Secret Love (Hunter Hayes Fanfiction)

Flying Hair Gel

"Amanda!" Hunter exclaimed, opening the door wider and stepping back to let her in. He wanted nothing more than to grab her up in a fierce embrace, but he wasn't sure how that would be received. He wasn't even sure what she was doing here, but, boy, was it nice to see her again. 

"Hunter!" She answered, laughing her tiny, tinkling laugh and tilting her head adorably. "How have you been? I've really missed you!"

She's missed me? Hunter's face lit up hearing that. Had she really? 

"I've missed you, too! I've been really good, though, thanks for asking. Gosh, it's really good to see you Amanda." 

Awkwardly, he went forward to hug her, but not in the fierce, possessive way he'd originally imagined. Instead it was quick and soft, but still pleasant all the same. "Oh, gosh, I'm sorry. I forgot I was still all sweaty," Hunter said, taking the towel down from the wall and matting the sweat from his face and neck. He tossed a clean shirt over his head and waited for her to say something.

"No, it's fine. Don't worry about it." A pregnant pause ensued, in which Hunter began to wonder even more why she was here. He didn't dare ask, but his curiosity was burning a hole in his brain.

He smiled encouragingly at her, hoping she'd take the hint and explain herself. She didn't. 

"So, how have you been?" Hunter said finally, gesturing to her. "I haven't heard from you in a while. What's been up?"

Smooth, Hunt. Way to not ask about it. 

"I'm doing really well, Hunter. I'm sorry I haven't called you, it's just been a little weird lately." She laughed uncomfortably. Hunter couldn't remember ever seeing her look so nervous. She'd always been on top of the game, 100% confident in her own skin. What had happened to her?

He stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked away, but he waited until she met his eyes to ask, "What's wrong, Amanda?" 

Her shoulders sagged and her eyes looked suddenly tired. "It's really nothing big. I just lost my job, so I came out here looking for work, and I've been here for a month and haven't found anything. I've been bussing tables down at the coffee shop for a while, just to keep my head above water, but it's hard." She blew out a breath and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dump my life struggles out on you. That really wasn't why I came tonight." Hunter still said nothing, but dropped his hand from her shoulder and crossed his arms. She laughed nervously again. "I came to apologize for rejecting you. I never really knew what I had until I lost it, and I know how stupid that sounds and I know that you probably moved on a long time ago, but I wanted to say that I was wrong about you." She looked up at him with a small spark of the old confidence in her eyes. "You're the best anyone is ever going to get, and they'd be lucky to be wanted by you." 

She winked at him, after making her last heartfelt statement into a pun. He laughed heartily at the joke, but inside he was panicking a little. 

Hunt, think! What are you supposed to do here? Is she saying she likes you now? Do you still like her? Why was this so confusing? Even just two weeks ago he'd have jumped at the chance to be with this girl. Now everything was suddenly different and he wasn't sure if he was interested anymore? What was wrong with him? 

"Well, I appreciate it, Amanda, I really do, but you didn't have to come all the way here to say that." He was stalling for time, and he could tell she knew it by the all-too-familiar spark of recognition in her dazzling brown eyes. 

"Well, it's the thought that counts, Hunter. Hasn't anyone ever told you that?" He laughed again, giddiness and nervousness and performance-induced adrenaline running together in his system and making him almost delirious with happiness. 

"Yes, I think I have heard that somewhere before." A moment passed between them. 

I can't do this now. I need time to think. 

"Listen, Amanda. I don't really know...if I still...feel that way about you. I mean...I haven't seen you for a month, and I had no reason to believe you'd ever say something like that to me, so I'm...I'm just confused, and I think I will need to think about this." Her face fell almost imperceptibly, but it was enough to make Hunter want to reach out and comfort her. "But listen, how about I come visit you some time this week at the coffee shop, and maybe we can do lunch together, catch up?"

She nodded, smiling weakly at him. "That sounds great, Hunter. You have my number." She leaned forward and hugged him again, this time stronger. Before she turned to go, she planted a kiss on his cheek that had his face flaming in seconds. 

Then she opened the door, revealing a shocked Bethany with her hand raised, as though she was about to knock. "Oh, um, hi," she stammered, looking back and forth between Hunter and Amanda. "I'm Bethany." She stuck out her free hand, and Amanda shook it.

"Amanda. I'm a good friend of Hunter's." Bethany could tell. Hunter's face was bright red, and he was avoiding her eyes. What did he have to hide? 

She wanted to laugh at him, tease him for being so ashamed of having a lovely girl like Amanda in his dressing room. She did laugh a little, and replied swiftly to Amanda.

"I can see that. I don't think I've ever seen Mr. Hayes quite that shade of red. You, my friend, have a talent." 

Amanda laughed with her this time, and looked over her shoulder at Hunter. "Yes, it would seem I do. Anyway, I was just on my way out. I'll see you later, Hunter," she said flirtatiously, winking and blowing him a kiss before stooping out the doorway and into the chaos of the backstage area. 

Bethany smiled when she noticed that Hunter's face got even more red. She stifled a laugh as she walked in and closed the door, essentially taking Amanda's place in the room.

"Don't say it," Hunter warned. 

Bethany smiled. She couldn't help it. He was being far too funny about this. "Don't say what, Mr. Hayes?"

"You know very well what, Bethany," he retorted, crossing his arms and making a visible effort to meet her eyes and look unabashed. "And I'm telling you, don't say it."

She cocked her eyebrow at him. "Oh, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"You definitely do, Beth. Don't say anything, or I'll - I'll"

"You'll what? Throw your hair gel at me?" She laughed a little. 

Finally, he laughed too, his face now going back to its rightful color. "You little minx. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She feigned a hurt look, pressing her hand to her chest in mock indignation. "Me? Enjoy this? Why would I enjoy seeing a very attractive girl leaving your dressing room? No, not me. I simply find it hilarious that you're so embarrassed!" 

Hunter laughed, but the blush crept back into his cheeks. "Go on, Beth," he said, pushing her lightly and causing her to laugh too. "Get out of here!"

She turned to leave, still laughing. When she was in the doorway, she turned and repeated to him what she'd come to say in the first place. 

"Oh, by the way, Mr. Hayes?" He looked over at her curiously. "Ned wants to see you, and Devo said that the shower on the bus was empty now if you wanted to use it." 

"Thanks," he replied, smiling gratefully for the message.

"Oh, and if you want," she started, her eyes lighting up as she thought of a good jab, "I'm sure Amanda is still close by, and she'd be more than happy to join y-"

The bottle of hair gel flew through the air, and Bethany barely managed to put the door between her and it before it crashed into the wood and caused a loud thud. She laughed hysterically as Hunter yelled at her to "Get out!"

Wow. That was fun, Bethany thought, still laughing as she left the dressing room behind her. I'm going to have to tease him more often.

Now...who is Amanda, anyway?

Who likes drama??? Who's ready for more? :D Before you move on, like it please? I'll love you forever!!! God bless and happy reading!