Torn Into Pieces

Chapter 12

I knew I promised myself to tell Alexander about what happened but I kept on avoiding it as much as possible. By the time I gained enough courage, I found out our family is visiting again. Mainly to talk to the therapists that we talk to, and they'll stay for a while after.

So here I was, in a room with my mom and Gary, waiting for Lieutenant Smith to walk in. Gary and I haven't spoken to each other the entire time, but I was fine with that, since I was still pissed about how he talked to Adrian. He looked pissed as I claimed the middle seat beside my mom and refused to move.

I heard the door open and saw Sergeant Morgan, or Alexander, walk in. He looked at me and I smiled at him and he smiled at us, "How are y'all doing today?" He asked us.

"Perfectly fine Sergeant Morgan," I answered. "Except for a certain someone here who looks like he is about to blow any minute now," I referenced at Gary. I felt my mom elbow me and I threw my hands up as I saw Gary scowl even more. His face going to get stuck one day.

I saw Alexander just smile at us, "Well, Lieutenant Smith, Ace's therapist, has asked me to be in here today. Is that alright with y'all?" He asked us.

I was going to respond but my mom beat me to it, "That's perfectly fine Sergeant Morgan," my mom replied and I scowled at her slightly.

Alexander's POV

I was in the room with Ace and his family as we talked some. Except for his dad, who looked pissed about something. I was till slightly mad at him for the way he talked to him and I understood why Ace hated him so much. I was still disappointed in his mom for just letting him talk to her son that way and the way he looked so shocked that she actually defended him, broke my heart into.

I watched as Ace was joking around with his mom, and smiled lightly. The only thing that stood out much was how he avoided touching her, like he is used to not having physical affection from her. I forced that thought away. I noticed how Gary was glaring at the back of Ace's head, it made me want to slam his head into a wall just for him to not look Ace's way.

"Sergeant Morgan," I heard Ace's voice call out in a laughing tone, "don't you think Gary's face will get stuck like this one day?" He asked like Gary wasn't in the same room as him.

I shook my head as his mom elbowed him again and he pouted, "How much longer until Lieutenant Smith gets here?" I heard Gary ask harshly.

"Not much linger. He got held up with a kid's parents cause they had questions," I explained.

I saw Ace smirk at me, "Can we go somewhere alone so I can ask questions?" He asked me with a smug look on his face.

"Ace Johnson," his mom warned him and he chuckled as he went quiet. "Sorry about him. He tends to flirt with people a lot," his mom apologized for him.

Ace rolled his eyes, "It's fine Mrs. Johnson. I've gotten used to him flirting," I stated as the door opened and Lieutenant Smith walked in.

"Sorry. That family had a lot of questions," he apologizzed to him.

I saw Gary glare at Lieutenant Smith, "Then get another therapist in there. It feels like I've been waiting forever," he growled at him.

Just as he was about to say something, he was interrupted, "Shut up Gary. He has done nothing to you," Ace growled back at him. I was surprised he defended Lieutenant Smith.

"It ain't my fault he can-"

"It ain't his fault he was doing his damn job. Unlike you since you live off my mom's money," Ace barked back.

"Ace, it's fine," I heard Christian, Lieutenant Smith, speak up and Ace got quiet. "I'm sorry Mr. Anderson it took me so long," he apologized again. I didn't like the fact that he apologized and it looked like Ace wasn't about it either.

"Don't apologize to him Lieutenant Smith," Ace spoke up again. "He just wants to cause problems like he always does," he explained.

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I was still listening to their conversation, "So what do you think causes my son to act like this? Cause he seems a lot better here than he was back home," his mom asks.

Christian sighed, "It's going to sound harsh, but I think half of his attitude came from home," Christian explained. I saw his mom have a hurt look pass across her face. "I don't know what exactly caused it, but I think his home has a big part of his attitude."

His mom nodded, "I figured."

Ace looks like he zoned out a while ago as he stared straight ahead. Christian continued, "But I think a big part of it has to do with anyone you date that has potential of becoming his step dad. From what I have heard that he has told me, he hates and despises them. Has anything traumatic happened for him to act out?" He asked Mary, his mom.

I didn't want to think about something traumatic happening to him, for him to be so closed off. But I saw a sad expression wash over her face, instantly telling me something did happen. "I guess it has to do with his first step dad he had after his dad died-"

Ace seemed to snap out of his thoughts, "Don't you dare," he growled and Mary fell quiet. After that, Ace seemed to be paying attention and tense the entire time.

Gary finally spoke up, "Nothing is wrong with him. He's just a fucking brat thinking he can do whatever," the way he said it made me want to punch him in the face.

"Shut the hell up Gary," he growled at him. I noticed how his hand was scratching his wrist and Christian noticed it too.

Christian gently grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his wrist, "Mr. Aderson, please be quiet or only say positive things. If not, please feel free to leave," Christian seemed to be more harsh with his words towards Gary.

"Don't tell me how to talk to him," Gary growled. I noticed the way Christian seemed to tense and he was about to say something to him.

I also noticed how his mom seemed to look away like this wasn't happening, not even bothering to speak up for Ace. I finally stepped in, "Mr. Aderson, I advise to shut your mouth and keep quiet or I'll have you removed from camp," I warned him.

He glared at me, "How about you stay over there minding your business," he growled back at me.

That seemed to get Ace riled up, "How about you stop being a fucking dickhead and shut the hell up," he growled at Gary.

Gary just seethed in his seat as I was happy that he defended me. I was used to angry parents and how they talked, but never to someone standing up to them.

Christian seemed to take the silence to continue, "He seems like he does better in camp more than he does back home. I think he realized that and instead of going home, he stayed in camp," he spoke to his mom.

Mary nodded her head, "I'm happy if he's happy," she spoke.

Ace scoffed and got up, and just stormed out of the room without saying anything. His mom broke down in tears.

I felt bad for her but understood him.

Hopefully one day, I can get him to open up to me, and I could help him and show him the affection that he deserves. Specially the one his mom hasn't shown him in years.