A/N about updates: As those of you who follow me here (or on twitter/tumblr/facebook) might already know, I am going through a tough time. Last week, another person I knew died, making it the third funeral in four months and that’s just one of the reasons. As a result, I was away from wattpad for a few days, but I’m back and even though I’m not in the best of moods, my aim is to update both of my stories and my guidebook at least once this week. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT; THE COMMENTS PROVIDE A GOOD DISTRACTION!

*****

Nathaniel’s POV

I sat on my bed, my legs cuddled to my chest. I was looking before me at nothing in particular. That seemed to be a habit now, a reaction to my interactions with Hunter.

The kiss appeared surreal, almost as if I’d dreamt it. But I knew it had taken place; the way my body responded to his could was too powerful for just a dream.

How was I to face him tomorrow?

Or on any other day?

I’d crossed a line I shouldn’t have crossed, not unless I was absolutely sure I wanted to go down that road. No, not want; I had to be sure I could go down that road. That I was emotionally ready for it.

Which I wasn’t. And now, however many hours had passed with me sitting alone in the dark, I still was not ready.

“Nat?” The single knock was hesitant like her voice.

I didn’t reply at first. I wasn’t ready to speak with anyone, even my sister. But then I remembered that this was Vallery; if she was worried about me – something I had no doubt she was – she’d open the door to check on me.

I should find the key to my bedroom, I thought but replied with a quiet ‘Come in’ when she called for me again.

I blinked as my twin sister walked in slowly, turning on the light. She approached my bed with small steps. In her hands she was clutching a dark cloth. It took me a few seconds to recognize it as my jacket – the one I’d left behind in my hurry to get away from him, from what I did with him.

“You forgot it at the Johnson’s,” she said in a low tone and folded the jacket before placing it at the corner of my bed, where my feet usually were.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I announced, then added as she opened her mouth: “No, I’m not fine, yes, I’m sure I don’t want to talk about it and no, I don’t know when I will. Probably never.”

“But…”

“Vallery…”

“Just listen, Nat…”

“I said I don’t want to…”

“Talk about it, but how about something else?” She shot out so I couldn’t interrupt her again. “About anything else. Something that would distract you?”

I almost smiled at her words. How could I not appreciate her help?

But even though I valued her concern, all I wished for was to be left alone. Actually, I didn’t wish for that either; I wished I could just stop existing until this cocktail of confusion and shame and guilt washed out of my veins. But since that was impossible, I wished to be left alone in my misery.

“Thanks, sis, but maybe tomorrow. Please?”

She bit her lip and nodded before heading for the door.

“Just to let you know: I told mom and dad that you have some sort of a stomach bug and that’s why you left. I also told them you said you were going to try and get some sleep so they shouldn’t bother you.”

“Thanks,” I muttered so quietly, I wasn’t sure she heard me.

“Do you want me to leave the lights on?”

I shook my head and the room went dark save for the light that came through the door she held open.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be in my room.”

She waited for about a minute for a reply but I gave her none. Her sigh came out just a second before the thud of the door as she closed it from the outside.

“I won’t change my mind,” I answered, although there was no one to hear it.

*****

Vallery’s POV

I’d given him about half an hour before I followed him home. I knew he wouldn’t have recovered, but I couldn’t wait longer, I needed to at least get a peek at him. He was my brother for crying out loud; I had to check on him and see just how bad things were.

I’d prepared myself for him to have freaked out, but when I’d opened the door to his room and switched on the lights, he’d seemed broken. Not hysterical, not pulling his hair out; just sitting on his bed, looking as pale as if he hadn’t slept or eaten for days, as if those thirty minutes had been weeks for him. Maybe they felt like that; sometimes you lost track of time after a traumatic event.

I’d wanted to console him, but I hadn’t known what to do; I’d had no clue what I could say to make him feel better. There probably was nothing that I could have done or said, yet I needed to somehow comfort him.

I punched my pillow.

I hated feeling so helpless.

He was the most important person to me and I was unable to give him solace. It wasn’t fair! The world should be constructed differently; whatever force or deity ruled it, it should’ve given us the knowledge and experience to deal with such situations instead of tormenting us with the sorrows of others.

I picked my phone from the nightstand and dialed the number. Nat wasn’t ready to talk about it, but I had to speak to someone, not just anyone, but someone I trusted.

“Hey,” he greeted cheerfully and I hesitated: should I ruin his evening as well? Raiden loved us both and I knew he’d feel just as bad about Nat as I did. But I was upset and I couldn’t be bothered to be selfless. Besides, there was no way I could hide this from him forever.

“Hey,” I replied quietly and his tone changed in a blink of an eye; it became anxious just as I’d expected.

“What’s wrong, Val?”

I laughed, no humor in that sound: where should I start?

*****

Hunter’s POV

The yard and the sidewalk were completely trashed.

Literally.

I’d kicked the trash cans, toppling them over, all the shit from inside spilling on the sidewalk. I kicked them again, and again, and again, deforming the metal. I then walked into the yard and kicked the plastic round table and one of the chairs. I took the other and stormed to the outside of Nathaniel’s room, flinging the seat towards it. It bounced off the tree that separated our windows and fell down. One of its legs broke off and dropped over the hedge between our gardens and the rest tumbled over the grass in our yard.

I lit up a cigarette with shaky hands and stared at his window. The lights were off; was he sleeping?

Could that son-of-a-bitch just go to bed and peacefully drift off to sleep after what he’d done to me?

Probably not; he was probably lying in a ball and sobbing like the little cowardly baby he was.

I was done with making up excuses for Nathaniel Reed.

Did I act too hasty tonight?

No. I’d waited long enough for him to admit what he was. And now he could just go to Hell. I couldn’t care less.

Or so I wanted it to be. But I cared. Why else would I be so pissed?

It wasn’t just my ego that was hurt. I’d developed something more than just lust for the stupid kid. I should’ve known better after Blake; even that idiot had warned me about this when I told him about Nathaniel Freaking Reed.

What on Earth had gotten into me?

He wanted to please everyone so badly; how could I think he’d for once do something that he’d want but mommy and daddy dearest would disapprove of?

After all, he was ‘the perfect son’.

I laughed, imagining his mom doting on him… She was so clueless. I’d love to see that woman’s face if she’d ever found out about Vegas or that her ‘perfect son’ kissed a guy. I’d been so tempted to tell her tonight.

Once Nathaniel – the coward of all cowards – ran away to hide and I got out of the bathroom, I wanted to find his mom and tell her; after the first couple of beers, that had seemed like an even better idea, but I’d still restrained myself; after a few glasses of champagne and punch, it had seemed like the best idea in the world. That would’ve thought the little brat a lesson. So I searched the house for her until I found her laughing with some of the other hens that Mrs. Johnson had invited. I grinned as I planned to wipe the smile off her face. But somebody got to her before I did. Vallery had approached her and told her Nathaniel had some sort of a stomach bug, that he wasn’t feeling well and that he’d gone home. And it had been that which had stopped me from ruining Mrs. Reed’s evening and many more evenings to come; it had been Vallery’s trembling voice and pale face while she tried to appear calm, while she was covering up for her brother… Protecting him.

And I, like a sentimental fool, thought of the countless times when he’d done that for her and that one time he’d done it for me and lied to the police. It had reminded me of what I liked about him so instead of talking to his mother, I gulped down a whole carafe of water and went for a run, hoping it will sober me up and help me clear my head.

It hadn’t helped with the latter which was why I was standing in our yard, surrounded by junk, pieces of garden furniture and almost half a dozen cigarette butts. I was starting to get nauseous, but I lit yet another cancer stick before taking out my phone and dialing a number.

“You free tonight?” I asked as soon as he picked up, not even giving him a chance to greet me.

“Yeah.” Cam sounded surprised to hear from me after so long. “Are you…”

“Get us a room in that hotel.” I hung up while he was in the middle of saying ‘okay’.

*****

A/N: I hope the three POV-s are not too confusing. I thought you’d want to see how each of them would react. More actions – well, interactions – in the next chapter.

Do you think Hunt will forgive Nat and will the later be able to face him anytime soon?

Also, Hunt going for a consoling/revenge f*ck with Cam: good idea or bad?

Please vote on the chapter and enjoy wattpading. While you wait for the next update, why don’t you check out the one-shot I posted last week – 600 Words of Love? I’d really appreciate any thoughts on it and votes if you liked it. I’ll post the link in the comments.

Once again, THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME THROUGH MY PERSONAL TROUBLES AND I’M SORRY I CAN’T UPDATE MORE!