The Redemption of Ace Merrill

Car accident

Ace gently shut the book as he leant his head against the wall.

"So they were reunited after all?" Stella asked through the open door with a small smile on her face.

"Yeah," Ace spoke softly with a sigh.

"You think they're still together?"

"Hero and Leander?" Ace asked confused.

"Yeah, like do you believe it?"

Ace was silent for a moment. "It's just a fairytale Stell... bit of fictional mythology."

Stella went quiet as she gently lowered her legs back in the water.

"Yeah, I guess so..."

"You wanna come out now?"

Stella sighed slightly as she nodded to herself. "Yeah, I can do it though."

"Sure?" Ace asked as he instinctively pushed himself up, grabbing the book.

"Yeah I got it." She mumbled back as she quickly washed before climbing out.

Ace was silent as he wander around the hall waiting for her. She soon appeared, holding a bra to her chest.

Ace's hands went to her shoulders as he spun her around her gently and clipped it up. She turned slowly as he zipped up her jeans, letting her go put her top on.

"You hungry?" He asked through the door.

"What you thinking?"

A small smile came to his face. "Pancakes?"

Stella couldn't stop the smiling coming to hers. "With strawberries?"

"Whatever you want."

Her smile grew. "Done."

She walked out the bathroom as the pair went downstairs. She slipped on her trainers as Ace bent down and tied her laces before the pair slowly walked out the house.

"Ace..."

He sighed slightly. "Yeah Stell?"

"You still got the um..." she mumbled as she pointed down at his hands.

He looked down and quickly saw he was still holding the book.

"Shit." He grumbled. "You take it." He snapped out, quickly handing it to her.

"Why me?"

"I'm not gonna be seen carrying a book." He snapped as she just shook her head.

*****

The pair sat happily eating their now brunch. Stella obviously got her pancakes with strawberries, nobody in Castle Rock said no to Ace.

He kept pushing the menu towards her as he was encouraging her to read out the words she remembered Eyeball had taught her.

*****

"Stell you tried a cartwheel, it didn't work. Don't try a fucking handstand-"

*****

"You just never fucking listen." Ace grumbled as he held onto her tight.

Stella smiled at him as her arms remained wrapped around his neck. Ace's book of Greek mythology tales resting on her lap.

Across the street Billy nudged Eyeball and pointed out their glorious leader carrying Stella; who looked like he knees had been grazed up again.

"Fucking girl will never listen." Eyeball said with a laugh.