To Protect Each Other ~ A Haleb Story

A Pretty Little Birthday

Hanna's POV...

"Hey Aria, Ez- Toby." I smiled as Caleb and I got into the back of Toby's new truck. We shoved our bags into the back and seeing and Aria provided tents, we didn't need to carry much. "Wait I thought Ezra was coming." I said, confused as to why those two were in the truck.

"Nice to see you too, Hanna." Toby chuckled. And I kicked the back of his seat, "HEY!" He yelled and now it was my time to laugh. "Spencer and Ezra wanted to discuss something about English. And I guess Emily and Alison get to join the ride."

"Iambic Pentametre. Wait, why's Ali getting out?" Aria asked as Alison stormed out of the other car which Emily was driving. She banged on Aria window and bellowed through it and she rolled it down.

"NO WAY IN HELL, AM I SITTING IN THAT GODDAMN CAR WHILE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL. I CAN JUST ABOUT MANAGE IT WITH YOU, ARIA, NEVER MIND MY FRICKIN' EX-TEACHER!"

"Jesus, Ali. Chill. We can switch then, okay?" Alison nodded, "Toby, this is your truck so you drive and Ali you get in where he is." She said. She nodded again and they proceeded with the seating arrangement. No one dared to say a word as Toby started the car and the realisation hit me. I groaned loudly.

"What?" Caleb asked, smirking at my clear exaggeration.

"I can't kick Toby's seat anymore!" I whined. "Can you do it for me?" I gave my classic Hanna Marin puppy eyes to make him give in.

"Anything for you." He said, loud enough to annoy Toby.

"Hey!" He said. We all laughed and much to my surprise, Ali joined in.

●●

1 hour later...

"Why did we decide to go to the furthest campground in Pennsylvania?" I moaned, immediately regretting the decision I made.

"Your exact words were 'the further we go away, the further we are from -A'" Toby quoted.

"Right... Caleb?" I whispered so the other couldn't hear me.

"Yeah?" He asked, noticing my nervousness and tightening his grip around my waist with his hand resting on my thigh.

"Can you not tell anyone about this please?" I asked holding my arm up which had the cut on it. He held it and rubbed it gently over my jacket.

"Not unless you want me to." He kissed my forehead and then my cheek, "But you know they would never say anything to upset you."

"I know but it's embarrassing." I whispered, avoiding his gaze.

"You don't have to be embarressed infront of me." He whispered back while lifting my chin up.

"I'm not but I am if it's them. I know they wouldn't say anything out of order... well most." I gestured toward Ali. "But I hate that they've got their lives sorted out and here's mine all messed up and I can't even control myself I'm ju-" He shut me up with an quick, passionate kiss on the lips.

"Don't you dare talk about yourself like that. You are who you are and there's nothing you can do about that. And I love you just the way you are and I wouldn't be very happy if you went and changed yourself." He smiled.

"How do you do that?" I asked and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Make me feel so good about myself when literally a minute ago I hated myself."

"Because it's my job. And I'm magic." He continued to whisper and I laughed out loud. I lay my head on his shoulder and he did the same on my head.