"Cupcake? Is that you?" My grandad's voice was such a comfort. I hadn't seen him in awhile and needed to catch up with him.

"Hi granddad." I put my bag down and gave him a hug.

"How was practice?" He asked walking to the kitchen to make us coffee.

"Good. I'm excited for the final performance."

"And when's that?"

"A few months from now."

"I'll be there screaming for my cupcake."

I laughed, "You don't mind if I stay for a few days, do you?"

"What kind of question is that even sugar? But what about that Hunter? Hmm? Don't you live with the boy?"

His name made my fists clench and Dave immediately noticed.

"You wanna sock the poor lad." He chuckled. "Go out back. I've still got the punching bag out there."

I nodded without another word. I ran to my room, changed; grabbed my phone and earphones and headed for the back door.

-

I felt bad for the poor punching bag. I really truly did. But I wasn't done with it just yet. If spent the previous day punching it and the day after that... And the day after that. It's been three days since I bumped into Hunter. The thought angered me so I punched the bag with such force that the chain broke. It was already old and rusted, but my final blow was what snapped it. I stood there staring at the broken bag lying on the floor, my arms were still positioned for my next punch. Something in the atmosphere shifted. I was deep in thought when strong arms wrapped around my bare stomach. Someone was here and it was not my grandad, he knew to announce his presence if I was boxing. I prepared myself to push myself out of the intruder's grip and punched him right in the jaw.

"Fuck."

"Oh shit." I said at the same time.

Hunter was standing in front of me, his one hand holding his jaw and the other blocking his face from any more attacks. I ran up to him and I was about to touch his jaw but then I remembered that we weren't exactly on speaking terms so I lowered my hand and took a few steps back.

"Guess I deserved that." He said lowering his arm protecting his face once he realized I wasn't going to hit him again. He was smirking.

I ignored him and walked past him back into the house.

"Emilia, please can we talk?" Hunter followed behind me.

"About what?" I was being stubborn and I carried on walking, straight past my granddad.

"Your face!" Dave said when he saw on dark red mark appearing on Hunter's face, "I'm gonna go get you some ice son."

The emotions that I felt whenever Hunter was near me started to distract me and I was annoyed with myself for letting him make me feel this way.

"Sweetheart," my heart melted a little bit at the nickname, "Please can I just talk to you?"

I turned around to face him. There was a little bruise starting to form on his jaw and I had to hold my hand back again to not reach out and touch it. My granddad was looking at me with a look in his eyes telling me to give Hunter a chance.

"Fine." I huffed. "I'm going for a quick shower and then we can go for a walk."

Hunter nodded, holding an ice pack to his face.

As I ran up the stairs I heard my granddad say to Hunter, "At least she's willing to speak to you, right?"

Once my bedroom door was shut I called Skylar.

"Why the hell is Hunter in my granddad's house right now?"

"Umm..."

"You better give me an answer soon Skylar James or else you better hope that by some miracle I won't come over right now to punch you in the boobs."

"Woah, crank down the evil a notch." Sky was trying to be sarcastic.

"Answer. Now."

"Well, technically you can't punch me in the boobs because I told Tyler and Tyler told Hunter so I did as you asked. I didn't tell Hunter where you went. Tyler did."

"You out smarted me this time James, never again." And with that I ended the call.

-

"So I'm guessing you're taking me somewhere remote to kill me and leave my body there?" Hunter tried to lighten the mood but I simply ignored him.

When he stood in front of me, blocking my path, I was forced to look up at him.

"I need to understand why you didn't trust me." He stared at me.

"What?"

"I need to know why you think I'd ruin this," he motioned to the two of us, "by cheating on you... With Cass and then you didn't believe me when I said I didn't - "

"You never said you didn't. You couldn't even remember."

"That doesn't matter because we both know I wouldn't do that." We were both silent, "I know that you confronted her." I looked down, "I know that you know the truth but for some reason you're too stubborn to talk to me."

"Because it wasn't just about that." I looked up again and glared at him.

"Okay, I'm sorry for standing you up."

"Well don't sound too genuine now." Sarcasm hung to my every word.

"Well don't tell me that that wasn't the reason."

"I can't do that." Even my smile was sarcastic.

Hunter looked down and at my face as if he was trying to read my mind to figured out what else he said. And then he remembered. You could tell it in the way he looked at me and his eyes softened.

"Your sister." He whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I always tell you that you can tell me what happened with your sister when you're comfortable and I always just use it against you or try push you to tell me what happened. Which isn't fair because I know it's a sensitive topic for you and as your boyfriend I should be able to support you whether you tell me or not. And I know you want to appear tough to the outside world but can't you just show me a little bit more of the girl who giggles and blushes? Because I think that's who you really are under all those leather jackets and combat boots."

"Hmph. Well done, Mr Maddox. How long did it take for you to practice that little speech?" I smirked up at Hunter.

He wrapped me in such a tight hug I struggled to move, "Improv is my forte... I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry too, Hunt, it wasn't right of me to accuse you of cheating. I know you never would try that cause you know you'd be left without any balls."

Hunter laughed, "Gotta keep those."

I stood on my tippy toes and put my arms around Hunter's neck.

"We have got other stuff to sort out too."

"Like what?" Hunter cocked his head to the side.

"Trust. You said it yourself. You need to trust me enough to believe that I'll tell you about my sister when I'm ready and I need to trust in you as a person and not as the reputation you have or image of you that everyone else sees."

"I agree." Hunter was determined which made me smile.

"I missed this." I said as reached up and kissed him.

"Know of any good make out spots, sweetheart?" Hunter asked once he pulled away.

"Of course I do... Baby" I winked at Hunter and lead the way.

•

You're pretty amazing if you've read this far so thank you SO MUCH. You must be happy that it's all sorted out now I hope?

Don't forget to vote, comment and follow xxx