Officer Ace Woods: Love Is A Battlefield

• Adelyn Seit
• Short Story
• 2012

Charles began to tremble as he slipped his hand into his pocket and felt the little black velvet box. Grace sat down on his lap and smiled. It was nearly time, that wild desire was about to be released.
“It’s a beautiful night” she said as they looked out over the bay into the glittering lights of the city skyline. Charles began to recite in his head what he was going to say to Grace. Her blonde hair reflected in the light of the dim fluorescent moonlight.
Is she up to it yet? Will she accept this? Charles took a deep breath.
“Grace?”
“Hmm” She turned to face him with her aquamarine eyes.
He hesitated, it’s too hard. He loved her, and she loved him, but it’s too hard to commit. What if she walked out on him? What if she was seeing another man?
“…Never mind”. He sighed heavily and let the black velvet box. Another chance gone….

Ace Woods stumbled up the concrete steps of Killara High school searching for her class room. Upon arriving in the second floor of A block she searched for room A17. Sweat trickled down her white shirt and started to show on her grey school slacks. She breathed heavily as she pushed open the classroom door and into English class. Thank Sg. Gavin that he sent me on Boot Camp, she thought to herself.
“Why am I always this late on Friday?” she mumbled to herself. She apologized, and to her surprise she saw a new teacher. He’s a handsome guy, athletic build and wind-blown brown hair. He turned around and stared at her in shock, not as in anger shock, but in a surprise shock.
“Grace?” Then he shook his head. “Sorry, I’ve must have mistaken you for someone else”
Ace growled. I hate the name, she thought. She hated her parents for calling her that, so every time she was called Grace by anyone, even her parents, she’d “correct” them. Grace, what kind of name is that?
“Who told you my name is grace? Do you know how much I hate the name?” She snapped and glared at everyone in the classroom and sat down in front of the class. The class cowered behind their laptops. She managed to cool off.
“Sorry”
As class started, she noticed the teacher’s name on the board. MR BROOKS. He was far more relaxed in his teaching than the last teacher she had. His hand writing needed some improvement, but how he spoke to the class was far more relaxed. Oddly, though he was looking at the whole class, he seemed to avoid her gaze.
Ace felt and urge to find out what her teacher was hiding, though she barely knew him, even though most of the teachers she barely knew, she wanted to find out more about him. Who is he? Why is he acting so…embarrassed, ashamed? Especially around her, he doesn’t even know her, besides that fact that she hates her original “girly” name.
She really wasn’t paying attention to what was happening, questions about Mr Brooks drowned out her focus from English class to what he was hiding. Something about romance fiction studies. Ace was glad that she wasn’t focused on this romance fiction, She finds them boring. Unless it’s combined with action instead of Angst and drama. There must be action and adventure in a romance story if you want me to buy it, Ace thought. Comedy in Romance or action, she shook her head. So typical of females these days. She chewed her long plait in interest at her teacher’s actions during the class. He seemed uncomfortable when he spoke. Almost, guilty and regretful. He expressed this when he was talking about the most “annoying and plain mushy” scene in romance stories where a hero offers the heroine the ring, the union and marriage symbol. She nodded on and rolled her eyes, but she kept analysing.
“Ace, you haven’t written anything down” nudged Samantha as she pointed down at her English notebook.
She sighed. “Sam, ya know how much I hate romance. You’ve been over at my place more than enough times to know that”
“But you still need to do it”
“Sam?”
Sam sighed and put her pacer down. Ace continued.
“I think there’s something up with Sir”
“Really, what do you suspect it is?”
“I think he’s in love”
Sam giggled. She smiled at her best friend and whispered something in her ear. They both gave each other a high five and kept working.

After class, Ace decided to confront Mr Brooks. After packing up and watching the other students forward out, she made her way to Mr Brooks’s desk.
“Excuse me sir?”
He glanced up but quickly looked down again.
“Yes?”
“I’m just wondering, why are you avoiding me so much?”
He looked up again. She could see his guilt about something. She felt concerned about what’s going on. He sighed and looked at his student.
“Gr-“
Ace shook her head in correction.
“Ace, you look like my Fiancé. I was…”
“It’s okay sir, I understand. You know it’s very hard to propose to someone”
“And…I backed out of it. I was going to propose to her and giver her this” He took out a black velvet box and opened it. A golden ring looked like Ivy and a diamond was perched in the middle of it, it was cut like a flower.
“Oh it’s beautiful”
“Yes, she always wanted this and I promised her that I’ll give it to her as a wedding gift” He put it away again.
“Well, it’s a big commitment and it’s like a life-long contract. Are you really ready for this?”
“Yes, we both are, we’ve been with each other for 3 years. And on numerous occasions we’ve discussed marriage. She’s understanding and I love her”
Ace thought for a moment. Oh gawd, here comes the Angst part of a romance story. Now she’s glaring at a poster of the Romeo And Juliet movie. Just thinking to herself.
“Listen man,” she started “, Do you really love her?”
“Yes”
“Say I love her”
“I love her”
“Good, now again”
“I love her”
“Now, imagine that I’m her. Say it”
“I love you”
“Good now again”
“I love you”
“Now what are you going to say to her?” Ace began to raise her voice louder as if she was at her coaching the Girl Guide.
“I love you, will you marry me?”
“Well done, you’ve said it!” Ace smiled. She could tell Mr Brooks was feeling good.
They kept going over it again and again, long after the lunch break was over. Then they rehearsed the situation and she pretended to be Grace. They had a few laughs at the situation as they did mess up a few times. But eventually, Mr Brooks gained his confidence.
After school, just before she was going to head home, Mr Brooks followed her.
“I’ve just gotten a call from Grace and I’m going to arrange a dinner with her tonight at D’foreigner. Would you like to come with us?”
Ace smiled and nodded. “Hell yeah!”
“I’ll meet you here tonight” he called as he drove off.
Ace returned home, glad that her father took a job that made him return late at night. She quickly did her homework and got something inconspicuous so she could blend in with the other diners. She quickly phoned Sam, who started screaming down her eardrums when she heard the news.
“Ow, please don’t scream”
“I can’t help it!”
“Just give me a heads up”
“Good luck in helping him”
Ace rubbed her forehead and collapsed on the bed for a nap. Waking up later that night, she skimmed through her wardrobe and found her Black Cargo pants, Tank top and Black Leather, military style Leather Jacket. After a shower, she got changed and headed to school and waited for Mr Brooks. She kept tying and untying her laces on her combat boots while she waited.
He finally arrived dressed in his finest. As she got in the car he reviewed his lesson with her earlier. They went over what he was going to say, and even went over the English assignment that was due.
“Ace, do you have any advice on how to have happy days and a great relationship?”
“Well,” she thought back to the years before her mother went into the Army. She hardly saw her mother, only during the end of the year and Term 1 and 2 did she see her. “, I remember that my father always praised my mum’s cooking. He always hung around and taste-tested the food. Mainly women take pride in their cooking and housekeeping”
“Excluding you”
“Yes, excludes me” Ace laughed.
“Noted, any more advice?”
“Well, you should take her out shopping. Do you have any styles in common?”
“We both like the French style of interior and exterior design”
“There you go, give each other makeover in your room and the house. Make sure you know what the other person wants and add your own touches of things in it. And since women like style, go shopping and get her something nice that suits her”
They both giggled. Yes, thought Ace to herself, but oh so stereotypical in couples, but at least it works.
“Oh, give her kisses and hugs every day. I remember sometimes that Sg. Gavin and Lt. Anna use to have playful quarrels”
“You call you parents by their rank in the army?”
“Yes. It’s more causal and my parents like that”
“What does your dad do?”
“Sg. Gavin is a drill Sergeant, he comes home late. Lt. Anna is a doctor in Afghanistan, she’ll be back in a few months”
“No wonder there is no femininity in you. You’ve been raised by a military family”
Ace nodded, and she was proud of that.
“I’ve joined with the Girl Guides before and I’m moving onto becoming a Cadet”
“Interesting life you have”
They finally arrived at D’Foreigner. Ace got her own table not too far from Mr Brooks and she sat down to observe him. She ordered an Oyster Kililpatrick and a Qiche before settling down to wait. Tonight was a very quiet one despite it being Friday. Finally, Grace came. She does look like me, thought Ace quietly. She kept stirring her chocolate milkshake and staring at her…..graceful appearance. She had large silver hoop earrings, a Black strapless tunic. She sat down and started talking to Mr Brooks.
“Hey Charles” greeted Grace happily.
They conversed for a while, Ace sat back and waited for the moment. Just like a sniper waiting for the target to approach and be erased. Then it came, her patience paid off.
“Grace…” he took out the small velvet box. He sighed and started to look a bit nervous.
C’mon, thought Ace eagerly. She stared at him from behind Grace and gave the look. You can do it!
“D-Do You like it?” He stuttered at the beginning and Ace smacked her forehead. No, No, No, you’re not suppose to say that, she thought.
“Why Charles, yes, I do” Grace gave the look that she was expecting something big to happen, like Fans of the All Blacks waiting for their team to score a goal against the Wallabies.
“I love your hair tonight” Charles said instead. He tried to say his proposal to her. It’s hard, what if she says no? Does she think I’m a fool?
Say it! Thought Ace, her eyes now wild and staring at him. JUST SAY IT! Her eyes seemed to yell.
“Will…you have my hand in marriage?” he quietly whispered.
“I do” came the answer he always wanted. They held hands and slowly kissed passionately.
Ace sighed in relief and continued eating her Qiche. She then blowed bubbled in her Chocolate milkshake thinking about her English Assignment. Due in only a week, she thought. I haven’t even gotten an inspiration for the story.
Then she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around she saw the happy couple smiling down at her.
“Ace, I wanted to thank you so much for getting me the courage to ask my fiancé a hand in marriage”
“No problem sir” she nodded.
“I just wanted to ask you for one more thing..”
“What may that be sir?”
“Would you like to come to our wedding?”
Ace smiled and nodded. Then a jolt of electricity ran up her spine and the little lightbulb in her mind lit up.
“That’s it! I got an inspiration for the English assignment!”

3 months later…..
Ace sat in the aisle, dressed in Military Cargo pants, a black Tank top, Black combat boots and an official looking Military trench coat. She gazed at the newlywed couple as she took notes on her notepad. Okay, this is how it ends, she thought as she planned her article for her English assignment that was due weeks ago.
Mr Brooks let her off the hook for the assignment as she decided 3 months ago to write an article about his wedding for English instead. As the wedding ended and the couple went to the wedding lunch venue, they failed to notice Ace Woods marching off to the strange black jeep that waited outside the church.
“How’s the wedding?” asked the figures that sat inside
“Mission completed Lt. Anna and Sg. Gavin” Ace saluted.
“Well done on your English assignment, Would you like to go shopping later?”
“Lt Anna, you know how much I hate dresses!” Ace replied as they watched the white limo with the bride and groom inside. Ace smiled as she knew that her teacher was heading for a bright future ahead of him. The black jeep sped off in the opposite direction and headed off to Knox to join the Air Cadets.