KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 13: Do You Love Me? (Ace)

"Paul! Paul, you're good with girls, I need your help!" I cried, rushing to catch up with him in the hall. He laughed. "If you want advice with girls, ask Gene, he knows a lot more than I do. Also wait, since when are you going after girls?"

"Shh! Shut up!" I hissed, shifting my backpack and falling into step beside him. "I'm trying to ask Peter on a date but I don't know how and you've been on dates before and have had a girlfriend Gene usually just hooks up with them." A thoughtful look passed across his face. "Hm, good point. Why don't you just ask him to dinner or something?"

My face grew red and I looked around nervously, convinced Peter would materialize out of nowhere and ruin my plan. "I don't know if he actually likes me though! Like I don't know if he's gay, you know?"

"How're you going to know unless you give it a try, right? Just ask him out and ask him if he likes you. If not, then just hang out as friends or something, I don't know," Paul said after a pause.

"Aw come on curly, you gotta have some better idea than that!" I cried, walking into government class and taking my seat in the back corner. He just shrugged and sat in front of me with a crooked grin. "Sorry man, that's all I've got."

"What's happening now?" Gene asked, throwing down his backpack and sliding into his seat. "Ace doesn't know how to ask Peter out."

"Paul! Shut up!" I wailed.

"Oh that's easy! Just take him to the movies and slip your arm around his shoulder and if he pulls away just say you were stretching," Eric said, reaching his seat just as the second bell rang.

I let out a groan and resisted the urge to slam my head into the desk. "But what if he doesn't like me?" I hissed.

Eric raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure he does. And like I said, just say you were stretching!" he whispered back, ducking to avoid Mr. Germann's angry glare. I bit back a sigh and tried to take notes as G-Money began his lecture.

"But seriously, do you think that will work? Like what if he gets mad at me and doesn't talk to me after?" I said once the bell rang. "Ace, relax. Just go for it, it'll be fine," Gene said, gathering up his books. "Yeah, but what if it doesn't?"

"Aw, Ace, you don't need to work yourself up over this! You guys were practically making out last Friday night," Eric teased. Paul and Gene burst into laughter. "And you're worried about this why?" Paul asked between gasps of laughter.

Face red, I started heading toward my locker. "Y'all are useless," I grumbled. Still laughing, Gene trailed after me. "Look man, here's what we'll do. Text in the group chat if anyone wants to see a movie. Paul and I will say no, Eric can say yes but then he'll bail out so it'll just be the two of you. Then you can make your move if you feel up to it and you won't have to ask him directly to go on a date."

I gave him a relieved smile. "Thanks, curly." I pulled out my phone, chewing on my lip for a moment before sending the text.

There's that new movie coming out Friday do any of u guys want to go see it that night

It took Peter a good two hours to finally say yes, which was then immediately seconded by a tentative yes from Eric and two nos from Gene and Paul. So far, so good.

Friday morning, Peter made it back to school from his suspension. "So wait, what time's the movie?" Eric immediately asked, giving me a smile and a wink. I wanted to punch him in his little face for almost giving me away. "Uh...9?" He looked crestfallen. "Aw man, I'm sorry but I can't make it. My parents are still mad at me about the chem test and said I can't be out past 11."

I'll admit, he was pretty good. He should've been in drama with me. "You want to reschedule?" Peter asked, and I felt my heart jump to my throat. No no no it was all going to fall apart this was my one chance and now it's ruined.