A/N Thanks! WhenPigsFly2018 You made me laugh. And where have you been? I've been following your fic "Stand With Me" it's really good.

I appreciate your reviews and support, you're all really nice. I accept criticism too :)

Anyway, here we go.

"Ther've been good times

Ther've been bad times

I have my share of hard times, too

But I lost my faith in the world

Honey, when I lost you"- Good Times, Bad Times BY The Rolling Stones 1964

iii

The sound of heavy footsteps stirred me from sleep and I could feel the heat of the sun on my face, I was pobably gonna get sunburnt. There were a few moments of bliss before the headache and the memory of last night flood my brain.

I'm on a tattered sofa in my underwear and the room smells like cigarettes mixed with sweat. I know where I am before the sickness hits me and I shield my eyes from the sun before opening them. Ace still hasnt replaced the curtains since the time he and my big brother, Merrick had almost thrown Fuzzy out the window one drunken night.

He places a glass of water in front of me. "You look like shit."

"Fuck off Ace..." I can't even lift my head off the pillow.

He throws a t-shirt and a pair of boxers at me. "Get dressed."

I cover my face with my hands in protest but sense him still lingering over me on the couch.

"C'mon Midge, move it! I got shit to do" He popped a toothpick in his mouth, "and people to see!"

I pieced together already that in a druken state I must have crawled here looking for a place to crash but the entire night was a write off.

I will myself to not throw up as I finally get up and changed into the clothes that Ace had thrown at me.

I take two steps from the couch into the kitchen where Ace is and notice his top was not as loose on me as it used to be. I knew I'd gained weight these past few months and I try to cover myself up.

"So what'd he do to ya this time?" He asks, not even looking at me.

"This time?"

"You heard me." He moved around some plates on the kitchen bench while waiting for a response.

"We all told ya about Duchamp before this." He persisted.

This was true.

Teddy was also a regular at the Pool Hall along with the Cobra's and my brother, Merrick. It was safe to say that when Merrick Radić had his concerns about someone, it was up to the gang to do some digging. So when Teddy was seen with me more regularly, Merrick became concerned.

The Cobras called Merrick 'King Cobra' not because he was the leader, no that was still Ace's position but because of his size and because of his behaviour like the King Cobra himself. He was the quiet one- the quiet but strong one. Unlike the rest of the guys, he steered away from confrontation except when provoked. But just like Ace, Merrick also has nasty streak.

"C'mon Ace, just leave it alone." I'm too hungover for this. I push him out of the way and turn on the tap to refill my glass with water, "Besides, what does it matter? Either way you guys still hate him."

"He's an asshole, Midge." Midge was Ace's nickname for me since I don't remember when. I hated it when he called me a midget as kids but somehow 'Midge' was easier to hear and it stuck. I was the smallest kid out of the grade every year in school until probably now, I realise as I pull at Ace's shirt hoping for it to give some stretch around my chest. Plus I've never been tall, I never will be either.

"Oh and you're so much better?"

"You better watch it, kid." He pointed a finger at me, his stare telling me to watch myself.

"You're lucky your brother is one of us or your ass would have been left out in a ditch somewhere last night." He growled lowly.

I hoisted myself up on the bench comfortably knowing I was getting in his way.

Ace groaned, "Do you know how much of a pain in my ass you are?" He gestured at me sitting on the bench.

"Do you wanna know what happened or not?" I could see his expression change when his eyes narrowed upon my grin and mirrored my own sarcasm.

"I really couldn't give a shit."

Sometimes I hate his stupid Goddamn face and for a brief moment, I hate him now. What a prick!

Then he stops the charade of an asshole and I feel guilty for thinking what I did.

"Look, sweetie I just hate what this guy does to ya." I can tell it hurt him to say that.

I'm too stunned to respond. He can probably see my eyes falling out of their sockets in surprise. What the fuck did he just say? Was that fucking sincerity in his voice? I'm speechless, and then, he continues to speak!

Ace sighed, forcing himself to push his words out. "I saw ya last night drenched, shiverin and cryin' and honestly it scared the shit outta me. I never seen ya outta control but you didn't know what was up or down and nobody knew what to do."

"I was just drunk. I threw up on myself and Gordie hosed me down."

"But where the fuck was he!?" He yelled, like I knew the answer.

"I don't fucking know!" I wish I did though.

He clicked his fingers at me, "That's my fuckin' point because he wasn't there."

I tried to remember what happened after we had that argument. I vomited. I ran and vomited on the porch, Vern and Gordie were there. Bethany had gone to get me water. Gordie hosed me down and then I must have passed out. It dawned on me that Teddy didn't run after me, he must have just left. He left me there.

"Wait," I had to gather my memory and swallow down a threatening upchuck. "How did you know he wasn't there?" I had to chug more water before I could speak, man, my head was beginning to throb like Charlie Watts was performing a drum solo inside it. "You went to the party, didn't you? Why?"

"Well, the Tiger closed early. What the fuck else am I gonna do on a Sat'day night?" He spat the toothpick out of his mouth and replaced it with an unlit cigarette. "Good call, I'd say. Wouldn't you?" He offered me a smoke but declined. All I want to do is shower and brush my teeth.

"Did I ruin your chances of gettin' skirt?" I couldn't help but joke.

He made a sound in his throat that sounded like I did, "It aint the first time either."

I stare at him like he just grew horns on his head. He's talking about Laura Russo.

"Ace, why would you want to crash a party at your exs house anyway?" I jump off the counter to join him, sitting at the kitchen table. "It's not my fault you went there and I was fucked up. And it sure as hell isn't my fault you and Laura broke up!"

I can't say I'm sorry that they broke up either. Just like Ace hates my taste in men, I hate Laura's taste in men. I knew he only liked her looks and the fact that she had a nice house and didn't often have her parents around.

Laura told me that she wanted him to stray away from the 'Cobras' and drinking but I knew that wasn't likely. I'd tried telling her that he wasn't going to change; Ace is the one person that hasn't changed. And no way would it be for a blonde high school girl he's known for two minutes!

His face remained calm and expressionless as usual. He had the knack of remaining cool in heated situations, something I wish I had.

"I don't care about that shit. I care about you."

I lean back in the chair when it hits me. Looking at him, he's avoiding eye contact, fiddling with the butt of his cigarette. My hero- Ace Merrill.

I realise he's still shitty about me rejecting him a year ago. We went on one date. He drove us to the peak of Castle County and we watched the sunset. Romantic, right?

The most romantic thing anyone has done for me actually, but the whole night was akward.

He's my big brothers friend and I've known him my whole life so I guess it was better left there.

Laura wanted him to stray from the Cobras, from Merrick- from me.

He refused and left her at the bar.

Now she wanted Teddy.

I think I'm gonna be sick again.