By the time Alex woke the bed sheets were crumpled and she was all alone. She faintly heard the sound of plates tapping together in the kitchen and when she got up she saw Ace sat by the window drinking a coffee and smoking his morning cigarette. The bright sun softly lit up his face and she was reminded of how beautiful he really was. Despite his faults she couldn't deny how much she adored him and she knew he really cared for her. His head spun round when he heard the creak of the floorboards and he smiled wide when he saw her, offering her his coffee cup. She shook her head knowing it'd be topped full of sugar and cream, the way he always drank it. She began pouring herself a cup and slipped beside him on the couch.

"I could get used to waking up like this" she grinned "You always gonna wake me up with coffee?"

"When you ever seen me up before noon?" he laughed back. Alex's eyes flicked to the clock, it was barely 10. Definitely too early for a guy who spent most of his nights in a bar

"Yeah.. Why are you awake?" Ace didn't respond. He stood up quickly, placing his coffee mug into the sink before disappearing back into his room. A wave of panic washed over Alex as she began to search her brain. Then it hit her. She counted the days on her fingers and the realisation punched her hard in the stomach. It was friday, already. She jumped to her feet following him to the bedroom.

"Ace don't do this, you're already not in great shape" she looked at the bruises dotted across his skin that had only darkened in the last few days. "You're gonna get really badly hurt"

"I aint scared of him" he grumbled back "he's got more to worry about than me" she watched him thrust his switchblade into the pocket of his jeans. Her heart began to thud she reached for into his pocket to take it back but he gripped her wrist before she got close.

"Don't do it, please don't do it, you're gonna get yourself killed or in jail" her voice was starting to crack.

"You don't tell me what to do!" He roared tightening his grip on her wrist "You're my girl Lex not my fucking mother! If you think you're gonna change me now we're something you need to wake up"

She ripped her hand from his grip, rubbing the red marks that had begun to appear where his fingers had been. Tears that had been threatening to fall now began streaming down her face.

"I can't lose you" she whispered so meekly Ace nearly could've pretended he hadn't heard it. He couldn't bring himself to look at her and let his eyes drop to his feet. They stood in silence for a moment while Ace took a steadying breath and pieced together his response.

"You're not gonna lose me, I promise" he kissed her forehead and before she knew it she was alone again.