♡

I wake up to the hint of sun blaring through the white mesh curtains of the appartment.

Rolling out of bed I stretch my arms and legs out, last nights recap hitting me almost instantly I nearly choke on my own saliva.

I sit up and get out of bed, brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, washing my face I do every morning necessities before I head over and pick out my outfit.

I chose out a cute white sweater, light washed blue jeans and some cute jewelry to go with it.

It was the middle of september and it was pretty chilly outside, so I needed to stay warm.

I grab my purse, pour Ruffus some of his kibble give him a couple pets and head out the door.

I smile as I'm met with the coolish late september air. The leaves falling, autumn everywhere all around the city.

I walk down the road, heading for a local pottery shop to see if I can get hired considering it's been one of my hobbies I loved doing since I was a little girl.

the wind picks up, and its a little heavier than usual, I turn around, my medium brown hair whipping right back in my face as the sound of a motorcycle engine fills my ear drums.

pushing the hair out of my face an all black, Kawasaki Ninja 400 rolls up to me at the stop light. The man is wearing steel toe boots, black heavy duty protective pants, a black hoodie, holographic visor- wait a minute.

He clicks the visor open and I'm met with yet again, those pair of beautiful blue eyes that pierce right through my soul.

"Nice to see you again." he says through his helmet, and I can surprisingly hear him because of how close he is to me.

"Hi, yes it is, very nice." I slap my face and my cheeks go red. "Sorry, sorry that sounds weird. I'm just-

"Where are you going?" he cuts me off, like it's his favourite thing to do.

"Maison Clay, wanted to check it out." I smile feeling my cheeks redden. Damn must be colder out today than I expected.

"You like Pottery?" he rushes out, the light turns green and he moves forward along with me, but he moves with my pace. Slow.

"Yeah it's one of my hobbies, ever since i was little-

"Let me take you there." he cuts me off, reaching out his hand for me.

"I'm sorry, what?" I blurt out, searching for a hint of remourse but am left with nothing.

"Let me give you a ride to your destination." His cheeks lift with his eyes, and I can tell he's smiling under that helmet.

"I'm sorry, are you insane? I don't even have a helmet-

And within another second he pulls into the biker lane and grabs my hand and lifts me on.

I sit on the end of his bike, he has an adjustment for a backpack, which has me wondering if he does this... often.

"Here." He reaches into his backpack that's now in front of his lap and pulls out a helmet, exactly like his. Holographic visor and everything.

"Oh um, do you do this often?" I hold the helmet, speechless.

"No, it was my ex-girlfriends. Now put it on," he demands flatly and without hesitating I put the helmet on and adjust my seating, watching his back muscles pulse when I adjust myself a little closer to him.

"Hold on." He replies coldly before he pulls back out onto the road and we're moving, but it's not fast. it's smooth. I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around his body, because I'd rather be safe than to end up like dead meat on the side of the road.

Minutes go by that would have taken me hours to walk, and we pull into Maisson Clay studio and he parks his bike.

I quickly remove the helmet, still quite taken aback from where it came from. And before i can notice the scratches along the side of the helmet, he tosses it back into his backpack and uses his arm to help me down.

Jesus christ did this man just hold all of my body weight with just his right arm?

"Thank you" I stutter out, my legs quite visibly shaking.

He nods and finally takes off his helmet, his curls bouncing out and he tosses it into his black back pack as well, along with his keys and he gets off his bike.

"I work across from here." He turns behind him, it's a really fancy restaurant, called DeStafanos Steakhouse.

"Oh, you're a-"

"A waiter, Yes." He looks down at me and tucks one of the flying hairs on my face behind my ear and it nearly sends me skyrocketing.

"Well, Okay thank you so much this was... very unexpected and let's just say this was not what i was expecting uhm..." I trail off, my cheeks red and my heart beat pounding.

"Thank you so much Landon." I smile and run into the pottery store to ease anymore embarrassment.

He stares into the window for a second, smiling to himself and biting his lip, and then makes his way across the street to DeStafanos steakhouse.

♡

I spent the whole rest of the day, molding, painting, talking to workers. I handed in my resume, and then I showed them some of my finest work and they absolutely loved it.

For once I felt like I belonged somewhere, I had a great feeling about this place. A good feeling. It was a friday night, and they said they'd let me know if I got an interview or not on monday.

I exit the building, it's nearly pitch black out. and I sigh, downtown new york is scary at night, but I'm sure i'll be fine.

But as soon as I turn down to walk down the road, I hear a loud crackled cough and an old homeless-looking man come out of the alley and start speed-walking towards me.

Without thinking, I turn and charge across the street to Stefanos.

I burst into the doors, whipping my head back behind me to see the old man following me to the door.

"Shit shit shit." I curse and fall into a booth, watching him walk in and look around and run straight for the bathrooms.

I close my eyes tight and try to control my breathing. Why does this always happen to me? Is this normal around here? Do i have to worry about this if i start working across from here-?

"Brooklyn..?"

I'm immediately caught out of my thoughts when I open my eyes and see Landon. Tall, broad, wearing a clean white tux, black apron around his waist, pen neatly behind his ear.

"Oh you're still working" I stutter out and look around fast. "I'm so sorry, there was this guy and-

"Guy?" he bites his lip with his furrowed brows. He places his hand on the edge of the table, his knuckles tapping against the table silently.

"Yeah, a homeless creep and he just came out of nowhere and started chasing me, God damnit do people have no respect in this town or what?" I scoff but when I look back up, he's gone.

"Landon?" I sit up trying to look over the glass boards of the restaurant, its empty, only workers are here, cleaning up and getting ready to close.

and well... that homeless man.

Seconds later, I hear a loud yell from the other end of the restaurant.

Shit.

I immedtely jump out of the booth and run to the back exit of the store, near the bathrooms.

I turn the corner and i'm met to see landon cornering the homeless man that tried to approach me earlier, I cover my mouth as i watch Landon wrap a hand around his throat.

"Don't ever fucking lay your hands on her, or come near my restaurant again do you hear me?!" He yells in his face, I watch the homeless man nod vigorously, scared. and Landon cave into him.

"Now get the fuck out." Landon spits and pushes the door back, the homeless man falling on his back, hustling back to his feet and running for the hills.

Landon slowly turns around and I quickly hide my head and control my breathing, I close my eyes and control the chaos in my mind before opening them again to see him above me.

It's just me and him in here.

"I won't let him near you again. he won't touch you, no one will." he looks down into my eyes, tucking that same piece of hair behind my ear again, and brings me into his chest. hugging me.

hugging me.

"You can't make sure of that." I whisper softly into his chest, looking up at him with tears in my eyes.

"I can, and I will." he pulls away and removes the pen from behind his ear and stuffs it into his work locker along with his apron.

"Ride home?" He smiles, a real genuine smile.

"Yes please" I stutter out and keep real close to him as we exit the building. I felt safe, knowing he was near, I'm not sure why. But I just did.

We come up to his bike, and he lets me on the same way as before with his arm. He turns the key and the engine comes to life, he hands me the same helmet I had on before as he slips on his.

"You need to hold onto me tighter, I didn't go fast last time because you were barely holding onto me."

well isn't he just the sweetest soul?

I nod, "I'm sorry, I'm just not used to this." I wrap my arms around him and we clunk heads, I immediately laugh and so does he.

"Just hold on, I've got you." He kicks the bike stand back and I wrap my arms around his waist tight, making sure my thighs are on both sides of his hips securely.

"Ready?" He insists and I smile through a 'Yes' that leaves my lips and before I know it we're on the road, and I can tell this is his preferred speed.

We travel through the dark night, through the city, looking at all the lights.

At every stop light he would turn around and give me a thumbs up and a thumbs down with both of his hands, and I would tap his thumb on the thumbs up indicating everything was good every time.

We eventually hit up a Mcdonald's, and he parks the bike.

"Come in with me" He insists looking into my eyes removing his helmet.

I hop off his bike and shake my head. "I should really be getting home, Ruffus is waiting for me-

"Ruffus?" he laughs "Let me guess, Fat orange cat?" He smirks and I gasp.

"He is not fat! He's just... chunky" I giggle and he holds his hand out.

"Come on, you probably haven't eaten all day. I insist" He smiles and I grab onto his hand and we both walk into Mcdonald's.

We get a table and sit down, he sets his bag on one of the other chairs and I sit across from him.

"What do you want? I'll order" he looks down at my lips and I catch him.

"I'll get a mcchicken and a water please" I smile at him and watch him lick his lips and nod.

"You know, you seem like an oreo McFlurry kinda girl, let me get you an Oreo Mcflurry." he insists and starts walking off.

I laugh and giggle as he walks off, a laugh leaving his lips as well.

He comes back with the food and we eat quietly, getting lost in our own minds. In a comforting sort of way.

About 15 minutes later we decide to head home, I get on his bike and we don't speak for the rest of the way home. It's a comforting silence. one I've never experienced before.

"Thanks for the ride." I smile hopping off his bike and handing him the helmet. Which leaves me questioning about his ex girlfriend.

He nods and I interrupt his silence.

"So why do you carry around your ex girlfriends helmet anyway?" I ask as he removes his helmet and puts it in his bag, zipping it up.

"She died in a bike accident, 3 days after we broke up." He bites his lip, holding back his emotions.

"All that was left was her helmet, in almost perfect fucking condition. I bought her the helmet so, I kept it." He looks back at me, tears begging to leave his glossy eyes. 

"Oh my gosh i'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked I-

"Don't be." be blurts out and narrows his head for me to follow him up the stairs, and I do so.

We make our way inside his apartment. I look around and see how perfect it looks. His red guitar set up is by his bed, its like my appartment, but a little bit smaller.

We take a seat on the couch and he removes his tie.

"Sorry I'm just gonna get changed real quick." He stands up looking down at me.

"Yeah of course." I smile and look around the room to take in everything.

Seconds later I hear a belt buckle fall to the floor and a zipper and I brush my sweaty palms against my thighs through my jeans.

A minute later he comes out in a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

"Sorry about earlier, that guy was a real dick." he walks over to his backpack, pulling out a box of cigarettes.

"Oh you didn't have to do all that he just... startled me that's all." I smile until I notice the cigarette he pulls out and lights it, bringing the substance to his lips.

"Oh you smoke?" I blurt out and immedtely regret it, I'm met with a single nod, and I watch him inhale and I almost squeal.

He's hot when he smokes, but I know he only does it out of pain.

I remembered the scent from yesterday, he makes his way back to the couch and leans back on the pillows.

"She cheated on me, That's why we broke up." He takes another hit up his lungs before he burns out the cigarette on his ash tray on the table. "I did everything for her and she broke my heart like it meant nothing to her."

I watch him rub his own arm up and down, and I scoot myself a little closer to him.

"Hey, hey it's okay." I say softly while I rub his back up and down. "You can talk to me, I know we just met yesterday, but i've learnt a lot about you this past 24 hours and you can talk to me."

"Thank you Brooklyn." he relaxes his shoulders and lays down on his side with his head in my lap and closes his eyes.

I retract for a second, but then Inrun my fingers through his curls. softly threading my fingers through his soft locks.

"Shh, You're okay." I say softly, and I almost feel like I can hear him crying silently inside.

Minutes past by of me threading my fingers through his hair. until I realize he's fast asleep on my lap, his body limp against the couch with just his head resting on my lap.

I smile softly and look down at his features on his face. His long dark lashes. A hint of freckles traced around his cheeks, soft pink lips, his silver lip ring. his peach fuzz above his lips, barely even noticeable.

10 or so more minutes go by and he's still asleep in my lap, so I make the move to lift his head up and gently place it back down on the couch.

He moves to roll over, and for a second I think I wake him but he just rolls over and starts snoring lightly.

I giggle to myself quietly and notice a blanket at the end of his bed in his room, I walk over to grab it but something on his nightstand catches my attention.

no way, is that?

I cover my mouth when i'm met with a fleshlight, I immedtely shake the image out of my mind and look back at him.

that can't be his.

Well, obviously it is. he's the only one who lives here dumbass.

I bite my lip and walk back over to him on the couch and place the blanket on him covering him from his shoulders to his toes.

I wonder why he has that, I mean, why would he need it? he's had girlfriends in the past like he said.

I remove the thought from my brain and grab my purse and leave, I turn the light off and close the door behind me, walking back down the steps to my appartment where I have at least 1000 questions unanswered.