Chapter One
"Angel Reyes, why am I not surprised to see you sitting in a cell?" I say a smirk on my face
Angel's eyes travel from the ground up, a look of confusion on his face as his eyes land on my name badge
"Charlie?" He asks surprise spreading across his face
"In the flesh" I reply leaning against the wall opposite his cell
"I always assumed you'd be in this cell next to me not wearing the uniform" he says smiling at me
"Yeah well, one of us had to clean up their act" I reply laughing
Angel rolls his eyes as I push off the wall dangling the keys to his cell in my hand
"Breakfast?" I ask opening the cell
"As long as you're paying" He says exiting
"I'm paying but you've got to do me a favour" I reply
Angel turns facing me his eyebrow cocked
"I need you to sneak out the back door because Frankie told me I couldn't release you for a few more hours, apparently, this is your second drunk and disorderly offence this month" I say shrugging
Groaning Angel heads towards the door, I fish my car keys out of my pocket, "it's the red Jeep and no you're not driving" I tell him as I hand him the keys
Checking the hallway is clear I lead Angel out of the holding cells and out the backdoor, heading back inside I grab his belongings bag which had kutte, wallet and phone off my desk, shoving it into my purse.
"Night" I say to Pete the day officer who come in to replace me "see you in a few hours" I smile as walking out the door
Heading out to my car I climb into the driver's side pulling Angels crap out of my purse and shoving my purse next to his legs
"Keys" I say holding my hand out
Angel places them in my palm, his fingers brushing over mine causing butterflies in my stomach
Starting up my car I look at him "Mays?" I ask
"Do I need to justify that with a response?" He asks giving me his trademark smirk
Laughing I pull out of the lot and as Angel throws his Kutte on my backseat
"Don't you have to wear that all the time?" I ask lightly keeping my eyes on the road
"I don't know, do I?" He asks I can feel him watching me intently
"How would I know, I'm not part of an M.C" I retort sneaking a look at him out of the corner of my eye
Snorting Angel tilts his head back into the headrest closing his eyes
"Whatever you say Charlie" he mutters
Chapter Two
Pulling into a spot right outside Mays I look over at Angel peacefully asleep and snoring in my passenger seat, leaning over I pinch his nostrils closed counting slowly in my head 'one, two, three'
Angel jerks awake gasping for breath glaring at me "why do you do that?" He asks swatting my hand away
"I hate the sound of you snoring" I reply taking the keys out of the ignition and climbing out of the car "grab my purse" I tell Angel as he climbs out
Walking into Mays I'm hit with the familiar smell of coffee and bacon, laced with a smell we could never figure out, seeing us enter May slips out from behind the counter wrapping Angel up in a hug, the best she can for her 5 foot nothing frame
Poking his side "When was the last you ate? I will fix you a plate, go sit" she commands him, turning to look at me
"Here I was thinking I was going to have to die before I saw you again Missy" May says warmly wrapping her arms around me "it's good to have you home" smoothing my hair she pushes me towards Angel
"Sit, I will bring you food" she calls out heading back to the kitchen
"Please explain to me how that woman was at least 100 years old when we were in high school and she's still alive and working?" I furiously whisper to Angel as we head to our old booth
"Coco is convinced she's a God and will outlive us all" he says sliding into the booth
Laughing I slide in across from him "That wouldn't surprise me" I say a silence falls between us.
I start to fiddle with the coffee cup in front of me the memory of the last time I was in this diner tugging at my mind
"Do you remember the last time we were here together?" Angel asks me softly
"Get of my head Reyes" I reply looking at him "I was just thinking of that"
A waitress comes over pouring us both coffee, knowing that May had sorted out our food already she leaves after she finishes pouring
"Do you remember Senior homecoming?" I ask a smile on my face
Laughing Angel takes a sip of his coffee "Emily's dress still haunts my nightmares" he replies
"So much tulle" I reply laughing
"You know she's married to a Galindo now?" he says putting his cup down his voice growing serious
"Yeah, I know" I reply looking into my cup
"Please tell me you're not still friends with her?" he asks
Sighing I look up seeing annoyance on his face "Yes Angel I am, she's one of my best friends"
"After everything she put Ez through?" he retorts
"Ez didn't help himself in that situation, and their relationship has nothing to do with us" I tell him
May arrives carrying a plate stacked high with her famous chocolate chip pancakes, placing it down in front of me she puts a plate full of eggs, bacon, toast and waffles in front of Angel
"Eat up my babes" she says warmly walking off
"God I've missed these pancakes" I say drowning the stack in syrup
"Do you want a straw? You know you could just drink the syrup it would be less of a waste" Angel says watching me with disgust
Ignoring him I cut the stack into 4 perfect triangles, sticking my fork into the first half I shove it in my mouth savouring the taste of Mays perfect pancakes.
We eat in silence for a little while, the earlier conversation of Emily forgotten for now
"So why are you back in town?" Angel asks me with a mouthful of food
Swallowing my pancakes, I look at him "I know your mamma raised you better than that Reyes, don't talk with your mouthful" I tell him
Rolling his eyes, he swallows the piece of toast in his mouth reaching over and stealing some of my pancakes he repeats the question "So why are you back in town?"
My left hand rubs my shoulder, a subconscious nervous habit I've developed
"I guess you were right, I wasn't cut out for the big city life" I reply dropping my hand when I realise Angel is watching me closely
Swirling the last piece of my pancakes around my plate "I should probably get you back home or to the clubhouse" I tell him grabbing cash out of my purse and leaving it on the table
Angel follows me out to the car in silence "I never meant what I said that day" he says softly as we climb in
"Yeah well that makes one of us" I reply starting the engine
Chapter Three
Angels POV
Walking into the scrapyard I see Coco, Gilly and Ez sitting at one of the picnic tables making my way over to them I sit down on the table stretching my legs out on the bench.
"Where have you been?" Coco asks me offering me a cigarette
Taking it I light up before replying "I spent the night in a holding cell" taking a deep drag I look at Coco and Ez "Charlie is back in town and she's working at the station"
"Charlie Cooper?" Ez asks as Coco let's put a low whistle
"Yep" I reply taking another drag from the cigarette in my hands
"Whose Charlie?" Gilly asks confusion on his face
Studying the cigarette in my hand I don't reply, watching the ash fall off Coco pipes up "Angel's high school sweetheart and—" before he can finish his sentence Tranq whistles sharply from the porch of the clubhouse
"Templo now" he calls out
Flicking the butt off my cigarette and stomping it with my boot I start to head inside the guys following me, I can feel Ez watching me waiting for a reaction to the news I just shared but I won't give him the satisfaction.
Sitting down at the table the mood tense as Bishop calls for attention
"Want to tell me why you were in a holding cell last night?" Bishop asks looking directly at me his eyes narrowing
"I was a little wasted" I reply shrugging trying to remember how I ended up in the cell, Charlie was no help in piecing my memories together "got picked up by Frankie and was there to sober up"
"I hope that's all" Bishop replies before addressing the whole table "Frankie has a new deputy sheriff, she started this week and rumour has it she use to be FBI so we're not sure what sort of heat she's bringing"
Coco looks at me pointedly across the table clearing my throat I signal Bishop "her name is Hazel Cooper, she grew up here and Coco and I went to high school with her" I say
Bishop studies me closely for a minute before turning to Tranq "find out what you can, I'm guessing a lot has changed since she left town and I want to know why a promising FBI agent is now a small-town deputy sheriff"
The rest of the meeting passes in a blur, I can feel my hangover kicking in rubbing my temples all I can think about is a cold shower and sleeping for the next two days.
Bishop adjourns Templo and I stagger out to the clubhouse, nodding to Coco we head outside.
Climbing into the passenger side of his car "take me home" I say closing my eyes as Coco climbs in beside me.
We drive in silence, as we pull into my driveway Coco looks at me "You should have told Bishop who her father is, he's going to be pissed when he finds out" he says lighting a cigarette up and taking a drag
"Let the dead stay dead Coco, there's no point getting ghosts involved in this bullshit" I reply opening the car door
"Is she here to cause trouble?" Coco asks
"Fucked if I know" I say slamming the door shut "but I intend to find out"
Chapter Four
Thirteen years earlier
I'm suddenly jerked into a classroom on my right "ouch" I exclaim as I collide with a firm chest
"Sorry" Angel murmurs as he wraps his arms around me encasing me "I've missed you Coop"
Laughing I snuggle into his chest "I saw you this morning, remember you drove me to school?" I reply
"Yeah but that was so long ago" he replies his hand gently tugging my ponytail back so I'm looking at him, his lips gently brushing against mine
"How about we sneak out the back, blow the rest of the day off and eat our body weight in pancakes from Mays?" he asks twirling my blonde hair through his fingers
"I think you're forgetting the fact that you have a game tonight, so if you blow off classes you can't play" i reply playfully "I don't wear this ridiculous outfit for just anyone"
Stepping back and taking in my cheerleading outfit Angel bites his bottom lip "well if we leave now I'm sure I can help get you out of that ridiculous outfit"
Smacking his chest playfully "Angel Reyes, did you just proposition me on school grounds?" I ask smirking
"Can you blame me?" he says laughing
Rolling my eyes, I grab his hand "come on, we are going to be late to english and Miss Baker will write you up"
Sighing Angel wraps one arm around my shoulder as we walk out of the classroom and head down the hall to english.
Later that night
"Angel?" I whisper panicked into the warehouse shining my torch around looking for him "Angel" I call out a little louder as I start walking towards the exit
"Boo" he calls out as he grabs me from behind
Screaming I smack him with the torch "You're such a jerk Reyes" I reply angrily storming towards the exit Angel is on me in two steps wrapping his arms around me
"I'm sorry babe" he whispers into my ear
"No, you're not" I reply still annoyed trying to wiggle out of his arms
"I swear I am, come on let me show you your surprise" he says releasing me from his arms
Sighing I take his hand "Reyes if you scare me again, I will kill you and no one will find your body understood?" I tell him braver than what I feel in this dark warehouse
Laughing he squeezes my hand "I promise, I won't scare you anymore tonight"
Leading me to the back of the warehouse he pushes open a door and we head up the stairs where Angel pushes open another door leading us out onto the roof.
Looking around I take in all the fairy lights strung up all over the roof and my eyes land on a pile of cushions and blankets in the middle "You did all this?" I ask softly taking it all in
"Yeah, do you like it?" Angel asks nervously
Turning to face him smiling "I love it" I tell him leaning up and kissing his nose "good job Reyes"
Taking his hand, I lead him over to the cushions and blankets kicking my shoes off I collapse down pulling him with me.
Laughing Angel rearranges us so that he's laying flat and my head is on his chest, his fingers playing with my hair, we lay like this in silence for what seems like hours.
I feel my eyelids growing heavy, I snuggle closer into Angel's side closing my eyes
"Hey Hazel?" he whispers softly
"Mmmm" I groan "wait did you just call me Hazel?" I say pushing myself up looking at him
"Well it's your name, isn't it?" he retorts
"Yeah not one you've ever called me" I reply puzzled
"Well this is important" he says nervously
I sit up looking at him taking his hand "what is it?" I reply worried
"This isn't really going to plan" he says stumbling over his words "I just wanted to tell you something"
"What?" I ask my voice growing more panicked
"I love you Hazel Cooper" he says nervously rubbing my hand in his
"Jesus Angel you scared me half to death, I thought you were breaking up with me" I reply relieved, pushing him back down I rest my head on his chest again, my fingers entwined with his
I can feel his heart beating erratically through his shirt, looking up at him "Are you okay?" I ask
"Usually when someone says I love you, the other person says it back" he says his voice barely a whisper "but if you don't that's okay"
"Shit" I say sliding up his body, taking his face between my hands "Angel Reyes, I am so ridiculously in love with you and I thought that was obvious"
"Yeah?" a cocky smile forming on his face
"Yeah" I reply laughing leaning in and kissing him
Chapter Five
"Cooper, my office now" Frankie's voice booms across the station
Sighing I lock my computer and head over to Frankie's office closing the door behind me.
"Interesting thing happened today" Frankie says gesturing for me to take a seat, slumping in the chair across from him he continues "I ran into Wilson today and he told me how my lovely new deputy came by the other night and arrested a drunk Angel Reyes. Now imagine my surprise when I checked the logs and there is no record of Angel Reyes being arrested"
"That is an interesting story" I reply picking at a loose thread on the chair
"Dammit Charlie, I asked if your relationship with Reyes was going to impact your ability to do this job and you told me no" he replies rubbing his temples
"Look, I showed up at Wilson's, Angel was blackout drunk, he thought I was you if that gives you any indication of how drunk he was so I put him in the back of the cruiser and let him sleep it off in the cells, I think he's learnt his lesson" I reply taking a deep breath I continue "my past with Angel won't impact my ability to do this job, I assessed the situation and I made a judgement call"
Sighing Frankie looks at me "next time you make a judgement call when it comes to Reyes, run it by me first okay? Or else I will write you up"
"Sure, thing boss" I reply my tone slightly more sarcastic than I intended
"Wait, Reyes thought you were me?" He asks chuckling "does he know your back in town yet?"
"Yeah I may have broken him out of jail for breakfast" I reply smirking
Frankie glares at me
"What? It's not like I actually arrested him" I reply shrugging
Groaning Frankie replies "Get out of my office and don't make anymore judgement calls please"
Standing up and walking to the door I pause "Thanks Frankie, I really do appreciate it"
"Yeah, yeah don't make me regret it" he says waving me out.
Walking back out to my desk I'm surprised to see the younger Reyes brother leaning on it
"Ez" I say warmly embracing him "what a nice surprise"
Hugging me tightly "Charlie, it's good to see you" pulling apart I look Ez up and down taking in the changes since I last saw him
"Am I totally putting my foot in my mouth if I say prison did you some good?" I ask
Ez laughs "yes but it wouldn't be you if you didn't"
"Well you look Ez" I reply
"Are you free for lunch?" He asks me
"Only if your paying" I reply smiling
We head out of the station and I spy pops truck in front of Ralph's pizza, without talking we both cross the street and enter Ralphs.
Ordering a couple of slices each and sodas we thank Ralph and head out to the pickup, Ez flips the back down and we climb on.
"I'm surprised the truck is still running" I say smiling fondly at the memories
"Yeah well you know Pop" Ez replies "if it ain't broke don't fix it"
"How you are settling in?" Ez asks me taking a bite of his slice
"Good, it's like I never left" I reply
"Have you seen Em?" he asks avoiding my eyes
"Jesus Ez, is that why you asked me to lunch?" I ask him annoyed
"I'm just worried about her that's all" he says giving me puppy dog eyes
"Well stop worrying about her, she's fine, she's happy and she's moved on so maybe you should too" I tell him
"You're one to talk" he says taking a bite of his slice
"Apparently, prison made you sassy" I reply, "Angel and I are completely different than you and Emily and you know it"
We finish our pizza in silence
"You know she did exactly what you wanted her to do, she moved on and now that you're out, it doesn't change anything for her Ez and you need to accept that no matter how bad it hurts" I tell him wiping my hands on a napkin
"I know, it's just hard to see what could have been right in front of you, but you can't touch it" he says taking the rubbish out of my hands
"You're not wrong about that" I reply taking a deep breath "well that's enough serious shit for today" pushing myself off the tray I give Ez a one-sided hug "thanks for lunch"
"You're welcome, you should come for dinner on Sunday, Pops would love it" he tells me
"Yeah let me check my shifts" I say non-committal
"Family dinner won't kill you" he says smirking
"No, but I might kill your brother" I reply laughing
"See ya Charlie" he says as I walk back to the station
Waving goodbye I head back into my desk 'Chairlie what have you gotten yourself into?' I think to myself as I plop down at my desk