Ace

Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

Ace bolted upright. Pulling out his gun, he looked around to find the source of danger that had pulled him from sleep. Not seeing any, he turned to his love to find her staring between him and the gun.

He quickly put his gun away. Ace took a step to soothe her and saw her flinch away. He took a step closer and she moved back so far she fell off the bed. Her fear of being close to him hurt him but he put on a brave smile and turned to get his phone, ignoring the whimper from his sudden movement. He called Brooke and she answered with a low, sleep-filled voice:

"This better be fucking great."

"I need you over here." he answered desperately.

This woke her up. He was never desperate. She hung up the phone and he could hear her seconds later at his door. 

Brooke knocked on the door and waited for Ace to answer. He opened it for her to come inside and shut it with a small thud. She looked around for the small girl, but gave up and looked to Ace. Ace was looking past her to the small bundle of clothes that she had somehow missed. In his stare, she could see the worry and love he had for the girl.

Brooke snapped out of her thoughts and headed to a sobbing Evangeline. She rubbed her back soothingly and started humming quietly. Evangeline looked up to her and Brooke pulled her close and muttered something in her ear. 

She turned to Ace and nodded her head to the door. He shakes his head no, not about to leave Evangeline alone, but Brooke whispered something and got up.

"She's not gonna calm down with you here."

This made Ace sigh. He hesitated but decided against arguing and went into the hallway.
First he stood by the door, then he leaned against the wall across from the door, finally, though, he sat in front of the door with his back leaning on it. 

He wanted to be in the room: with Evangeline. He wanted to be the one cuddling her and whispering sweet nothings. He wanted her to love him like he loved her. To seek comfort in his arms, like he wanted to do with hers. Why didn't she love him?

Brooke was in a different boat. She knew exactly how to help Evangeline. She just didn't know if she could do it. She knew that telling the girl about her experiences would make a difference. That Evangeline would see Ace as a good guy. But thinking about her past was hard enough, she knew she wouldn't be able to say it out loud. Until she could though, she would hold Evangeline as she cried.

She had coaxed Evangeline back onto the bed and had tucked her in. "He has to come back in." Brooke said when she had calmed down. This sent Evangeline back into a panic. "He won't hurt you. He won't hurt you." Brooke said. "He just wants to make sure you're okay, then he'll leave." 

Evangeline was confused but she knew she could trust this girl, so she nodded and tried to keep herself together. Brooke smiled and went to the door and quietly told Ace he couldn't stay for long. Ace turned angry not liking that he was being told what to do but nodded. He would have done anything to see Evangeline again. 

Brooke let him into the room and he tried to smile. He looked Evangeline over with his eyes. She was so thin. She needed to eat he decided. "You need to eat."

Brooke and Evangeline both looked taken aback by his comment. But Brooke smiled and walked over, "That's a great idea, Ace. Why don't you go make her something to eat."

Ace looked at Brooke. "Why don't you?"

This made Evangeline start squirming. He could tell it meant she didn't want to be alone with him. He sighed and turned around to head out the door.
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Ace returned with two of everything he could find in the kitchen. He was going to make sandwiches but decided against it. What if she didn't like mayo or bread? So he made bowls of everything and would put them together if she asked. 

When he returned with the cart of food, her eyes widened but she made no move to get anything. She made eye contact with Brooke and Brooke smiled and nodded
encouragingly. "Go ahead." Brooke whispered but Evangeline just stared at the cart. 

After a few minutes, Ace decided enough was enough. He moved to the cart and grabbed a granola bar. He unwrapped it and sat down on the bed, ignoring Evangeline's flinches. 

"Maybe that isn't such a good i-" Ace silenced Brooke with a look. 

He put the granola bar up to Evangeline and nodded at her. "Go on." She slowly leaned forward and took a small bite of the granola bar. Ace smiled. "good girl." He was so happy she was eating. 

She took another bite and then another and then another. About halfway through the granola bar, she stopped and mumbled a small thank you. 

Ace pushed the granola bar her way but she shook her head. Did she not like it? They had other food!

Brooke took a step forward and whispered something in her ear. Evangeline shook her head. Brooke whispered something else and Evangeline nodded. Brooke smiled and went towards Ace.

She softly grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the door. "Don't get mad. She's full." She felt the storm before she saw it and she knew Evangeline did too because of the audible gasp behind her. She opened the door pushed him out and shut it before Ace's temper could even hit him. 

They could hear the loud, angry stomps going down the hall. Brooke turned to Evangeline and forced a smile, "So, how about a girl's day in?"

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Word Count:1003

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Gabi