Aida groaned as sunlight poured in her window and landed on her face. She rolled over and closed her eyes, hoping she would fall back into sleep's embrace. Aida slowly felt herself slipping to sleep when a beeping erupted into the air. Muttering curses under her breath, the girl sat up and answered her phone.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, sunshine." A smooth voice says, laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Aida says standing up.

"Oh nothing, babe, it's nothing at all."

"Do you need anything, Justin?"

Justin laughed. Aida frowned.

"Does this mean breakfast is cancelled?"

Aida's eyes widened with realization and it was if a jolt of electricity went through her. "No, no, no! We're fine. I'm actually heading out the door." She lied, pulling on jeans.

Justin chuckled, "Ok babe I'll be waiting."

Aida grabbed a shirt of her floor and slipped it on.

She hurried through the apartment, grabbing things that were littered here and pulled her hair into a ponytail and stepped out of the apartment, purse in hand. The blonde shut locked the door and turned around. She nearly jumped out of her skin when two men greeted her.

"Good morning, Miss Baccaro," one said, in a deep, husky voice.

Aida, hand on her heart, took a deep breath.

"Father certainly wasn't kidding." She muttered under her breath. Aida placed a smile on her face, "Good morning . . ."

The one that had greeted her spoke," I am Evan, this is Sean. We are to accompany you, per your father's orders."

Aida examined them. Evan looked to be mid forties. He had receding black hair and squinty eyes. Sean on the other hand . . .

Well, if Aida's relationship with Justin went downhill, she would definitely give Sean a call. Sean offered a small smile that Aida returned.

"I was just about to meet with someone, will you be escorting me?" Aida asked.

Evan nodded.

Aida started walking towards the stairs, she heard heavy footsteps following behind her and she knew they were coming. They walked down the stairwell in an awkward silence that Aida really wished wasn't so uncomfortable. When they made it outside Aida saw a black SUV and knew it was their car.

Very original.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and got in the car. Her bodyguards got in and Evan turned his head to her, as if asking for instructions.

"Oh, right. Take me to the coffee shop off of the broad walk."

Evan nodded and pulled away from the curb.

"Oh my god," Aida cried as she saw her boyfriend.

"What happened?" She asked, looking up into his warm brown eyes.

A smile played on Justin's lips as he shrugged. "What this?" He asked, pointing to the sling on his right arm, "Oh it's nothing."

Aida scoffed, "Yeah, sure. What the heck happened?"

Justin sighed. "I- uh, might have fallen from a tree. . ."

Aida raised an eyebrow.

"From twenty feet in the air."

"What!" The blonde shrieked. "What in bloody blue blazes were you thinking?!"

Justin rubbed the back of his neck, "Well you know how these truth or dare games are."

Aida frowned.

"You are so grounded."

Justin smirked, "Yes, mother."

Aida's frown deepened and she hit him lightly on his chest. Justin feigned pain. Soon his smile returned, but faltered quickly as he noticed something.

"Um, who are they?" Justin asked, nodding his head to Evan and Sean, who were standing near the door about ten feet away.

Aida sighed, "My father has me under guard."

Justin nodded and guided her to a table. They ordered and Aida drifted into space as the weight from yesterday fully fell on her. Aida looked out the window. People walked on the sidewalk. They were probably on their way to work, or going home after an exhausting night. They were completely ignorant to the war raging on their streets, totally ignorant to the large amount of blood already spilled. They were just living their lives, trying to get to one day to another.

How many more will die? How many innocents will perish? Aida thought as a woman passed by, a troubled look on her face. She looked right at Aida, but never stopped walking. Aida quickly looked away and fixed her eyes on the clock on the wall, but she still felt the woman's eyes on her.

"Aida."

She was pulled out of her thoughts and looked into Justin's brown eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand into his. She looked down at their interlocked hands. His dark skin contrasted against her pale skin.

Aida smiled, "I'm fine." She lied, fully knowing she was anything, but fine.

"Aida, I-"Justin never got a chance to finish, because at that moment the waitress came with their food.

"Thank you," Aida said as her plate was set n front of her. The waitress smiled, and walked off. "So, what were you saying?" Aida asked staring down at her pancakes, picking at the eggs on her plate.
"Oh, it was nothing."

Aida looked up into Justin's warm brown eyes, something flashed in his eyes, but before she could register what it was, it was gone. Aida examined his face. She now noticed a bruise on his cheek, which his dark skin had hidden from her. A few scratches adorned his face as well, but Aida didn't ponder on it. He did fall out of a tree. These things are expected, but Aida couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

The girl smiled softly, and Justin smiled back. They started eating when Justin brought up the one thing she didn't want to even think about.

"Did you hear about the bombing?"

Aida wanted to ignore the question, to pretend Justin didn't just ask something. She just wanted to push it away, shove in a box and ship away. She wanted to pretend that the man she had considered her uncle was still alive and well and back with her father. That they were working on some way to eradicate the Brotherhood. But the truth hurts.

"Yeah, I, uh- heard about that." Aida said quietly, wishing that Justin would quickly change subjects.

"It's just awful, isn't it? The news said that eight guys died in the explosion. Did you know anyone in it?"

Aida almost winced; apparently Justin wasn't interested in dropping the subject. "No," she lied, her voice perfectly calm despite the storm raging inside. And if she was a tree in a hurricane, she was bending so much she was about to snap right here and now.

Justin nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer, and spoke no more of the subject, which she was grateful for. They continued their meal, joking and teasing another. Aida almost forgot about yesterday's happenings . . . almost.

They walked down the street, hand in hand, saying little comments about the things they saw. Justin glanced down at his watch and smiled sadly before looking at Aida. "I have to go." Aida smiled and squeezed his hand. He squeezed back gently and kissed her lightly on the lips. Aida wrapped her arms around him, when Justin made a small noise of discomfort. Aida pulled back, regretfully, from their kiss.

"You're hugging a bit too tight." Justin said smiling.

You would have thought someone had told her he had Ebola, the way she jumped back from him. "Sorry." Aida whispered, sheepishly. Justin just smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Be safe." He whispered. Aida smiled, and felt her heart sink at their departure. She turned and walked toward her bodyguards, who were standing a respectful distance away.

"Aida, hold up!" Hearing her name she turned and smiled seeing Justin running to catch up with her. She smiled and waited for him to catch up. "I don't think we should tell your dad, about us, not yet at least. I still have some stuff I want to do before we meet."

Aida nodded, she never really was the type to lie to her father, but Justin must have a good reason for asking this of her.

Justin smiled, squeezed her arm gently and turned to go. Aida smiled at his departing form before turning back and walking to her guards. She felt her heart sink and realized she would have to go home, where she couldn't pretend she didn't know any of those people who died in the bombing. She would have to go back to her father, and to Tony. Aida suddenly longed for that bottle of wine she kept in her apartment. Anthony had been like a second father. When her father was locked up, Anthony took care of her. He had always treated her as his own.

By the time she got to her apartment, Aida was ready to cry. She slumped on her couch and let the tears fall, one by one. She stayed like that for about two hours, just crying, sometimes sobbing, and sometimes silently letting the tears fall. She cried until there were no more tears for her to cry. Aida stood up and walked into her kitchen. She would really like that wine now.

So, what do you guys think? Aida has a boyfriend, what did you guys think of him? Tell me your thoughts, positive or negative. I posted another one-shot earlier today, so check it out! :) Love you guys! You guys are great! Here have some cookies: (::) (::) (::)

:P