What are the Chances
"No one could actually say that you deserve better, because the best thing you deserve, will always be your choice."
Ace Grit slung his book bag over his left shoulder and walked out of the classroom as the bell rang, indicating class was over. He walked over to his locker and opened it, taking out stuff from his locker and dumping it carelessly it in his book bag. Ace was known to be in the so called "popular group" with Dan, Shun, Marucho, etc. He didn't really care about being popular; he just went with the flow. He really didn't even remember how he became friends with Dan, Dan mostly claimed it was because Ace had so much of the personality of Dan and Shun's combined. He was quiet, yet sociable. Hot yet didn't brag about it. Calm tone but had a short temper. And was in-denial, which wasn't much like Dan-and more like Shun…if Shun ever had a crush, that is.
Everyone teases Ace how he has a crush on Mira Clay, a beautiful orange haired girl with sparkling blue eyes, and the younger sister of Keith Clay, a popular senior on the football team. Ace always denies it, but everyone noticed how Ace went into protective style when a guy was flirting with Mira. Ace and Mira had known each other since they were little kids, so they usually were together most of the time.
"Hey Ace," a soft voice chimed from behind Ace, and Ace closed his locker before facing the orange haired girl.
Ace blushed slightly, seeing Mira's face beaming at him excitedly. "Hey Mira, how was your summer?" Ace asked, in his casual tone.
Mira hugged him excitedly; then pulled back, not noticing Ace's heated face. "It was fun-I wish you came with us to visit my grandmother. Her house was so beautiful!"
Ace smiled slightly. He wished he could tell her how much he missed her when she was gone. "Yeah, wish I did." Ace answered quietly as he once again continued to lock his locker.
"So how was your summer, Ace?" Mira asked and Ace shrugged.
"S'kay I guess. Just the usual, ya know-being dragged around by Dan and the guys all around Wardington." Ace smirked and Mira giggled.
"Which reminds me, did you hear the news? Runo and Dan are dating!" Mira said excitedly and Ace's eyes widened.
"She actually said yes?!" He asked surprisingly and Mira laughed.
"Same thing I thought when I saw it! He asked her out during Phys. Ed, after track." Mira explained. "By the way, what schedule do you have? I was disappointed when I didn't see you in any of my classes." Mira stated and Ace blushed slightly.
"Yeah, me too, but then again, I came to school late. I only had three classes today." Ace informed sheepishly and Mira raised her eyebrow.
"Is everything alright at the 'you know'?" she whispered and Ace smiled slightly.
"It's fine Mira, really. Don't have to worry about me." Ace said gently as he slung his book bag over his left shoulder once again and started walking, with Mira following.
"Are you sure-you could always spend the night with me and Keith again, you know how much Keith adores you-"Ace quickly interrupted her.
"Nah, Mira, its fine. Besides, I have a shift at the café tonight." Ace replied, giving her a reassuring smile.
Mira looked at him uncertainly. "Ace, please, just tonight? I haven't seen you the whole summer-just stay for the night."
Ace sighed, unable to resist Mira's pleading. "Alright, Mira, we'll go over and I'll pack my bag and we'll head off to your house."
Mira smiled happily as she grabbed Ace's arm, hurrying him up towards the exit. "But first, to Runo's diner."
Ace groaned. "What? Why?"
Mira smirked. "Julie texted me that the gang were going to meet up there, and she said there was a person she wanted us to meet."
Ace growled. "Julie and her crazy hanging-out times. I hope this new kid isn't like Dan-it's hard enough being stuck with an idiot like him." Mira laughed out loud, Ace smiling slightly as well as they walked to the bus stop.
-With Shun and Alice-
"That's Runo's diner?" Alice asked; her voice quite hoarse.
"Uhm yeah-why, what happened?" Shun asked worriedly.
"It's nothing really-this place just looks a bit too familiar for my liking." Alice whispered, shuddering slightly.
"You okay, Alice?" Shun asked quietly and Alice was able to pull off a slight smile.
"Of course, don't worry about me." Shun looked at her uncertainly but ignored it as he held the diner door for Alice, who smiled thankfully and walked in, followed by Shun.
"Hiya Alice!" she heard Runo's cheerful voice as she looked around the diner. Alice smiled politely.
"Hi, Runo, your family has a really nice diner." Alice said honestly and Runo laughed.
"My family's been having this old place since, I don't know-30 years? It's quite old and needs a bit of new repairs." Runo smiled sadly, but quickly regained her cheerful expression. "Anyways, glad you could make it! So, since you're an official member of our gang…what will it be? Chocolate or Vanilla ice cream?"
Alice smiled. "Vanilla, if it's no problem." Runo nodded, and gestured her to sit where the gang was, and then went into the kitchen. Shun glanced around the diner for any suspicious behavior, and then his gaze went towards the Brawlers, who had a table in the back of the diner. He walked to them casually, Alice slowly following them.
"I'm so glad that you're here Alice!" Julie squealed and Alice grinned.
"Awe Julie, I'm glad I'm here too." Alice replied sweetly as Julie hugged her tightly.
"Make yourself at home, Girlie! You're now part of us." Julie winked at her and Alice giggled. Julie stood up abruptedly and pointed to Alice.
"Guys, I want you to meet Alice-she just moved here from Moscow, she's a junior at our school." Julie introduced and everyone smiled politely at her. Dan, Marucho, Jake, and Billy waved at her, and so did some unfamiliar faces. A dark blue-haired girl smiled at her politely.
"Hi, welcome to the gang, my name is Fabia Sheen. I'm a junior at Wardington High too and it's a pleasure to meet you, Alice. I think we have English and Physics together." Alice smiled as she shook her hand.
"Great to meet you too, Fabia, and I knew I saw your face somewhere. Aren't you the volleyball captain?"
Fabia grinned. "Glad that at least some people know it, but yes, yes I am."
Alice smiled knowingly as a brunette approached her. "Hey, my name is Joe Brown, and I'm a junior too! We have information tech together."
Alice shook his hand politely. "Great to meet you, Joe, and great, I hope we become good friends!"
"Name is Chan Lee, and I'm also a junior. I'm pretty sure you're in my chorus, gym, and Spanish class." Chan Lee said sweetly and Alice nodded.
"Yup, you sit two seats away from me, great to meet you Chan Lee!" Alice said and Chan Lee nodded.
"Likewise."
Julie glanced around and sighed annoyingly. "Where's Mira and Ace? Oh, and Ren isn't coming, he's still suspended."
Fabia shook her head knowingly. "I can never understand how he always seems to find himself in trouble. It's like him and Daniel are in some competition."
"Hey!" Dan was about to protest when Runo came back with a tray of bowls of ice cream.
"Mhm ten bowls of ice cream at your service." Runo said cheerfully as she served everyone their ice cream. "I'll be right back, let me put away my apron." She said after she was done, then headed back into the kitchen. As she left, two teens, one with orange and another with green hair entered the café, in which the gang greeted warmly. Julie quickly ran to them, hugging them both and then dragging them towards the table.
"It's about time you two came!" Julie scolded and then pointed at Alice. "Mira, Ace, I want you to meet Alice Gehabich. She just moved here from Russia and she's attending our school as a junior this year." Ace and Mira both smiled at her warmly.
Mira brought her hand out and gave Alice a warm smile. "It's great to meet you Alice! Like Julie said, my name is Mira, I'm a sophomore, but I'm glad that you're a part of us now. Hope we all make you feel welcomed into our gang." She said gently and Alice smiled shyly.
"It's great to meet you too, Mira, and of course, I'd love to be close to you all too." Alice replied softly and Mira nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, welcome to the team. Name is Ace, and I'm a sophomore, too. " Ace said casually and Alice nodded.
"Yeah, it's great to meet you, and thank you." Alice replied, shaking his hand politely.
Runo came back and smiled. "Great to see almost all of us together, and since it's the first day back from school, it's sleepover night this Friday so that we could update each other of our summer and the most recent gossip." Runo winked and Julie's head perked up.
"Gossip? YES! Thank you, Runo, love you babes." Julie squealed as she jumped up and hugged Runo, almost taking the life out of her.
"Hey, let my girlfriend live!" Dan glared playfully at Julie as he rescued Runo from Julie's grip and wrapped his arms around her protectively. Runo blushed, but let his arms stay as the group made their unnecessary sound effects.
"So it is true, the biggest player finally put his ego down and asked out the all miss brave Runo." Ace smirked and Dan glared at him.
"At least I admitted my feelings, unlike a certain someone." Dan said mischievously as Ace growled.
"Don't push it, douche." Dan just winked as he kissed Runo's collarbone, making Runo blush furiously.
"Alright, alright guys, break it up. And honestly Dan, get a room, right now, we want Alice to be comfortable." Chan-Lee reminded and Dan blushed, remembering they had a guest, and let go of his grasp on Runo as he sat himself next to Joe, and then tugged on Runo's hand, who still had been standing awkwardly, making her tumble and sit on Dan's lap.
(Seating order, left to right
bench one: Dan and Runo, Joe, Chan-Lee, Jake, and Marucho
bench two: Ace, Mira, Alice, Shun, Julie and Billy, and Fabia.)
"So, Alice, do you think you can sleep over on Friday at Marucho's mansion?" Runo asked Alice and Alice thought for a moment.
"I'm positive my Grandfather would let me, but I'll ask him, just to make sure." Alice replied sweetly and Runo beamed.
"That's great, I can't wait till Friday!" Runo said excitedly and Alice nodded.
"So, Alice, in the meanwhile, how do you like Wardington so far?" Chan-Lee asked curiously and Alice cocked her head cutely as she thought, making Shun blush, hoping no one had seen.
"Well, like I was telling Shun before, I used to live in Wardington when I was three. I moved back to Russia when I was ten, but we came back here due to some sudden problems." Alice said quietly and no one dared to question. "But Wardington is so different from before. I remember it as a dangerous place where crimes were happening everywhere…what happened?"
Mira sighed dreamily. "It's because of Wardington's new mysterious hero. He saves us every night for the past five years, and he changed Wardington completely. Paparazzi have been trying to uncover his identity for years, but all have failed. No one has ever succeeded in removing his mask." Mira explained to Alice and Alice pondered about it, no one noticing Shun's uncomfortable face that was hidden behind his emotionless mask. The big clock tower across the street from Runo's café started chiming, signaling it had turned 6pm. Everyone quickly got up, giving Runo their now empty ice cream bowls.
"It was great seeing all of you guys again, don't forget about the sleepover on Friday!" Julie reminded as she, Billy, Chan-Lee, Fabia, and Joe hugged everyone good bye and left together, considering they lived by each other. Ace and Mira were on their way to get Ace's clothes, so they quickly said their goodbyes. Dan decided to stay back with Runo and help her with the dishes (as well as have some alone time, which of course he wouldn't admit out loud). Jake and Marucho went to the library, saying something about having a science project, which left Shun and Alice alone together.
Shun glanced over at Alice, who had been putting on her coat. "So, you get off by the River right?" He asked her and Alice nodded in reply.
"Yes, how about you?" She asked.
"Same." He replied, "C'mon, I'll walk you home." Alice smiled at him gratefully as she hugged Dan and Runo goodbye and followed Shun to the bus stop.
"Normally I would have my Harley with me, but Gramps took it away for talking back." Shun mumbled and Alice giggled, making Shun turn to look at her questioningly.
"Oh, Shun, you shouldn't be disrespectful to your elders." She teased and Shun chuckled slightly.
"Guess my mom didn't have time to teach me." He shrugged and Alice's face turned with guilt. Shun must've noticed because he quickly said, "It was a joke, Alice, don't feel bad."
Alice smiled in relief. "That's good to hear, I don't want to be making enemies already. Though, I already seemed to do when I entered school today. Many girls were looking quite mad at me today."
Shun raised his eyebrow at her. "Did any girl touch you? They're obviously jealous, you gotta be careful with those types of girls-they tend to cause a lot of trouble. They're usually jealous because you're hanging out with us, believe me, they've done pretty rough stuff in the past."
Alice frowned slightly. "Really? Like what?"
Shun hesitated. What if she got scared after Shun would tell her? Would she completely avoid them? "Pulling hair, bullying…just be careful." Shun said slowly and Alice smiled at him, relieving Shun.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful." She said reassuringly as they waited for the bus.
"Alice, if you met that fiancé, what would you say to him?" Shun asked quietly and Alice thought for a moment.
"I don't really know…I mean, what are the chances of him finding me, or vice versa?" Alice replied innocently.
Shun nodded understandingly as the bus approached them.
Yeah, what were the chances of me finding you again, Alice?
Thanks for all the reviews my wonderful readers! Sorry about the gap in updating, procrastination as well as school work is such a bummer :/ By the way, the world didn't end…
Happy Holidays and happy new year! As the years progress I hope to keep writing and for you guys to keep reviewing…Anyways, I'll be updating soon so keep those reviews coming.
Thanks, hope you enjoyed this chapter ^_^