Chapter 4: Chapter 10-11-12
Chapter 10
The next morning, the sun was shining brightly over Los Angeles once again, and the energy was palpable. Hailey was in the kitchen making breakfast when Michael walked in, a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
"Good morning, Hailey! Good morning, Justin!" he called, walking into the kitchen. "Are you ready for another self-defense lesson?"
"Good morning!" Hailey replied excitedly. "What do you have in mind today?"
"I was thinking... how about we learn how to shoot?" Michael suggested, crossing his arms and looking at Justin. "I could take you to a shooting range. It's a great way to get a better understanding of how to use a gun, and of course, it's a useful skill to have."
Justin looked surprised, the idea catching him off guard. "Shooting? Is that safe? And, like, do you really think we're ready for that?"
"Yeah, it's safe," Michael replied, his tone serious but reassuring at the same time. "The range is controlled and we always have professional instructors nearby. I'll be with you the whole time. And trust me, the first time may seem intimidating, but once you get used to it, you'll find it really cool."
Hailey, with a glint of excitement in her eyes, turned to Justin. "Come on, honey! This could be an amazing experience!"
Justin hesitated, but soon Hailey's enthusiasm began to rub off on him. "Okay, I'm in," he said, a nervous smile appearing on his face. "But you're going to help me, right, Michael?"
"Absolutely! We're going to do this together," Michael assured, excited at the idea of teaching them yet another skill.
After breakfast, the trio got ready to head out. Michael organized everything they needed: earplugs, safety glasses, and of course, their practice guns. Hailey and Justin were a little nervous, but also excited about this new adventure.
When they arrived at the shooting range, Michael made sure to explain every aspect of the experience.
"Here, you'll learn how to safely handle a gun, understand the mechanics of shooting, and practice in a controlled environment," he said, as an instructor led the way.
The range was well-lit and professional-looking, with several shooting stations. The instructor explained the safety rules, and then Michael picked up a pistol and demonstrated how to hold it properly.
"Remember, safety always comes first. Never point a gun at anything you don't intend to hit."
Hailey and Justin watched intently, taking in every detail. When it was their turn, Michael encouraged them.
"You can do this. Remember to focus on your breathing and stay calm."
Justin took the gun, a little hesitantly, but Michael was right there with him, guiding his hand and adjusting his stance.
"Now, look at the target. Focus. Only pull the trigger when you're ready."
With a burst of adrenaline, Justin fired. The sound echoed through the range, and he was startled by the impact.
"Wow! That's… intense!" he exclaimed, looking at Michael with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Hailey, eager to try, picked up the gun after him, determined to overcome her own fear. "Okay, now it's my turn!" she said, taking a deep breath.
Michael was right next to her, making sure she felt comfortable. When she fired, the look of satisfaction on his face was unmistakable.
They both continued to practice, and Justin and Hailey's confidence grew quickly. They had fun, laughing at each other with each shot and each hit. Michael praised them, and the room filled with positive energy.
After a few rounds of practice, they decided to take a break. They sat down on a nearby bench, out of breath but beaming.
"That was way more fun than I expected!" Hailey said, smiling broadly. "Who knew shooting could be so exciting?"
Justin nodded, still trying to process the experience. "I was so nervous at first, but now I'm kind of hooked. I want to do it again."
Michael, pleased with their progress, pulled out his phone and suggested, "Shall we take a picture to remember the day?"
Hailey and Justin agreed excitedly. They stood next to Michael, holding their guns casually, and the instructor snapped the photo.
"Ready? One, two, three!" The camera clicked to capture the moment of joy and accomplishment.
After the photo, they headed outside the range, and Hailey immediately began editing the image on her phone. "This needs to go on Instagram!" she said excitedly. "Everyone needs to see how awesome we look!"
Justin, still laughing, looked at her. "And since we're on a shooting range with a former Navy SEAL, right?"
"Exactly!" she replied, smiling back. "This is definitely an adventure worth sharing."
As soon as the photo was posted, accompanied by a caption that read: "Amazing day learning to shoot with the coolest cousin ever!", the comments started pouring in. Friends and fans were thrilled with the their new skill and sent messages praising their bravery and fun.
As they watched the reactions pour in on social media, Michael smiled with satisfaction. "You guys did a great job today. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Michael! That was so much fun," Hailey replied, her face lighting up.
Justin looked at Michael, still in awe. "So, what are we going to do tomorrow? There's no way to top that!"
Michael laughed. "Challenge accepted! Let's find another adventure."
Chapter 11
After Hailey posted on social media, the buzz was immediate. The photo of them at the shooting range, smiling broadly and holding guns, quickly spread across Instagram and other platforms. Fans and the media were in a frenzy, and the excitement was palpable.
That same day, as Hailey and Justin relaxed at home, they both began receiving notifications on their phones. They each opened their apps, surprised by the amount of comments the post was generating.
"Look at this, Hailey!" Justin said, laughing as he scrolled through his messages. "There are a flood of comments!"
Hailey, equally impressed, began reading aloud. "'Who is that hot guy next to Justin and Hailey?'" she read, holding up her phone with an amused expression. "Looks like Michael is getting attention!"
"'Michael is a real snack!'" Justin read, shaking his head in disbelief. "Women are going crazy!"
The couple laughed as they watched the stream of comments, which ranged from compliments to jokes. "Look at this one: 'If I knew I was going to meet a hot Navy SEAL, I would have gone to the shooting range!'" Hailey commented, covering her face with laughter.
Justin, already accustomed to the sometimes over-the-top nature of social media, wasn't surprised. "It's amazing how people react, isn't it? He's just my cousin."
"Just a cousin? You should see this as a big achievement for the family!" Hailey joked, moving on to the next comment. "'If Michael isn't my new boyfriend, I don't know what to do.'"
"This is my favorite!" Justin said, as the screen flashed another hilarious message: "'I wish I was a target at the shooting range just to be near him!'"
With each new comment, the laughter grew louder. The hashtag #MichaelIsHot began to circulate among fans, and even celebrity accounts began reposting the photo, accompanied by funny captions and love-struck emojis.
"Look, even Kendall commented! 'OMG, who is this hottie?'" Hailey said, surprised. "And Gigi too: 'What is this? I'm in love!'"
Justin rolled his eyes in an exaggerated way, but the expression on his face was one of amusement. "He really became an instant sensation. I can't wait to see how this turns out."
Meanwhile, gossip and entertainment outlets began to pick up the story. Headlines like "Hailey Bieber's Cousin Sets Women on Fire!" and "Michael Baldwin: Hollywood's New 'Snack'?" began to circulate.
The tabloids were ready to explore what they could about the former Navy SEAL who was now in Los Angeles.
"I can't wait for the media to come knocking," Justin said, shaking his head. "This is going to be crazy."
"Probably. But we can't deny it's funny," Hailey replied, winking at him. "And the truth is, Michael is really awesome. Who wouldn't be impressed?"
The buzz continued to build, and soon they were discussing how things could change. "Do you think he's ready for this?" Justin asked, worried.
"I hope so. He's strong and experienced, but this is a new dynamic for him," Hailey said. "I think we need to help him deal with it. Fame can be tough."
"I agree. But for now, let's have fun with it!" Justin replied, a smirk on his face. "And of course, keeping Michael away from all those crazy fans!"
The two laughed, and the idea of having such a charming and interesting new family member brought a new energy to their home. They were ready to face any challenge that came their way, including unexpected reactions from the media and fans.
Chapter 12
As the days went by, the connection between Justin and Michael grew in an impressive way. The two began to spend more time together, exercising, playing video games and discussing everything from music to life experiences. Hailey watched this friendship blossom with joy, feeling like her cousin and her husband were almost like brothers.
One day, while they were playing on the couch, Michael noticed that Justin was quieter than usual. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, looking away from the screen for a moment. "It seems like something is bothering you."
Justin hesitated, a distant look in his eyes. "Yeah... there are some things from my past that still affect me. Sometimes it's hard to deal with them."
Michael, sensing the seriousness of the conversation, turned completely to Justin. "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here. Sometimes talking helps."
With a deep sigh, Justin began to open up. "When I was younger, I met people who weren't exactly good for me. There was this famous rapper who... well, I don't know how to say this, but he forced me to do some things I didn't want to do. It left a mark on me."
The revelation hung in the air for a moment, as Michael absorbed Justin's words.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said, empathy evident in his voice. "No one should have to go through something like that. You're much stronger than you think."
Justin shook his head, a mix of pain and relief in his eyes. "Sometimes I feel like I can't shake these memories. They come to me when I least expect them."
"It's normal. The mind has its own way of processing things," Michael replied, his words filled with understanding. "But you're not alone. And it's amazing that you're talking about this now. That's a sign of strength."
Hailey, who was in the kitchen, heard the tone of the conversation and decided to come closer. "What's going on, boys?" she asked, placing her hand on her hips in concern.
"Justin was just sharing some things from his past," Michael replied, keeping the conversation open. "He's a fighter, and I want him to know he can always count on me."
Hailey smiled, but her eyes conveyed concern. "You know we're here for you, right, love?" she said, addressing Justin. "You don't have to go through this alone."
Justin nodded, thanking them for their support. "I know. And it's comforting to know I have you. Sometimes just talking about it makes it feel less heavy."
Michael paused, considering Justin's words. "Remember that your story doesn't define who you are. You are so much more than that. And if you need it, I can help you face it head on."
"Thank you, Michael. It means a lot to me," Justin said, a sincere smile forming on his face. "I really appreciate the friendship we're building."
Hailey watched with satisfaction, knowing that Michael was helping Justin overcome a burden that had been weighing him down for years.
"It's beautiful to see you guys so close," she said, a twinkle of happiness in her eyes. "You guys make a great team."
"We're just getting started," Michael said, winking. "And if you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to coach, I'm here."
The mood quickly lightened, and their friendship grew even stronger. While Hailey prepared dinner, Justin and Michael resumed playing, talking and laughing, creating a bond that would transcend family.
The conversation about Justin's past became a turning point in his life, allowing him to begin to process his grief. He felt like he had found an ally in Michael, someone who not only understood but also wanted to help. And for Hailey, that meant their family was closer than ever.
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