Twelve

Please VOTE friends :D

***

Y'know how people always say that when you kiss someone for the first time, they feel sparks? Like they're supposed to be together? They lie. And if you were to ever tell anyone that you didn't have sparks with someone you seem crazy over than they would say that person isn't for you. You're not meant to be. I don't believe in that.

My first kiss with Justin was incredible. I feel in my gut, heart and mind that there's something between us. Something good. Something pure. Something special. Something more than a sibling, more than a friend. Something romantic, like it's somehow destined that we're together. Are we? No.

After the kiss, we both became too nervous. Neither of us said anything and he brought me home. I snuck back into my room successfully. No one suspected anything and although I was too nervous to say anything, I went to sleep with a smile plastered on my lips. I can only hope that he felt the same way... now here I lay, ten hours later, with the smile still present.

Justin and Maverick stand in the gym, doing their own separate exercises while spending the time next to one another. Justin lost in his thoughts as Maverick stays focused on his actions.

I've never had a kiss like it. Last night was one of the most unexpected pleasant nights I've had in a long time. And the joke that comes out of all of it? It wasn't supposed to happen. One thing catches my attention though. After the kiss, I found myself nervous. I'm never nervous. Especially with girls. I can't help but to think that it's a sign from something inside of me. See, my father had always told me that the girl in life that makes you nervous is the girl that you're destined to be with. Now, the amount of truth with the statement is unknown. Sure, most think you should be comfortable around the person you're destined to be with. But that's the thing... I am. I'm comfortable with her but when it comes to my actual feelings I choke up. Wait... actual feelings? For Hadlee?

"Dude, what's going on with you?" Maverick says, bringing Justin out of his thoughts and into reality as he lifts the weights over his head. "You've been in your head all day."

"Uh, yeah." Justin starts, clearing his throat, licking his lips and shrugging. "I've just got a lot going on right now. A lot in my head."

God, if he ever finds out I'm talking to his sister. I mean, it's not like we're dating. But what if I want to? No. I can't. We can't. He'd kill both of us.

"Oh, alright... anyways, I was thinking." Maverick starts, hesitating directly afterwards.

"What?" Justin asks, chuckling to hide his discomfort.

"Hadlee. She's been such a loner lately." he says.

"No." Justin says, shutting him down immediately.

"Justin, come on man. We should find her a couple friends! She's alone all the time! Since our argument, she just locks herself in her room." Maverick complains.

"Dude, it's a bad fucking idea!" Justin shakes his head. "You're using energy so she doesn't find out about us but you want her to play besties with the girls?!"

"Well-"

"It's like you actually want her to know the shit we actually do." Justin says, whispering.

"I don't." Maverick says immediately. "But I also don't want her to to be alone all summer. She's already miserable."

"Then here's an idea." Justin says as if it's obvious. "Let her go out and make her own friends."

"Alright, I get your point. Let's get to my place." he chuckles, nodding to the exit and putting a towel around the back of his neck.

Justin nods, following him out of the exit and to the car.

They both hop in, soon arriving to Mav's house and walk inside.

"Go ahead and take a shower first. I'm gonna make a shake."

Justin nods, leaving the room and showering. Once done, Maverick goes in and Justin slips upstairs, peeking into Hadlee's room.

Immediately, she looks up at him, noticing him.

Feeling eyes, I look up, noticing Justin peeking into my rom.

"What are you doing? Maverick's here." I whisper, gulping.

"He's in the shower. Can I come in?" he asks, licking his lips.

I nod hesitantly, giving him the answer I know he wants.

Walking in, he silently closes the door, running his palms against my thighs a couple times before sighing. "Alright, so, we need to talk about last night."

He's nervous too.

I nod. "Yeah, we do."

He pauses, not saying anything. Not being able to.

"You kissed me." I tell him, giggling embarrassingly.

He smiles. "Yeah, I did, didn't I?"

"Yeah." I laugh.

"You're amazing." he says, grinning.

"Generally or?"

"Yes." he nods. "Generally."

I bite my lip, more nervous than I should be. "Thank you."

"I really like you, Hadlee." he tells me, relief glazing his eyes. "I shouldn't. I really shouldn't but I do."

I frown, sighing and licking my lips as my head hangs low.

"He told you about my past." He says, clearing his throat and letting out a sigh.

I nod. "Yeah. He did."

"So, you think all I want is to have sex with you." he assumes, licking my lips.

I shake my head. "I don't know what I think. On one note, my brother wouldn't lie. On the other, my gut is telling me there's so much more to you than what he has told me." I tell him, glancing up.

"You think there's more to me?" he asks, giving me a confused look.

I nod, laughing at him lightly. "Yeah I do... and for the record, I like you too."

"I couldn't tell." he smirks.

I roll my eyes at him, giving him a smile afterwards.

As we sit for a second, just looking at each other, Justin's head turns slightly to the side before he turns to me again.

"Fuck, he's out of the shower. I've gotta go. I'll text you later, yeah?"

I nod. "Yeah, go."

He smiles, kissing my cheek and silently running out of the room and downstairs.

I laugh lightly at his actions, assuming he plops down on the couch downstairs as I smile to myself at our previous conversation. My cheeks heat up at the words we shared.

Am I really the only girl he's been like that with?

A light knock on the door snaps me out of my thoughts. Immediately, I tell them to come in and Maverick sticks his head inside, causing me to sigh and open my mouth to tell him to leave.

"Please let me in. I want to talk to you for a second. And listen..." he says, walking in and closing the door.

I close my mouth and nod to give him permission to speak to me.

"Look, I'm sorry about the other night. I'm sorry that I've been acting this way. It's just, when I saw you were gone, my brother instinct just kicked in and all I cared about was making sure you were okay. I know the people in this town and there's some that are actually dangerous. I promise." he says, trying to explain himself.

Not that I care.

"Is that it?" I ask, not falling for his apology that could or could not be true.

"No." he answers quickly, shaking his head and making me jump slightly at his tone. "I um, wanted to tell you to go out tonight. Make some friends... or try to."

"Is that an order?" I ask, irritated. "Is that even your decision?"

"No. But I know dad won't care and i know you need some friends because you don't have any around here." he answers.

I nod, scoffing. "Well, thanks for your permission to live my life."

He sighs, leaving immediately without another word, allowing me to let out a breath of relief.

*

As nine approaches, I finish getting ready. I know that my excitement for going out is way unnecessary and I'll probably meet no one. That's usually the way it goes. My life at least. Have I figured out where I'm going to go? Hell no. I know nothing about this town. I'll figure out where I'll go when I get the hell out of this house. And by that, I mean I'll walk around until I can find something to do. Or someone nice enough to hang out with.

Once ready, I descend downstairs and say bye to my father before heading outside and starting down the sidewalk towards downtown as I receive a text message. Confused, I look down at my phone and instantly smile as I read.

I know Mav told you to go out tonight. Are you?

I reply immediately, not wanting to keep him waiting. Yes I am. Figured it wouldn't hurt... right?

Less than a moment later, my phone vibrates again, giving me an answer from him.

You're right. Just be careful. Not everyone in stratford is good. Just like anywhere else. Call me if you need me. Have a good night.

I laugh at his concern, typing back and replying. Thank you Justin. I'll be careful, I promise.

As I near the middle of town, I pass a nice looking development and try to ignore the blasting music coming from somewhere inside.

The party is the last place I should be. It's not my scene, I don't like parties. But all my friends back home love parties. They're good people... so there's gotta be some good people at this party too right? I suppose there's only one way to find out. But should I? Maybe not. Who am I kidding? I'm going.

Shrugging my shoulders, I walk around the development, soon finding the the house and walking inside, being instantly greeted.

"Welcome!" a guy says, laughing hysterically as he's obviously drunk.

I laugh uncomfortably at him, forcing myself past and further into the wildness of the party, I find myself watching people out of pure boredom. After only a half hour, I finally decide to give up, rising from my seat and inching my way to the front door.

Until I'm pushed.

"Whoa! Are you okay?" I ask, catching the drunken girl who pushed into me... well, more like fell into me.

She starts giggling, not giving me an answer.

"Thank you so much! She keeps running from me!" a girl says, quickly walking up to us, pushing through the crowd.

"No problem." I shrug. "Is she okay? Other than being drunk, of course."

"Her and her boyfriend got into a fight. They'll make up by the end of the night, guaranteed. Either way, I've gotta get her home." the girl says, laughing humorlessly while trying to hold her friend up on her own.

"Home? No way unless her parents are really cool with her drinking and getting drunk?" I tell her, shaking my head.

She shrugs. "She can't come to my place. My parents didn't know we were having a party and would kill me."

I sigh. "Okay, then-"

"There you are!" a guy yells over the music, walking over. "Chaz is here."

"Good. We need to figure out where to take her. She can't come home with me and she can't go home either. Her parents and mine would kill us." the girl tells him.

"She can go to Chaz's." the guy shrugs before catching sight of me and looking back to her. "Who's this?! Why is she holding Rebecca?"

The girl laughs. "She caught her so she didn't fall and..." she turns to me. "What's your name?"

"I'm Hadlee." I grin, adjusting myself to hold Rebecca up.

"This is Hadlee." she says, gesturing to me and then looking at me again. "I'm Caitlin by the way... and this is Ryan."

"It's nice to meet you guys!" I smile.

"You don't seem like the party type." Ryan says, chuckling towards me as he takes Rebecca from my arms.

I stand straight again, laughing at his statement. "I'm really not. I came tonight because I thought I might meet a few people! I'm okay with being friends with people that party." I shrug.

"We only come every once in a while." Caitlin laughs. "Most of the time we stay in. That's kind of our forte."

I smile, shrugging as I don't know what else to say.

"We should hang out sometime." Caitlin says, grinning at me.

"Yeah, you seem cool." Ryan says, chuckling.

I smile and nod. "Yeah, totally. Give me your phone. I'll put my number in."

Caitlin hands me her phone and I type my number in before handing it back.

"I'll call you, but hey, we need to get out of here." she tells me, pushing her phone into her pocket.

I nod and wave lightly as they walk away, grinning to myself.

Well, I found one friend... if she calls.

After a moment of staring like an idiot, I force myself through the crowd and out the front door. I then walk out of the development and back home, using the spare key my father gave me to walk inside.

"How'd it go?" Maverick asks as he sits in the couch.

I jump lightly, letting out a breath as my eyes catch sight of him. "Why aren't you asleep?"

He chuckles. "It's only eleven, Hads."

I lick my lips, laughing lightly. "Oh. It was good. I met a few people. Gave a girl my number so we can hang out sometime. I just hope she'll call."

He nods. "Good. I'm glad. Going to bed?"

I nod. "Yeah. Goodnight Maverick."

"Goodnight Hadlee." he says.

I climb the stairs and open the door to my room, walking inside and closing it behind me. I then undress and put them in the hamper before putting on shorts and a tank top. I then climb into the bed, turning off the lights and grabbing my phone, sending a message for Justin before I know why or I can stop myself. I'm home safe. Goodnight Justin.

Less than a moment later, my phone vibrates, giving me an answer from him.

Goodnight Hadlee. See you soon.

I smile at the message, plugging the phone in and setting it near the bed. I then roll over, covering up and falling asleep after a moment.

***

hey friends!

It's crazy how much Becoming Queen is constantly growing an audience! I'm so excited.

The one thing I'd ask for is more feedback and support from you readers.

I'd like more votes and comments from you all as I thrive off the feedback!

Either way, I'm extremely grateful for all you lovelies!

much, much love,

shan:)

QUESTIONS:

1. what was your favorite / least favorite part of this chapter?

2. what are you hoping happens next?

3. do you think Hadlee's new friends will lead her back to Justin in some way? ;)