"Hunter?" I asked as I opened the door. He was sitting on the couch so I went over and stood in front of him.

"You coming to pack your stuff?" He took a sip of his beer.

"No."

Hunter laughed a cold, dark laugh. "Pitty."

I looked at him. His attitude towards me was worse than it was when I first met him. He moved his head so that he could see what was showing on TV behind me.

"What the fu - "

He held his hand out to stop me from talking, "Don't swear if you're talking to me."

I took a deep breath and tried again, "Could you please just look at me?"

Hunter switched off the TV and looked up at me. Hurt flickered in his eyes but it was soon replaced by anger.

"What do you want, Emilia?" He wasn't using my nickname. And the absence of it hurt more than I thought it would.

"Come here."

He scoffed and reluctantly followed behind me towards the phone.

A voice greeted on the other side.

"Hi. It's Emilia Anderson. I'm phoning regarding the apartment I was offered."

Hunter turned to walk away but I grabbed his arm. He tensed under my touch.

"Hi, yes. I just wanted to call to tell you that my friend and I would not like to move. We're happy with our accidental roommates."

I could feel Hunter's muscles relax beneath my grip and I put the phone down.

"You think that changes anything?" Hunter was still angry.

I sighed, "Hunter, I spoke to Sky after I told you and she didn't want to move -"

"So that's why you came back? Don't want to be left alone? Or do you need helping paying rent?" He was speaking to me like a child.

"Seriously, Hunter?" He just looked at me.

He pulled his arm away from me and walked back towards the couch but I ran in front of him and put my hands on his chest.

"Just stop. For one second and listen to me."

Hunter moved my hands away from his chest and scowled.

"Hunter. I'm sorry." He looked surprised by this. "I thought I was protecting myself if I moved but it's not going to stop how I feel about you." I was surprised by my own words but continued to let my heart speak for me, "Because I really like you Hunter Maddox. And I don't admit that to just anyone."

Hunter gestured for me to continue. At least he was no longer scowling.

"I didn't want to have to tell you about my sister or tell you any of the other awful things about me. I didn't want you to see me, how I am without this look," I gestured towards my outfit - black leather jacket and boots, black ripped jeans and white crop top, "But it's the craziest thing because I've felt more like myself when I'm with you... Shit, for a wannabe author that sure did sound cliché."

That got a small laugh out of Hunter.

"And even though you drive me absolutely mad most of the time, I think that's why I like you so much. As much as I want to be repulsed by you, I can't. I tried every way possible, I even tried to find a way to hate the way you call me 'sweetheart' but it's impossible." I sighed again for probably the millionth time this evening, "Hunter, you have such an amazing family and I think that made me jealous, that I didn't have that. But I felt so welcomed at your house, at home. I felt loved. You trusted me with your secrets and you spoil me too much. You care but you don't tie me down; when I wanted to keep boxing, you let me, no matter how stupid that decision was on my behalf. Oh and you're really smart and attractive. And I could never put you down in words or capture the real you in any of my photos, no matter how much honesty they show..."

I rocked back and forth on my heels waiting for Hunter's but he just turned towards the door and grabbed his keys.

"You coming, sweetheart?"

I sighed in relief and ran after him.

-

"Where we going?" I asked sitting in Hunter's car.

"I found a nice place where I could dump your body after I killed you."

I looked at him surprised.

"Relax, sweetheart. I'm still not going to kill you." I loved hearing my nickname again.

"Well, that's comforting..."

Hunter was quiet, "I think I may have overreacted. You always wanted to stay with Sky and I should have realized that they'd eventually find a apartment for you... I just kept trying to avoid the fact that you would probably move if you ever got the chance and then this morning when you told me... It really hurt a lot and that was so annoying because I've never cared this much about a girl. So you're forgiven but I just wanted to say that I'm also sorry, Em. I said awful things to you that I didn't mean and I shouldn't have done that just because you were doing what your plan was all along."

"Thank you Hunter. For everything."

Hunter nodded.

"Friends?" I ventured.

"Meh?" He shrugged and stopped the car.

"Thanks... That sure helps - " I stopped myself once I realized that Hunter had brought me to my granddad's bar. "Wait. I'm not singing tonight."

"I know. But I am."

-

Hunter was one of the last acts to perform but Dave insisted that we watched the show instead of helping. I sat next to Hunter the whole evening and he held my hand

"Hunter. Your hands are sweating." I laughed as I removed my hand from his and wiped mine on my jeans.

"Sorry." He rubbed his hands along his pants.

Hunter wasn't behaving like his usual, confident self but he quickly put it back on when he stepped on stage.

"Hi. I'm Hunter Maddox." The crowd cheered loudly for him and he laughed, "Thanks. Well tonight I've written my own song and for very obvious reasons, I've called it: The Worst Love Song Ever Written.

He picked up his guitar and started singing. The entire time Hunter was watching only me as he sang. And then he sang the last verse:

I think I've told you

And I'm sure you already know

I'm actually quite insane about you

Em, that's just how life goes.

He walked off stage and straight up to me. I wrapped Hunter in a tight hug, my arms around his neck and my head resting on his chest. Hunter softly whispered in my ear so only I could hear.

"Would you officially be my girlfriend, Em?"

I pulled back in surprise and looked at him, "You're serious? After everything?"

"After everything." Hunter repeated then lifted an eyebrow "So...?"

"Of course!" I was smiling so much that my cheeks were starting to hurt and Hunter smiled back.

"Whoo! Sugar! Now that's one way to do it." Dave clapped Hunter on the back, laughing. And then gave me a hug, "You've got a special one here."

"I know." I was holding Hunter's hand, not wanting to let go. "Now the whispers make sense."

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" The nickname now had a whole new meaning and it sent pleasant shivers up my spine.

"At Sky's place the other day. You three were whispering but stopped when I walked back in. Were you telling them about this?"

Hunter and I started walking back to his car.

"Well, I had to at least ask Sky's permission."

"Would you still have asked me even if I moved?"

"I would have asked you later on, but I would've eventually."

Hunter backed me against the nearest wall. It was so unexpected, my breathe hitched in my throat. Hunter's body created a barrier around me.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this." His voice was deep and husky.

"And you don't know how long I've been waiting for you to do this." I breathed back.

Hunter's lips met mine as soon as the last word left my mouth.

Hunter was kissing me softly but I could taste the passion as well. So I kissed him back harder and opened my mouth trying to close any space between us. Hunter wasted no time moving his hands along my curves, each of us trying to take as much in of the other as possible. I wrapped my arms around his neck and in his hair.

I pulled back for a moment to speak and breath, "I just had the best idea."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. His nose was still touching mine.

"But this is going to have to wait for a while." I pointed my finger between the two of us.

"This better be brilliant." Hunter ran his hand through his hair.

"Oh trust me. It will."

I kissed Hunter once more and then ran towards the car.

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