New Girl In Town (1) ✔️

Valentines Day Massacre

(A/N: warning for strong language ahead.)

Somehow I make it out the door and halfway down the hallway before anyone even thinks to head after me.  I lean against the wall, sliding down until I'm crumpled up into a ball on the floor.  My head is in my hands and I can't help the tears that are falling from my eyes.

The night had so much promise but now I feel like my life, my future has gone down the drain. All because of a stupid game of spin the bottle. But maybe no one will remember...

Who am I kidding. Someone is bound to remember. To question.

My tears have slowed, almost stopped and I'm staring intently at my dress, picking at the hem. Trying to think through the mess that is my life. A male voice filters down the hall, calling out my name.

"Shannon? Shann where did you go??"

I'm not really paying attention so I don't immediately discern who it is. But I can sense them reaching my side. A gentle hand extends out, soft fingertips brushing the tears from my cheeks. Raising my chin so that I can look into their eyes.

Green eyes.

Moss green eyes.

Hunter.

My eyes focus on Hunter, crouching beside me in the hallway. "Angel, everything will be okay. I promise." His words do nothing to appease my new feeling of anguish. I barely whisper out it wasn't supposed to be you.....  He brushes my hair off my face, "What do you mean?" I glance back towards the Warbler room down the hallway, still no one else taking notice of us sitting out here. Taking a shaky breath I try again. "Sebastian.....  Sebastian was supposed to come after me. Not you."

His face falls some and I can see a bit of pain, inner torment reflected back at me through his eyes.  "He will.  He better if he knows what is good for him.  He doesn't strike me as someone stupid enough to walk out on the best possible thing that could have ever happened to him.  Because I know I never would..."

A new wave of tears overtakes me as I collapse into his arms.  I hate anyone seeing me like this but the fact that it is Hunter who for the second time is comforting me like this rocks me to my core. He just holds me, letting me cry. Not caring if his shirt gets completely soaked. My sobs don't last long, slowing to just the occasional hiccup. His hands run through my hair and trail down my back in a gentle manner, trying to make me feel better. "Anderson, you do realize this is starting to become a habit of yours."

His words break me out of my somber mood and I wipe the last of my tears away, sitting back up to look at him. A playful smile is back on his face and it causes me to smile slightly as well. "Why Clarington, what ever could you mean?"  He taps a finger gently on my nose with a smile, "There is that whole bashful thing again Angel.  But no, me having to hold you together because your boyfriend, fiancé is too stubborn to face your problems is becoming a habit.  Not that I don't enjoy being there for you.  It just isn't very fair for any of us here."

I sigh, nervously running my hands through my hair. Internally I'm praising my usage of waterproof mascara today. I glance back down the hallway then look up at Hunter again. "That is IF he even is still my boyfriend, fiancé. He is noticeably absent."  He looks down the hallway as well, just seeing some people lounging near the doorway but paying no mind to us.  "He'll be here.  You wait here Shann.  I'll be right back, I promise."   He places a small kiss on my forehead, squeezes my hand and then stands back up, walking quickly back towards the party.

So I'm left alone once again.  Just looking down at my hands, my ring, Sebastian's bracelet.  Fingers tracing the letters of his name before I take it off my wrist and hold it in my hands.  Just staring off into space...