Ace

Ace of Hearts

I could feel their eyes on me the moment I stepped into the room, it made my skin crawl. Had they nothing better to do than gawk at the ‘new kid’? I felt sick, I wanted to go home. I ran my hands over mesh clad arms as though trying to wipe away the feeling of those hungry eyes. Never in my life had I felt so out of place and uncomfortable; it unnerved me, I was used to the feel of power and control.

“Ace Stanton?” The balding teacher at the front of the room asked as soon as he noticed me. “I’m glad you decided to join us today. Tomorrow be on time, or you will no longer be a part of this class.” He looked at me over the wire rims of his glasses, “even though you’re new you can tell time. I won’t accept your tardiness again. Understand?”

“Yes, Sir.” I said, still unsure of where I should sit. “It won’t happen again.” I noticed an empty table near the front of the room, and hurried to it, stumbling over a girls backpack on the way. “Sorry.” I muttered, while trying to keep some of my dignity intact. Most people had lost their interest in me and resumed working. ‘Damn…’ I thought when I neared the table. There was already one kid sitting there. ‘Well, He’s not really ‘sitting’’ I decided, tilting my head in curiosity at the kid who seemed to have his face firmly planted into his binder.

He woke up when I tossed my backpack under the table, hitting him in the process. “Hi?” He questioned, seeming rather confused as to why I was sitting beside him. “Are you, like, new or something?” he asked; it was his turn to tilt his head in confusion. His long white blond pigtails hung slightly in his face contrasting against the darkness of his skin and eyes.

I nodded, “My name is Ace. Is it alright if I sit here?” I asked. I felt weird sitting near him. “I can move… I mean, If some one else-“

“Its fine,” He replied, quickly cutting me off. “I’m Zahi. It’s not often we see people like you here. There was one boy; he left after about three days of torture in this hell hole.” He smiled, and started laughing. “I’m joking kid, don’t worry about it.”

I looked down and brushed a hand through my waist length black hair. “Oh.” I closed my eyes praying class would be over soon. “What time does this end?” I asked Zahi who once again had his face planted on his books.

“Do you mean the day, or the class?” He looked at me through his hair. “The class ends in about twenty minutes, the day ends at three-thirty five. What class do you have next?” he sat up again, leaning his chin on his hands.

“Does it matter?” I asked him, letting my face fall into the table with a sickening thud causing half the room to giggle in nervous laughter. After a few moments, when my headache had finally dissipated, I answered him, “English, with Mrs. Francis. Is there something we’re supposed to be doing in this class?”

He laughed again, “probably, but does it look like I pay attention.”

“Point taken,” I replied laughing. I drifted back into consciousness a while later with Zahi whispering in my ear. “Wha-” I said startled, smashing the back of my head into Zahi’s face. I looked at him quizzically. “What?”

“Shit. You have a hard head, what the hell!?” He glared at me. “I – fuck it, it’s nothing.” He said once the music started playing signalling the end of class. “I have to go.” Zahi practically ran out of the room bumping into others in his haste to leave.

I sighed as I walked into my English class, late, for the second time in one day, and I felt like a fool. I’d been yelled at, insulted, pushed, and threatened, and that was only during the five minute walk from creative writing to English. I was ready to kill the next person that yelled, so I desperately hoped my teacher wouldn’t be the one. I liked English; I didn’t need my first day to go badly.

Class had already started, and the other students were already hard at work, while aside from Zahi and his gang who were laughing and joking around, whipping paper balls at each other. “Hey,” I said, walking up to the teacher’s desk. “Umm, I’m new.” My eyes flickered back to Zahi, who had just been pinged in the head with a rather large eraser. “I’m sorry I’m late, can I get the assignment?” I asked, setting my book onto the desk and rubbing my hands over the mesh of my shirt. It was comforting when she didn’t yell at me.

“Of course, what’s your name?” she asked as she rifled though papers on her desk.

“Oh, I’m Ace.” I replied. I looked around some more, eyes finding their way back to where Zahi sat, only to find him looking back at me. Heat crept up my cheeks, and I turned away quickly, embarrassed that he had caught me looking. I chewed on my lower lip, I could feel his eyes on me, or I thought I could anyway. I was afraid to turn around, fearing he might be laughing at me.

“Eigh! Ace, come sit with us. We promise not to bite!” I heard him yell from behind me. I looked and saw the other three boys laughing, as if it were the biggest joke they had heard. Zahi too was trying to hold back a laugh. I hated him for it, and looked back at the teacher who was going through various file folders and stacking papers and booklets in front of me.

“I see you’ve met Zahi. That’s good, he’s a nice kid. I’m sure he’l be able to help you with any questions you might have.” She smiled, handing me the armful of papers. “Oh,” She said, touching my arm as I turned to leave, “don’t let them get to you. I know its hard being new, but Zahi and his group really are very nice.” She gave me another reassuring look and nodded to an open desk near Zahi.

“Thanks,” I said. I closed my eyes and sighed. Without thought I grabbed my hair in one hand and tossed it carelessly over my shoulder in one smooth motion. Letting it cascade like black silk down my chest. I opened my charcoal lined eyes again, and walked to my designated seat next to Zahi, and one of his friends. From behind me I heard somebody say “what a fag.” My step faltered, ‘Note to self, don’t dress quite so gay tomorrow.’ I decided.

“Hey! Fuck off, kid. Leave him alone.” Zahi spat, glaring somewhere behind me. He looked at me and smiled, “glad you decided to sit here Ace.” He winked and patted the desk. “Don’t even think about them. Really. You can hang with us.”

I sat down I looked at the four boys who were now looking at me, “even if I hit you in the face?” I asked jokingly, smiling. “That had to hurt, I’m sorry.” I said shaking my head. I really didn’t know what else to do. Four absolutely beautiful boys were looking at me.

“Gag me with a fuckin’ spoon” the boy on the other side of me said. “I mean shit, you two sound like you’re banging already.” The other boys laughed; including Zahi.

“As if I’d fuck the new boy. I don’t do that.” Zahi scoffed, barely suppressing a giggle. “Besides, we don’t need to scare him away just yet. That comes later!” He said running a hand down my leather clad leg.