The Ace of Swords

Chapter 25

I stare at the ceiling in my room. Storm lays beside me in bed. She has been refusing to sleep in her bed saying mine is better. She just wants to make sure I'm okay. This is her version of comfort. Erin hasn't been talking to me. I don't know if it's grief or if he really hates me. I am hoping it the former. I won't be able to forgive him if he goes back to the old Erin. I can only forgive one person so much.

"Ace, are you awake? I think it's breakfast time. The most important meal of the day," she hums as she pulls me out of bed. She stands up and starts getting dressed. One thing I've learned about her is that she has no concept of modesty. I get up and walk to the cafeteria. Unlike Storm I still haven't gotten multiple pairs of clothes. I still only get one set after every shower. Storm said she would get me extras but I think she may have forgotten.

"You should talk about your problems," Storm hummed as she pulled me through the halls.

"What problems? I don't have any problems. I'm fine really," I smile a little to make what I'm saying seem like I mean it. She gives me a look that shows she isn't buying my story.

"As if Ace. You have more problems than a math teacher. I've never seen anyone Red or otherwise with this much trouble. I mean I've seen the drama that surrounds you. Plus I'm worried for you. Half your friends are Yellow and won't talk to you, Decker is awol, and Erin won't talk to you for reason you can't tell me. You've clearly had everything ripped out from underneath you and now you need to land on your feet and......," Storm keeps rambling on but I ignore her. It's a trick I've learned from being around her so much. I have gotten really good at it. "...You are sitting by Erin today and that is final".

"Wait! What? No I am not. He doesn't want to talk to me. I mean he might but he probably doesn't. He's been avoiding me because of.... Well I can't tell you that. I just can't sit by him," I stutter out. When the guards left me in my room after the Enya incident they told me to tell no one. They looked dead serious.  I learned not to poke the bear with a stick. Messing with those guards is a bad idea even for me.

"If you can't tell me why then I have no reason for you not to sit by him. You guys are so adorable together. You are like the two underdogs that use each other for comfort. If whatever happened was so bad you can't tell me and the only person that obviously know is Erin then you guys need each other even more. Don't make me lock you guys in a room together. I will do it!" she laughs at my look of horror. I have no desire to be locked in a room with an angry or really sad Erin.

"Fine I'll sit with him but don't expect any more. He will probably move or kill me or something just as bad," I say as she gives me a victorious smirk. She bounces in her heels in excitement.

I do as I promised. As we walk into the cafeteria I sit beside Erin. We don't make eye contact or talk. He pretty much ignores my existence all together. I may as well be a ghost. The rest of the Reds chatter on while I focus on Erin. His fists are clenched. I take that as a sign of anger. I scoot a little farther away from him. He probably wants some space after what he went through. He sighs a little. It doesn't sound like it's in relief. It's sounds more like aggravation. He grabs the tray that was placed in front of him and scoots closer to me until we are thigh to thigh. He still doesn't look at me but he also isn't mad at me. It takes a load off my shoulders. I don't want the old Erin back. I prefer the nicer version. I look over to Storm who winks at me. Bas is also glaring at Erin like he is some kind of demon.

"So when are you planning for your next fight?" Bas asks innocently.

"Do we plan our own fights? I thought they were made for us," I stare at him. I feel like people just make things up as they go.