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Hunter.

I was reluctant to leave Melanie for even a short amount of time, but I knew she needed a minute to herself after everything and I needed to clean up my knuckles. I ran downstairs to find all the boys still hanging out in the living room where I left them. Sports Center was on and everyone was talking and drinking their beer, but as soon as I walked in the room it stopped.

It didn't take long for Andrew to break the silence, "You have a lot of explaining to do dude." I knew I had to tell them something, but I also couldn't share the whole story.

"Look she was a girl who helped me study a little bit. I saw her being attacked by some guy on the street so I brought her back here to calm her down. It really isn't too big of a deal." I tried to downplay the situation and added in a few white lies. It seemed as if I was lying to everyone these days, but the guys wouldn't understand the situation with Mel. There was no use trying to explain everything until I knew what was happening myself.

"So why the hell did you make us shut down the party? Some hot red head was about to let me take her upstairs." Caleb complained.

Before I had a chance to respond, Jack jumped in. "Didn't you just get cleared from those herpes? Wouldn't want to risk another STD so soon would we?" The comment earned a laugh from all the guys except Caleb who just rolled his eyes. "Listen, if Hunter had a reason to shut the party down then we shut it down. He is the president and captain for a good majority of you. Just do what he says and shut up."

I smiled appreciatively at Jack. He was my best friend on this campus and always had my back. I knew that tomorrow once everything settled down I would need to go to him and explain it all but for now I needed to clean up my hands so I could get back to Mel.

"I'm going back upstairs, but if you happen to see her here at all you better be respectful or you will answer to me." I threatened. I could be intimidating when I wanted to be, and by my tone of voice, the boys knew I meant business.

I ran to the bathroom downstairs to clean up my knuckles and then headed back up to my room. When I got back inside the bathroom door was shut and Melanie was still inside getting ready for bed. While I waited I decided to get together some blankets and pillows to set up a bed on the floor for me to sleep on. It was going to be weird having a girl in my room and not being in bed with her. Actually, it was going to be weird having a girl spend the night at all. I had never had a girl spend an entire night with me here. Usually we come upstairs and have some fun and then head back to the party or they just head home.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard the bathroom door click open. I turned around to see Melanie standing in the doorway wearing only my shirt. The sight left me speechless as I admired how amazing she looked in my clothes. As I looked up from her blushing checks down to her tanned legs peeking out from the shirt I got a feeling in my stomach I have never had before.

"You look amazing," I told her honestly. She shook her head as she looked down at her feet. I knew by her response that she didn't believe me, and in that moment I made it my mission to make her see how perfect she truly is.

After another moment of silence, I finally broke out of the trance that seeing her put me in and said, "I am going to go change into sweatpants really quick. You can climb into bed and get comfortable. I made myself a little bed on the floor for me to sleep on."

I walked into the bathroom before she had a chance to argue with me about sleeping on the floor again. I quickly changed into a pair of grey sweatpants and discarded the shirt I had worn for the party.

When I walked back into my room I found Mel curled up under my covers. When she saw me walk in her eyes visibly grew wide, presumably at my shirtless state. The site made me laugh but I tried to suppress it as to not embarrass her.

"Are you okay if I turn out the light or do you to leave them on?" I asked. I wouldn't blame her if she wanted to sleep with the lights on after her encounter tonight. She answered in a small voice, " You can turn them off. I surprisingly feel pretty safe right now." This time I couldn't hold back my smile at the thought that I had something to do with her feeling safe.

I turned out the lights and climbed into the makeshift bed I had on the floor. After a moment of laying in silence she said, "Goodnight Hunter."

"Goodnight Melanie. Sweet dreams."

— — —

"No don't! Please stop!" I was awoken suddenly by the sound of a girl screaming in distress. For a slight moment I was confused as to what was happening and who that could be, but all the events of the past day quickly came flooding back in and I instantly knew what was happening.

"Dad don't!"

I jumped up and onto my bed where Melanie lay twisting and turning in her sleep. "Mel wake up. It's okay, I am here. You are safe." I shook her slightly trying to break her out of the state she was in. It seemed to do the trick, as she quickly sat up and opened her eyes. She was breathing heavily and looked around frantically trying to get her bearings.

When we noticed me sitting next to her with my hands still resting on her arms she seemed to grow embarrassed. "I am so sorry. This is so embarrassing. I haven't had a nightmare in a so long. What happened earlier must have like triggered them again or something. I can't believe you saw that and-"

I cut her off before she could ramble out anymore "There is absolutely nothing to be sorry or embarrassed about. I am glad I was here to see it and wake you up. Is there anything I can get you? Do you need water or something? I just want to help" Now I was the one rambling, but I needed her to know that she had nothing to apologize for. I was here for her and I would be for as long as she let me.

"I actually could use one thing if that is okay."

"Anything." I responded eagerly, wanting to do whatever I could to help.

"Could you maybe sleep up here. I think I would feel better if someone were with me." I didn't even hesitate with my response, "Of course."

I didn't waste any time climbing into bed beside her. The feeling of being in bed next to her gave me this nervous feeling, which considering I was a pretty chill guy, was a new feeling for me. I was almost itching to reach out and pull her close to me, but I knew that she was dealing with a lot and she needed to give me some kind of signal that she would be comfortable with that. Knowing how shy she was I wasn't expecting that sign to come at all that night, but after laying still on the other side of the bed for a few minutes, she started inching closer.

I decided that It was as good as sign as I was going to get, and I made my move. I reached out and pulled her to me. "Is this okay?" I whispered to her, making sure she was still comfortable with everything going on. She snuggled up closer to me, resting her head on my chest and wrapping her arm around me. I took that as her response letting me know that she wanted this intimacy just as much as I did.

I kissed her forehead lightly and whispered in her ear, "goodnight beautiful," as I started to drift off into the most peaceful sleep I have gotten in a long time.