A Taste of Minnesota (Ace)

[Oliver Barnes]

Did you get your package yet?

Oliver stared at the text message he had just received from his best friend back in Minnesota, Ace. Although the two boys had been separated for over a year now, they continued to communicate over text and Facebook since Oliver had left to go attend Hammel. Of course, he didn't mention anything to his friend about the fact that he could phase through walls, among other things. Instead, he fabricated a lie about how he was being sent to a private school in Vermont, attributing it to his parents wanting to give him a better education.

Oliver felt guilty, but it was what had to be done. Every few months, he got a package from his parents or Ace, reminding him of the people he had left behind in Minnesota. Sometimes it was photographs and little inscriptions in familiar handwriting, or money and other basic necessities. He was due for a package anytime soon, and Ace's text was confirmation.

Not yet... I can go check the main office to see if it is in. Hold on.

He sent his friend a brief text, before sliding a pair of shoes on. Ruffling a hand through his unkept hair, Oliver began making his way down towards the main office, humming underneath his breath. What would be in the package this time?

[Mason "Ace" Walker]

Ace was looking at his phone, wondering if he was really read- oh who the hell was he kidding. It'd been over a year since he saw his best man and Ace was sure as hell not going to waste time pussy footing around when he could go and get this over with.

Did you get your package yet?

A small smile graced the male's lips as he tucked his phone back into the pocket of his jeans. The package in question was actually under his arm, tucked safely against his body. Which would have made no sense if one wasn't aware of the fact he was actually standing in the middle of the main office, a visitor badge pinned to his shirt so everyone would know he wasn't a student. He casually scanned the area around and couldn't help but snort.

It really was a damn fancy school after all.

He shifted in his place slightly as he waited, pushing away the vague thought that Oli wouldn't be thrilled to see him without any sort of warning. Of course his friend would be thrilled. Anyone would be happy to see him just standing there waiting. When the door to the office opened, a big smile lit up Ace's face and he quickly shifted to hold out the package in front of him.

"Delivery for Oliver Barnes!" He called out, trying to keep the laughter out of his voice and failing miserably.

[Oliver Barnes]

It took Oliver a bit longer than expected to get there, due to the fact that he was avoiding the use of his ability for the time being. The side effects were becoming more painful, as Oliver had been abusing his for the year duration. Now, he only used the phasing during his training sessions with Everett and figured it could be introduced again.

He swung open the doors of the main office, blinking slowly at the sight in front of him. Wait... what? Was that really...

"Ace?" Oliver questioned, tilting his head to the side in confusion. "I... this has got to be some sort of dream. A hallucination. There's no way..." He began to ramble, even pinching himself on the arm for good measure. He winced. Nope. Not a dream.

A slow, wide grin appeared on his face, as he bounded over to his good friend Ace, enveloping him into a 'bro hug.' "Man, I can't believe you're here!" He exclaimed, his eyes flitting between the package and Ace's face. For the moment, Oliver was excited, but the nervousness about hiding his power and why he really was at Hammel would kick in later.

[Mason "Ace" Walker]

Ace couldn't begin to describe the emotions coursing through him at the image of his friend standing dumbstruck in the entrance to the office. A sense of relief washed through him only to be quickly shoved away at surge of annoyance at himself for not doing this sooner. Wonder and disbelief battled fiercely as well. But what won all of that was just the happiness he felt to get to see Oliver again. It was like he'd been a plant stuck in long winter months without getting to see the sun. Or like his arm had gotten chopped off. He'd go with the arm thing if anyone asked.

The wide, stupid grin never left his face as Oliver bounced over and when enveloped in the classic 'bro hug' Ace offered no complaints. He just returned the gesture. If with a bit more enthusiasm than his long time friend displayed. "Better believe it, Oli! I'm here to stay!" Ace spit out the words from within his eager smile. When he noticed the eyes flicking to the package, Ace wasted no time before shoving it towards the boy. "Sign out, do whatever. But I'm kidnapping you, so if you want to tell anyone- this is your last chance! We're going out to eat!"

[Oliver Barnes]

Excitement and guilt were the two emotions that Oliver felt at the moment. Excitement, because his best friend was here in living flesh. Guilt, because Oliver had lied to said friend in order to protect... well, he didn't know. Protect himself? His actions against AJ? The fact that he was a meta?

"It's been too long." A year and a half, since manifestation. A few months after AJ's, during the peak of his depression. He hated reliving those memories, hence why Oliver avoided visiting Minnesota. Instead, his parents always came out to visit when they could.

Pulling back, Oliver's grin seemed to rest permanently on his face. He owed everything to Ace. To taking him under his wing, when he had been a quiet, nerdy freshman. To pulling him back from AJ before Oliver could commit unthinkable things. "That's awesome! This.. this is all so much. No wonder you didn't tell me what you were planning to do after high school."

He accepted the package without hesitation, mostly due to the fact it would have dropped had Oliver not caught it. When Ace mentioned food, Oliver's stomach grumbled lowly in response. He was pretty hungry. "Alright, sounds like a plan." The joy he felt was apparent on the quiet boy's face, as he turned to sign out of the school for the afternoon.

[Mason "Ace" Walker]

Even though Ace had heard from his friend, and hell he'd even seen Oliver through Skype calls, he was a bit surprised at the sense of relief going through him. Even Ace hadn't known he was worried about his rather quiet friend. But as he thought about it, it made sense. The last time he'd seen Oliver the boy was going through some serious depression because he lost AJ. Apparently contact through technology just wasn't enough to reassure Ace. "Well, I'm here now. So now there's no excuse for no contact!"

Ace nodded his head along with Oliver, and couldn't help the cheesy grin pulling at his face. "Of course it's awesome! Did you expect anything else coming from someone as awesome as me?" His tone was completely joking, of course. Too caught up in the excitement of seeing Oliver and getting to surprise him adequately. "Should have seen how I had to bribe everyone back home to keep them from telling."

Another grin, this one because of the brilliance of his own plan, as Oliver's stomach growled. Oh how it was nice to know he wasn't the only one practically starving right now. He watched Oliver sign out for a few moments before he walked over to the door, opening it and peering out curiously as he waited for his friend to be done. "Do you gotta change or anything? Wouldn't want you to get upset because the ladies didn't see you in your usual stunning glory."

[Oliver Barnes]

The hug and physical touch of Ace had been assuring to Oliver. It reminded him of his former life, before life did a 180 on the introverted boy and threw him into the world of meta abilities and pheromone manipulation. Before the Fall Formal, where he would spend afternoons reading with AJ and recommending new music to each other, to weekend basketball with Ace, the freshman's idol. Everything about the simple contact was assuring, and Oliver was incredibly thankful that his friend decided to come out to Pilot Ridge. Even if it meant some explaining to do after catching up.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Oliver understood that Ace wanted it to be a surprise... but he felt bad that his friend had gotten him a gift and here Oliver was, empty handed. "I would have gotten you something too." He grinned at Ace's jokingly arrogant statement, shaking his head back and forth. "Man... I've missed you, so much." He didn't realize it until now, what he had been missing.

Quickly, Oliver signed out of the office and walked alongside Ace out of the office. He shook his head. "Nah, what I'm wearing is fine." Oliver didn't pay much attention to what he wore, as it was mostly variations of the same thing. He couldn't help but to chuckle. "Yeah, you know I was a lady killer." Oliver joked. No, that was more Ace's forte.

[Mason "Ace" Walker]

"If I told you have the excitement would be gone, now wouldn't it?" Ace grinned at his friend. He figured that Oliver would be much happier to see him without knowing about it prior. Even if the other boy might feel a little bit bad. But Ace even had a solution for that. "Hey now! My gift is getting to see your cheeky face again." Another chuckle and he shook his head, playing off his statement as a joke. Though Ace wasn't really that worried about getting something else from Oli. Getting to see his friend was more than enough. Except for the lack of food. "Of course you missed me! I don't know how you survived without my amazing face greeting you everyday. Though... Wasn't that great at home without you around so I guess I missed you too." Ace winked some.

Ace couldn't help being all smiles. All winks and grins and glancing at the females students walking by. Well, at least the ones he was going to think were old enough to be looked at. "What do you mean 'was'? Oh god. Oli. Did you change teams without telling me?" There was a pause before Ace chuckled softly. "I heard that ladies dig gay men more anyway."

He shook his head some as he reached his beat up blue truck, unlocking it quickly before climbing in. Once Oliver was seated beside him, Ace quickly turned it on and left the Hammel parking lot to head back into town. "So. Where are we going? I have no idea where the food is, I'm just the driver. Lead me!"

[Oliver Barnes]

"I suppose so." Oliver conceded, still wishing that he got his friend something in return. Afterall, Ace was the one who moved States and picked up his life and was starting all over. Maybe not all over, since he was here and so was AJ... the name left a funny taste on Oliver's tongue, and he brushed aside the thought. "Again, you're right. It's a sentimental gift rather than a physical one. But let me at least buy lunch then." He insisted, feeling his pocket for his wallet, which luckily, was there. Grinning, Oliver chuckled and said "Man, I've missed you and your modesty." Of course, it was a joke. "I should have visited..." He trailed off, brushing off the negativity. No, now was not the time to think about his past. Ace was here, and Oliver was going to have a fun day out with him.

He fell into step next to Ace, making their way through the school when he asked, suddenly, if Oliver was gay. At the implication, the shy boy blushed, of course, and shook his head. Not that being gay was a bad thing. "Oh no, Ace." He let out a short laugh. "I meant that back in Minnesota, I was a lady killer. A joke." Oliver had never been good at delivering jokes. His voice always had the same, slightly nervous tone to it. "Still straight." Still into AJ.

Following Ace to the truck, Oliver grinned at the familiar sight of Ol Blue, his personal affectionate name for his friend's truck. He climbed in, a wave of nostalgia and a sense of home hitting him. "Ol Blue still kicking it?" He asked, before thinking of where to go lunch. "Depends. There's a lot of places, you'll find. There's a cafe, a diner outside of town that's really good and a few restaurants downtown. I'm not picky." Oliver listed off. "We could just go downtown. It's convenient, and we can get burgers and fries or something."