A Fox and a Tiger

A closed book

Ace scrolled through her phone. As much as she stared at the screen, nothing helped keep her attention off the fox. Ace couldn't figure out what was attractive about Ahri. Sure, she's beautiful and is caring, but it's nothing she'd write home about.

Ahri was your basic, average school girl. A hard worker and she seems like she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Maybe basic isn't the correct term to describe the fox, but she is average. That doesn't sound right either.

"I'm such a mess right now." The tiger grumbled and laid her head down. "What am I going to do."

Her phone vibrated on the table. Ace propped her back head and looked at the screen. A picture of the ace of spades card plastered her background. She had received a message from Jenna.

Ace opened the message and read Jenna's text.

I think you should tell her, Grace. It'll be quick like ripping off a band-aid. Yeah, It will hurt for a bit, but it'll fade. The text read.

And what if it doesn't, Ace thought. What if it's like high school all over again.

High school was a time Ace wished she could leave in the past, but no matter how hard she tried, it always seems to find it's way back into the present.

As a child, Ace was always odd. She didn't really fit in with one group. She was athletic, but not athletic enough. She was nerdy but not nerdy enough. She was smart, in some ways, but not smart enough. Ace was never enough of just one thing which made her stick out.

What made Ace stick out, even more, was that she was an asexual. Being a high schooler that didn't care for sex was hard on her the most. People poked and prodded at her for not having the drive to get into bed with a guy and have the time of her life. That was another thing. Girls caught Ace's attention more then guys, but she blames on being raised with older brothers.

But since it was high school, Ace had kept things to herself. She thought she had done a good job hiding her secret. Or so she had thought.

Close to the end of the tiger's sophomore year, word had gotten out about her asexuality. Even to this day, Ace doesn't know how it happened, but it doesn't matter. The damage has been done and it's all over. All the name-calling, the threats, the teasing, the bullying. All of it was done and over.

But why change her name? Since people called her Grace the ace, she used that against them. She changed her name to Ace because it showed people that it didn't bother her anymore. And the Ace is the most powerful card in the deck so why not show people strong she really is.

"This is going to turn into dumpster fire by the end." Ace muttered to herself. "But if that's what Jenna says it's the best thing to do then I'll try not to doubt her."

What is Ahri going to say about this? I hope she doesn't act like everyone else.

Ahri skimmed through the many rows. There were some that caught her eye that she knew or read, but most books in this store were older and she couldn't recognize them well enough.

Some of these books look interesting, but I don't have the money to pay for them. Plus, they'll most likely sit on the night stand or in the closet until I move back in with my parents for the summer.

The fox has thought about finding a different apartment. One more her size since the change up has thrown her off. She does enjoy having Ace as company, but the fox does like her privacy.

Ace is going to be crushed if I tell her that I'm moving out.

Ahri sighed. She had stopped looking at the books all together, and, instead, had gotten lost in her own thoughts.