The Pilot And The Dreamer

Chapter 7

Natalie grasps me around the shoulders and gently shakes me.

"Snap out of it Hazel. He didn't turn you down, but you're fine, okay?" I nod and she lets go after giving me a hug. "Let's go join the boys." She leads me with an arm around my shoulder and I look down, suddenly shy. Peter looks at us with an unsure expression.

"Is everything okay, honey?" Peter asks and she nods when my phone starts ringing.

"Excuse me." I say, walking away from the group.

"Hello?"

"Hi Hazel, it's Derek. Mom wanted me to call and tell you that you should get back and ready for dinner."

"Thanks Derek."

"And also, I managed to persuade your mother to let your friends come along with us, but in return, it was a whole day of mother-daughter bonding." I'm not sure how to reply to that. Derek stuck his neck out for me, but being around my mother will get ugly, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

"Thank you Derek. I'll make sure you get the best father's day present." I say with a smile and he laughs.

"Thanks, kiddo. Now hurry back before she changes her mind." He says, hanging up. 

I skip back to the group. "Good news, my dad convinced my mom to let you guys come tonight, but in return, I have to spend a day with her." Natalie puts an arm around my shoulder.

"Don't worry about it right now, okay? Just friends and family."

"Thanks Nat." I say as we begin walking back to the house and Noah falls in step beside me.

"Hazel?" He asks, but I ignore him and he gently puts a hand on my arm to get me to stop. I look up at him. "What did I do?"

"It was me. I thought I could trust you and it just felt natural in case you wanted to go somewhere else for a couple of hours." I say, trying to walk again, but I am stopped.

"I would rather spend time with you and I guess I just got spooked. There is nothing against you, I promise."

"I just don't want you to go in not knowing what the hell was going on, okay. I'm looking out for everyone involved." I say, feeling tears roll down my face and I look down, trying to put myself together. An arm gently comes around me and pulls me towards a firm chest and I begin sobbing into the shirt. I have a feeling of safety and security, something that I haven't experienced before.

"It's okay, H, let it out." Noah's voice drifts through my head and I snap out of my trance, pulling against his arms. I look up at Noah to see him already looking down at me with kind eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"It happens. I have two younger sisters, so I understand the emotions that get bottled up inside." He says, before adding. "Let's get going back. Just let the fresh air calm your nerves." I nod and start walking, feeling Nat's hand in mine, giving me comfort while Noah has his arm around my shoulder. I see the house and self-consciously, look down while we walk inside the house. I walk towards my room and shut the door. I look on my bed to see a white box with a blue bow on top. I gently take off the bow and open the box to see a beautiful maroon lace dress with long sleeves and fitted until the bottom, which is a bit of a flared style. I gently take it out and get ready for tonight. Each of the rooms has an en suite attached and I pull my curling iron out of the drawer and gently curl my hair and style it off-part. I just start my makeup routine when there is a knock at the door.

"Hazel, it's Nat."

"Come in." I say, turning to greet her at the door and she's stunning in a light pink knee-length fitted dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves. Her hair is up and nude heels on her feet. "You look gorgeous."

"You are definitely a show-stopper." She says, laughing. I smile and turn to finish putting concealer, untinted foundation, mascara, and my favorite shade of lipstick, but Nat takes it out of my hand.

"Hey!" I exclaim, but she laughs.

"Relax." She says, digging around in my makeup bag and pulling out an almost new thing of lipstick.

"Where did that come from?" I ask.

"Inside your makeup bag." She says, putting the lipstick on me and when she was finished, she had the biggest smile on her face. "Hot damn girl." I turn towards the mirror and gasp. The shade was red, almost like a candy apple red with a small amount of shine to it. I put a little magic into getting it to stay on somewhat and not smear, pocketing the lipstick.

"Thanks." I smile as I go to find my shoes in my closet and put them on before grabbing my clutch to put everything I need in it. "Ready?" I ask Nat just as someone knocks on the door. Nat goes to answer it while I make sure I unplugged the iron.

"The guys are ready." She says with a smile so I meet her at the door. Peter is dressed in a navy blue suit that looks really good on him, a tie to match Natalie's dress and a white undershirt. I turn back to grab the lipstick and I turn back towards the door to see Noah standing in the threshold, sporting a black suit, complete with the vest and tie that seemingly matches the color of my dress. His hair has a little bit of gel in it, and the suit fits him perfectly.

"You look absolutely stunning, H." He says, after being speechless for a good couple minutes.

"T-thanks. You look handsome as well." I say, quietly.

Dangit, where did my confidence go?

He shyly smiles back before offering his arm to me. "Shall we?" I smile at him as I slip my arm into the crook of his elbow.

"We shall."