Fourteen

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10,080 minutes. 168 hours. 7 days. This is how long I've been keeping Justin waiting. I haven't given him an answer... I haven't even seen or talked to him. I know I have to but something's holding me back. Something's convincing me to keep him waiting. I guess I want to see if he'll give up on me if I keep him waiting. I want to know if he actually wants me... not a part of me. But I also know him enough by now to know he's trying to give me space while I think and decide.

"You want me to be your girlfriend?" I ask, my breath caught within my throat.

"More than anything." he whispers, holding my cheek in his hand and rubbing the padding of his thumb against the soft skin.

I lick my lips, my breath still stuck within my throat as I gulp. "Can I- can I think about it?"

He grins, nodding. "Absolutely. I know there's a lot that we have to worry about with being together. It's not simple for us."

I nod. "Yeah, there is."

He grins, putting my hair behind my ear. "Do you want me to go?"

I shake my head. "No. But you should... my dad will be home soon and if you're here it'll look suspicious."

He nods. "I get it."

I look up at him, attaching our lips.

He left soon afterwards, leaving me to my thoughts as I tried to figure out what the hell I was going to do. What the hell my answer was going to be. Granted, I've known my answer for two days now. I was just planning to see whether or not he'd give up on me, which he hasn't. I guess there's only one thing left to do.

Sighing to myself, I grab my phone off my bed after showering and getting dressed in a pair of sweats and a tank top. Noticing it's almost nine, I go to my messages with Justin and send one. Hey, you busy?

After only a moment, my phone goes off, giving me the answer I was hoping for.

Nothing today. Why? Everything okay?

I grin at his concern for me, texting back. Everything's fine. Just thought you'd wanna come hear my answer to the question you asked me a few days ago.

Less than thirty seconds later, I receive a text back.

I'll be there in 10

I smile at his eagerness, laying back on my bed and staring at the ceiling, not realizing that time had passed so quickly until there's a knock on my door.

"Come in." I say softly, sitting up as Justin walks into the room. "Hey."

"Hey." He grins, rubbing his palms against his legs.

"You can sit, Jay." I say, laughing lightly.

He chuckles, sitting. "It's just an important conversation." he shrugs.

I nod. "You're right. It is."

He licks his lips, sighing. "So, you made a decision."

I sigh nervously. "Yeah..." I pause, licking my lips. "I want to do this."

He looks up at me, grinning lightly. "Really? You're saying yes?"

I smile, nodding. "Yeah. I wanna try this. I wanna try us. I like us. I like you."

"I like you too." He says, smiling big. "I promise you, Hadlee, I'm going to give you everything I can. And with the shit me and Mav do I also want you to know that I'm gonna do everything I can to protect you. Always."

I grin, pulling him forward and pressing my lips to his in a passionate kiss before pulling away. "Thank you."

He smiles, pecking my lips. "Thank you for giving me this chance."

I nod. "Wanna stay a while?"

He nods and we both lay on the bed, me in his arms as we're in a comfortable silence.

I bite my lip, something on my mind although I'm afraid to say anything. I don't want to start an argument... although I hope the topic wouldn't start one in the first place.

"You've been staring into space for ten minutes." Justin chuckles. "What are you thinking about?"

"You're not playing me... right?" I ask, sighing.

He sighs. "I get why you'd be worrying about that. I used to be a guy who walked around thinking I was the best anyone could get. I'll admit when I first met you I didn't wanna get to know you. I didn't wanna do anything we're doing right now. I was interested in dating anyone. I could've cared less. But, then something happened... something clicked. I don't know what it is about you, Hadlee. I really don't and I wish I did. But that's why I wanna try. I wanna figure out what it is about you that's making me change perspective on relationships." he pauses. "So, no Hadlee. I'm not playing you. I'm genuinely interested in being with you and making you happy."

"You really mean that?" I ask, grinning up at him.

He smiles, nodding. "Yeah, Hads, I do."

I reach up, kissing him. "Thank you... again."

He grins. "I know it's gotta be hard for you, y'know? Doing this."

I nod, sitting up. Which reminds me. Rules."

"There's rules to our relationship?" he asks, chuckling.

"Only for now." I answer, laughing lightly.

Sure, I know it's a little odd for me to set relationship rules with Justin. But when Maverick has already forbid us from being together and then we've decided to do it behind his back, there's gotta be some sort of rules that we abide by for it to work... at least until we figure out a way to tell Maverick.

"I don't think we should Tell Mav right away. Especially with him already saying he wants us staying away from each other." I start.

He nods. "I get that." he says, rubbing my thigh soothingly with his thumb.

"So, I think we should build our relationship first. Get to know each other in this new sort of light. Then, as we get stronger than we go and tell." I inform him. "Which means I don't think we should tell anyone about us."

He nods. "I agree. I don't want to hide you, but, with our circumstances... it's what's best."

I sigh. "Great. That's rule number one then. No one knows. Number two..." I continue. "I want to know when you're going on missions and stuff. I don't wanna be left in the dark. Not because I need to know everything but because I want to be aware in case anything happens to you."

He sighs, moving my hair behind my ear. "Hads, nothing's gonna happen to me."

"You don't know that." I tell him softly. "Anything can happen. I'm not trying to be obsessive but you mean something to me and I just wanna know when you're doing stuff so that I don't randomly find out when you come back injured... or worse."

His lips form a straight line. "Hadlee, listen to me. I promise you. I will be more careful than I've ever been from now on. Before, I didn't have anyone to be careful for. I mean, my family but even then, I didn't find it important. I'd figured they'd move on." he sighs. "But, I do now. I have you and I don't wanna put you through that. That being said, yes. I will keep you up to date with everything going on. Especially when I have to travel for work."

"Is that a lot?" I ask, raising my brows.

He shrugs. "Not really. We go to places around here more often but there are times where I have to travel for a weekend to somewhere more northern."

I nod. "Okay."

"Number three?" he asks, grinning.

"Number three is a long time rule. As is number two. But it should also be easy."

He nods. "Okay."

"Honesty. Always. Even if it's gonna hurt me or scare me. I need to know. I don't want to be left in the dark. I just don't wanna get hurt. And well, if you're always honest... there's no secrets for me to get hurt from." I shrug.

He grins, kissing me softly. "You have my word babe."

"Okay." I say, nodding once.

"Now... my rules." he chuckles.

I gasp playfully. "You have rules?!"

He shrugs. "No. Just things I'd appreciate."

I nod, climbing on his lap and wrapping my arms around his neck. "I'm all ears."

"Okay. So, I think it's important that you learn some stuff about what we do and how the gang works. If not, it could turn out bad." he explains.

"Okay." I nod. "What else?"

He sighs. "I need you to always be alert. I know you've got a couple friends now, which I'm happy about but that also means you'll be going out more often. If some of our enemies know that you're connected to me or Maverick because that's more likely, someone can come after you and I don't want you to get hurt. I need you to stay alert. Watch and pay attention to your surroundings. It's important." he stresses, holding my hands in front of me.

I grin thoughtfully. "You have my word."

"And if anything feels off or wrong I need you to call me and I'll be on my way immediately." he continues.

I laugh lightly. "Okay."

"I'm being serious." he chuckles.

"So am I." I grin. "I just appreciate how concerned you are. It shows me you care."

He grins, kissing me. "I do."

"Good." I nod. "Anything else?"

He shakes his head. "Nope. That's it. Other than of course honesty and loyalty and-"

"I get it. I get it." I say, laughing lightly.

Downstairs, the front door slams.

"Shit." Justin whispers.

"My closet. Go in the closet." I tell him.

He nods, rushing over and closing the door after himself.

I grab my phone, lying lazily across the bed.

"Lee? You in there?"

"Come in!" I call out, looking over to the door as it opens, revealing Mav.

"Have you seen Justin? Has he been around?"

I shake my head, laughing believably. "Why?"

"He was supposed to be at work but wasn't. I was just wondering if he came by looking for me while you were downstairs earlier."

I shake my head. "Nope." I shrug. "Sorry Mav. Maybe he's at home?"

He nods. "Yeah, maybe. Alright, I gotta go. See you later."

"Bye." I grin and he leaves.

Soon after, the front door downstairs closes and Justin comes out of the closet, sighing in relief.

"Close one." I laugh.

He nods. "Hell yeah."

I yawn.

"Maybe I should go so you can sleep." he chuckles.

I shake my head, reaching and grabbing his arm. "No. Can you stay until I fall asleep?"

He grins. "Of course."

I pull back the blankets to my bed, climbing in as Justin follows. I then turn off the bedside light, cuddling into Justin.

"Goodnight." he whispers in my hair, placing a kiss on the spot afterwards.

"Goodnight." I reply, yawning again and closing my eyes, soon falling into a comfortable, peaceful slumber.

***

good afternoon friends!

i hope you enjoyed the new chapter!

don't forget to vote and comment to let me know!

much love,

shan:)

QUESTIONS:

1. what was your favorite / least favorite part(s)?

2. what do you think will happen next?

3. Are you relieved or upset that Hadlee said yes?