Paths Cross

Hi sorry this is up late. I hope you still enjoy the story. ! :D This is a long chapter. I hope you enjoy! :D

Lots of love. For entertainment only! :P

Chapter 12 – Falling for You

As Betty hugged Daniel her heart never raced so much in all her life. When his arms lifted around her to hug her closer to him she felt such perfection she couldn't stop the glossiness in her eyes.

How could someone she barely knew have such a powerful hold over her?

The strangest part was that although they hadn't known one another that long and were meeting after a whole year, it felt as though they had been friends for years.

She wondered what he was thinking as she hugged him. She had no clue what to make of her own feelings toward him; their friendship, their connection. All she could gather was that Daniel Meade, who was so sweet and charming and amazing, was making her feel emotions that completely surprised and overwhelmed her. The chemistry she felt with him was unlike any other; it made her heart flutter.

She realized that she had been hugging him way too long and slowly let go of him feeling embarrassed; and even more so, when Daniel looked at her with those spellbinding eyes of his and that Daniel smile he seemed to have when he looked at her these past two days.

She looked down, blushing, trying not to get wrapped up in him. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I just...I really needed to hug you" she admitted feeling embarrassed again for her boldness. She was sure that her face was the color of a peach.

He smirked; it was such a deadly smirk. It made her insides flip. "You can hug me anytime" he made sure to put emphasis on anytime.

She was positive she looked like a tomato, because she felt as though her cheeks were on fire. She'd never had someone, especially a man, make her feel such a way. "So, um... maybe we should get going?" she suggested.

He smiled nodding in agreement, and silently headed back to the car. She needed to calm down. She was getting all, ferklempt. She shook her head thinking what Allison would say to her about Daniel. Her friend was crazy that was for sure. She took a breath and got back in the car.

They drove in silence for some time, when a thought crossed Betty's mind and before she knew it Daniel had noticed and said "what?"

She paused for a moment unsure if she should ask what she was thinking, but figured she might as well. "I was just wondering, how did you meet Sofia? Are you still in love with her?"

He looked to her with a smirk "I'm not in love with her. I don't really think I ever was."

Betty looked at him strangely. He continued "I think part of me just thought I would never find my true love"

Betty looked at him interestedly. He grinned looking to her "I sort of just settled."

"But didn't you love her? You were engaged?"

"Well, I did love her, sort of, yeah. At least I thought I did. I met her through my father. He was launching a new magazine; she was the new Editor in Chief, so he wanted me to meet her. I'm not going to lie, I thought she was really hot."

"Was it love at first sight?" Betty teased playfully. Daniel laughed "Actually, it was more like bitch at first sight!"

Betty's eyes went wide "What?" He laughed finding her reaction adorable. "I kind of couldn't stand her. She was so arrogant. You know that book she wrote?"

Betty nodded "yes, unfortunately, I loved Sofia Reyes. I looked up to her. I wanted to be like her"

"God no! You don't want to be anything like her! You're already perfect!" he said seeing her surprised and flattered reaction. He played off his comment. "You know I used to be that guy though; a self-righteous arrogant jerk."

Betty looked at him with a sad expression. He knew she was way too sweet to think anything badly of him, despite how terrible he treated her. He shook his head and continued "Anyway, She was trying to challenge my magazine and told me my magazine was trash and her's was better; and that women would feel inspired by her's."

Betty laughed "great start to that" she stated sarcastically. Daniel smiled at her "yeah"

She smiled back feeling hypnotized by his gorgeous eyes.

"She played all sorts of tricks to...seduce me."

Betty giggled.

"You know, she took her shirt off right in front of me when we were both in the elevator together. She spilt coffee on herself."

Betty laughed again. "Come you, you know you found that hot" she said playfully. Daniel grinned thinking she was so cute and amazing. "Well, maybe, but, she was still irritating, so it just pissed me off more."

Betty laughed finding him so funny. "Well, if she was so bad, how did you fall in love?"

Daniel smirked "Seriously, I have no idea."

"There has to be something. A look, a kiss, something?"

He could see the look of wanting to know in her eyes, so he caved "One night, we were both working on our magazines in my office; we were just talking. She was different that night. Like she actually started listening to me and didn't bash me like usual. We had dinner. We had a good time. That is when I started to like her."

Betty nodded. He looked at her wondering what she was thinking. "What are you thinking?"

She shrugged "I just hate that she broke your heart."

He smiled looking to her. "It's fine. I'm so happy that I'm not married to her."

Betty smiled at him. She hated to think it, but she was also really happy that he wasn't married to her.

Daniel grinned "So what about you my charming friend? Any shining nights steal your heart?"

Betty laughed "No, I wish"

He grinned wider "Good. That was a trick question." He said as he drove the car to a stop and parked it.

"It was?" she asked curiously.

He nodded, and shifted in his seat to face her "No one should steal your heart, they should earn it"

She smiled with this shine in her eyes "Is that what you're doing?"

He smirked "You think I'm trying to earn your heart?"

She nodded biting her lip. He moved in closer to her "Is it working?"

Betty felt her heart race with him so close to her like that and those hypnotizing eyes of his looking into hers and his incredible voice made her feel butterflies. She tried not to let him see how he was affecting her and said "If I tell you that you just might steal it"

He smiled watching her eyes and face. It was as if he was admiring a painting. She was positive she was blushing, but said "Is this it?"

He looked at her in confusion "what?"

She giggled "Are we here?"

He grinned with a nod "yep, your adventure shall begin"

They walked into the air facility and Daniel was smiling as he watched Betty look on with fascination at all the planes. Her eyes shone and they looked so pretty. He was amazed how much she grew up in a year. She looked amazing. He loved how charming she was. It made him smile. He grinned and said "I take it you've never been to a place like this?"

She shook her head "No, I've never even been on a plane before."

She saw a somewhat devious grin cross his face. She looked to him nervously, having a feeling he was up to something. "What? What's that look? Oh god, I just know this is going to be bad"

He laughed and said "Why do you think that? I'm just taking you flying. You want an adventure. I'm going to make sure you have one" There was this mischief in his eyes. She felt nervous, but smiled and said "If I die because of you, I will turn into a ghost and haunt you!"

He laughed and said "Ok"

She rolled her eyes and said "You're bad news"

Ha laughed and stood in front of her "Afraid I'll steal your heart?"

She smirked and walked around him failing to answer his question. He grinned and turned around following her as she walked toward a helicopter. He caught up and said "What are you doing?"

She looked at him strangely "I thought we were flying the helicopter."

He shook his head "Nah, I changed my mind. I have a different idea"

"What exactly?" she asked hesitantly. He grinned "You'll see"

Despite her hesitation and nervousness, fifteen minutes later they were flying 10,000 feet in the air. "I can't believe I'm actually flying a plane" Betty said in amazement as she was controlling the plane after both Daniel and his military friend Mike instructed her how.

Daniel grinned "Feels exciting, right?" He watched her eyes which were sparkling like jewels as the blue sky reflected in them. She nodded "It feels awesome"

He smiled unable to keep his eyes off her. She glanced at him "So, do you fly a lot?"

He shrugged looking out of the plane "Every now and then with my pal Becks."

She smirked nodded "That explains it"

He looked to her "what? You don't like my friend?"

She nodded "I do. He's very...friendly" she said with her eyebrow raised. He laughed nodded "that's him"

She giggled, glancing at him "So, will you finally tell me where we're flying to?"

He shook his head "nowhere in particular" he answered vaguely. She looked to him "do you want to fly now?"

He leaned close enough to her to make her feel tingles all over and said "How about we fly together?"

She bit her lip as she looked into his eyes. She nodded unable to articulate any coherent response.

He shifted even closer and placed his hand over hers. She felt like her heart rate was accelerating; and the gentleness of his hand wrapping over hers made her feel butterflies. They looked to their touching hands and then their eyes met. Betty felt her cheeks flare as she saw this enchanting look in his eyes. The smile that was on his face made her stomach flip.

She gulped and said "Thanks for taking me flying" Her voice was barely audible, but he smirked and said "You see, it wasn't so bad."

She nodded with a laugh. They guided the plane for a few minutes when Daniel said "we're going to have my buddy, Mike, take cover for us"

She nodded "Ok" and watched him get up. She got up watching him curiously. "What are you doing?" she asked wondering why he was putting on a backpack.

Before she could ask any more questions the plane's door slides open and a gust of air whips around them. Her eyes grew wide in fear "Oh my God, Daniel, what are you doing?"

He took her hand in his and pulled her closer to him, but she grabbed his arm in fear that she would get sucked out of the plane. He looked into her eyes as she held onto him and with a grin on his face said "We're going skydiving"

Her stomach dropped "I'm not doing that with you! Are you insane?!"

He held her closer against him causing her to gasp "I won't let anything happen to you"

Despite his sincerity and the look in his eyes, she shook her head and said "No way, Daniel!"

She panicked when he moved them closer to the door. "Daniel, please, I don't want to! I, I'm scared of heights!" He looked at her in surprise "you are?"

She shook her head "no, but, Daniel, I don't want to- ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh" before she knew it she was freefalling over 100 miles an hour 10,000 feet in the air.

She was going to KILL Daniel!

IF SHE DIDN'T DIE!

All she felt was panic. She didn't have a backpack. She couldn't believe Daniel let her go.

She shut her eyes tight hoping she could magically transport herself back into the plane. The air whipped around her intensely. She was literally falling from the sky. Her heart was whipping around inside her mimicking the ridiculous amount of wind and air she felt.

She felt tears escape her shut eyes and she wasn't sure if she was crying from fear or it was solely due to the intense speed she was falling. With her eyes closed, she felt a little less panicked. At least she wouldn't have to see her impending death!

She couldn't even really take deep breaths because the air was taking her breath away!

She was trying to calm down.

She opened her eyes hesitantly, really hoping the last thing she sees is not the death of her. She was surprised when she felt something shoot past her and it turned out to be Daniel. He turned so that he was facing her and she was falling toward him. Before she had time to process anything that was happening he caught her, his arms hugging her tightly to him.

When she looked at him, all she felt was intense fear and slapped and punched him several times as she yelled at him "I hate you! You let me go!" She smacked him a couple more times, but then hugged him tighter closing her eyes. Despite how angry and freaked out she was, feeling his strong arms around her comforted her immensely.

"BETTY! Open your eyes!" he said loudly over the wind. She did and was met by his blue eyes and that smile of his. She couldn't stop her rapid breaths. She panicked when Daniel let go of her body and was only holding her hand. "Come on, it's fun!" he shouted to her. "I won't let go! I promise!" he added.

Betty took several quick breaths to try to calm down and let go of her fear.

She looked to Daniel who was smiling at her.

She smiled and tried to not think that she was falling, and pretended that she was flying like Peter Pan and Wendy.

Or Superman and Louis Lane

Even despite the whipping air, she felt her cheeks warm at her thoughts.

She started to feel better and closed her eyes letting the wind flow through her, pretending that there was a clear protective bubble around her.

Feeling the air around her and how breathtaking it was made her feel uplifting and exhilarating, and Daniel holding her hand protectively was only adding to that feeling.

Daniel could not explain how much adoration he felt for Betty and seeing her eyes closed taking in the feeling of flying and the light smile that was on her face made his stomach flip; which he felt despite the adrenaline coursing through him and his heart that was racing. When she opened her eyes, she looked to him with her brilliant smile that lit his heart on fire.

She turned so she was facing him completely and held onto his other hand interlocking their hands together. He smiled at her and pulled her closer to him "We're going to open the chute now, ok?"

She nodded. He smiled pulling her closer, wrapping his arm around her completely. Betty felt entirely mesmerized by Daniel, and despite the fact that they were flying thousands of feet in the air she placed a kiss to his cheek resulting in a surprised smile to cross his face. She smiled at him getting lost in his eyes.

"Ready?" he asked (more like yelled)

She nodded continuing to watch him. He looked at her with such a sweet expression on his face before he pulled the strap releasing the parachute. They flew back a little from the force, but as they got close to the ground, they tried to run to stop, but with the angle that Daniel was holding onto her, they lost their balance and fell to the grass, Daniel landing on top Betty.

Betty laughed hysterically looking up at him. A wide smile was on her face and Daniel smiled in response looking at her eyes. She looked so pretty.

Suddenly the parachute fell over them blanketing them between the grass and the parachute. They both laughed jovially, bliss and happiness flooding them. Betty's heart was racing as she looked into Daniel's eyes, her breaths in quick pants from the rush she felt. She couldn't help the smile she felt.

Daniel could not get over how cute Betty looked. She looked so refreshed, so happy. It made him smile to see her look this way. The way her eyes shone with enjoyment, the bright smile on her face, and her pants as she tried to catch her breath was all making him dizzy with happiness. A bright smile spread across her face, before she bit her lip and said "thank you" with a laugh that made his stomach flip.

He looked at her and said "for what?"

She moved her hand up along his arm, seeming to feel its firmness. When her hand rested on his shoulder, she met his eyes and said "for the adventure"

He grinned and said "you forgive me?" in regards to her falling.

She nodded and pulled him down closer placing a sweet kiss to his cheek. He grinned admiring her face. He never felt so...perfect before. He felt so much content and peace being with her; he placed a kiss to her forehead before he moved off her and fell back in the grass beside her. The parachute covered them more from his movement, which caused them both to laugh again. Betty pulled the parachute over her and held it down; Daniel did the same and looked to her. She was smiling at him.

Betty could not for the life of her stop her heart from racing. Something in the way Daniel looked at her and that kiss he gave her made her feel breathless. She took a deep breath and sat up.

Daniel looked up at her finding her so breathtaking as the afternoon sun gleamed down on her and the light breeze blew through her hair; she was so stunning. He closed his eyes taking a moment to bottle up the feeling that coursed through him.

Betty watched him in admiration, feeling so amazed that Daniel was in her life again, and in such an exhilarating way. She shifted down beside him lying on her front watching him thinking he was so sweet. "Thank you" she whispered to him.

When he opened his eyes and looked to her with that breathtaking smile of his, she felt her stomach flip. "I promised you an adventure" is what he said.

"You also said you wouldn't let go!" she said thinking back to how she was falling out of the plane. He looked away, with worry in his eyes, but then looked back to her with a smile and said "I'm sorry, but I got you back!" his smile widened before he said "I definitely didn't let go again"

She blushed, her face turning rosy. He turned on his side so he was facing her more. She smiled and said "I forgive you" before she leaned forward about to kiss him, but stopped herself and whispered "wanna play tag?"

Before he could really answer her she had tapped his arm pushing him down and shot up as she said "Tag! You're it!"

Daniel laughed and got up finding her excitement refreshing. She laughed, her laugh, again, filling his heart with so much warmth. He started running after her, just barely grabbing her hand. She screeched when he caught her which made him laugh. "You're it, now!" he said running off.

She ran after him and just when he began to slow down she tackled him to the ground into the parachute. "Caught you!" she said in a playful tone.

He laughed turning from under her. Seeing her face, with that happy smile, he was so happy she was in his life again. He lifted his hand to her face, pushing back the hair from her face.

Betty was trying not to breathe for fear she would break something. She didn't know what. She felt tingles where his hand touched her face and hair. She couldn't help her gravitation toward him. Just as she was about to kiss him, a loud car horn went off before Mike pulled up to the side of them in his jeep.

He hopped out of his jeep and held his hand out to Betty who was looking up at him as she was still on top of Daniel. "Betty, don't let that idiot get off easy! The way I see it, he needs to beg for your forgiveness" he said as he pulled her up.

Betty felt her heart skip as she was helped up. She nearly kissed Daniel.

Daniel got up and punched his friend in the arm "Shut up, Mike! She just forgave me! Don't go fucking it up!"

Betty looked at Daniel, biting her lip. "Whatever, man! You pushed her out of a damn plane! Without a pack!" Mike said in her defense.

Betty giggled. Daniel punched his friend again "I told her I was sorry. Right, you forgive me, Betty, don't you?" he asked looking to her in worry that she was angry at him again since Mike brought it up again.

Betty nodded "Normally, under such situations I would probably kill you, but...you're forgiven."

He grinned brightly, but then she decided to tease him a little and said "Only because your friend over here is so nice picking us up and worrying about me."

He looked upset which made her giggle realizing that he got jealous whenever she complimented another guy.

Mike grinned "seriously, Danny-o, I love this girl. She's great. You need to bring her around more." He said as he opened the door and helped her into the jeep. Betty smiled "Thanks Mike."

As Daniel walked by his friend, he smacked the hat off his head. Betty and Mike laughed, "That's my pal" Mike said in regards to Daniel. Betty nodded giggling as she watched Daniel come around the jeep and sit in beside her.

She looked at him smiling, watching him until he looked to her unwillingly, yet smiled at her. She giggled and hugged his arm for a moment out of consolation as Mike began to drive.

They rode back having fun joking and talking together, and laughing as Mike told Betty crazy stories about Daniel and Becks and their 'shenanigans', as Mike stressed. When they made it back, Mike hugged Betty warmly "You take care, Betty. It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope my knucklehead buddy didn't scare you too much about flying. Hopefully we'll all go flyin again." He said making it a point to let Daniel overhear.

Betty laughed "As long as I'm not pushed out, it's a possibility"

Daniel rolled his eyes, but smiled looking to Betty. When they walked to the car, Mike pulled Daniel aside and told him "Don't mess up this time! She's a keeper, that one!"

Daniel nodded in agreement "Trust me, I know! I finally got her back. I'm not letting her get away again."

Mike smiled and patted his back "Take care, my friend. Say hi to Becks for me"

Daniel nodded "Sure. Thanks Mike. See ya" he shook Mike's hand and joined Betty back in the car.

"Bye Mike!" Betty waved to him as they drove off. When Betty looked back to Daniel she smiled brightly at him "Thanks so much, Daniel. I really had a fun time. I needed a day out of the office. This was awesome."

He grinned as she spoke, sounding so refreshed and happy. "I do forgive you, by the way." She said in a soft mesmerizing voice.

He looked to her "Thanks Betty."

She smiled looking ahead, but then looked to him and eagerly said "What's next?"

He grinned "how about lunch?"

She nodded "That sounds perfect! I'm starving!"

He laughed "You got it!"

AN: I really hope you like it! lots of love!