MARCH 16TH

The second I opened my eyes, my first thought was that I should skip class. 

Aeros arms were wrapped around me and the warmth from his body felt like a blanket. I wanted to stay like this forever, but exams are coming up so I can't be missing classes. I untangled myself from his arms and grabbed some clothes out of my bag before changing into them.

I went into his kitchen and started to cut some fruit for breakfast. I made some for him also, although I was going to let him sleep for a little bit longer. I made two cups of coffee and placed them on the kitchen table, along with the fruit. Right as I did this, I heard Aero walking from his bedroom.

He still hadn't put a shirt on, just standing there in grey jogging pants and white socks. His black hair was messy, but my eyes fell to all of his tattoos.

He smirked at this, taking a few steps closer to me. He stared down at me and asked, his morning voice raspy, "Am I distracting you, Hailey?"

I cleared my throat and shook my head no, making him smile. I walked down and sat at the table, him joining me immediately after. He asked, "When will you be done class?"

"At 3," I told him, frowning at knowing I'll have to be gone for a few hours.

"I'll pick you up after."

I nodded, eating one of the strawberries in front of me. Only 3 more freaking days until Philadelphia. Aero booked a hotel somewhere, but he refused to show me pictures. He wants it to be a surprise. 

After eating I stood up to go take a shower. I stopped walking down the hallway when I could feel Aero walking behind me. I turned around and asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna shower with you."

I started to shake my head no, but he put his hand on my face to stop me. His eyebrows raised as he asked, "No?"

"Nope," I replied. My first class was starting soon and I knew that if we showered together, I would be late. No matter how much I wanted to.

"Hm," he said while grazing his fingers against my cheeks. "Why is your skin so hot?"

The smirk on his face told me that he already knew the answer. I took a deep breath before turning around and walking to the shower by myself. 

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

A E R O

I knocked on the door with my left hand while adjusting the gun in my waistline with my right. 

I had just dropped Hailey off 20 minutes ago and I already fucking miss her. 

But I have some shit to do while she's at school. Most importantly, finding out who has the hit on her. 

Alessandro opened the door, a look of surprise on his face. It quickly switched to fear as he started rambling, "Black! Great to see you. Wasn't expecting you...what can I-"

I walked straight past him, entering his house. I can tell he's scared, probably because of his last interaction with Hailey. He probably thinks that I'm here to kill him. 

And I wish I was. But I'm not.

"Alessandro. Where is your father?"

When I turned around to face him, he looked surprised at my question. I didn't elaborate, but just continued to stand there with my arms crossed, waiting for him to answer me. 

"Um, he's upstairs. Why?"

I didn't answer his question. I walked up his staircase, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Alessandro wasn't following me. He wasn't and I noticed an open bedroom door. I could see the don laying on the bed with a pale face and IV hooked up to him.

I entered, closing the door behind me. The sound of this made him open his eyes, his eyebrows going up once he saw me. I walked over and stood beside him, looking down at him. You could just tell by looking at him that he doesn't have much time left. 

He barely was able to say, "Black. What are you doing here?"

I pulled my gun out of my waistline, but didn't aim it. His eyes widened at this and I leaned down to be close to him. I whispered, "You are going to find someone for me, or I am going to kill your son."

"I can't even fucking move, how do you expect me to be able to find somebody?"

I shrugged, "Not really my problem. But you are going to before March 31st, or else both you and your son will be buried together."

I pulled out the piece of paper with the mans number on it. I don't want Alessandro knowing about this, because I don't trust him to actually tell me the answer if he finds it. But the don can be threatened, he is an old coward who I could have dead in seconds.

He spat, "Fine."

I smiled slightly and nodded my head once. The door behind me opened and a man who I had seen once or twice before walked in. I knew that he worked for the Diaz family, and nothing more. He glanced between the don and I and asked, "Is everything okay here?"

"Perfect," I replied.

I looked back at the don who was looking at me with a clenched jaw. I said in a calm voice, "Just to prove how serious I am about this."

His eyebrows lowered at my words and I pointed the gun at the man, shooting him in between his eyes. The don looked more scared than angry, which was exactly what I wanted. I put my gun back and exited the room, stepping over the dead body.

Alessandro was rushing up the stairs and asked in a concerned tone, "Did you hurt my dad?"

A smirk formed on my face. I licked my lips before saying, "Relax, nothing happened to your daddy. But if you ever touch my Hailey again, you both better fucking run, because I would tear every brick off of every building in this city to find you and kill you." 

I didn't give him time to respond before walking down the stairs and leaving their house. 

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

I stopped by to see Reid on my way to pick up Hailey. He said he found some of my old shit in the attic and put it in a box for me to pick up. I entered the house and saw him standing in the kitchen with the box on the counter. 

He smiled at me, "Aero! It's all in that box."

I walked closer to the box and looked inside, seeing some old clothes in there. I thanked him while picking it up and he asked me, "Can you, Hailey, and I have dinner together tomorrow?"

Hailey and I didn't have anything planned for tomorrow, and I know that she would love for Reid to have dinner with us. I nodded, "Sure."

His smile widened and he gave me a hug quickly before I walked back to my car. I put the box in the back seat and drove to her university. I waited for her at the door to the building, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed. 

There were only 15 days until the 31st, and I have no answers yet. I can't think of anybody who would be after her. The don should be able to figure out the identity of the man with the amount of people he has working for him. 

Once we're back from Philadelphia I'll go and get an update. A fucking weird feeling happens in my heart thinking about going there with Hailey. Its like....a warmth. Hailey makes my heart feel warm.

My eyes immediately went to her when she walked out of her class. She had an annoyed look on her face so I asked her, "Whats wrong?"

"I got a D on my group project because somebody didn't do their section," she complained.

The sad look on her face made me extremely pissed. I asked her, "Whats their name?"

She shrugged while starting to walk, and I walked with her, "I don't know. But all I know is that the next time I see them in class they are getting punched and pepper sprayed."

She just unknowingly saved someones life.

I thought of ways to cheer her up, and two came to mind. I told her the first one, "Reid is coming over for dinner tomorrow."

Her face lit up, just as I thought it would. She smiled, "Thats amazing! You're a way better cook than Reid. Have you seen him try and make ramen?"

I shook my head no and opened the passengers side door for her once we got to my car. After she got in her side I got into the drivers seat. I started driving us home, but pulled into the grocery store parking lot on the way there. She furrowed her eyebrows, probably confused since she saw how full the fridge was this morning. I told her, "Just running in to get something quickly."

I went inside and headed straight for what I was getting her. I bought it and put it in the bag, wanting her to not see it until we were home. I put it in the back seat of the car and once I started driving again she asked me, "What'd you get?"

"You'll see once we're home."

She smiled widely, "A surprise? For me?"

Hailey is staying with me, but she doesn't live with me, although I don't hate the thought of that. She said she doesn't just want to force herself into living with me, so some nights she's gonna be here and other she's gonna be with Reid. 

"I guess so," I responded to her.

I pulled into my driveway and grabbed the bag out of the backseat so that she couldn't see what was in it. We walked in and she went to the living room, but I went to the kitchen for a second. I grabbed a spoon out of the drawer and took the container out of the bag. I walked into the living room holding what I got for her and she gasped while smiling.

"Mint chocolate chip ice cream!" She smiled.

I handed her the container and spoon, which she took instantly. I grabbed the remote and started looking for a movie to watch. She grabbed the black blanket and threw it over her and I. I put a movie on and placed the remote back down on the table.

She took a scoop of ice cream and held it out for me to eat. I shook my head no and she said, "Eat. It. Or. Else."

I took the bite, her mouth turning up in a smile as I did so. My hand went to her lower back and I rubbed circles against it while she ate. Her bad mood had now been replaced by a good one. She seemed to enjoy the movie I put on, her eyes never wavering from the screen. 

I asked her, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"Anything."

I could just order food for us, but I'd rather cook her a real meal. I want her to eat enough and feel full. 

She asked me, "What'd you do today?"

Threatened a man into finding somebody who wants to hurt you.

"Nothing."

She nodded, "Do you want to do something tomorrow before Reid comes? Like go to the movies, go bowling, or anything like that?"

"Sure, whatever you want," I said while putting some of her hair behind her ear.

She smiled at me and I got up to go and start cooking. I took two steaks out of the fridge, along with some potatoes and vegetables. I started cooking and realized how right this feels. Taking care of Hailey feels so right. Her voice yelled from the living room, "Need any help?"

"No, you can stay there," I replied, wanting her to continue to relax. Of course, she didn't listen to me and came into the kitchen with a big smile on her face.

She grabbed some of the food and started helping me cook. I stared at her while she cooked, admiring her beauty. She is a work of art.

She moved her head to face me and asked since I was staring, "What?"

I shook my head, placing a kiss on her forehead, "Nothing."

Word Count: 2054