Ace Merrill POV.

His body was slick with lukewarm sweat from a terrible nightmare passed; his eyes snapped awake, only to come face to face with the more frightening reality of an empty bed. He let his heart rate calm with every breath her took, feeling a certain pang of emotion that was only present in times of sadness. Though it hurt more now than it had last night when the love of his life had left him, it was hitting him now. His stupid mistake was hitting him, the stupid mistake he had decided to make without any thought; if only his ego hadn't gotten in the way of everything. For once a woman in his life was right, Holly Chambers' was right.. He was an asshole, and even those words hadn't been able to escape the lips of the beautiful woman before she had disappeared out of his life.

Usually a dream was no more than a dream, but tonight the guilt of what he had done to her was creeping up on him again. It was only last night, but it felt as though the thought of her had been haunting him for much longer. It made him shiver to the core to think he had lost yet another person he had loved; that wasn't his intention, but he should have known that's what his actions would have led too.

His guilt had formed a dream within his head; a dream of her smiling face turned towards another man, her lips on his cheek and a burning love that would never be extinguished. It hurt him deeply to have had to watch that scene play out before his eyes, unable to make a sound nor wake up. Just laying there with tears forming beneath his closed eyelids as reality was hit him hard.

She could have another man now, she's free to the world, he thoughts to himself as a cold shiver ran down his spine, she's really gone.

She was gone, for good. It was one dumb mistake made by a dumb guy who was looking for to uphold his reputation as the Castle Rock bad boy. If anybody were to ask him if that little kiss with the town whore worth it, he would have said no. But talking about his mistake with anyone other than Holly wasn't going to get her back, he doubted if she would ever forgive him for what he had done.

His mind raced at an unimaginable speed as he lay awake, the covers crumbled at his feet. There wasn't any way to get his love, his angel back from that train now. She was over a hundred miles away from the little town where he lies in the discomfort of his own bed, on the midnight train to Portland. All because of one stupid mistake, that left him alone in his darkened room.

He wished he had his angel perched on his shoulder now, that's exactly what Holly was. His angel on his shoulder, and he never cease to tell her that every once in awhile. She was the only woman who walked into his life and made a big difference, keeping him out of trouble and steering him to the good side of things. He used to believe he was going to heaven just because of her; his angel, who was flying away as he lay restlessly.

He sucked in a deep breath and let his eyes fall close once more, hoping there wouldn't be another terrible nightmare awaiting him.

He seen his angel again, but this time she was smiling. In her ripped skin tight jeans and classic white tee, she looked as though she could conquer anything. Her long blonde locks were kept down in waves cascading down to her mid-back, her icy blue eyes staring right at him. She was beautiful, and whomever disagreed with him would surely get a smack in the back of the head; of course no one would ever say such a thing to Ace Merrill's face. Holly was his world, and the whole town knew it. That's why he had kissed that damn whore in Irby's Billiards, just to keep that reputation.

One of the guys at the bar had yelled out: 'Holly's got ya whipped!' and with that the whore leaned in and Ace had taken her lips on his. The kiss had only been a thing to prove to who ever had yelled at him wrong; his reputation was at stake. The truth had hurt him when he knew the whole bar of Irbys could see the look on love in his eyes, because he was the bad boy. Never to settle down and never to end his spree of breaking innocent hearts. But truth was, he wasn't that heart breaker anymore.. He was just John Ace Merrill, trouble maker but defiantly not heart breaker. He just wants her back, he didn't want to be the Ace of hearts anymore. He just wanted to be with her again. He can feel the changes that Holly has made already.. He was crying over her, a girl. He hadn't cried over a woman since his mother had passed, and he vowed after her tragic death he never would again. But here he is, sulking in depression as he lay awake tonight, thoughts of her running through his mind once more.

She has him changed for good, or so she thought.

"When you find love Johnny boy, don't ever let it go. It only comes once in a life time.."

A chill ran through his body as he remember the words his mother said years ago to the laughing little boy he used to be. Back than he was no heart breaker, but he knew that his mother could see that coming in his teenage years. He found it funny how she knew a lot of things; but some how she just knew things that he wouldn't have been able to guess for a million years.

He let his mind wander to that exact day when his mother spoke those words. It was long ago, but if he tried hard enough, he could remember. A lot of memory's of his deceased parents came like that, he had to strain to remember. But if he tried real hard, he could remember his past life with them.


"I love you Holly." A 7 year old Johnny whispered into her ear as she smiled and kissed his check.

"I love you too Johnny!" She exclaimed quietly as he enveloped her into a warm hug, never wanting to let the little girl out of his arms. Of course both of the children didn't know anything about love, nor were they looking for it in that point in time. But it seems as though it just came to the two best friends, as a bond was made on that very front lawn that evening. A bond that could never be broken.

That night his mother was cleaning up the remains of dishes as Johnny strode into the kitchen, looking a lot like his father at that young age. His mother simply smiled and shook her head, remembering the sweet moment the two best friends shared on the front porch that evening. They would probley never remember it, but she would always cherish it within her thoughts and some day tell them when they were old enough to understand.. But for now for the future lovers sake, Johnny needed some words of advice. Just in case Annabelle wasn't there in the future to help her son through their already growing relationship.

"When you find love Johnny boy, don't ever let it go. It only comes once in a life time.."

She nearly whispered to the young boy, as his head snapped up from the coloring he was doing at the table. A smile came on his lips as he murmured what sounded to be like a promise to himself; saying,

"I won't let Holly go."


Ace was brought back to reality with a jolt of his mind, his memory was over but the tears had just began. It still didn't feel right for him to cry in general, but over a woman it felt very foreign. It scared him senseless to think he had broken a promise to himself, and more so his mother.

She had known the love that he and Holly had shared together, but never had she said anything to him; just watched. I guess there wasn't much she could say in a time of such immaturity for the two.. But still, she knew.

A sick feeling erupted in Ace's stomach as he thought about the past, and how good Holly really was for him. His little sister even took a shining to her, and that's hard to come by since she's one of the smartest kids around. She was Ace's sister, she had to be.

She was the only girl who had stuck around when things got a little difficult in the relationship. She dealt with Ace's tough exterior instead of only using it as a label for a 'bad girl' name. She didn't need any help getting a bad name, she was a Chambers; if she was bad or not, her family still branded her with a rotten name from birth. An unfair curse that runs in her bloodline, something she is destined to change.

She was the only female Cobra in the gang, all because she was his best friend. She was the co-leader right next to her older brother Eyeball, and Ace's right hand woman. She wasn't like every other girl who dreamed of being a cobra, she actually lived up to the scar tattoo that Ace had refused to let her get.

"Come on Ace! I ain't no pussy!"

Her very pleas ran through his head as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. But still to no avail, she didn't get her scar tattoo; only one of Ace's old jean jackets with the word "COBRA" written in black marker by the artist in the gang, Vince Desjardins. At the end of the day, that seemed good enough for Holly.

Of course her tough attitude and snappy comebacks had gotten her laughs from the Cobras all of that day, as she shot Ace down for not letting her get the tattoo done. Of course Ace was use to the attitude by now, and had just shook it off as Typical Holly Behavior. But after she seen that jacket, she had fallen in love; it was the jacket she was wearing when she entered the bar just hours ago..

She must have me changed!

He argued with himself as he rolled on his side, staring at the closed bedroom window. Ace was right, Holly has him changed, for the better. If only he could prove to her that the kiss never ment anything.. It was only to prove himself. If he could take it back, he would in an instant, just to have her laying here in this empty bed with him again.


Holly Chambers POV.

She gazed across her empty apartment while a cup of hot coffee rested on her thigh. Occasionally she would take slow sips of the burning liquid, savoring the taste of caffeine in her mouth as she tiredly drank in every detail of her apartment. It was about five thirty in the morning, and sleep was slowly setting in as she let the coffee mug slip from her finger tips and gently hit her bedside table.

She crawled into bed with only Ace Merrill left on her mind, and the home sickness she was starting to feel. It had only been a couple hours, but it had already felt like forever. It wasn't that hard finding a new apartment in Portland, it was a huge place, and the taxi driver had been a huge help. But even the big city lights made her miss Castle Rock and everything in it.. Even her ex, the heart breaker, Ace Merrill.

He had hurt her in ways that felt incurable. Holly had loved him, or so she had thought before the whore came into her life. She hadn't meant to walk into anything, all she had been doing was meeting Ace at Irbys.. And she had to walk in on Ace kissing that girl.

I'm glad I seen it when I did, at least I know now.

She thought with a sigh as she let her eyelids droop shut and the memory's of Ace Merrill and the brunette slowly fell away from her, and sleep over took her.


Now laying in her newly made bed, her long blonde hair creating an angelic hallow around her entire head as she panted quietly. She had awoken from yet another nightmare about her past love, Ace Merrill. She hadn't been able to get any sleep since the big move from Castle Rock to Portland, only hours ago. Every time she closed her eyes she came face to face with her harsh reality; their entire relationship was a lie. It was hard to see in her mind since the relationship had started with a strong friendship, but maybe faith didn't want them to be anything other than friends.. Sadly.

She really believed that it was meant to be, even his family had liked her, and her family him. Despite both young adults having bad names around town, their families were still very close; only because of the strong friendship they were still holding. It hurt her so badly because Ace was truly her best friend and she never would have expected he would turn on her like he had.

She missed the old Ace.

She held back tears that threatened to flow from her opened eyes as she thought of her nightmare once more. Seeing the brunette kiss Ace only made her realize that he was out for grabs; any girl could put her paws on him and Holly couldn't do anything about it. She's just glad she left when she did so she wouldn't have to witness the new Mr. and Mrs. Merrill smooching together around town.

Realization had hit her, and if the brunette made him happy; if she could give him things that Holly couldn't, she understands. Maybe Ace just needed a change, but that was no excuse for cheating on her, they could have just broken up. But he is the Ace of hearts as everyone says, and maybe she should have listened to her girlfriends about what he was all about. She never should have trusted him for a relationship, it was sure to backfire like they had said.

He's probley lying next to her right now, I wonder how he can do it.

She thought as a sick feeling erupted in the pit of her stomach; she actually did care if he was sleeping next to her or not. And if he was, she hopes she'll never ever find out. It would hurt to much to know the love of her life was sleeping with someone who wasn't her.

Daylight was now inching upon the tired 23 year old as she nestled close into her blankets, peering out of the closed bedroom window before letting her eyes droop shut one more; praying that nightmares would float away and for once she could get some sleep. A pillow was accidentally positioned in the spot where Ace would usually sleep, and her arms absentmindedly hugged the fabric to her body, wishing he would fill up the empty space in her bed as if it were all just a bad dream.