Alex's POV:

I wake with a start. That's odd, I can't remember dreaming. Light has poured in to the bedroom. I glance at the clock on my bedside table. It flashes "7:15". I glance over to see Charlie, still fast asleep.

I pull myself out of bed, careful not to wake Charlie. I'm surprised to see Tom, still stretched out on the couch, his breath light with sleep. I proceed to the kitchen and dig through the fridge until I find something edible.

"Are you making tea?" comes Tom's groggy voice from the living room.

"No, but I can if you'd like some," I answer.

"Yes please," he yawns.

I put the water on and pull two mugs out of the cabinet.

"What would you like?"

"English Breakfast".

His voice is a lot closer than I expect. I turn to see he is standing less than a meter away from me.

"You scared me," I laugh.

"Sorry," he smiles at me from underneath his hair, "I actually wanted to talk to you".

I pull out the tin of English Breakfast and set it on the counter, "Oh yeah?"

"About Kathrin".

I turn around, "Listen, Tom-"

"I broke up with her".

I can barely believe what I've just heard.

"You what?" I babble.

"For good this time".

"Really? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I don't want it to be true; not when I saw the pills; not when I was crying on the street; not even now. I want to pretend she's better. I want to pretend everything is fine. I want to love her and I want her to love me back. But she doesn't. She doesn't love me. She loves the pills. I'll always come second. So that's why I had to leave. But even now, even knowing the truth, I don't want it to be the truth".

My arms wrap around him. His neck let's loose, his head resting, heavily on my shoulder. His back is shaking as I rub it, comfortingly. It doesn't feel like he's crying but I can't be positive.

"I'm sorry Tom".

It's stupid. So very, very stupid. But it's all I can say.

I'm sorry you met her, sorry she toyed with your heart like a kitten with string, sorry she hurt you, sorry I wasn't there, sorry I don't have anything better to say.

He doesn't say anything back but I know he understands. The whistle of the kettle interrupts us. I remove my self from Tom's arms. Once the tea is ready, I hand a mug to Tom and motion toward the couch. We sit and drink tea in silence.

"You made the right decision, you know," I say, breaking the quite.

"I know. That doesn't make it painless".

I nod, "I'll be here for you, Tom. And you can bet my ass, Charlie will be too. I don't care where or when, I will swim the ocean if I have to, but if you're in trouble, mate, I'll be there, right by your side, to go through it with you".

He smiles, "That's probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Alex".

I laugh, "Yeah, well don't get used it!"

His deep chuckle harmonizes with mine.

"Having a party with out me I see," comes Charlie's voice.

I turn to see him standing in the hallway, clad only in his boxer-briefs. His hair is flipped out in random places and his eyes are tired. I can't help but smile.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty," I greet, "we were just celebrating!"

Charlie flops down on the couch next to me, "Celebrating what, exactly?"

I hand my arm around Tom's shoulders, "Our mate Tom, is now a free man".

Charlie's eyes grow wide, "You broke up with Kathrin?"

He nods solemnly, "I did".

Charlie smiles, reassuringly, "I know that must have been hard for you, Tom. But everything will be better now, I promise".

He grins, "I know".