Louis.

Alec knew she'd eventually have to leave...he just hoped she'd stay longer. He wanted to keep her here forever but he didn't want to rush her into anything.

" I'll freshen up and drop you off. " He pinched her cheek and walked to the shower. Gwen had a lump in her throat. If he just asked her to stay back , she would.

Alec drove the car in silence. They both looked everywhere but at each other then Alec started to laugh.

" What's funny?" Gwen turned to him.

" Remember the first time I drove you home? " He glanced at her but made sure his focus was on the road. Gwen nodded in response.

" The car was this silent but the thoughts running through my mind were deafening. "

Gwen remembered that day we'll. She'd never felt so connected to someone before. She remembered praying he'd come back for her. " What was running through your mind ? "

Alec smiled and sighed. He parked the car and looked her straight in the eyes and she tensed.

" I was thinking...Would she be willing to be in my life... forever? "

Gwen blinked and she didn't realize she wasn't breathing. He kept the eye contact and Gwen wasn't sure she was comprehending him well. She was thinking...marriag- She shook her head and closed her eyes. What if that's not what he meant.

" I...I..." She was stammering and the air just seemed to run out. Alec held her hand.

" Don't say anything. " He smiled. " We're here. "

Gwen looked out the window and she saw her house. She should be happy but instead she felt sad. She looked back at him and back at her house. Tears burned in her eyes and she quickly got out of the car to let the cold air cool her face. She inhaled and exhaled.

" Let's go ?" Alec put out his hand and she took it.

Gwen's eyes never left him. She watched him talk to Marylynne and Louis , hug them and he glanced at her time and time again. She watched his lips move but everything was mute to her.

She walked him to the door and held it open. He kissed her tenderly and just as his lips left hers , she smiled and she knew her answer. She'd been thinking about what he'd said in the car.

He smiled at her and turned to leave. Gwen watched his back and she took a deep breath before calling him.

" Alec..."

He stopped and turned to her. She smiled placed her cheek on the door.

" She would...I would."

Alec seemed confused for a second. He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.

" The thing you said in the car. That's my answer. " She smiled and shut the door. Alec stood there for a while processing events. Did she mean what he thought she meant? Was she willing to be...his better half?

Gwen shut the door to her room and leaned against it. Her heart was pounding in her ears. She sat on the edge of her bed and put her face in her palms.

" Did he get what I was saying? " She rushed to her window and peeked . He was still standing there. She was dying to know what he was thinking. Almost like he sensed her , he looked up at her window. Gwen's heart skipped a beat and she jumped away from the window.

" Why are you acting like this?" She placed her hand over her heart. She took her chances and looked out her window again. He was gone.

She looked around for Alec but her attention was caught by something else. She narrowed her eyes when she saw a familiar figure walk out in a black hoodie. The physic was similar to Louis'. He was met by a strange looking young man , not much older than him. He was young but he was covered in tattoos and Gwen could feel a dark aura around him. They fist bumped and got into a black car that was parked at a distance. Gwen had a gut feeling that something wasn't right. She grabbed her coat and keys and ran downstairs.

" Where are you off to? You just got back!" Marylynne had just made tea.

" I'll be back in a few." Gwen ran out the door.

She followed the car from a distance. For the first time she regretted having a bright red convertible. She was so obvious. She couldn't take risks so she parked her car somewhere safe and got into a taxi.

" Follow that car. " They drove for a while before the car went into a shady part of town. Gwen frowned. This area had all the community scum , drug addicts , prostitutes , thieves , even murderers. She patted her chest and prayed Louis wasn't getting himself in trouble. They drove even further and Gwen saw the car stop outside a club.

" What the fuck are you up to Louis?" Gwen paid the taxi driver and got out. She followed them closely and as soon as she got well into the club , the strong smell of sex , drugs and everything illegal hit her.

" Tsssp...hey gorgeous. " Comments were flying in the air and Gwen frowned with disgust.

The smoke in the air made the room foggy and Gwen squinted to see. There were naked girls bending in all sorts of ways on poles at the centre of the club and men threw money at them. Gwen blocked out all the noise and confusion around her and when she caught a glimpse of Louis , she walked to where he was buy before she could get there a strong hand seized her by the waist.

" Beautiful. " A tall man with distinct face tattoos and body piercings stood so close to her , his alcohol breath almost made her throw up.

" Let go." Gwen warned him. She had her hand on her revolver which she'd tucked in the waist of her trousers. " I said...let go!" She pushed him away and he stumbled back .

" Boss! " A few men stood from their seats with their guns in their hands. Seems like she'd met the boss. Gwen glared at him and she saw a tattoo of a salamander on his neck. She noticed all the other men also had it on different parts of their bodies.

" I like the fire in your eyes. What's your name? " He smirked as he put a cigarette to his lips. Gwen rolled her eyes and focused on her mission , she needed to get to Louis. Oh how she would give him a proper smacking after this!

" I'd rather lot tell you my name. " She turned to leave when his hand pulled her by the shoulder. Almost like a reflex action , she spun round and smacked him across the face and he fell to the floor.

The music suddenly came to a halt and there were several guns pointed at her. Well , looks like she had everyone's attention.

"-_-"