SAVING ACE

thirteen

t h i r t e e n

Olivia Rose Spencer

There was something special about the wee hours of the night. Ace and I sat on that balcony for a long time. It was just us, the flickering lights of the street posts, as we watched the town fall asleep, as one after one the lights on the houses were turned off.

Conversation flowed easily between us, he told me about the reckless things that he and Jacob used to do and I told him about the bizarre things that always seemed to happen at my swimming competitions.

He told me that basketball used to be just a distraction, something to pass the time, and that he never expected to be so good that he got a scholarship. I told him that I took up swimming to overcome my fears.

He told me that his 'momma' was born and raised in Italy, so that was why his full name was Ace Matteo Valentini Williams, and I told him about my Aunt Paula and her paintings.

It's like they said, the best conversations are always made in the a.m.

It was now morning and Oliver and I were baking those great chocolate cupcakes. It had been my Aunt's recipe. I didn't understand why Oliver still liked making them for our mother, she never even ate them. He was more hopeful than I was. When I was his age, I already accepted that my parents didn't care about us. But I had Aunt Paula as my mother, and Oliver didn't. I tried my best to make up for that blank space in his life, although I knew I could never fill up the space that only a mother could.

Ace woke up extra early and took Oliver basketballing. I couldn't help but to feel grateful that I had Ace on my life now. It was astonishing how he had opened up to me. I could feel myself starting to open up to. I didn't flinch like I used to, I actually welcomed his warm touch.

He wasn't here now, he had went running, as he informed with a note on the kitchen - "hope you slept well, amore, I went for a run and to the gym. I'll be back soon. xxx - A." I had folded the note with a smile, placing it on my nightstand's drawer afterwards.

My mother was in a hurry - as usual - although she was able to dispense a few seconds of her precious time to hug us tight - which was definitely not usual. She even took a bite out of one of our cupcakes' - something she never ever did.

I was sat on my sofa, with Mr Snowie on my lap.

"What's the deal with mother, uh, Snowie?" I ask my cat and he purrs. "You also think something's going on, don't you?"

I scratch his ears, cuddling him closer.

"I just wish Ollie could live with us," my cat meows loudly. "You wish too, don't you, cutie?"

"I didn't peg you as one to talk to your cat."

I scream, as I hear Ace's voice, to which he chuckles loudly. Strolling casually into the living room, clad in a pair of sweatpants and a band tee, his hair damp and all over the place, Ace smiled at me before scooping up Snowie in his arms and clutching him to his chest.

"Hello, precioso, did you miss me?" Mr Snowie purrs in absolute delight. "I really love cats."

"I think I'll be kicked out of this house any time now! I mean, I'm sure both Oliver and Mr Snowie like you better than me."

"Don't be jealous, baby, y'know I've got that natural charm."

"Baby? I swear to the Mother Earth, you must spin a roulette of nicknames each time you decide to address me, uh?"

I would never admit to Ace that I loved those cute nicknames that he seemed to slip into each one of our conversations, so I decided to tease him instead.