Love Me Like a Love Song

Make Things Right

Steele

-----------

Weeks had passed, and there had been no word from Ace. Her parents weren't even sure if she even alive. Everyone's in this funk, whether its crying, or screaming, or self loathing...but there's never much smiling in our little band of freaks. Lexi's gotten so quiet that when she does talk everyone's shocked into a stunned silence. Sarah and Kira just cry; endlessly it seems. Josh tried for a while to keep us laughing, but even he started wondering why she'd left, and then he slowly quit joking. Luke remained quiet, as usual, although you'd see a far away look in his eye whenever Ace was brought up; like he was questioning her motives. River was usually trying to make Kira stop crying, just trying to get her mind off her MIA best friend. And me, well I'd become a bomb. At any point in the day, I could explode. I'd been suspended two weeks ago for bashing in a locker door, and a mirror in the washroom. I'd taken my anger out on anything I couldn't kill at home; like the barn, the walls in my room, the tractor, and the drivers side window of my truck. Needless to say my parents were pissed. I wasn't sleeping much, working until late, getting up early, never staying idle for too long

Today was graduation, and Ace had promised to be back before today; she wasn't. Right now, everyone stood in Mr. Barkers room, talking quietly and getting ready to start. There was still no sign of her

"She isn't going to be here." Josh mumbled, toying with the tassle on the grad cap he held in his hands

"You don't think I know that?!" I snarled, spinning to face him, watching as he rolled his eyes

"You've been staring at that door for the last hour, like you're expecting her to finally give a damn about you and step through!" He hissed, glaring at me. We'd been testy with each other for the last week or two, and our tempers seemed to have reached their limit; refusing to be subdued again

"I know that too! Jesus Christ, don't you think I wonder everyday why she just took off and left us, left me?! Every time I try to sleep I wonder if I'd done something, or maybe it was something I didn't do! Hell, most of the time I just want to know if she's even alive!" I bellowed as he stood up, his height nearly equal to mine

"Oh boo hoo Steele, you think you're the only one wondering?! Last night Lexi called me screaming and crying, wondering if I'd heard anything about her! It isn't only you this effects asshole!" He snarled, shoving me backwards. Without replying, my fist shot out, catching him in the mouth, my knuckles splitting against his teeth. Before either of us had time to continue, the rest of the class started pulling us away from each other as we screamed insults

"Hey-woah..." All heads turned to the door; Ace. It was silent, everyone staring at her

"Were you going to say 'hey'?" Sarah questioned, standing up

"As an opener, yes. One of the best things I could have said, no." Ace responded weakly, looking at the floor. Suddenly Ace's face snapped to the side, her jaw slightly agape, eyes wide; a fuming Lexi standing in front of her

"You leave for nearly two months and all you have to say is 'hey'?! What the hells the matter with you?! A phone call saying you were alive would have been nice too!" She screeched, flailing her arms around above her head

"I know, it was terrible, but I can honestly explain-" slap

"Don't you dare tell me you can explain anything." Lexi hissed before walking away. Ace shook her head before simply grabbing her cap and gown and walking over to a vacant spot, obviously avoiding the rest of us until later

"Stupid son of a bitch." Lexi snarled, glaring at her across the room as Mr. Barker started having us line up

"Lexi, maybe there's a reason-" Josh started, resting his hand on her shoulder