Invisible

Chapter 31 The Truth Comes Out

"What do you mean?" I avoid his piercing eyes, pushing past him and heading for the basement door.

Hunter grabs my left hand jerking me to a stop. I let out a high pitched sound of shock and people stop and look at us. I know he can feel the spot where the ring should be, his fingers slide over the glove as I pull away.

Immediately I am blinking back terror and a memory. My father grabbing ahold of me when he told me I wasn't allowed to see Jacob anymore. How my arm felt like it was being torn off as I fought to break free. He managed to dislocate my middle and ring finger in the process. I twisted free and ran up to my room where I cried until Jacob showed up on my roof and sat with me, holding me until I was all cried out.

The blood drums in my ears as I stare at Hunter, an endless moment stretches out and I feel the beginnings of a panic attack.

I need to get out of here. I tear my eyes from Hunter's and walk quickly to the door, opening it just enough to fit through before closing it behind me.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairs I turn the corner and burst into tears. It hurts too much. What was I thinking? New look? New confidence? No, I shouldn't have tried. I look down at the dress, feeling clownish and childish. I hear Maxwell barking and I travel in the direction of the noise.

"Leah?"

I break out in a fresh wave of tears. Hasn't he done enough damage? I bend down and open the cage, the small, brown, Yorke/Terrier jumps at my legs and I back away on unsteady feet. A hand warms my lower back and I'm stable again.

"Leah I'm sorry. I needed to know."

"You could have asked!" I shout at him before moving beyond his grasp. His hand's sudden lack of presence on my back makes me shiver.

"Were you going to tell me? When did it happen."

I sigh. A while ago... That's why I made that excuse not to come to your show. That was a rough couple of weeks.

"I don't understand. I thought you trusted me."

"Hunter, I don't trust anyone! Not even myself can't you see that?!" I try to unlock the patio door and in an angry rage I pull the handle too hard and pinch my fingers in the far end of the door. I yell and pull my hand back.

I try to shake the pain off and control my breathing. I feel a soft hand take mine and slowly remove the glove encasing it, when I open my eyes from squeezing them tight I see Hunter looking at my hand. "Just a flesh wound, didn't even break the skin."

He's standing so close to me I can hear him breathing evenly and his eyes are so caring.

"What happened with Jacob?"

"I-I-" my eyes drop down to his stupid brown shoes and my shiny silver ones. "I couldn't." I whisper.

"Couldn't what?"

"Love him... But I wanted to... I wanted to say 'I do' and have children and be safe and happy... But I couldn't love him. Even after everything we've been through.. I couldn't do it."

"Why do you think that is?" He pushes just a little, his thumb rubs the back of my hand in encouragement.

"Because..." I can't think of a reason good enough so I shrug. It feels like he's left me all over again, it feels like the day I found that note under my door telling me that it was best if he wasn't in my life.

"Leah, you know you can trust me right? If you choose to I promise to try and never let you down.

"Who's fault was it?"