Twenty One

As Justin leaves, I sigh while looking at the clock, already knowing it's only seven in the morning. Why'd his mom have to call and ruin our sleep, I don't know. But it's not a great way to wake up for the day.

Instead of dwelling on how I should be sleeping, I slip Justin's hoodie back on and walk downstairs, yawning and making my way to the kitchen.

"You're up earlier than normal." my father says, a wicked smirk on his lips.

I roll my eyes, grabbing a cup of coffee. "I'm not awake enough for you to be teasing me."

"What happened?" he chuckles. "You two normally don't wake up until at least ten."

I look over. "He has to be at work by nine. We only sleep until eight thirty."

He chuckles, shrugging. "It was worth a shot to try and trick you."

I roll my eyes. "You're a jerk."

He laughs. "So what happened?"

I shrug. "His mom called and woke us up. Something about wanting him home." I shake my head.

He grins. "Well, he is here every other night."

I shake my head. "He hasn't been here in a few days."

Clearing his throat, my father stands, putting his empty cup of coffee in the sink. "I gotta get to work. Have a good day sweetheart." he grins, kissing my head. "I'll see you tonight and then we have the rest of the week to hang out."

I nod. "Bye dad."

After almost a half hour of staring at the wall and drinking two cups of coffee, the front door slams shut and Maverick walks into the kitchen, sweaty.

"What are you doing?" he asks, looking over at me. "Your up early."

"Yep." I tell him, popping the 'p' and standing, placing my cup in the sink and making my way upstairs to lock myself in my room until he leaves.

Maybe I could even get some more sleep.

Locking my door so Maverick doesn't have the chance to barge in, I take Justin's sweatshirt off, hanging it on my desk chair before climbing back into bed and setting my phone down beside me.

Cuddling up to my blanket, since no one is available, I close my eyes, falling asleep surprisingly fast.

***

Blinking my eyes a few times, I look over to my phone, seeing that it's almost ten. After stretching, I get out of bed, grabbing my phone and dragging myself to the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet, I type in a text, sending it to Caitlin right away. Hey, you guys busy today?

Within a few seconds, a response comes through. Nope! Wanna get together?

I smile, typing in my reply. Sure. Wanna come over in about an hour?

Soon enough, I get her answer. Sure! See you then!

I lick my lips, getting in the shower after a few moments and scrubbing myself clean. I then get out and dress myself in a gray flowing tee, faded jeans and my black puma sneakers. I then dry and add some wave to my hair and do a natural eye before sliding on some chapstick, making sure my nails aren't too chipped since I've had then painted a few days and grabbing my phone almost directly before the doorbell rings.

Perfect.

Quickly jogging down the stairs, I swing the door open, smiling wide. "Hey guys!"

"Hey!" Caitlin and Rebecca immediately respond.

"What's up?!" the guys ask in weird voices, following behind.

"I figured we could all hang out in my room." I shrug. "We can talk and just hang out. Or watch a movie."

"How about... we watch a movie with snacks. And then we sit around and chat." Ryan says in a silly voice.

"Works for me." I smile. "Raid the kitchen and meet me upstairs. Oh! And don't forget to bring me a coke."

"Got it!" Caitlin says, throwing a thumbs up while they jog to the kitchen.

I go upstairs while they get what they want, setting up the area comfortably and getting the remote out to chose a movie.

"Alright!" Chaz exclaims, walking into the room first and plopping down immediately while the rest follow in, sitting around as well.

***

Two hours later, as the credits roll, I turn off the tv, sighing in laughter.

"That was fucking hilarious." Ryan says, shaking his head and letting out a few last chuckles.

"Okay!" Rebecca says, sitting up. "Let's talk now."

The others sit up to, me being the last to do so.

"Okay, so, what are we talking about?" Chaz asks, chopping on some chips he decided to bring out.

"Who's this guy who you're dating but you're not supposed to be dating because of whatever?" Ryan asks, grabbing a chip and popping it into his mouth.

The girls look over to him, surprised looks on their faces.

"You actually listen?!" Caitlin asks.

Ryan chuckles. "I listen more than you think I do. Anyway..." he says, looking at them then back at me.

I lick my lips. "He's a guy I met earlier this summer when I first came from Texas."

"You're from Texas?" Chaz asks, his mouth dropping.

I nod. "Yeah."

"Sorry, I just didn't really notice your accent or anything." he says.

"It's there, just listen for it." I shrug. "It's not real thick."

He chuckles. "Continue."

"Anyways," I say, shaking my head. "When I first met him I thought he was gonna be a total ass but he turned out being really sweet. He told me that he was a fuck boy until he met me and actually got interested. After that he kind of straightened up. I know he's faithful, I don't question it. I don't know, he's different than I expected he'd be." I say dreamily, looking off elsewhere.

"So, why aren't you allowed to be together?" Ryan asks, confused.

I sigh. "Maverick, my brother," I pause as they nod. "It's one of his best friends. Well, he was. Until he found out he was dating me. Now he hates him and tried to beat him up... which didn't work but..."

"Yikes." Rebecca says, making a face.

"That's not fair." Chaz says, shaking his head. "You guys should be able to be together. I mean, I don't know the guy but from what you just said, it tells me he really cares about you."

"Yeah, it's kinda like what happened to Chaz when he met Becca." Caitlin states.

"What?" Chaz asks, giving her a look.

"Dude, you were a total fuck boy." Ryan says, nodding.

"Well, damn." Chaz says, looking down.

I laugh at the small banter and Chaz's personality.

"But seriously, your brother shouldn't be keeping you two apart." Caitlin says, grinning sympathetically at me.

I nod. "I know."

"Do you guys ever get to see each other?" Rebecca asks.

I nod. "Yeah, he sneaks in almost every night and sleep over."

"Sleep? Or sleep?" Chaz asks, winking.

I laugh. "No, actually sleep. We're both too exhausted by the end of the day plus, we've never really..."

"Really?" Caitlin asks, surprised.

I nod. "Why are you surprised?"

"Just because you said he was a fuck boy so I expected that y'know... he'd want to."

I shrug. "He's never expressed it to me. We kind of just hang out, sleep, watch movies... eat food. Normal stuff."

"Damn." Chaz says, making a face. "He must really like you."

"We said I love you last night..." I whisper, looking down at the blanket I was toying with in my hands.

"Whoa." Rebecca says. "Seriously?"

I nod, smiling up at them. "Yeah."

"I have a question." Chaz says, raising his hand.

"What?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

"So, what's their job? I heard you say to Caitlin one time that their job is like, dangerous or something?" he asks, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I open my mouth to speak before there's a slam downstairs. Confused, I look to my door. "My dad must be home earlier. I'll be back."

They nod and I rise from my spot, walking down the stairs and towards the kitchen before gasping as I'm grabbing.

"Shut up." the guy growls into my ear.

"No." I mumble, starting to squirm and shout.

"Hadlee?!" Rebecca yells from upstairs before the thumping of their feet on the stairs is heard.

I'm pulled backwards and the front door opens as they reach the bottom, gasping.

The guy pulls out a gun, holding it up to them. "Don't take a step!"

'Hadlee." Caitlin says, concerned and scared.

"Get Maverick." I choke out as he pulls me backwards, rushing off with me and letting them be.

Soon, I find myself in the back of a white van, a cloth over my mouth just like last time...

*** No One's POV ***

As Caitlin, Rebecca and the boys stand at the bottom of the stairs in silence, their minds whirl with confusion and fear.

"What the fuck just happened?" Ryan whispers.

"She was kidnapped and he didn't touch us." Chaz says, confused.

"It must have something to do with what her brother does." Ryan says, looking over at his best friend.

"Baby you okay?" Chaz asks, looking at the terrified girls.

She nods. "Yeah, I'm just worried about her."

"She gave me the address of where Maverick is all the time." Caitlin says, taking out her phone.

"Why?" Ryan asks, confused.

"She told me that it was dangerous so in case anything happened to go straight to Maverick." she says, pulling up the address. "Let's go."

They nod and they all run outside, making sure to lock the house after they leave.

Getting to the house almost twenty minutes later, they rush to the front door, knocking frantically until it swings open.

"Who are you?" the guy asks.

"Are you Maverick?" Caitlin asks.

He shakes his head. "No, I'm Damon. What do you want?"

"We're friends of Hadlee. We need Maverick. Is he here?" Rebecca stresses.

Damon sighs, nodding for them to walk in, which they do. "Maverick."

"What?" Maverick calls from the living room.

"You've got company." Damon says, leading them to the living room.

"Who are you?" Maverick asks.

"We're Hadlee's friends." Ryan says. "You're Maverick?"

Maverick nods. "Yeah, how'd you know where I'd be."

"Hadlee gave me the address a while ago in case of emergency." Caitlin explains. "We were all at your house and having fun and stuff and then the door downstairs slammed shut so Hadlee thought your dad came home early and went downstairs."

"We heard shouting and Rebecca called for Hadlee who didn't answer. So, we ran downstairs and some guy was pulling her outside and held up a gun telling us not to move. We didn't and he took her away. We came straight here afterward." Chaz explains.

"Okay." Maverick says, taking in a deep breath. "First things first, who are all of you? Names."

"I'm Ryan, this is Chaz, Caitlin and Rebecca." Ryan explains, pointing to each of them.

Maverick nods. "Okay."

"Wait, what are your names?" William asks, coming around the corner.

They stay quiet, looking at Maverick.

"He's the boss." Maverick says, nodding.

"Chaz, Ryan, Caitlin and Rebecca." Caitlin says wearily.

William licks his lips. "They know him."

"Who?" one of the guys asks, standing.

"Yeah, who?" Maverick asks, looking over.

"J." he says, looking at everyone.

"You know Justin?" Finn asks, standing.

"Justin...?" Ryan asks, raising his brows.

"Bieber." Maverick says.

Caitlin's face lights up. "You guys know Justin?"

"See." William says.

"We haven't talked to him in two years." Chaz says, shocked.

"When he started working with us. Yeah." William nods. "Sit."

They do as they're told, sitting around in the living room with everyone.

"Wait, so is Justin here?" Caitlin says.

"No." Maverick answers. "And I don't want him to know anything. If he asks, tell him you're here because you found out where he was now."

They nod, knowing it was for the best even if they didn't know why.

"What do you mean, don't tell him?" Riley says, giving Maverick a look.

"Exactly that." he says sternly, looking around to everyone. "Got it?"

They all nod reluctantly, looking in different directions with unhappy faces.

*** Hadlee's POV ***

My eyes open before squeezing shut again and reopening. "What the fuck?"

Sitting up, I look around the old, dusty room.

Not again...

Standing, my head starts pounding wildly and something slams open, making me jump and look to the door which had a silver mail type slot thing, a small tray sticking through it. I walk over hesitantly, grabbing the tray and pulling it through to see two pills laying on top with a note.

There is one water bottle in the corner. Make it useful. It's all you get.

I glance over, noticing a bottle of water sitting in the corner where the note said it would be. Walking over, I grab the bottle and look down at the pills, noticing them to be Tylenol. I pop them in my mouth and take a swig of the water to help. I then set the bottle aside as well as the now empty tray.

Where the fuck am I?

***

Hello friends! I hope you had a great week! Here's the newest chapter!

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