Hard To Love (a Josh Hutcherson Fan Fiction)

Chapter 23

Josh's POV

"So," Stella sighed, "12 more hours, then its back to reality huh?" she looks up at me, still poking at the small fire I made on the beach with a stick, the marshmallow dripping off and falling into the flame. 

"Unfortunately.." I sigh and lean my head back and look at the night sky. 

Last night was the night that Stella finally gave into the cliche of love, and I had waited so long to hear those words escape her mouth. Today we had spent the day relaxing, as our last day on vacation. 

I made the fire about an hour ago, and we had stuffed our faces with s'mores for the past 45 minutes as we watched the sun go down. I couldn't have asked for a better last night in Hawaii. 

But the reality hit me just then.. as soon as we get back, I told Stella I wanted to make it public, her and I. But I hadn't took into consideration the excitement and drama it was going to bring about in my fan base and the media. It sucks being a celebrity sometimes, especially when my fame is at an insane altitude, sure it has its ups, but the constant picture taking and everything kinda gets old, extremely quick, and I had enjoyed this past week without cameras constantly flashing in my eyes, and invasive questions rudely being shoved into my ears.

Paparazzi hasn't caught Stella and I together again yet, and I was going to keep it that way until I wanted it to happen. I want to tell everyone, I don't want her to be a secret, but sadly, that is not up to me. My publicist, Jane, makes that decision for me. And I have my fingers crossed that she will let me make the great reveal of my sudden relationship status when and where I want. 

"What time is our flight tomorrow?" Stella asks as she finally throws the stick into the water and scoots in between my legs. 

I run my thumbs in circles on her shoulders, "10am, but we don't get back home until 12am, there is a layover in Pheonix since we dont have the private plane this time." 

"Oh, right.. They took it on their honeymoon." she reaches her hand back and grabs my hand the rests on her shoulders, "must be nice, more time on vacation."

"We can go on another as soon as I get some time off." 

"I'm kinda scared you know." she whispers. 

"Scared of what?" 

"Your fans.. What they are going to say about me.. Being alone while you are gone. Just a lot." 

"Aw, baby." I pull her up onto my lap where I can look into her green/blue eyes. They can never choose one solid color, "There is nothing to worry about. What they say can't change my feelings for you, and they never will. I promise." 

She nods her head and we go back into the house after dumping salt water on the fire. 

I climb into the bed and watch Stella. She grabs the book off of the nightstand and sits in the giant leather chair in the corner of the room and pulls her knees up to her chest and begins to read. 

I turn the tv on and quiet the volume to maybe a 5 and watch a tv show on TLC. 

After a while I look over to her and she is wiping tears off of her face. I know to leave her alone when she does this because its just the book. She is fine, I know. But it hurts to see her cry, especially when I can't bother her. I have learned to not bother her when she is reading because she won't be there with me, she will still be lost in the world of the book. But she will come back to me when she is done. She always does. 

After a while, I hear her sniff one last time and close the book, then I feel her weight shifting on the side of the bed and I open my arms for her to lay with me. She holds me tight and stays quiet.