Secret Love (Hunter Hayes Fanfiction)

Doors

Bethany raced down the hall, flipping pages on her clipboard, looking for the schedule. When she found the time she was looking for, she checked her watch. Five minutes to show time, she thought, where the hell is Hunter? 

She opened a door and called his name into the men's room. Not here.  She ran the last few steps and knocked on the door to his dressing room. 

"Please, Dear Lord, Hunter, be in here and be ready to go."

The door swung open slowly, and Hunter stood there smiling at her. "Hey, Beth. I'm sorry, I know I'm running late. It's this stupid hair stuff! I can't get it right!"

Hunter moved back over to the mirror and kept playing with his hair. Bethany closed the door behind her and rolled her eyes. Men and their hair, she thought. 

"Here, let me do it," she said. He handed her the bottle of gel and she turned him around to face her, setting her clipboard down on the vanity table. "Where's Nancy, anyway?" Nancy was his hair and makeup woman. She was always on time and had never missed a day of work, as she'd heard it. Why today?

Hunter chuckled, and Bethany looked into his eyes just long enough to catch a little bit of the contagious spark in them. "She has the flu. Poor woman has been in her trailer all day, and I would be willing to bet that she'll be there a few more days. I went over there earlier to give her some flowers, and she looked pretty rough. I feel bad for her."

Bethany shared his sympathy, but she couldn't help but check her watch nervously as she continued to tousle Hunter's hair. "Guess I didn't realize how difficult her job really is," Hunter continued, chuckling some more. "Making me look good has got to be a full-time occupation. Maybe I should give her a raise." 

Now it was Beth's turn to laugh. "Oh, come on, Mr. Hayes, that's not true and you know it. If the screaming girls out there are any indication whatsoever, that is."

He titled his head back as he laughed this time, messing up the work she'd done to his hair. She groaned in a playful, yet still somewhat frustrated way. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Totally serious. I'm sorry." He put on his best serious face as she went back to work fixing his hair. It wasn't but a few seconds before he was laughing hysterically again, and he wasn't even sure what about this time.

She didn't join in his laughter, but the slight crinkling around the corners of her eyes was a sign that maybe she'd like to.

"Mr. Hayes, hold still!" She protested, trying unsuccessfully to put the last few pieces of his hair in order. Against her will, a little chortle escaped her lips. "Maybe you should give Nancy a raise, having to put up with a giggle box like you!" She batted his arms playfully before rubbing her hands on a towel and grabbing her clipboard. 

"Come on, Mr. Hayes, what are you laughing about?" He hadn't stopped, but she couldn't for the life of her remember what had been so funny. 

What was he laughing about? Abruptly, he stopped, but he was unable to wipe the smile from his face completely. "Nothing, nothing. I'm not sure, actually. It was just funny."

She swatted at him again. "Well, okay, Mr. Hayes, you have to be on stage," she checked her watch and gasped, "Six minutes ago. Come on, hurry!" She shooed him out the door, talking swiftly into her earpiece and jotting down things on her clipboard.

She followed him straight to the edge of the stage, where he picked up his electric and began to dash toward the heavy lights and screaming crowd. Suddenly, he turned around and called back to her, "Thanks for doing my hair, Beth!" She nodded, waving him off.