by the way she's holding on and the way she burying her head in my shoulder that she doesn't want to let go.

"I won't let go, I'm here" I say kissing the top of her head. Eventually she pulls away but grabs my hand not wanting to let go. I keep holding her hand as I drive to my house. Once we get there we go up to my room. I'm sitting with my back against my headboard and she's cuddled on my side with my arm around her and her head resting on my chest. I stroke her hair and get on my phone.

After a little while I look down at her and she's sound asleep.

ALANIS POV

I wake up not even realizing I have fallen asleep. I start to sit up and realize I was laying my head on Ace now remembering where I was.

"Sleep well princess?" He asks and I just nod. Now checking my phone, I see I have like three texts from Naomi and a missed call. Oops. I get off the bed and walk over to the other side of his room and call Naomi back.

"Where have you been?" She asks as soon as she picks up.

"At Ace's why?" I ask really confused.

"Why are you there? Aidan and I have been waiting here for twenty minutes,"

"Waiting where? And Ace and I are- oh. I'm so sorry I totally forgot I'll be there in a second!" I say hanging up the phone quickly.

"Ace I need you to drive me to my house please,"

"Ok is everything ok?" He asks getting up and grabbing his keys.

"Yeah I was just supposed to go to the mall with Aidan and Naomi and I forgot and they're waiting at my house to pick me up. You can come along if you want?"

"Sure,"

We pull up to my house and Naomi walks up to me then when Ace gets out she looks at me like what the heck is happening. I see Aidan smile at Ace and he walks over to him.

"What is happening?" Naomi asks really confused.

"A lot," I say let out a sigh.

"Well at the mall you can tell me all about it," she says walking towards her car now. Her and Aidan sit in the front and Ace and I climb into the back. We were goofing around and Ace said something dumb as usual so I pulled out his full name card.

"Wait, you're name is Jason?" Naomi asks looking back at him through the mirror. Ace glares at me and sighs.

"Yeah. But I really don't like it," he says still looking annoyed at me.

"Why not? It's such a normal name. Like at least it's not Ham," Naomi responds getting laughs from Aidan.

"Because everyone in my family's name is Jason. Like in my family if you have a. Boy you name him Jason,"

"Oh. Well Ace is cool,"