Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Chapter 32 Wounds

"It's bleeding." I say, looking down at the blood seeping through my bandages.

"Yeah, the doctor said that was normal. Your bandages should probably be changed now." Ace says, his back turned towards me as he rummages through the medical supplies.

"I can change them myself." I protest. Taking the bandages off my wound will expose the ugly, jagged scars that trace my abdomen and back.

And I don't want him seeing those.

He'll think I'm ugly and he'll leave.

"It's easier if you have someone to help you, Dakota. I don't want you to injure yourself. You did say you were really sore still."

"Pfft...by sore I meant I'm fine. I'm fine. Did you hear that, Ace? I'm fine. Perfectly fine. I can do this by myself, I'm a big girl who-"

"Dakota."

"Yes?"

"Stop talking."

"Ace, that's rude. C-can't you respect my opinion and my privacy?" I ask nervously, pulling the blanket tighter around my body. He stands over me with one eyebrow raised and bandages in hand.

He can't see the scars.

He can't.

"Are you okay?" He asks, concerned.

"Okay? You're asking me if I'm okay after I've just woken up from a coma because I was shot? I'm bleeding from my stomach, I'm obviously not okay!"

"Sorry, you're right....that was a dumb question." Ace says, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Indeed it was. It was a very dumb question indeed."

"Damn, why are you in a bad mood all of a sudden?" Ace asks, confused.

My eyes widen.

He's right.

I'm being rude for no reason. Ace is just trying to help and he doesn't understand the inner war that I'm having, nor do I want him to understand. Because understanding this would require him to know about this.

And that is bad.

Plus, he's been worried about me all this time, I can tell by the dark circles under his eyes that haven't quite disappeared all the way yet.

I sigh. I guess I should at least be a little nice.

But these scars.....

"Sorry, I don't know what's up with me. I guess I'm just a little moody ahaha these darn hormones." I say, laughing awkwardly.

Yes girl, blame your hormones! That's always believable, right? Right?!

Ace raises his eyebrow again. "Okay then....so uh, I will tell the nurse to take you off some of these medications because they're obviously making you act different."

"Wait, what? No, I'm fine, really. That's unnecessary. I'm just irritated for no reason, that's all." I say, shrugging.

"Alright, well, enough talking. Let's just change your bandages now."

"R-right, of c-course!" I stutter nervously. Damn it get a hold of yourself, woman.

With a big deep breath, I unwrap the bandage that covers my entire stomach and part of my ribs. I squeeze my eyes shut when I feel the exposed skin being bitten by the cooler air, because now my scars are on display for all to see.

I am not okay.

"No man will ever love you because you're damaged. Broken. Scarred." My dad spat angrily. "Men like beautiful, intact things. You're neither of those. Always remember that."

A single tear slips down my cheek at the small flashback that plays over in my mind.

It is only when a gentle touch of a finger upon my cheek am I snapped out of it. I turn my eyes to Ace, who has compassion written all over his face. He wipes the tear away, and stares at me for a moment.

"Dakota....is this what you were hiding." He asks, although it's more of a statement than a question.

I turn my eyes away in shame.

"They're hideous, aren't they? Shameful....damaged.....broken....scarred." I mutter.

"No, Dakota, no."

Ace looks away for a moment, as if he's choosing his words.

Then he speaks.

"Your body is a work of art, with or without your scars," He says, tracing his finger along one of the deep, ragged indents that was created by the blade of a knife, "These scars just mean that you've put up a fight, and won. They are simply a reminder that you're a fighter, a survivor, and that....that is true strength."

I sit there in silence, wiping away my tears as Ace examines the scars.

Nobody has ever put it that way before.

I am shocked.

"I don't know what to say." I whisper.

"Then don't say anything at all." Ace replies, and looking me into the eyes he says, "Want to hear a secret?"

I nod my head.

"You're not the only one with scars."

Before I can even say anything, Ace takes off his shirt. And for a moment, I catch a glimpse of his front side. He's definitely in shape, and for a moment, I ogle.

And then I see that both of his biceps has a tattoo.

On his right bicep, is a lion head showing its fangs viciously. It looks intimidating, and not to be messed with.

On the left bicep, though, is a pale horse. A rider with a crown sits atop the animal, holding a bow. Under the horse's hooves reads a ribbon that says conquest.

Interesting....

And then just under his collarbone, is another tattoo.

This tattoo that reads, whatever doesn't kill me had better start running.

I silently chuckle. Of course.

And then he turns around.

His back is a whole different story. His back is laced in scars, just like mine. Criss-crossed lines and cigarette burns clothe his body.

"The lines you see are from a knife. As a young boy, I joined a gang. A very, very bad gang. In order to get into their family, I had to be beaten to unconsciousness. Five men took it upon themselves to make sure I was truly unconscious once I was beaten. So, they sliced me with knives."

I gasp. "That is horrible."

"The cigarette burns was my punishment for not obeying the Boss completely." He says.

Ace pulls back on his shirt, and faces me once more.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, staring up at him in shock.

"Dakota, you have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault, and it's all in the past now, any way. Besides, now you know that you are not alone when it comes to these scars." Ace says.

He's right.

And maybe I'm not the only one with a dark past that matches mine.

* * *

"I have a surprise for you!" Katelin exclaims as she takes me by the hand and drags me out of the house.

It's been two weeks, and I have finally recovered enough to move around more.

I laugh. "What is it?"

"It's a surprise."

She drags me to this amazing outdoor pen in the large backyard. The grass is green and flowers are blooming. Shade trees are placed in just the right places, and a swing hangs from one of the large branches.

But then my eyes land on a large dog running towards me.

Now he's becoming larger and larger.

And he's like a freight train.

He's like a freight train that is charging full speed at my body.

I'm so entranced by the beauty of this dog that I don't even have time to step out of the way.

And then I am tackled to the ground, making an oomph sound as I make contact with it. Katelin bursts out laughing, but I don't pay much attention.

"Duma!" I squeal. "You've gotten so big!"

His pink tongue licks my face and his slobber drips onto my skin. But I don't care. I'm being reunited with the puppy that I fell in love with.

My laughter fills the air and I pet his furry, multicolored neck. "Okay, okay, get off of me now." I giggle.

Katelin pulls Duma off of me, and I get up from the ground, dusting myself off. Duma's tail still wags excitably and his blue eyes stare up at me in wonder.

"When did you build this pen for him? It's amazing."

"You can thank Ace for all of this. He built this pen himself. He took care of Duma when you were.....gone. He fed him and even played catch with him. I think Duma was like a piece of you, because he knew you loved Duma so much. So that would explain why he took such good care of him." Katelin says cheekily.

"That's really sweet of him." I say, looking down and smiling awkwardly.

A silence falls between us, and I feel uncomfortable.

And when I look up, I see why I'm uncomfortable.

Katelin is staring at me.

She's staring at me with a knowing smile on her face.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Did you mean those words?" Katelin asks.

"What?"

"When you told Ace you loved him. Did you mean that?" She asks with a serious look on her face.

My eyes widen, and I look down shyly in an attempt to hide my blush. I forgot I had....said all that stuff while Katelin was in the room.

I nod my head slowly, looking into her eyes. "I meant every word I said that day." I say quietly.

Katelin smiles slightly. "Good. I wouldn't want him to grow on the thought of false hope."

"Of course not. That's....understandable." I reply.

"Now that that's all cleared up, let's head inside for lunch." Katelin says smiling.

Lunch. Food sounds good to me right about now.

Running into the kitchen, I see Ace stuffing his face with God only knows what. His back is turned towards me, and my heart leaps for joy. What he did for Duma makes me smile.

And so without thinking, I run towards him and wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him from behind.

He jumps in my grasp slightly, and curses under his breath. "Yooo scarfed me." He says, mouth full of food.

"Thank you." I mumble into his back.

Once Ace swallows, he can finally speak properly. "What exactly are you thanking me for?"

"For taking care of Duma. That means a lot to me. Some people neglect their pets if something happens because their emotions and feelings eat them away."

I've seen families who are devastated by tragedies go from adoration for their pets to neglect because they are too lost in mourning and wallowing in their own sadness.

"Oh," Ace says, hesitantly turning around in my grip and awkwardly patting me on the back, "Well, I guess...you're welcome."

Silence falls between us. Awkward silence.

Let go, Dakota. Let go of the man.

I pry myself from Ace, and stand next to him. No doubt I have a creepy smile on my face right about now.

"Hey uh, Dakota," Ace says, shoving his hands in his pockets, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead." I reply, shrugging.

"How would you like to uh, go on another date soon? I mean, I underestand if you don't want to, I mean....I'm a bit of an ass and I don't trust easily and-"

"Yes."

"And I'm not the most talented man to walk the earth. I'm pretty messed up and--wait what? You said yes?"

I giggle. "Yes, Ace. I said yes."

Ace smiles brightly. "Well would you look at that. You said yes."

"Yes, I sure did."

Ace's face turns unreadable. "Mhm. I'm....is this what happiness feels like?"

I laugh, and swat his arm in a playful manner. "You're such a dork, Ace."

"Alright, alright you two. I'm going to make lunch here. Go get a room if you two are going to continue to pull that kind of mushy stuff in here." Katelin says, laughing as she walks into the kitchen.

"Be ready by seven tonight, Dakota. And don't dress formal." Ace says, winking.

I nod happily, and dig into my lunch that Katelin has prepared.

Tonight will hold excitement and my heart can hardly bear it.

* * *

"You look great, Dakota." Katelin says, examining my outfit that I'm wearing for tonight's date with Ace. I'm wearing a nice but casual outfit. I'm wearing blue skinny jeans and a light blue floral tank-top.

"I'm a bit nervous." I say, chuckling as I walk out of the bedroom door.

"Nah, don't be nervous! You'll be fine." Katelin says, playfully hitting my arm.

"Thank you."

"Now, take lots of pictures for me, okay? That's important." Katelin reminds me.

"Yes, of course I will."

Ace catches my eyes as he stands in the living room. He looks nice in his light grey tee shirt and dark pants. He wears a smirk and his dark hair is sleek with gel.

"Got get 'em, tigress." Katelin whispers in my ear as she nudges me forward.

Ace winks at me, and takes my hand in his. "Ready to go?"

I smile and nod, and Ace leads me out of the house with my hand in his.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask.

Ace smiles, and looks down at me. "I guess you will have to find out."