The hallway bustled with students between classes as Ace and Nico walked side by side, their eyes fixed on Ace's phone screen. The Stark International stock prices flickered downward, each decimal point representing a small loss.
"Look at that," Ace muttered, his finger tracing the descending graph. "It's dropping faster than I expected."
Nico glanced over, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "How much did you invest again?"
"Thousand dollars," Ace replied, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Nico's laugh was sharp and quick. "A thousand dollars going down the drain," she teased, her gothic accessories jingling with her movement. "Brilliant investment strategy, genius."
Ace's smirk widened as he tapped his phone screen, purchasing additional Stark International shares. "It's going to bounce back," he said confidently. "Tony Stark always has a plan."
Nico rolled her eyes, her dark makeup emphasizing her skeptical expression. "You're seriously doubling down? This is a sinking ship, Ace. Most investors are jumping off."
"Watch," Ace replied, his fingers dancing across the phone's screen. "Stark's got something up his sleeve. This is just a temporary dip."
Nico shook her head, her gothic bracelets clinking against her black jacket. "You're dumb for staying in a sinking ship. Some genius investor you are."
Berto chimed in, his voice laced with concern. "Ace, I think Nico's got a point here. The stock is plummeting, and Stark's future is looking pretty uncertain."
Ace glanced up from his phone, his brow furrowed. "You guys just don't see the bigger picture. Stark's gonna pull through, I know it."
Nico scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Always the optimist, aren't you? Some of us prefer to deal in cold, hard facts."
Berto placed a hand on Ace's shoulder, his expression earnest. "Look, we just don't want you to lose everything, you know? A thousand bucks is a lot of money, especially for us."
Ace shook his head, undeterred. "It's going to be fine. You'll see." He tapped his phone again, purchasing even more Stark International shares.
Nico rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Ace, you're being ridiculous. This is just throwing good money after bad."
Berto nodded in agreement. "She's right, man. Maybe it's time to cut your losses and get out while you still can."
"I'm not giving up on Stark. He's gonna turn this around, just wait and see."
Nico let out an exasperated sigh. "Suit yourself, but don't say we didn't warn you."
The trio fell silent, the only sound the gentle hum of the city around them. Ace continued to monitor the stock prices.
Ace, Nico, and Berto made their way through the bustling school hallway, the sounds of music drawing their attention. Ace paused, his ears perking up at the familiar rock melodies.
"Hey, do you guys hear that?" he asked, his eyes scanning the area.
Nico and Berto nodded, their curiosity piqued as well. "Sounds like a band practicing," Berto commented.
The trio followed the music, eventually arriving at the school gym. Peering inside, they spotted a group of four girls on the stage, instruments in hand.
Ace recognized one of them immediately. "That's Gwen!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening.
Nico and Berto also recognized the blonde-haired girl, but the other three were unfamiliar to them.
"Who are the other girls?" Berto asked, his gaze fixed on the stage.
Ace shook his head. "I'm not sure, but they seem to be a band of some kind. Let's go check it out."
The trio entered the gym, drawn closer to the melodic sounds of the band's practice session.
Ace, Nico, and Berto watched intently as Gwen and her band played their set. The four girls on stage moved in sync, their instruments blending together in a lively, energetic performance.
When the last note faded, Ace, Nico, and Berto immediately began clapping their hands. Gwen, recognizing Ace, looked up and greeted him with a friendly wave.
"Hey, Ace! Didn't expect to see you here," Gwen said, stepping down from the stage.
"Yeah, we were just passing by and heard the music," Ace replied, a smile spreading across his face. "You guys were great!"
Nico and Berto chimed in with their own compliments, impressed by the band's talent. As they spoke, a tall, redheaded girl approached Gwen, her eyes curiously studying the trio.
"Gwen, who are your new friends?" the redhead asked, her tone playful.
Gwen smiled and gestured to her bandmates. "Oh, right! Guys, this is Ace. Ace, this is Mary Jane, Betty, and Glory."
Mary Jane, the tall redhead, stepped forward with a confident grin. "Nice to meet you, Ace. I'm the lead singer of The Mary Janes."
"I'm Betty," the blonde girl said softly, giving a polite nod. "I play bass."
Glory, the energetic keyboardist, beamed at Ace. "And I'm Glory! We're so glad you enjoyed the performance."
Ace smiled warmly. "It was really great. I'm Ace, and these are my friends, Nico and Berto."
Nico offered a casual wave, while Berto's eyes lingered on the band members, a hint of flirtation in his expression.
"Awesome, more fans!" Mary Jane exclaimed. "You guys should totally come to our next show. We're playing at the local arthouse theater next weekend."
Berto perked up. "That sounds amazing. I'd love to come and support you all."
Mary Jane grinned, pulling out three tickets from her pocket. "Great, here you go! It's only $15 a ticket."
Ace reached into his wallet and handed her the money. "No problem, I've got it covered."
Nico raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "Wow, Ace. Spending money left and right these days, huh? With all those Stark stocks you bought, I'm surprised you have any cash left."
Gwen's eyes widened at the mention of Stark stocks. "Stark stocks? What are you talking about?"
Nico chuckled. "Our boy Ace here has been investing in Stark International, trying to make a quick buck. But the stock prices have been tanking ever since Stark's big announcement about shutting down weapons manufacturing."
Gwen looked at Ace with concern. "Ace, that doesn't sound very safe. Are you sure you can afford that?"
Ace shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "It's fine, Gwen. I know what I'm doing. The stock price is bound to go back up once Stark figures out his new direction. I'm just getting in early."
Nico snorted. "Yeah, well, I hope you're right. Otherwise, you might end up broke and without a place to live. Remember, you're already crashing at the café."
Ace chuckled, a confident gleam in his eye. "You're gonna be the one eating your words when Stark's stocks start climbing again."
Nico rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "We'll see about that, Ace. I still think you're taking a big risk, but I guess we'll find out soon enough."
Berto's eyes lit up as he spotted Gwen chatting with her bandmates, the members of The Mary Janes. Seizing the opportunity, he sidled up to the group, flashing his most charming smile.
"Hey, ladies," Berto said, trying to sound suave. "I couldn't help but notice you're all looking absolutely stunning today."
Nico rolled her eyes, while Ace stifled a groan. They both knew Berto's attempts at flirting were often painfully awkward.
Gwen's bandmates, Glory and Betty, exchanged amused glances, politely acknowledging Berto's presence. However, their attention soon returned to their conversation, leaving Berto scrambling to find another opening.
Sensing his friend's discomfort, Ace stepped forward and gently pulled Berto back. "Come on, man, let's get out of here. I'm sure the girls have better things to do than entertain your attempts at picking them up."
Nico chuckled, falling into step beside them. "Yeah, Berto, you're embarrassing yourself. Let's go grab a bite to eat or something."
Berto reluctantly allowed Ace and Nico to lead him away, casting one last wistful glance at Gwen and her bandmates as they departed.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz