I've decided to make Takeoff into a series, but this one will be from another point of view until the stories meet up. So no spoilers, yay! The first chapter doesn't do much of anything but you get a good feel for the characters. Enjoy guys!

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Saffron sat up in bed and rubbed her bleary eyes with the heels of her hands. "Ugh." She groped around on her bedside table until she found her alarm and stopped the blaring with a tap of the snooze button. She'd had the strangest dream last night... Whatever. She was just tired. Saffron stopped her morning grumblings to glance at the time and bolted out of bed. "7:34! Damnit Aaron!"

Downstairs, Aaron was making himself an egg, blissfully oblivious to Saffron's wrath. That is, until she stormed down into the kitchen.

"What the hell? It's late! I told you to wake me up at six! Douche. Are those eggs? Did you make bacon?"

"In the oven." Aaron grinned at his (technically) niece's change in mood. Saffron Wells was only two years younger than him, but his brother - her dad - was sixteen years older than him and married young.

Saffron sat down at the table and twisted her curly blonde hair into a sloppy morning bun. "How long till happiness?" She was, of course, referring to the bacon.

"Under five minutes," he replied. "Shouldn't you be getting ready if it's so late?"

"Well it's your stupid fault! I-" she was cut off by Aaron's response.

"That doesn't change the time, now does it? Go, shoo."

Saffron snorted and strode over to the stairs. "Fine, but there'd better be bacon on my plate when I get back."

*****

Saffron practically strutted down the street on her way to the coffee shop. She dressed appropriately for the warm weather - a soft pink sweater, a white tank top beneath that which showed about an inch, and pastel blue shorts. She marched through the door, and a bell tinkled softly over her head.

"Hey Blake. Sorry I'm late, my parents are out of town and Mister Douche didn't wake me up, but he had bacon so all is well in the world."

Blake chuckled at his girlfriend's tale. "Where are your parents?"

"I'm not sure, they're doing a travel-y thing again."

"I'm sure they like to take advantage of Aaron being 18 now. It's been, what, two vacations in eight months?"

"Yeah well, what do you know? Men." She scoffed, but she had a smile on her face. "So what now? Movies or park?"

"I was thinking the park, but whatever you feel like. My mom said I have to be back by four."

"Ooh, what's this? The rare responsible teenager? Woah. I thought they were a myth."

The sarcasm was thick in her voice, and they both laughed. Saffron was as responsible as her boyfriend, if not more.

"So the park?"

"Su-" Blake's reply was cut off by a squeal from Saffron.

"Is that the ice cream truck? Come on!"

Laughing, they left the shop and walked up to the truck, which had already been stopped by throngs of children who lived on their street.

"One rocket pop and one choco taco, please." Blake ordered for Saffron, knowing her favorite. They payed and walked back towards the coffee shop.

"I'm going to grab a cup to go, want something?" Blake offered.

"Nah, but thanks. I'm good with my ice cream."

Blake went in and returned two minutes later, a coffee in hand. They walked towards the park and sat down on a bench when they arrived. Saffron reached into her purse and pulled out a bag of peanuts.

"Again? Wow, you must really love them," Blake laughed.

"I do. They're just so cute!" She shelled a peanut and tossed it onto the ground in front of her. A small squirrel darted over, grabbed it, and fled. "Aww, he's so cute! Do you think he's a baby? He's so little!"

"Saffron, it's the middle of summer. I don't think there are baby squirrels."

"Well what do you know? He looks like a baby!"

Blake sighed, smiling. Saffron was an animal lover. She continued to throw out peanuts until the bag was half empty. "I think that's enough for today. Save some so you don't have to buy another bag so soon. Your dads will kill you," Blake cautioned jokingly. "But really, save your money. They're just squirrels. You could adopt a puppy with all the money you've spent on peanuts."

Saffron's face lit up, and too late Blake realized his mistake. "Shit. No. I didn't mean it, come on Saffron." She stood up, shoved the peanuts back into her purse, and skipped off towards an animal shelter.

*****

"I can't believe you pretended to be 18. You are so dead when Aaron and your dads see this."

"No, you are. It was your idea."

"It was sarcasm, Saffron!"

They continued like this until arriving at Saffron's house and deciding that they were both dead.

"Well if they kill us, do you reckon they'll keep Grayson anyway?"

"Jesus, you already named him?"

"Yeah." Grayson was a golden lab puppy, and had been born in the shelter. He was two months now, and in a carrying crate in Saffron's arms.

The two stopped short when they saw the cars outside Saffron's home. "Shit," Blake said. "They're home."

At that moment, two men walked out of the house. "Hey Saffron," one said lightly. "What've you got there?"

"Well Blake had the best idea today-"

"No way! This is not my fault!"

"What's going on?" The other man asked, concern lacing his face.

Saffron couldn't contain herself anymore. "I got a puppy!" She squealed.

*****

A few hours later, Blake, Saffron, Aaron, the two men, and Grayson were in the sitting room.

"Blake, you had to know something like this would happen," one man said with a chuckle.

"Well, no, it was sarcasm. She should be able to recognize it."

"Sarcasm doesn't apply to Saffron when animals are involved."

"Sorry Mr. Wells."

"What've we told you Blake? It's Luke and James, otherwise we can't tell who you're talking to."

Saffron was oblivious to their conversation, for she was on the floor playing with her new puppy. Surprisingly, her parents weren't even annoyed at Grayson's presence. In fact, the loved him.

"Saffron. Earth to Saffron? Hello?"

"Oh. Hi. What?"

"What supplies do we need to get?"

"Well I got a leash, and a few toys, and the carrying crate, but we need food and someplace for him to sleep. A crate for while he's a puppy, they said. And when he's older a bed. And treats. He likes peanut butter crackers."

"Alright. I'm going to run out then, I'll be back in about half an hour. No more animals while I'm gone. Got it? Saffron?"

She had gone back to playing with Grayson. "Yeah, okay."

"Okay, Luke, you stay here, I'm taking Aaron," James said standing up.

"Alrighty. Are you two going out again?" Luke asked Saffron and Blake.

"Yeah, I think we'll go to my house for a while. Could we take Grayson for a walk? My mom'll want to meet him."

"Of course, just be careful. Bye, all!"

They left, and Luke waved from the doorway.

*****

"Mom? We want to show you something! Where are you?"

"Kitchen, honey. What's up?" Blake's mom, Delilah Jacobsen, was sweet, to say the least. She had brown hair and wore it in a messy bun, with an apron over her green sweater and jeans.

"God, mom, aren't you hot?"

"Why yes I am honey, but that's a little inappropriate, don't you think? Save that stuff for your father to say."

Blake blanched and then went red. "Mom! That's not what I- mom!"

She laughed. "Hey Saffron. How are you doing?"

"Fine thanks, Mrs. Jacobsen. What are you cooking?"

"Moussaka."

"Ooh, yum. That's one of my favorites."

"Well, you're welcome for dinner anytime, hon. Tell your fathers they can come too. And Aaron."

"Thanks," Saffron smiled. "I'll take advantage of that I think. Who could pass up moussaka?"

"Exactly."

"I could," Blake said.

"Oh I forgot, my son has no taste. I'll make you a burger or something with lots of meat."

"Mom."

"Yeah, okay, veggie burger."

"Can't you give up your vegetarianism for moussaka? It's literally awesome!" Saffron made a mock surprised face.

"Um, no."

The three laughed at this and Grayson barked at the sudden noise.

"What was that?" Mrs. Jacobsen asked.

"My new puppy," Saffron said proudly. "His name is Grayson."

"Oh My God, he's so cute! Golden lab?" She stroked his head affectionately and smiled as he rolled over, exposing his belly for rubbing. "Aww, such a cute wittle baybee puppy!" She used her baby voice and rubbed his belly.

Saffron giggled. "Here, play with him," she said handing her a rope.

While Mrs. Jacobsen gently played tug-of-war with Grayson, Saffron and Brad moved into the sitting room. "Your mom seems to like Grayson," Saffron smiled.

"Yupperoni."

"Stop saying that, it's stupid."

"Listen to your girlfriend!" His mom yelled from the next room.

The pair chuckled, and Saffron pulled out her phone to call her dad. "Hello? Hey Luke. Yeah, fine. Hey, Mrs. Jacobsen is making moussaka and she invited the family over for dinner." She laughed at his reply. "I will. Alright, love you! Bye." She walked back into the kitchen, where Blake's mom was still playing with Grayson.

"Hey hon. What'd Luke say?"

"He said to tell you 'yummilicious,' and they'll be over at seven."

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Cas here again, hi! Thanks for reading, as I said before this is a spinoff of my other book, so read them both! Yay more books!
            ~Cas