MARCH 5TH

A tapping noise pulled me out of my sleep, making me groan to myself. It was the middle of the night - and I could tell because my window was still dark.

I looked around, trying to see what the tapping noise was. A small rock hitting my window answered my question, and I rushed over to go and see who it was. Right as I looked out of my window another rock was thrown, making me jump.

I looked down and saw Reid in my backyard. He had a handful of rocks, enough to throw 100 more. I slid my window up and whispered out of my window, "Reid! What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm bored! Come hang out with me."

I asked, "Why didn't you just call me?"

"Because this was more fun. Now come down, I'll be waiting at your front door!" he said with a smile, walking out of the backyard. I rolled my eyes, I knew I had no choice but to go with him. 

I quickly changed my shorts to jeans but kept my sweater on. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time, 2:12 am.

He's lucky I don't have class early tomorrow.

I tip-toed down my stairs, careful to not wake my parents up. I successfully made it outside, shutting the door quietly behind me. Once I was a few steps away from my door, I said to him, "Why couldn't you just wait until the morning like a normal person?"

"Bitch, I'm bored and hungry. I wanted to go out to eat with you now, not in 7 hours," He said while getting into his car.

I laughed slightly while getting into his car. He pulled out of my driveway and as we drove he asked me, "That a new sweater?"

"What?" I said before looking down at what I was wearing. I hadn't even realized I was still wearing Aeros sweater. 

"Oh, yea," I responded after realizing, trying to sound casual. 

He pulled into the parking lot of a 24-hour diner. We entered and took a seat at one of the tables, the light burning my eyes that were used to the darkness. 

"How was your date with Bruno?" I asked after we ordered drinks.

He smiled widely, "Good. I think I'll be seeing him again soon."

"That's amazing!" I responded, feeling happy for him.

The waitress came over and we ordered our food. After she walked away, Reid asked me, "Do you have your eyes on anybody?"

I bit the inside of my lip, hating how Aero came into my mind. But Aero would never date me. I'm not an idiot, I can see how attractive he is. His eyes are ice blue, with the darkest black hair that I've ever seen. He has a bunch of tattoos and a tall, muscular figure. Aero Black is out of my league.

"No."

He nodded his head and filled me in on all of the details of his date. The waitress came over and placed our food down. I only got a plate of fries, my stomach still feeling full from my dinner.

Reid took a bite of his burger as I ate some of my fries. I reached my hand down to grab another when a hand suddenly took the one I was reaching for. I looked at who it was with a frown on my face, but I turned confused seeing a random man now sitting beside me.

"Hey, Hailey." The man spoke, staring at me with his green eyes.

Reid asked me from across the table, "You know this guy?"

"No," I responded truthfully. I looked the man up and down cautiously.

The man made a fake hurt expression, grabbing his chest with his hand, "Ouch. He doesn't talk about me?"

I stared at his face. He had black hair and green eyes, and his voice sounded sort of familiar. But I had no idea who it was.

"No? Who?"

"Get the fuck away from her," Reid spat from across the table.

The mans face lit up, like he liked this reaction. Reid looked to be both taller and stronger than this man, yet he didn't look afraid. 

The man spoke to me, ignoring Reid's words, "Hailey....What made you get spared?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. Spared?

"Stop talking to her," Reid ordered.

An amused laugh came out of the man's mouth. He looked at Reid now with a smirk, "I don't like to be spoken to like that. But you're lucky I can't do anything to you."

Reid and I exchanged looks of confusion. The man suddenly leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Perhaps I should help my friend, in case he was just busy."

"Get the fuck away from her before I beat the shit out of you," Reid spoke angrily.

A chuckle escaped his lips as I felt something cold press against my ribcage. I looked down and my eyes widened, freezing in fear once I saw it was a gun. Reid looked under the table to see it and became pale, balling his fists.

"Now, I think I should help my friend out...." The man's voice trailed off as he started running his fingers against the side of my face. I winced at the feeling of his touch. 

The air felt suffocating and I repressed tears from forming in my eyes. The sound of his phone going off made me jump, an annoyed noise coming from his mouth. He kept the gun where it was and answered the phone, "What?"

The other side spoke for a while, followed by the man going, "On my way."

Relief washed over me like a bucket of ice water when he removed his gun and put it into his deep pocket. Before getting up to leave he whispered, "Your days are numbered."

My stomach dropped at his words, and I watched him walk out of the restaurant as if nothing had happened at all. Reid came over to my side of the booth and sat beside me. He asked, "Are you okay? Do you know what that was about?"

"I have no idea," I answered truthfully. My heart still pounded in my chest, the feeling of the gun lingering against my skin. 

He nodded his head before suggesting that we should leave. He agreed and drove me home, and I felt myself wanting to be in bed more than anything in the world. I needed to be away from everything.

What the hell was that about?

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

A E R O

I sat in my office, writing on some papers while the sunrise slowly started to come through my window. It was 6:30 am, but I've been up since 4. The don gave me a hit, and I wanted to get it done as soon as possible.

There was a knock at my front door, making me swear under my breath. I dropped my pen and walked to my door, unlocking it and then opening it.

"Alessandro," I spoke.

I moved out of the way so that he could come in, shutting the door behind us. We remained in the foyer, and I assumed he was just here for his dad to ask if the hit was done.

But to my surprise, he asked, "You spared Hailey Romano?"

I tensed up. I felt a burning sensation happen in my chest when he said her name. Why was he around her? Why was he thinking about her?

"Complicated," I responded vaguely, just as I had done last time he asked.

He slipped his hands into his pockets, "I was gonna kill her tonight for you. Saw her at an empty diner with your brother a few hours ago....had my gun pressed against her and everything, but then my dad called."

My face dropped any emotion that was there, and it was replaced by nothing but anger. I clenched my jaw, "You what?"

"Yea, I was gonna help you out. She's really hot though, so it's a shame-"

My fist collided with his face and blood spewed out of his mouth. He stumbled backward, his hands going to where I had hit him. I took steps toward him with every step he fell backward. He regained his balance and turned to face me again when I threw another punch, hitting him square in the nose.

He groaned in pain while he fell backward, blood pooling out of his nose. I stared down at him, "Don't ever do that shit again. Don't fucking go near her."

He wiped the blood coming out of his nose with his sleeve and asked angrily, "What the fuck, Black? You have a hit on her and I could've had her dead today, plain and simple."

I grabbed the collar of his shirt as I punched him for the third time. His back was now against my floor and groans escaped his mouth. I ordered him, "You won't go near her again. I will spend the day with her to make sure you don't try some stupid shit. And if you do, just know I'll shoot without blinking. Doesn't matter who it is."

I stepped over him to walk back towards my office when I spoke to him without turning around, "You can show yourself out."

He yelled, "She's just a hit, Black. So why delay the inevitable? Why do you care?"

This time I stopped in my tracks. I looked at him over my shoulder, "She's mine to kill."

-╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

H A I L E Y

I swear school gets more boring with each passing day. I can't wait to graduate next year, although it feels so far away. 

Reid and I usually walk home from school together, but he said he had plans with Bruno today.

Which is fine. I'm totally not mad about it.

I exited my class, ready for a very boring walk home alone. I take a few steps in the direction to leave when a hand grabs onto my wrist, making me jump. What had happened with the gun replayed in my mind.

My fear went away seeing that it was just Aero. I asked him, "Aero? What are you doing here?"

He opened his mouth to respond but I cut him off, "If you're here to take my car again then I hope you know I have a can of pepper spray and I will use it."

He rolled his eyes as he started walking with me, "No. I'm here to pick you up."

I stop walking, staring at him with a shocked expression. I let a moment of silence pass before saying, "Really?"

He nodded his head, grabbing my arm and forcing me to continue walking. I pull my arm out of his grip and say, "You should really text me this stuff, you know."

"I don't have your number."

I held my hand out, signaling for him to hand me his phone. He does, and I put my number in. I also noticed he had about a million contacts, but I didn't say anything. I think that I have a solid 10.

He puts his phone back into his pocket as we approach the doors to the building. He walks in front of me and exits first, holding the door open for me. Wow, what a gentleman. 

"I see you've learned manners since the last time I saw you," I said to him in a teasing tone. 

"Stop being annoying," He spoke in his all too familiar cold tone.

We got into his car and he started driving. I pulled my phone out to text Reid and ask him how his date was going. After I send the message I look up, furrowing my eyebrows as I did so.

"This isn't the way to my house," I told him.

He didn't respond to me for a second, he just continued driving in the opposite direction. After a while, he finally said, "I know. I'm taking you somewhere first."

"Where?"

I started to think of places where a man like Aero would go. The shooting range, the gym, a big boy company meeting.

He pulled into the parking lot of a gorgeous building. He parked the car, getting out without telling me where we were. I got out and said to him, "Helloooo?"

He just started walking towards the building and I had to jog to catch up to him. He walks too fast. Or maybe I just walk too slow. As we walked up the steps of the building he said, "This is my favorite art museum."

I stopped walking when he said that, his words surprising me. My entire life I've always known so little about him, yet right now he's letting his coldness disappear and allowing me to see what's behind that.

He noticed me not walking once he reached the entrance door and asked, "Are you coming?"

I quickly started walking again, meeting him at the entrance. Let's see what lies behind his cold demeanor.

Word Count: 2098