Alex's P.O.V
The train gets into New York and I look out the window to see one of my old drivers standing on the platform holding a namecard with my name on it. My mom must have called the penthouse to let them know I was coming.
"You ready?" Derek asks me.
"Yeah." I put on my shades so I don't get the cameras shuttering at my eyes. We grab our bags and we walk through the train as we leave. We step off the train and go to the designated driver.
"Welcome Home Ms. Crane."
"Hey James. This is my boyfriend. He's going to be staying with me."
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Brooks."
"It's Mr. Jones." Derek shakes his hand as he corrected him.
"I apologize. Are these your only bags?"
"Yes. We packed light."
"I can take those for you both." We hand him our bags and I take Derek's hand as we walk through the station. I pull out another pair of shades for Derek.
"Here baby, you're need em."
"Why?"
"Cause there's a dozen photographers waiting outside to get a picture of and they're gonna hound you about who you are."
"Okay." He puts them on and we stop in our tracks before we walk through the door. "You ready?"
"Yeah." I hold onto his arm and we walk out the station as the cameras are flashing.
"Alex, How are you after the crash?"
"Is this the guy from the diss track?"
"Is Take 3 still together?"
"Are you Noah over?"
"Is this your new bae?"
I covered my eyes as Derek held me close to him as we walked to the car. He opened the door for me and we got in. All the flashes made me think of the explosion from the family. I took off my glasses and I was huffing and struggling to breathe.
"Baby, it's okay. It's over now, I'm here." He holds my shoulders.
"All the flashes, it took me back to the crash."
"It's okay. You're not there anymore. You're okay now. Look at me." He turns my face to him and wipes the tears from my eyes. "You're alive and you are going to pull through this."
"Okay." I nod to him and he kisses my cheek. I hug him and rest my head on his shoulder.
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We walk into the lobby together and everyone standing around stares and whispers. I ignore them and we make it into the elevator. I rest my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me. The bellhop taped the button to the penthouse and we go up to the 31st floor. We walk out of the elevator and walk down the the apartment. I pull out the room key and I open the door.
"Wow, you said y'all lived big but I didn't know this big." He said as we walked down the hall.
"Yeah I know it's a lot to take in."
"Welcome home Alexandra." Marisol walks in from the kitchen.
"Hi Marisol." I walk up and hug her. She holds me in her arms so tight like I'm nine years old again.
"It's been too long."
"I know. This is Derek. Baby, This is Marisol."
"Hi, it's great to meet you."
"So this is the boy from your letters."
"Yeah that's him" I say hugging him.
"Well I have your room ready for you. Is your friend going to stay with you or the guest room?"
"He's staying in my room."
"Alright. Well want do you want for dinner? I have the fridge stocked up with all your favorites."
"I'm actually kind of hoping to have pizza from Jordan's down in Brooklyn if that's okay."
"Of course. I can get postmates on the phone and we can have it sent over."
"Thank you. We're gonna go set our stuff down." I pull his arm to my room and Marisol goes back in the kitchen.
"She's really cool."
"Yeah. She's like an aunt to me, practically raised me too."
"Are you sure you're alright with me staying in your room?"
"We've stayed together so far."
"I just wanna be respectful."
"My mom is back in London and my dad is back and fourth between here and LA. So it's just us. Besides, there's a lot of places we can hide if they pop up." I say walking in my room.
"Well okay." He says.
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"Help, somebody help me please." I feel the heat of the flames around me and I can't move. I try to get up but something is holding back my arms.
"ALEX, ALEX WAKE UP." I feel Derek shake my shoulders and I jump out of my spot in bed. I try to catch my breath and I feel his hands on my back. I'm covered in sweat and I feel like I'm burning.
"I feel hot. Everything is hot."
"Take your shirt off. Let's cool you down." I take off my shirt and it leaves me in my black sports bra. I take my hair out it's ponytail and run my fingers through my hair. "Just breathe okay. Tell me where you are."
"I'm in my room, I'm not on the plane."
"You're home and you're safe."
"I'm safe. I'm home." I hold my hand against my heart and I lay back on the bed. "I just want these nightmares to stop."
"It's okay. There gonna go away in time." He pulls me chest and I lay my head down against him.
"Thank you for being here." I cry.
"It's you and me baby. I'm not going anywhere." He kisses my forehead and I wrap my arms around him, letting him hold me as I fall back asleep.
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I wake up to a pair of lips kissing up my body as I lay on my side. I open my eyes and see Derek's hand wrap around mine. I turn my head and kiss him.
"Morning." I groan to him.
"Morning. How you feeling?"
"Better now that I got you. Thank you for being here."
"You're welcome. I promised I'd be here, as long as it takes."
"Can you be here for me now?" I turn my body to face him and kiss him.
"I think I can do something." He bites his lip and pulls me close as he wraps his arms around my body. I move my leg over his hip and he reaches behind me to slip his hand down my shorts, grabbing my ass.
"I'm gonna give you a son someday." I run my finger down his cheek.
"I gotta put a ring on your finger first." He takes my hand and kisses it.
"You better." He goes back to kissing me and I feel his dick getting hard against me and run my hand up his chest when there's a knock at the door.
"Alexandra. Are you awake? Can you the door please?"
"Oh my god." I whisper.
"Who's that?"
"My dad."
