Two Worlds Collided (Ace Merrill)

Irby's

He doesn't drive for long. Really, I'm not even sure why he bothered driving. When he pulls over, we're in front of a place called Irby's. I've walked past this place, but have no idea what it is.

"Are you okay with meeting some of my friends?" He asks.

I nod. "Yeah. That sounds nice."

He smiles and we get out. I stay by him. I don't know him well, but I know him better than anyone else in here.

A bunch of his friends are standing around a pool table. They all smile as we walk over to them.

"Guys, this is Eleanor." He looks at me. "Eleanor, these are my friends."

He goes around, introducing each one. I already knew Eyeball. The other two I've seen before are named Charlie and Billy. Everyone else is totally new to me.

"I'll be right back. Have a seat," Ace tells me. Hesitantly, I sit on a tall stool and watch as a few of the guys start new games of pool. Immediately, they start joking around with each other and having a good time.

When Ace returns, he hands me a brown bottle.

"What is it?" I question.

He smiles. "Really?"

I nod.

He chuckles. "It's beer. What else?"

I hesitate, staring at the cold bottle.

"You okay?" He asks me.

I nod. "Yeah. Um, I've just never had alcohol before."

He raises his eyebrows in surprise.

"For real?"

I chuckle. "Yeah."

He sits next to me.

"Well, have a sip. See if you like it."

Again, I hesitate. He's watching, though, so I decide to try a small drink. In all honesty, it's pretty gross. But it warms my throat and stomach. It feels pretty nice.

"What do you think?" He wonders.

I shrug. "It's alright."

He smiles as I take another drink.

One of the guys I've forgotten the name of comes over. He beams at me.

"So, Eleanor, are you a virgin?"

My face turns red. "Um-"

"Hey, shut up! That's none of your business," Ace says. He playfully smacks his friend in the back of the neck.

When his friend, laughing, turns back to the game of pool, Ace looks at me.

"Sorry about him."

I shake my head. "No, it's okay. It's that obvious, huh?"

A look crosses his face. "What?"

I look at my hands, embarrassed at the topic of conversation. "Never mind."

A couple of seconds pass, then he gets it.

"Oh!"

I snort. "Don't act surprised."

He half-smiles.

"Okay, you're right. I'm not surprised, but not for any bad reasons. You just seem really innocent," he shrugs.

I frown. "Hey!"

He laughs.

"I don't mean it in a bad way. It's refreshing."

I spend the next four hours watching Ace and his friends play rounds of pool. When I get dropped off at home, there's a little boy with black hair and grey eyes sitting in the living room with my parents.

"Eleanor, this is your new brother. His name is Lucas," my mom says.

The kid shakes my hand.

"It's nice to meet you," he tells me.

I beam at him. "It's nice to meet you, too, Lucas."