Holding On

Chapter 5 - An Easier Side

Hunter's POV

It had been a few hours since I left Courtney after our intense talk about her scar. It was odd what I saw. It was like she had let her walls down for that moment, letting me have a peak at her past. That, alone, was something I wasn't going to take for granted.

I could still feel something turning in my chest as remembered the fear and pain I saw flash in her eyes when I got close. I have been called many things in my life, but I refuse to have anything concerning the fear or pain of women tagged to me. That's why I had backed away, but seeing that there was greater fear than what I was aiming for, I knew something was up.

Hearing she had been hurt just never set right with me. She was a gorgeous girl, I won't deny it, and hearing someone hurt her mentally as well as physically...I just don't think it should have happened. Not to someone like her.

However, I was heading home now, John and Alex both with me. The drive was partially quiet except for the times when John asked what I was thinking. I wasn't about to tell him anything, though Alex was making many jokes about me thinking of Courtney. It was her story to tell not mine.

Coming to the house, we quickly left the vehicle, heading to the door. I unlocked it and shoved my keys back into my pocket as I entered. "You guys go ahead and start with lunch," I said over my shoulder. "I'm going to run up and get Katy." I immediately noticed the silence that came over us.

Alex wore a confused look on his face and John was looking at me with sympathy in his gaze. Alex was the first to speak. "Wait, I thought her name was Courtney?" I silently cursed myself now for letting something so small slip.

"It is," I recovered quickly. "I've just been around so many women recently that I got the names mixed up." I bit my tongue as I said this, quickly heading upstairs. I knew that Alex would accept this for now, but John would know better. He was the one who always knew if I was with someone. I just didn't want him to call me out on it right now.

I stopped by my room first, quickly throwing off my shirt that entered. I needed a new one and knew if I walked in with a dirty one on, Courtney would get suspicious. Right now, I needed her to stay in the dark. However, when I passed my mirror before walking out, I knew those chances were dashed.

A red mark was already forming along my jaw and my left eyes had a tint of purple and blue around it. She would have to be blind not to notice this... I brushed off the thought quickly and made my way to Courtney's room.

Unlocking the door, I pushed it open and stepped in. "Hey, I'm back...?" I looked around the now empty, but incredibly clean room. Everything was dusted, swept, wiped down, and the bed looked like it had never had a wrinkle in it. If we were in a cartoon, I swear everything would be sparkling. Holy crap!

I looked over when I heard some noise from the bathroom and saw a blonde head poke out around the door frame. "I'm still here," she said quickly before she disappeared again. I couldn't help but smile.

A few seconds later, she came out of the bathroom, wiping her hands clean on a towel. Obviously my face still had a slightly shocked expression as she laughed lightly upon looking at me. "I thought I would straighten up the place a bit while you were gone since I had nothing else to do," she said, moving a strand of hair behind her ears.

I didn't miss the light glow of pink that graced her soft cheeks. She turned as she folded the towel, setting it on the dresser. I couldn't help but stare. With the curtains pushed aside, the sunlight shone through the room unhindered, dancing off her blonde curls. It made her have an almost angelic look to her.

I quickly gathered my thoughts back in and shook my head, letting out a huff of amusement. "Maybe I should've left locked you in the house and not just your room," I said, slipping my hands into my pockets. "If this is just straightening up a bit, then you would've definitely made the house look more livable." This earned another laugh from her as she turned back to face me.