"You're saying you think it's easy to keep this mask on all the time? Keep on a bright bubbly smile and act like nothing's happening and life is perfect? Hide the abuse that I constantly get from my sister's boyfriend and my stepmother? Yeah, we've both got our fair share of things we go through and have to deal with day to day sweetheart."
He smiles at her, nudging her side. "Don't worry. They're assholes. They don't see the truth. They're blinded by jealousy and rage because they can't seem to break you down. People like them… The get nowhere in life." He looks at the stars, seeing one shoot past. He smiles at that.
"My stepmom has told me more than once that's she's jealous of my, according to her, beauty. I don't see where she gets that crazy notion from. And my sister's boyfriend just hates me." She chuckled.
"What are you talking about? You're gorgeous! I don't know if you've looked in a mirror lately, but you are perfect in every possible way." He smiles at her.
"Actually, I haven't. Monique hates mirrors because she's disgustingly ugly so Dad threw them all out. Let me tell you, it's not fun to try and shave without a mirror."
He smiles before standing and entering his room. "Stay there." He rummages through his desk before walking back out. "Here." He hands her an elegantly crafted silver box like thing, thin and slim. It had a rose design carved into it, with a Ruby in the center.
She gave him a confused look before opening the box. It had been years since anyone had given her a present, this was unusual.
It wasn't actually a box. Inside was a two piece mirror. "It… Was my sisters. I gave it to her a few years back. Now I'm giving it to you." He chuckled softly.
It'd been so long since she'd seen her own face, she'd forgotten what it'd looked like. "Jeez, I really need a haircut." She ran her fingers through her hair.
He smiles. "You can keep it. If you want." He shrugged and looked at the sky. "Just to remind you you're beautiful." He chuckles quietly.
"I'd love to but…" Her smile faded. "Monique hates mirrors. And something as expensive looking as this would be taken and sold before I could even blink. I would go to my father about it but he follows that woman like she's some goddess. It wouldn't do any good."
He glances at her. "If you want, I can hang onto it and give it to you at school or something." He chuckles. "Don't worry. If you ever need a place to crash my place is always open."
She chuckled lightly. "Yeah, like if Monique found out that I'd been talking to someone, much less a boy about all this, she wouldn't freak."
Ace laughed at that. "My parents don't mind… After…" He stopped and looked down, sighing quietly. "They aren't really phased by anything that I say anymore." He shrugs and smiles.
She looked up at him, her eyes seeming to stare through him. "You know, you can talk to me. Everyone has a weak side, you don't have to hide it from me."
"Nah. Don't worry about it… Besides. After people hear it, they try to get away from me as fast as humanly possible." He shrugs and looks down. "Not that they don't do that with me in general."
She stood and tilted his head up to look at her gently. She smiled a little. "I told you something that I've never told another soul in my life. I think it's only fair you tell me something in return."
He looks away before saying slowly, "I'm trans. FtM." He mumbled softly, turning away. He felt something much like relief wash over him.
She was surprised but wasn't repulsed like she imagined most people were. She smiled and forced him to turn back. "That explains why you're so beautiful. Looks like my gay is kicking in overtime." She chuckled. Thank you bisexuality for that.
He looked at her, surprised she didn't throw him away and walk off. He turns red at that, before looking down. He smiled a little bit. "Thanks… I guess." He whispered softly.
"If you don't mind me asking, what was your name?" Yes it was a dead name but she was curious.
"Alison." He replies quietly. He hated the name, it felt odd on his tongue but he told her anyways.
"I'm not going to use it, I was just curious." She checked her phone for the time and sighed. "Now I really need to get going. She's probably drunk already. You need to rest and let those wounds heal and I need to get home to limit the amount of yelling I'll get from my dad for 'worrying him and Monique.' " She scoffed.
Ace smiled at her. "Thanks by the way. I hadn't really told anyone other than my family. Telling you made me feel a lot better." He slides back into his room and offers a hand. "M'Lady." He chuckles.
She rolled her eyes with a smile but took his hand anyway as she followed. "Such a gentleman."