The baby project~~

12.

~Ace's pov~

I wake up first, the weight of last night's emotions still heavy in my chest. I didn't sleep much, my thoughts consumed by everything that happened. The phone call, the hospital, Grandpa—so many things I wish I didn't have to think about.

I glance down at Nova, still asleep, her body warm against mine. For a moment, I feel that familiar pang in my chest, that desperate ache that I don't know how to deal with. This is what I'm trying to avoid, right? Feelings. Vulnerability. But here I am, not able to stop myself from wishing I didn't have to carry this alone.

I carefully slide out of her embrace, trying not to disturb her. My head pounds, a dull throb that matches the knot in my stomach. I need to get away for a second. I need to breathe.

I walk to the kitchen, my bare feet against the cold floor. The house is still, quiet. The coffee maker hums as I start brewing, the aroma filling the air. A distraction. Something to pull me out of my head.

The memories come crashing back—my dad's fists, the cold silence from my mom, the way they both looked at me like I was nothing. I tried to be strong, tried to ignore how their harsh words cut deeper than anything else. But deep down, I was a scared little kid who never had a safe place to land.

When the coffee's ready, I pour two cups and walk back to the living room. Nova's just stirring, her soft breaths quickening as she wakes. Her eyes lock onto mine as I enter, her gaze soft but knowing. She doesn't push me, but I can feel it—she wants me to open up.

"Morning," she says quietly, sitting up in bed.

I don't return her smile. I just hand her one of the cups, staring at her as I stand there, waiting. The weight of the unspoken hangs thick between us.

Nova's eyes search my face. "Wanna talk about it now, baby?" she asks, her voice gentle, laced with concern.

I scoff, taking a sip of my coffee and setting the mug down on the counter. "What's there to talk about? It's nothing, alright?" I can feel my shoulders tense, my jaw tightening. I'm not ready to let her in.

Nova doesn't back down. She just sits there, watching me closely. "Ace," she says softly, her voice laced with patience, "I know you're carrying something heavy. You don't have to hide it from me."

I bite down on my lip, my heart pounding in my chest. I can't do this. Not today. Not with her.

"Stop it," I snap, my voice harsh. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone, okay?" My words come out sharp, cruel, and I know I've hurt her, but I don't care. I just want her to drop it.

She doesn't flinch. She just takes a deep breath and sets the coffee down, standing up to walk towards me. She places a hand on my arm, and it feels like fire against my skin.

"Ace," she whispers, "Please talk to me. Whatever it is, it's okay. You don't have to carry it alone."

I feel my heart rate spike, my fists clenching. I want to push her away, tell her to leave me alone. But then something cracks inside me. The memories flood back, overwhelming me.

My dad, his fists coming down on me over and over again.
My mom, her empty eyes as she looked right through me, like I was a shadow.
The bruises on my skin, the pain that never really went away.

"I don't need you," I growl, my voice strained with all the years of hurt. "I never needed anyone, okay?" My words are like knives, and I don't even care that they're cutting through her. She doesn't understand. She can't.