The Pilot And The Dreamer

Chapter 23

"Hello Hazel." I turn around slowly, and come face to face with Logan, who is standing in the doorway to my room. He still looks the same, dark hair, some facial hair, but much taller and must have put on some muscle while he was in prison.

"What do you want." I ask, scared. He only chuckles and advances towards me, causing me to scream. I dart towards him, only for him to counter my self-defense move as Noah breaks in through the door and they both stare down each other. While keeping an eye on Logan, I move towards Noah.

"Little Hazel's got a protector." Logan chuckles, causing me to shiver.

"You never answered my question." I snarl before Logan comes towards me until he is standing in front of Noah.

"My dear, I'm here to give you what rats deserve." He whispers so that I'm the only one who hears before mimicking the cutting of his throat. "See you soon, sweetheart."He disappears and I stand, shocked as Noah takes the things that are in my arms and sets them down on the table.

"So, what did I do to deserve this?" I ask, scared. Noah wraps his arms around me.

"You spoke up and he's so used to having you under his thumb that he does the only thing to get you back under." He says and I shiver.

"Let's get over to Nat's, okay." I nod and I grab the things before walking next door. I stop and lean my head against the door and take a deep breath before opening the door.

"Hey, babe, can you pass me the cheese?" Peter asks and Natalie does and turns to face us.

"Is everything okay, H?" She asks and I nod, and she pours a glass of wine for me after getting me to sit down. "I'll take these." I give the items to her as I hold the glass in my hand, swirling it around gently. I hear voices and I set down my glass before I realize that it's just Nat and Noah.

"Aw damnit." I mumble, putting my head in my hands.

"Hey, it's going to be okay." Peter says, coming around the counter to hug me. "Remember, between Natalie, Noah and I, we won't let anything hurt you." I relax a little bit and pull away.

"I don't know how to thank you guys." I say, but Peter looks me straight in the eyes.

"Best friends look out for each other." I stand up after Peter lets me go and I grab my wine glass and head out to the balcony. I lean against the railing, taking a sip and look out over the city.

My mom tried to set me up, I get drugged and kidnapped to marry the man who drugged me, and an ex-boyfriend whos dead set on making sure I get what I deserve.

Either I have the shittiest luck in the world, or I just don't deserve happiness.

"Careful." I don't turn around because, by the way my body reacted from his accent, it's Noah. "Don't worry that pretty little head of yours, sweetheart." My skin crawls from that endearment. My peripheral vision tells me that Noah is next to me.

"I don't deserve to be happy." I take another sip, holding in tears. Noah takes the glass from my hands, sets it down on the table before pulling me into his arms.

"Don't let any of them get into your head, darling. You deserve to be happy." I pull away from Noah to look him in the eyes, but he continues. "I have never met a girl who has such a passion for flying, with as much spirit in her eyes like you." He says, moving his face closer towards me. "Your thirst for life, even sharing a very painful part of your life with a complete stranger." Our noses touch and he whispers, "That is what I admire the most about you." He closes the gap and I loop my arms around his neck when I feel the coolness of the railing against my back. I give into the emotion and can feel the whole world fall away until it was just the two of us. My hands run down his arms as his grip tightens around my waist, deepening the kiss when I gently push on his chest, tears streaming down my face.

"I-I can't." I mumble out, sobbing into Noah's shirt and he cradles my head.

"Hey, sweetheart, it's okay. Cry it out." He says in a soothing voice. He gently moves me to the chair and he sits down, pulling me down to sit on his knee. I stop crying and soon fall asleep against his chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I find myself surrounded by comfort, but my senses wake up because there is a coffee aroma floating through the air. I sit up and stretch my 'cat-like stretch' before looking around me. I'm in Natalies' and Peters' apartment and suddenly everything comes back to me. I pull the blanket closer to me, crawling out of bed and walking to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and see everyone out on the balcony. I hold my cup and walk outside, causing the conversation to stop.

"Morning, H." Nat says, curled up on the couch next to Peter, both nursing a cup of coffee.

"Morning." I reply, taking a drink of coffee.

"H, over here." Noah says and I walk over, sitting down next to him. "You doing okay?" He whispers in my ear and I nod, leaning towards him.

"There's something that I need to explain....about last night." I add and he nods, holding his arm so I can lean into his side and he laid his hand across my shoulders.

"So what is the plan for today, everyone." Peter asks. Coffee cups were moved to the nearby table and both Peter and Nat lean back against the chair.

"I should stop by my house, just to check up on things, also grab a change of clothes." Noah says, "Hazel, would you come with me?" I look at him. 

"Noah, I don't think-" I start, but Noah puts a finger against my lips.

"I want to protect you and the only way I can guarantee that is if you come with me." He says and I face him to see that there is no way on changing his mind. 

"Looks like I got no choice." I say, standing up to take my coffee cup inside. I rinse it out before putting it into the dishwasher and grabbing my suitcase to take into the bathroom.