Twenty Eight

Two days after Hadlee has been rescued from Keegan's hold, she's back to normal... at least for the most part. She finds herself still finding it hard to sleep and she won't leave her room once the house is dark. She now eats but finds it hard to finish an entire plate at any meal. Slowly but surely, she's returning to her old self.

That being said, Maverick has yet to change, preventing Justin from visiting or seeing her in any type of way. She's been forced to not have contact with him Maverick hasn't been working and watches her every move. I guess you can guess where that puts us now...

***

"Maverick, go the hell back to work. I'm tired of you stepping on my toes." Hadlee spat, pushing past him and walking towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.

"I don't want anything to happen to you, Hadlee." he stresses.

"No, you don't want there to be a single chance of Justin coming to see me and you know it. I'm fine. You can't watch over me twenty four seven, if something's going to happen, it's going to happen and it's out of your control." she tells him, keeping her mouth closed for long enough... almost an hour for God's sake.

"Hadlee,"

"Save it." she spat, stomping up the stairs and slamming her door shut.

Leaving her alone for awhile, Maverick sits on the couch with his laptop, making arrangements for something he's made his final decision on. Once everything is settled, he prints the documents before walking up the stairs and knocking on Hadlee's door.

"What?" she spat, rolling her eyes once opening the door to him.

"I'm just here to give you this." he says, handing her the paperwork.

"Why are you giving me a plane ticket?" she asks, furrowing her eyebrows at him.

"Because, you're going home early. It's already scheduled. No refunds. Start packing."

"Excuse me?!" she exclaims.

"Start packing!" he calls out, jogging down the stairs.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." she spat, slamming the door shut and dialing her father's number.

"Hello?"

"Do you know anything about what the hell Maverick is doing?!"

"Hold on, slow down. What did he do this time?"

"He scheduled me an early flight and told me I have no choice, dad." she informs him.

"What?!" her father exclaims. "He has no business to do that. Your mother isn't expecting you until this weekend."

"He says I don't have a choice. No refunds." she informs him.

"Goddamn." her father groans. "I'll be home to speak with him soon. I'm sorry, honey."

"Thanks dad." she says, hanging up.

Groaning, Hadlee grabs her shoes, slipping them on and locking her bedroom door before climbing out of the window and maneuvering her way to the ground.

Once making it, she jogs off to the road, not stopping until there's a comfortable distance between her and the house Maverick has kept her locked up in.

Knowing that the gang is having a get together with their families today makes her hesitate for a moment before heading towards the house, making it within fifteen minutes. Ignoring the front door, Hadlee walks immediately to the back gate before putting in the code and walking back.

Behind the house, a few of the family members notice the click of the gate relocking and turn to question it.

"What was that?" Damon's sister asks, her eyebrows furrowed.

"What?" William chuckles.

"The gate to the yard just relocked like it had been opened." she says, pointing towards the gate.

William walks around the picnic table, peering around the corner. "Ayeeee! How the hell you get out your house girl?!"

Hadlee grins, laughing lightly as she comes around the corner. "Hey Will."

"Yo, J, your girl's here!" William yells.

"No she not." Justin shakes his head across the yard.

"Yeah she is." Hadlee yells, smiling as she walks towards him.

"Damn baby, how'd you get out of the house?" he asks, smiling.

"The window." she laughs.

He shakes his head. "You bad."

She shrugs, hugging him. "I need to talk to you for a sec."

He nods, taking her over away from everyone else. "What's up baby?"

"Maverick's sending me home early."

"No he's not."

"Yeah he is. He already bought a non-refundable plane ticket and told me to pack my shit." she informs him, nodding.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Justin says, walking away a little and shaking his head.

"Oh shit!" Tyler jokes from across the yard.

The two ignore him, facing each other.

"So you don't have a choice." Justin says, licking his lips.

She shakes her head. "Nope. I have to pack all of my stuff. My flight leaves tomorrow at ten in the morning."

He shakes his head, his jaw clenching. "That's fucking bullshit."

"What happen?" William chuckles.

Hadlee turns. "I'm leaving tomorrow now."

"Why?" Rylee asks, her face dropping.

"Maverick." Justin responds. "He bought her a non-refundable plane ticket."

"Well, if you have no choice but to leave tomorrow, I say we have a hell of a good time today." Finn says, smiling.

"Yeah!" a few of the guys cheer.

"I don't know why Maverick tries so hard to break y'all up." Ben chuckles.

"Yeah, let's be honest. Whether he likes it or not, you're the mother fuckin' queen girl!" Alex says.

Justin laughs, hugging Hadlee from behind.

"Yeah." she nods. "I guess I am."

Justin kisses her cheek, causing her to turn her head and kiss his lips.

"I love you." she says, not worried about the eyes watching them.

"I love you too." he grins. "Hungry?"

She nods. "Actually, yes."

"Woo!" William cheers.

Justin smiles, squeezing her shoulders comforting and leading her over to the food table.

*** with Maverick ***

At the Cooper household, Maverick smugly dances around the kitchen, yet to find out Hadlee had snuck out behind his back.

"Maverick!"

His dance stops and turns off the music, making a 'damn' face before turning towards his father. "Yes, father?"

"Where the hell did you get the idea that it was your decision to send your sister home early?" George bellows, fuming.

"It's to protect her dad, chill." Maverick says, shrugging.

"Protect her or keep her from Justin?" George asks.

"Both." Maverick says, pointing at his father with the butter knife in his hand before laughing and smearing mayo on his sandwich bread.

"You had no fucking right, Maverick." George tells him.

"It'll be fine dad, you can go visit her for her birthday or something." he shrugs.

George looks at his father, shaking his head in both disbelief and disappointment. "I am so disappointed in you."

"Be disappointed in your daughter. She's dating a guy who's gonna break her heart and won't think twice." Maverick says, placing his sandwich together. "And the worse part is she knows it's gonna happen and doesn't care."

George can do nothing but shake his head before exiting the room and making his way to the office to work on some things he was unable to finish downtown.

*** the next morning ***

Waking at precisely 8am, Hadlee puts the last of her things in her suitcases, sighing as she zips them closed. She then puts them downstairs and goes to the kitchen to hug Annabell and say goodbye to her and Reece.

"I'm gonna miss you, sweetheart."

"I'm gonna miss you too." Hadlee tells her, hugging her for the second time before crouching down to Reece. "I'll see you soon, alright bud?"

He nods, hugging her. "I love you, Hadlee."

A smile appears on her face and she lifts him to hug him better. "I love you too bud."

"See you soon?" he asks once they pull out of the hug.

She nods. "Real soon."

"Okay." he grins.

After saying bye one more time, Hadlee turns to Maverick who is staying here despite his wishes.

"Bye asshole. Love you." she says, not caring enough to hug him or give him a proper goodbye.

"I know you're mad at me, but this is for the best." he tells her.

"Whatever. Bye." she mumbles, walking away from the three of them and outside where her father is closing the trunk to the car and walking around to the driver's side.

"Ready, sweetheart?" he asks.

"No." she shakes her head. "But I don't have a choice."

He gives her a sad grin, getting in the car as she does and backing out of the driveway.

*** Hadlee's POV***

This time, as we pass the town sign, thick trees and the scenery I've found myself becoming used to, my eyes fill with tears and my brain scatters in different directions, unable to figure out what it once... then coming to a conclusion all at once.

It wants to be here. In Canada. Its new home.

As we arrive to the airport a while later, my father and I walk inside and go through the regular procedure before getting to the waiting room and sit down.

"Is Justin coming?" my father asks, raising his brows.

I shake my head. "I don't know. I told him what time the plane leaves but he didn't say whether or not he was gonna come."

He nods, paying attention to his paper once again.

After almost a half hour, my flight begins to get called, of course by category.

I sigh and stand as my section is called, standing and facing my dad. "I'm sorry we didn't spend a lot of time together dad. And I'm sorry I got into the situations I did."

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry we didn't get to spend time together. And I'm sorry those things happened to you. But, you found Justin. And I think that's the best thing that happened to you this summer." he smiles. "You found someone you love and that's special. No matter the circumstances."

I nod, smiling softly. "Yeah, you're right."

"Go, before you miss your flight." he says.

I engulf him in a hug, tightening my grip as much as possible. "I love you dad."

"I love you too sweetheart." he replies, kissing my head.

Pulling out of the hug, I wipe the small tears that fell from my eyes and grab my carry on bag, turning away from him and walking to the boarding area.

After boarding the plane and finding my seat, I place my earphone in and turn my playlist on before glancing out the window, watching as we take off soon afterwards.

A few months ago, I boarded a plane with an angry attitude and the fear of having the worst summer of my life. Little did I know the summer would bring me pain, hurt, laughter, tears, new friends, a sibling on-going argument and most of all... someone to love more than I ever expected to love another person.

Today, I boarded a plane with a heavy heart and a sad mind, not wanting to leave the place I now consider my home. Because I now know a place is not a home... people are. Family is home. Friends are home. Someone you love... is home. And nothing will ever be better than that.

I must to act as who I am. I must be the person I'm expected to be. I must transform to be the person I need to be. Someone better than the old Hadlee. The change has already started. I will continue it when I arrive back to Texas. Then, when necessary, I will return home.

I have become a Queen... and I will go back to my Kingdom.

***

this is the last LONG chapter of the first book!

I'M NOT CRYING, YOU ARE!

also not really sure why I'm acting like it's actually over when I know there's another book. BECAUSE THERE IS!

for those who don't know, this is actually a FIVE BOOK SERIES!

All five books are already mapped out and I'm SO excited to share Hadlee & Justin's story with you all.

the LAST chapter of Becoming Queen will be uploaded NEXT TUESDAY!

much much love,

shan:)