"Well well well, what do we have here?"

Lorraine spun around. "Ace, I...I.."

"So you've set your sites on Billy's little brother?" Ace stepped closer to her, "What a shame..." he roughly stroked her cheek. Lorraine whimpered.

"Hey!" Vern shouted, "Let her go!"

"Vern," Ace warned, "If you keep your mouth shut, maybe I won't kill you."

"Don't do anything to Vern," Lorraine pleaded, "He didn't do anything!"

"He's trying to steal my girl."

Vern's stomach turned cold.

"I'm not your girl!" Lorraine cried, and Ace looped his arm tighter around her waist. She beat her fists against his shoulder, "I don't like you anymore! You're so horrible! You're...evil!"

Ace laughed, "Oh come on Rainey, that used to turn you on."

Lorraine started to cry. "Shut up shut up shut up," she sobbed, "I hate you!" She pulled free from Ace's grasp and ran.

"You're still mine Lorraine!" Ace called after her. "And you," he turned to Vern, "You fucking stay away from her!" He punched Vern and pushed him to the ground. Vern had the sense to stay down. After Ace walked away, Vern went to look for Lorraine. He found her around the corner at the steps of the diner.

"Are you okay?" Vern asked, sitting down next to her. She was crying to hard to say anything to him, so he just put his arm around her. "It's gonna be okay," he said lamely, not sure of what to do.

Lorraine shook her head as she hiccupped. "No it's not," she sobbed. "He's gonna kill you, and I...I don't even wanna say what he's gonna do to me!"

"Don't think like that," Vern said gently.

"I'm so sorry I dragged you into this," Lorraine sighed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"Don't worry about it," Vern said, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly, "But uh...um...when did you guys break up? I mean, I'm assuming that you dated..."

"I told him it was over last year," Lorraine sniffled.

"How long did you go out?"

Lorraine held up two fingers.

"Two years?" Vern confirmed in amazement. She nodded.

"He was really nice in the beginning. I felt...safe, I guess. But after we...after he...after he got what he wanted..." she broke off and started sobbing again.

"Oh my god," Vern gasped, "Did you and Ace...oh my god!"

Lorraine nodded tearfully.

"Awww...that's ...so...agggggghhh..."

"Not helping," Lorraine sighed.

"Sorry, sorry. Listen, I'm..." Vern paused, not really knowing what to say. "Uh...I'm here for you. Okay?"

"Thanks," Lorraine whispered.

"Want me to walk you home?"

She nodded. Vern helped her up and they began to walk home.

"I'm really, really sorry," Lorraine apologized again. "You have to understand that I had no idea this would happen."

"You didn't?" Vern asked in mock surprise, "That wasn't part of the date?"

Lorraine laughed weakly. "You know what I mean. I just hope you're not..." she trailed off.

"Afraid? Me, Vern Tessio, scared? Ha!" he laughed, "Of course I am. Scared shit-less. But that's not the point. The point is that you don't deserve to have him treat you like that. And if I have to help you stand up to him, then I will."

Lorraine kissed Vern on the cheek. "Thank you so much."

"Yeah, well," Vern grinned, "No problem."