Marrie came running towards us.

"Oh my God! Oh my God! What have you done!??" She panicked over that ugly drunkard who was scurrying away from us in his bewilderment. Then she turned around and held the feeble hand of Hazel who was bent over me for support. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

"She won't listen to me. You have done this to her. I hate you." The words were out without any hesitation. My heart squeezed tight. Destruction; I had always done this to her.

"Out." I craned my neck towards the door as I scooped Hazel in my arms. She was light as a feather. Making my way through the people, I reached the door of the club and turned around, gesturing Marrie to open it.

Once we were out of all the mess into the fresh air of the night, I carried my girl to my car and settled her down in the front seat. I buckled the seat belt across her and then turned around. Marrie was standing behind me with her arms crossed in front of her. Her eyes were squinted speculatively as the light from the lamp post reflected her features.

"What do you think you are doing?" She spoke each and every word very slowly.

"I'm taking her home." I replied quietly. I knew this was not going to be easy because fortunately, Hazel had a guardian angel to fight for her. 

"This was not the plan." She stated.

"What was the plan?" I stressed on the was.

"She is supposed to stay the night at my place. Her mother knows." She angled her chin towards Hazel.

Everything became clear now as the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle came together and made the whole picture accurately displayed. Hazel was defying her mother for me. Damn.

"Does it matter where she stays?" I spoke out confidently.

Her eyes widened in response as she let the idea set in. She was about to say something when I interrupted her in between.

"No. I won't hurt her. Nothing like that. Promise. I'll return her safely." I hated how my voice came out so eager.

"I don't trust you with her." She stated bluntly regardless of how I would feel.

"You have my word." I tried to reason.

"I don't even know where you live, just in case.." She reflected her insecurity.

I gave her my address. She saved it in her cell phone.

"Her mother needs to know in the morning that she's alright and enjoying herself with me. Understood?" She was being a bit bossy and I felt really uncomfortable. Nonetheless, I still respected her for being so protective of the only person who meant the world to me.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Listen to me, Roxen Dale. She's my friend and friends are warriors when it comes to the safety of one another. You know that?" She took one step forward.

"I have no friends." I shook my head.

She was taken back by my answer. I could see it in her eyes, still she maintained her posture.

"That's okay. You'll have them soon. I'm doing this favor to you not because I trust you but because of what I see in your eyes for her. There's a fine line between lust and love. Just so you know. If you cross that line..." Her eyes burned with warning so she left the sentence incomplete.

"What do you see in my eyes for her?" I whispered. My heart had picked up pace. I worried about how she was going to judge me but I wanted to give her a chance to see what I had been holding in my heart for so long. I desperately desired someone to know it other than me since man is a social animal and needs the approval of the people around him. No matter how strong I was, I still needed someone to check if I was right in the evaluation of myself or not.

"You love her." I could see a light hint of smile on her lips but her eyes still held the warning.

My breath stopped for a second. The words were enchanting. I could feel tears rolling in my eyes but I ignored them as a light smile spread across my face.

"I love her." I nodded. A tear escaped my right eye as I swept the back of my hand over my cheek to wipe it away.

"Do not cry. I swear that grey melts to silver when you do it." Her mouth was a bit open and I could see she was stunned.

"Not you too!" A laugh escaped my throat as I thought how everyone was affected by the grey in my eyes.

"She never complemented you..did she?" She smiled. I felt lighthearted now when the burden on my shoulders had been shared.

"We never really had a talk but a lot of people do." I realized I was smiling now. I was so happy that Hazel had such a caring friend. She seemed hard outwardly but now I knew that she was really soft inside.

"Maybe you should drop this tough exterior and speak to her. She's very openhearted..just so you don't know." She was giving me a friendly advice.

"I know. I'll try my best." I smiled.

"Take her home and return her safely." She took a step back. I noticed how she referred to my house as home.

"Again, you have my word." I was flying in the clouds by the proceedings of tonight. She smiled in return and turned around to walk towards her car which was parked across the lane. I walked towards the driver's side and my hand lingered on the door when I heard her stop. I turned around to see what had stopped her.

She was standing a bit far away from me and had turned around as if she had just remembered something that she had forgotten before.

Our eyes met and a very genuine smile spread across her face. Then she spoke out the words that meant so much to me.

"I trust you with her." She raised a thumb. I wanted to jump in the air and shout out "yippee" to the world but I controlled the rush of my emotions and raised a thumb in return.

"Friends?" She had said over the night air and I knew that it was my first step to fit in the society around me after such a long time.

"Friends." I had returned the smile.

***

When I had left for the club earlier in the evening, I didn't have the slightest idea that I'd be returning with the most precious possession of my life. La mia perla preziosa..il mio amore.

I looked across and saw her dreaming off into a world unknown to me. The waves in her golden hair shone in shades as the car sped under the lamp posts towards home.

I was not worried that she was unconscious because I had experienced this episode of fainting once before. A smile appeared on my lips at the memory of it. I knew she won't be conscious until the morning, provided her drinking.

I turned on the car stereo. Searching through my playlist, I pressed on When you fall in love by Andrew Ripp.

It's been a long time coming, honey
And I know it's right
Even a heartbreak couldn't take love
From you and I

Here I am
I'm ready
Just say when

I smiled. She was by my side. I slowed the car a bit and rolled the windows down. Light breeze played with her golden hair as they ruffled softly and hugged her soft cheeks and frail shoulders. My eyes wandered off to the sky and tiny stars were sparkling in the dark kingdom above our heads. I felt at peace.

When you fall in love
You lose control
You can't hang on and you can't let go When you find the one
You hold on tight
You weather every storm
Till the sun shines
Even when it hurts, there's no regret
Every breath you give, is one you get When you fall in love
When you fall in love

I looked across and saw innocence mixed in all of her features. I reveled in the silence between us. It felt heavenly. My eyes strayed down and I saw her little hand resting loosely near my arm. Without thinking for another moment, I intertwined my fingers with hers and rested my hand in her hand. The spaces between my fingers were right where hers fit perfectly..

It even rains in the summertime, honey
But I'll keep you dry
Plenty of room under my umbrella
For those brown eyes
And all I see is you and me, baby tonight

Her eyes were closed but even then, I could feel the melting gold in them that had enchanted me for several nights. Finally, I had her all to myself. I relaxed in my seat, her hand in my hand, as the night air lulled me to peace. My hair ruffled as the breeze played along. I felt as if I had teleported back to my childhood. After a very long time, I had the carefree feeling that I used to have when I was a kid; trotting by my mother's side.

You'll drive all night
Cause you don't wanna miss even one little kiss
and you couldn't sleep anyway
When you fall in love
When you fall in love

I sang along the song as I felt her hand in mine. The world had conspired a lot to bring us together regardless of all the hurdles and impossibilities in the way. I didn't care what the morning was going to bring tomorrow, I was more than contented with what I had tonight.

You wake up livin' in a dream
Long enough to show you we're
Flying high with broken wings
When you fall in love
Oh, When you fall in love

I stopped the car in front of my home. Carrying her in my arms, I entered the place when Doris appeared out of the kitchen drying her hands with a little towel. Her eyes filled with surprise as she saw the sight in front of me.

"You need help?" She pointed towards the frail girl in my arms, whose lovely golden hair were hanging down like a lush waterfall glittering in sunlight.

"Uh..kind of." I replied back sheepishly.

"Lay her down on the sofa." Moving towards the sofa, she gestured for me to follow.

I laid her down. Sitting by Hazel's side on the floor, she placed a hand on her forehead and then probed her cheeks with the back of her hand.

"The temperature's normal, Rox. She's breathing alright. Is she drunk?" Her curious eyes lifted up to meet mine.

"A little, I guess." I bit my lip. I was not sure.

"She's fainted. Right?" She provoked me.

"Yes." I felt guilt pouring in my system.

"She'll be alright. Don't worry. Take her upstairs. I've made your bed." She spoke with a hidden smile; the smile of a mother who catches her child stealing a piece of cake from the pantry.

"Uh..it's not like that. Seriously. But yeah..she needs to sleep so I'll better take her upstairs." I rubbed the back of my neck and picked her up in my arms once again. Doris's eyes squinted lovingly as her smile deepened.

"Keep her safe." Her voice followed me as I carried Hazel upstairs to my bedroom. I rolled my eyes.

Everyone had his insecurity displayed tonight but I was going to prove it to this world tomorrow morning that I was a man of my words and what I had for her was love..not lust.

Author's Note

Hi Imaginators! *-* I have decided to add three chapters before Hazel's accident. This is the first of them. Two more will follow. :) You're going to enjoy them..don't worry. ♡

How was this one? Who wants more of it? :P

Are you satisfied with my writing? Please give me feedback. :')

Much Love. ^-^
Hazel ♥♡