Then

Chapter 1

Hunter's POV

I leaned back in the Panera Bread booth. It was the same thing everyday. I hated writers block. For two weeks now I have sat here in this booth with a pad of paper but no inspiration. I groaned and let my head fall back.

Looking out the window I saw the snow drift down from the November Nashville sky. People cocooned in coats walked the streets. Some talked on phones, others pulled kids along with them. I even saw an entire family pass by. After three kids the parents still seemed so in love. I wanted that. I needed that.

Thats it! Could I write a song from that? Nope. Nothing is coming to me. Going back to people watching I barely noticed a young women walk past a homeless lady, stop, look back at her, and come into the restaurant I was taking cover in. She had long brown hair that made it to the small of her back. She had a slim but full body that fit her face. She wasnt any taller than me and thats saying something. She studied the menu and ran her fingers through her hair. Since I was the only one in here other than her and the workers, it was easy to hear her order.

"Um your brocoli cheddar soup, large. One large macncheese, two hot ham paninis, and one chicken alfredo in a bread bowl to go please." her voice rang out. It had a sweet tone to it. Definetly not from here. She dug in her purse for her wallet. Her manicured nails whipping out a debit card. "Oh and a $100 gift card please." she gave the cashier a breathtaking smile and i saw him stutter a bit. She was beautiful.

"Wow you are hungry." was what he got out and she frowned.

"Yeah I guess I am." she said sarcastically. He rang her up and while she waited she went to the starbucks that shared the same room as Panera. "Two Venti white chocolate mochas, one venti chai tea, one venti hot chocolate. Extra hot and a $50 gift card please."

Dang girl had money coming out of her ears. Her big bag of food was ready and she went to recieve it while her drinks were being made. to do so she had to walk by me and i immedietly sat up straighter. She didnt look at me as she passed the first time but as she made her trip back, i made eye contact with the most hypnotizing blue eyes I had ever seen. My heart started thumping and i grinned like a fool. She gave a small, timid smile, blush tingeing her cheeks. but she kept walking, which dissapointed me.

She got her drinks and headed back into the snowy afternoon. I watched her the whole way and nothing surprised me more than when she walked back to the homeless lady. setting her food on the outside table she reached for the woman's hands and helped her up off the icy pavement. I dont know who was more confused, me or the woman.

Then she started taking off her coat and i started to realzie what she was wearing. Once the black and grey coat was off she signaled for the woman to put her arms in the sleezes. Then came the scarf which she wrapped around the woman's neck. Then the gloves. The homeless woman stood there with her mouth open as the girl pretty much stripped her warmth off in the snow. But she wasnt the only watching, many people stopped to watch this all take place.

When she was done, she was only dressed in a pretty sweater and some black pants, her feet tucked into rain boots. She turned her back on the woman and grabbed the food. Handing the bag to the dumbfounded woman, she gave a warm and caring smile while the poor lady's eyes filled with tears. Then the drinks were given next. And lastly the gift cards. She grasped the woman's hands and I made out the words 'I'll pray for you.' on her lips and she turned around and walked across the street, entering the CMT headquarters.

Grabbing my coat I left the restaurant and walked over to the overwhelmed homeless lady. She looked up at me in pure joy. She had kind and tender eyes. She looked tired but no older than 50. The clothes fit her good and I found myself thanking god for that mysterious girl. Rummaging in my wallet, I came out with a hundred dollar bill and handed it to her.

"This is too much." she said but I shook my head at her.

"Good luck, ma'am." and I walked back into my earlier refuge.

There was something about that girl that intrigued me. She didn't look any older than me but she didn't look super young either. I could see the maturity radiating off of her and it confused me as to why she would do something like that for her age. Her humanity was definetly comendable though. And God, was she beautiful; it was breathtaking and refreshing.

I shook my head and sat back down in my booth. She was just another girl and here I was, in desperate need of a song, not needing to be distracted. As hard as I tried, all I could think about was her smile.

Smile would be a good name for a song, I thought and then clapped my hands once.

For the second time in a matter of minutes, I was thanking the Lord for putting such an incredible girl in my life.