Young Hearts Collide
Chapter 10
Hello my lovely readers! Oh my I am so sorry for the delay on this chapter, I'm so sorry my updates have been slow ): but I promise from now I will be more committed and get you updates as soon as I can! Please enjoy this chapter. Hannah is having a bit of a change now.
Nearly getting killed during the bridge attack had triggered something within Hannah. She was sick of just being seen as a useless civilian within the second mass. So the day after the attack when they had just arrived at the airport Hannah had approached Tom and asked him if she could be trained to become a fighter.
''Hannah are you sure?'' he asked her with a surprised look on her face
''Yes. I want to defend myself and the second mass against the skitters. I nearly lost my life because I couldn't defend myself. I don't want that happening again'' Hannah had replied
''I guess that's a reasonable reason. I'll talk to Weaver and I'm sure Ben won't mind teaching you how to use a gun'' Tom had said to her smiling
''Thank you Tom. I just don't want to be seen as just a civilian anymore'' Hannah had said sighing
''Oh Hannah. You are seen as so much more than a civilian'' Tom had said to her smiling
Hannah had shrugged at him, smiled and then walked away satisfied that now she could learn how to become a part of something within the second mass.
It had been a day later before she was called into Weaver's tent. He confirmed to her that she was able to train to become a fighter and that Ben would be the one to train her in-between his patrols. So from then Ben had been teaching her how to load, aim and shoot a gun as well as teaching her how to stay quiet when on patrols and having good vision when aiming at the skitters. It was now six days later and Hannah now fully trained and was out on her first patrol with Ben and Jimmy but unknown to Hannah this was actually a skitter hunt for the boys own pleasure. Jimmy had also helped Hannah with her training so the two of them had become friends and Hannah was relieved to have finally made another friend in the second mass.
They had been walking around for 20 minutes before they heard the familiar noise of skitters approaching them. Ben pushed Hannah behind him placing a finger across his lip as they crouched down watching the group of skitters. Jimmy takes aim and shoots one of them down. Hannah aims and takes down another and sticking to aim Ben takes down the next. The three of them emerge from the bushes to check out their kills when suddenly one of them gets up again causing Hannah to scream as it takes aim for her. Suddenly Ben jumps in from of her and stabs the skitter in its sensitive spot.
''I thought it was dead'' Jimmy breathes
''It is now'' Ben answered smiling ''you okay baby?'' he asks Hannah
Hannah blushes at Ben's new nickname for her ''yeah I'm fine. Come on we best be getting back it's late'' she said
Ben takes her hand and looks at her ''yeah. But let's take a little detour'' Ben says smiling
''Ben are you sure? I mean-'' Hannah starts
''Come on Hannah it will be fun'' Jimmy says
''Sure okay'' Hannah says smiling
The three of them begin to walk and Ben drapes an arm around Hannah causing her to blush in the dim light. Jimmy walks beside them on alert for anymore movement around them.
''Guys can we like start a conversation feeling like a third wheel here'' He says looking at them both
Hannah and Ben both smirk at him ''Man ya know we could always hook you up with someone'' Ben says
Jimmy scoffs ''don't need your help getting myself a girl thanks Ben'' Jim says bitterly
''Sure sure'' Ben says smirking
Hannah looks him and slaps him lightly on the arm ''leave him alone will you. Jimmy is obviously happy on his own. Aren't you Jimmy?'' Hannah asks him smiling
''Yeah. Girls are too distracting anyway'' Jimmy says playfully
Hannah's mouth turns into an 'O' shape ''no we aren't. Ben have I ever distracted you?'' she asks looking up at him.
Ben smirks ''Baby. Think about it. I always place you by my side or behind me. There is a reason I do that'' he says coyly
''Ben Mason! You put me in those positions so you don't get distracted by my behind!'' Hannah snaps
Ben blushes ''well yeah'' he says suddenly becoming uncomfortable
Hannah scoffs and pulls out from under Ben's arm.
''Come on baby don't be like that'' he says softly
''Ben I don't want to distract you while we are on duty! What if you got hurt because of me!'' Hannah screeches
Ben sighs ''Hannah, you distract me all the time your beautiful. I just remember that we are on a mission or training and there you go I know that I have a job to do. Please don't worry okay, come on let's catch up with Jimmy look he's walked off'' Ben says pointing forward towards Jimmy.
They run quickly and catch up to Jimmy.
''About time you two stopped fighting. Come on I'd like to get back now!'' Jimmy snaps
Ben and Hannah are about to respond to him but suddenly they hear talking from close by. They all go quiet arming their guns and quietly pursuit forward. They hide behind trees and see that Pope and his crew have taken Tom hostage. Hannah gives Ben a desperate look as he runs from his tree and pulls pope up while Jimmy throws a fire bomb into the crowd.
''Drop your weapons!'' no one does and Hannah panics from behind her tree as she watched Ben's grip tighten around Pope's neck ''I said drop em!'' he demands again ''he won't miss this time!'' Ben demands referring to the fire bomb. The whole crew then drop their weapons and Hannah and Jimmy emerge from their respective trees.
''Hey Tom'' Hannah says politely
''Hannah'' Tom nods towards her.
They all begin to walk back. Hannah and Jimmy brining up the rear their guns cocked just in case any of Pope's crew goes out of line. They make it back to second mass and Ben escorts Hannah back towards her tent which she shares with Lourdes and Anne.
''Well what a day'' he breathes
''Yeah'' Hannah hums stretching her arms up
She then takes off her gun, gloves and boots leaving her in her usual jeans and long sleeved top.
''That's better'' she says rubbing her shoulders
''I'll see you tomorrow?'' Ben asks her
''Yeah, I'm sorry for snapping at you about getting distracted by me. I just don't want you to lose your concentration if there is any danger nearby'' Hannah says blushing slightly
Ben moves towards her and places a finger under her chin ''I won't. I promise okay when we are on missions we are in the zone okay? When we are back here we can act in any way we like okay?'' he says to her smiling sweetly.
Hannah nods at him ''that's the way it has to be'' she agrees
''Now me and Jimmy are going out again tomorrow night. Please don't worry'' he says
''I won't I'm on patrol with Maggie tomorrow. Don't you worry about me'' she says smiling at him wrapping her arms around his neck and Ben responds by rapping his arms around her waist and bringing her close to him.
''I won't'' he says bringing his lips to hers softly.
Hannah's hands make their way into Ben's hair and Ben responds by pushing his tongue into his girlfriend's mouth. They experiment with one another and suddenly something comes over Ben and he squeezes Hannah close to him not letting her breathe as he continues to attack her mouth. A few moments later the teens pull away from one another breathless.
''Wow'' Hannah breathes flustered
''I'll see you tomorrow beautiful'' he says placing a kiss on her forehead before leaving her tent.
Hannah sits down on her camper bed and breathes out a large intake of breath. Gripping onto the side she feels the butterflies in her stomach calm down and the general warmth around her body soon cools as it realises it is no longer in Ben's embrace. Then Lourdes walks in snapping Hannah out of her days.
''Well someone looks flustered. Hot make out session with Ben?'' she asks
Hannah blushes ''yeah you could say that. But something was different this time'' she says
''How so?'' Lourdes asks
''Ben seemed a lot more eager this time. Like whenever we make out we are both nervous and it's really embarrassing. But this time he was totally in control and it seemed like it was leading somewhere else'' Hannah blushes more
Lourdes looks at her friend stunned ''was the kiss passionate?'' she asked
''Very'' Hannah answers ducking her head ''it was just filled with so much feeling and need. It was amazing'' Hannah breathes
''Hannah your relationship with Ben just became serious'' Lourdes says smiling at her
''Really?'' Hannah asks
''Yeah you had the kiss. The kiss where all the feelings come through and it makes you feel different'' she explains
''Wow'' Hannah says a huge grin spread across her face and she climbs into bed.
/
It's the next night and Hannah has just returned from her patrol with Maggie. It's late and time to settle down but then a commotion breaks out and Hannah spots Ben carrying in a bleeding Jimmy. Hannah breaks down and runs after them as tears stream down her face. When she makes it into the medical centre so much is going on that she is unable to concentrates and then she's being pushed out with Hal and being told to clean up Ben.
She sits Ben down on a table and gets him a class of water. She rubs a shaky hand down the side of his face cleaning up with blood.
''Ben what happened?'' she asks through tears
''We were hunting skitters and this strange red eyed one threw Jimmy into a tree and and it-'' he can't finish as his words become engrossed with threatening tears.
''Ben its okay. Shush now'' Hannah says trying to comfort him
''What were you doing hunting skitters anyway? How can you be so stupid!'' Hal scolds his brother
Ben looks at him shock and then Hannah speaks ''don't shout at him Hal. Not now think about it okay'' she says looking at Hal desperately
Hal sighs ''this isn't over Ben. See you later'' he says and gets up and walks away
''Whatever'' Ben says
Hannah continues to clean Ben up and sighs when she finishes.
''I can't believe this has happened'' she says taking his hand
''It happened so fast I didn't know what to do'' Ben stutters
''Shush. It's okay Ben. Its okay you said the skitter got Jimmy and I believe you. I believe you'' Hannah says trying to reassure him.
''Thank you, thank you baby that means so much coming from you'' he says squeezing her hand.
The two of them sat there for a moment taking in that they could lose their friend.
/
The next few hours for Hannah were a blur she didn't know what was going on but all she knew is that she couldn't stop crying. She had found out that Jimmy was gone and that was it. She had run back to her tent and cried into her camper bed. Ben had disappeared and she felt so lost. She had finally made a new friend and the second mass and now he was being taken away all because of a skitter, it didn't seem fair and Jimmy was so young too.
She was then interrupted by Maggie coming into her tent.
''Hannah? Tom wants you to help dress Jimmy. Bens back'' she said softly
That got her up and she ran past Maggie and straight into the medical bus.
''Where the hell have you been?'' she snapped at Ben
''I went for a walk'' he answered her
Hannah approached him and hugged him ''don't ever do that to me again! Jimmy needs us'' she stated looking down at a now paler Jimmy.
They dressed him and then it was time. It was time for them to say goodbye to their friend.
The whole of the second mass had turned up for his funeral. Hannah cuddled close in to Ben but no tears were shed as Captain Weaver began to speak about the young boy. Hannah couldn't concentrate her eyes were too engrossed in looking at the small body covered in a red blanket lying in a shallow dug hole. Ben saw her looking and brought her closer to him and Hannah hid her head in his chest. Then she was moving forward and throwing mud into Jimmy's grave. That's when she broke down again but more for Ben this time rather than herself because the whole second mass was looking at him so judgementally because he was there when Jimmy had succumbed to his doom due to a sharp tree branch in his side.
She hated that no one believed the story because Hannah could see in Ben's eyes that he wasn't a killer he only witnessed Jimmy's fate. Hannah was then told to pack her things up as they were moving out of the airport. She was unaware of this she obviously had been so consumed in her grief that she hadn't heard about them moving out. So mechanically she packed up all her belongings and put it into the medical bus. She spots Ben and Hal on Hal's bike and then Ben moving onto his own bike.
''Baby you gonna have another go at riding on the bike?'' he asks her
Hannah takes in an intake of breath ''okay. I guess I can try it again'' she says climbing onto the back and clinging to him tightly
The second mass were now on their way towards Charleston which Hannah had no idea why. She had been like a zombie today and hadn't even noticed that a plane had landed at the airport and a woman had told the second mass about how Charleston was safe. Weaver had agreed and now the second mass was on the move again. Hannah couldn't believe how much she had missed because she was grieving for her friend and this made her feel guilty as she rested her head on Ben's back as they travelled towards the long awaiting Charleston.
Hey guys I hope you liked that chapter! I shall try and get chapter 11 up as soon as I can! I'm so glad that you guys still like this story it really does mean a lot that you are still sticking with me! So a big thank you to you lovely readers for that (: I hope you like that I turned Hannah into a fighter I thought it was time for her to have a bit of a reality check.
Thank you so much, much love, Vmk-xx