An: A really weird chapter, I have absolutely detested my writing lately. I want to get this book finished before I start school, so a chapter is a chapter. Enjoy!

  - Not spell checked, as always.

I wake up before Hangman the next morning, rolling over to face him. He is sound asleep, his arm draped lazily over my waist.

  My heart tugs in my chest, and I realize something. I think I've known it for a while, but I have never really thought about it— I love him.

   I move closer to him, running my fingers through his hair. He smiles in his sleep, shifting slightly. He pulls me by my waist, burying his head in my neck.

  "I know you are awake, Jake." I say, and he kisses my shoulder.

  "No, I'm not." He says, his voice deep from sleep. "I'm not awake until my alarm goes off."

  "Okay." I say, relishing his warmth. He opens his eyes slowly, taking in my form. I smile at him, pressing a kiss to his nose. He hums in reply, sinking back into his pillow.

  "I could stay like this forever." He whispers. I nod in agreement, observing his side profile.

  It is quiet, the kind of quiet that comes only in early hours of the morning, when everyone is peaceful sleeping.

I summon up the courage, swallowing.

"I love you." I whisper, and he turns again, staring at me. There is a pause, just long enough for a thousand thoughts to run through my head, before he smiles, pulling me into his chest.

  "I've been waiting a lifetime to hear you say that." He whispers, pressing his forehead to mine. He holds me in his arms. I smile as he kisses me, pulling back slightly so he can look me in the eyes.

"Do you know that I have dreamt of this?" He whispers. "Over and over again."

I smile, a blush creeping across my face.
"Look at you, Jake. So sentimental." I whisper, running my fingers across the features of his face: his strong jaw, the dip in his nose, the perfect bow of his lips.

  "You only fall in love once, baby. And I am so, so glad it was you."

I talk with him as he gets dressed, chatting about random things as I remain laying in his bed, his scent surrounding me, his blankets covering me from my toes to my chest.

  I wiggle around, turning on my side to face him. As he tugs on a white under shirt, I watch the muscles in his back tighten and loosen. I grin to myself, turning to face the ceiling, my hands under my head.

"— and they get mad at me for flying fast, but it's the only way I know how to fly. It's what got my first in my class." He says once he has his beige uniform on, moving to stand above me. I hold out my hands, and he helps me up. "They are the ones who can't keep up."

I raise my eyebrows at him, and he grins.

"Look, it's not their fault that you are the best pilot out there." I whisper teasingly, putting my hands on his chest and playing with the golden wings.

  "Once they have a little fire under their asses they will see." He says, absentmindedly playing with my earrings, his thumb and forefinger rubbing my ear.

I hum in agreeing, picking up the habit from him. He smiles, pressing his lips to my forehead.

  "Marry me one day?" He asks, moving to trace my ring- finger on my left hand. "Look, I know we are jumping the gun, but—"

  "One day," I promise, interrupting him. He smiles, and I feeling joy bubble up in my stomach.

He grins at me, before moving towards the door.

"I'll call you later?" He asks, running his fingers through his hair. I smile, nodding, a lump in my throat preventing me from speaking.

He smiles, opening the door and gently shutting it behind him. I run my hands down my face, dancing around out of the joy of it all.

I think I will be smiling for the rest of my life.

"Hello?" I say, answer the phone.

  I am in the kitchen, mopping the floor from where I spilled my iced coffee. Ice cubes are sprayed across the floor, slowly melting into puddles, some colored brown from coffee.

"Hey, sweetheart." Jake says. There is something in his voice, an undertone of worry. I raise my eyebrows, pausing.

"It's not even lunch yet. Is there something wrong?" I ask uncertainly, almost afraid to ask.

  "They crashed." He says. "Bob and Phoenix, they hit a flock of birds. They ejected, but Phoenix was wondering if you could stop by, she wanted to talk to you—"

  "I'm on my way." I interrupt him for the second time today, throwing a kitchen towel on the floor to hopefully soak up most of the mess. "I'll take Bradley's truck."

  "Perfect. See you." He says.

  "Bye."

  I hurry out the house, slamming the door behind me and running towards Bradley's old truck.

  I pull open the door, putting the key in the ignition.

  "Come on." I whisper, almost crying out of relief when the truck starts. Bradley's old beater truck is extremely unreliable, picking random days to not start. Thankfully, today is one of the days where it does, roaring to life.

  I break a few traffic laws, glad to not get pulled over. There is a small line of three cars at the front gate, and I tap my fingers nervously on the front wheel.

  Reaching the guard- house, I smile nervously at the man in uniform.

  "Hi! Brooke Bradshaw." I say, handing him my ID.

  He lets me through, and I park in the designated area for visitors. I get lost a few times, but I eventually make it into the hospital, asking a Nurse for directions.

  I walk into the small hospital room, a thin curtain dividing it in half. Phoenix sits closest to me, a power - bar in her hand. She grins at me.

  "Hi." She says, sitting on the edge of her bed, swinging her legs back and forth.  Her face and hands are littered with small cuts, and her right eye is black and blue.

  I pull her into a hug, stepping back.
  "What happened?" I ask. "Are you hurt?"

  "Oh, I'm fine." She says. "Bob got the worst of it."

  "Aww, poor Bob." I say, and the curtain next to us opens.

"He's fine." Jake says, waving his hand at Bob, who is staring at the tray of food in his lap.

  "What even is this stuff?" He asks, smashing a soggy carrot with his fork.

  I let out a breath, point my finger at Hangman.
  "You scared me." I say, sighing. He shrugs, crossing his arms.

  "I wanted to talk to you so you didn't panic." Phoenix says. "You know, after what happened with Rooster.."

  I try to hide the bit of hurt that flashes across my face, but I wave her off.

  "I'm just glad you too are okay." I say, watching Jake exit the room.

"Yeah, they want to keep us overnight." Bob says, shrugging. He has a large, diagonal scratch on his cheek, still red and fresh.

  "I'll hang out with you for a bit then." I say, feeling the building shake as a fighter takes off.

  We got lucky. No one is hurt.

Thanks!

-❤️Kena