Build It Better | Hunter Rowland

Chapter 17

|Ella's POV

    My smile faded. My heart dropped. Girlfriend? What happened to what he said before he left? How did his feelings change that fast?

    "It's nice to meet you," Hayden chimed in and stuck her hand out. I hesitantly nodded in agreement and shook her hand. I looked over at my mom, trying so hard not to let the tears come out of my eyes.

      "Okay, let's go, we've got a big day ahead of us!" Christine shouted and we all gathered into the van.

---

    "Alright, alright. Let me attempt to get the names right," Maddy, Mario's girlfriend, said and stood in front of us. "Zoe, you're with Julian, Kaelynn, you're with Jovani, Katia, you're with Geo, Lydia, you're with Brandon, Hayden, you're with Hunter, and Ella is Hunter's friend. Did I get it right?"

     Everyone laughed and nodded. I was having fun with all the girls backstage, all except Hayden who gave me dirty looks every 5 seconds. My phone vibrated and I looked down at it. It was a text from the one and only, Hunter Rowland.

         From: Hunta
           Can we talk after the show?

      I texted back a quick 'sure' and set my phone down. Everyone was talking about the tour when Zoe leaned over to me. She covered her mouth and whispered, "I can tell you don't like her. Trust me, none of us do. But we deal with it because Hunter seems happy."

       "Howd they even meet? I've never heard of her before," I whispered back and heard her laugh. Her laugh was obnoxious and annoying. How could they deal with that for a month.

        "They met at one of the first shows. She gave him her number and ever since then it's non-stop talk about 'Hayden Marie Lancaster'" When Zoe spoke Hayden's full name, she did it in a preppy-cheerleader voice, which honestly reminded me of Hayden.

        "I haven't been with her for a full day and I already cant stand her." I laughed and looked down at my phone. The lock screen was still Hunter and I. "I just don't see how he can have a girlfriend in a little less than a month. I mean, they can't get to know each other well enough to date in that amount of time."

         "That's what everyone's been saying," Zoe sighed as the boys walked in. The show had just ended. Hayden ran up to Hunter and wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug. I cringed and looked away.

         "Okay, the twins, Mario, the girls, and I are going to a hotel than leaving early in the morning. So we gotta say goodbye till next time." Geo pouted and opened his arms for a hug. We all huddled in for a group hug and I got everyone's numbers. I made a mental note to especially text Zoe about the Hayden and Hunter thing, mainly because she was staying at his house until next week and she was going to drive me nuts.

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          From: Hunta
             Meet me down at the park in 5

         I sighed before getting up. When I got home, I didn't talk to anyone. I went upstairs and I let the tears fall. I shouldn't have let a boy get to me like Hunter has, but he was different. He was the only person I allowed myself to get this close to since I moved here, other than Alice.

         I made my small journey down to the park and mentally prepared myself for what was about to happen. I didn't know what to expect. I took a deep breath and calmed down a bit.

         When I reached the swings, Hunter wasn't there yet. I sat down and waited for him. About 3 minutes later, a familiar figure came into view.

         "Hey," Hunter said before sitting down in the swing next to mine.