by Anne Eliot
She nodded.
“Good.” Hunter pulled Vere forward and reintroduced her to the press with his arm around her shoulder. “Everyone, this is Vere. She’s possibly the sweetest girl at Palmer Divide High, definitely the most beautiful.” His let his voice drop a bit and met her gaze. “Today we had a bit of a fight, but yesterday we were best friends. I’m hoping this press event can record the two of us making up.”
Vere blushed and tried to turn away from the cameras in her face. “Come on. I do not need to be fire-engine-red for the entire country,” she whispered, pressing her head into his shoulder.
“Planet. UK-Daily is front and center,” he teased. He was relieved to see her tears had abated. “She’s also humble and very, very shy. Please, go easy with this girl and back up.”
The cameras moved back.
Vere shot him a glare. “Why did you have to say that?”
He smiled at her pinched face. “Because you are. And I love that part about you.”
She flushed even more.
“I’m sure you see why I’m going to make it no secret that I’m head over heels for this girl. I almost lost her to another guy by not telling her my feelings soon enough. Maybe if I say them in front of you all, we can print it up, she will read it herself and finally believe me.”
“Did you almost lose her to the high school quarterback?” someone asked. The crowd erupted into a rash of unintelligible questions and shouts.
Hunter held up his hand and the noise died down. “Yes. I almost lost her. I tried to tell her how I felt this afternoon, but it came out badly because when I finally came clean, we hadn’t officially met. I made a mess of it all.”
“What do you mean by that, Hunter? You’ve been here for almost a month. You said you met the Roths on the first day. They were in on the whole disguise,” a man contested.
Hunter swallowed. “Yeah, well...I asked her from day one to think of me as Dustin McHugh. As just another kid like her. That's how everyone here knew me and treated me. I did the same in my own head. I was wrong to take my disguise so far.”
The video cameras moved closer. So many lights flashed at them that Hunter was temporarily blinded. Vere shut her eyes. Everything faded out and he focused all his energy on her.
She pulled against his hand, and he could tell she just wanted to run for her house. All while her cheeks flamed that adorable, rose pink color.
“Have you lost it?” she whispered finally. “What are you doing with all these cameras? And me?”
He spoke only to her. “Before we move forward. Before one more minute passes, I’m introducing myself to you. Right here, right now, in front of the whole planet.”
“What?” Vere glanced nervously about. And, with a move he’d grown to love more than ever, she reached up and unconsciously checked her bun. “Hunter. You don’t need to do this. I know who you are. I was so lame. And I’m sorry. I get it now. The feelings are real. You are more than real. I just want to talk to you away from here.” Wisps of golden blonde and brown hair framed her face and danced around the his favorite part of the back of her neck as she shook her head.
God, but I can’t wait to get my hands in those little curls.
Hunter didn’t miss the fact that the reporters were riveted on her. They saw what he saw, that even in her messy bun, and a tear stained face, this girl was simply riveting. She had already charmed everyone in front of her with her quiet blushes.
He moved his mouth close into her ear, drawing up the flowery smell of her into his nose as he tried to explain, “I want everyone else to know who I am, too, including me. Help me through this. It’s something I need to do. I won’t make you stay if you absolutely don’t want to, but I have to finish this out. When you’re with me, Vere, I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do. Stay for me? Please?”
“Okay. For you.” She half-smiled and tucked herself in closer under his arm. She held onto him for dear life as she arched her brows. “But don’t you let me go, or leave me alone in this crowd. And then, we are so out of here.”
Another rush of pink flamed her cheeks and his eyes riveted on her lips. She was chewing nervously on the top one again.
Damn. That. Adorable. Lip.
“Shit. Now, where was I?” Hunter uttered, realizing he’d truly forgotten everything but her sweet mouth.
“You were introducing yourself to all of us and embarrassing me,” she whispered.
He could tell she was trying hard to get back her bravado.
He grinned down at her.
Vere tilted her head to the side and scrunched her nose.
His stomach filled with butterflies. It couldn’t be helped.
It was Hunter’s turn to tremble. He felt his arm shaking against her shoulders. He shook himself and righted his thoughts. But kept his gaze locked with her eyes.
“Vere. I’m Hunter Kennedy. Some of this you know already, some you don’t. I’m a guy who was so lost and depressed that I freaked out and tried to hurt myself because I felt so down. I was a complete ass to my mom, and I crashed a Porsche onto my own front porch. I crashed it hard enough to also hurt myself with that deal too. Luckily, I didn’t get hurt.”
Vere raised her eyebrows and furrowed her brow, but said nothing. She didn’t have to.
Tears had pooled inside her eyes.
“Let me start again. I’m Hunter Kennedy. I will most probably spend the rest of my life proving to my mom, my aunt and my friends, and fans that I’m okay—not sad anymore. That I’m truly sorry for not reaching out and asking for help instead of taking matters too far. Going to a place I never wanted to go.”
He searched the crowd until his gaze fell on his mom and Aunt Nan. He was pleased to note they were both with him and hearing his apology. Vere put her arm around his waist, drawing his gaze back to her.
Always back to this amazing girl.
“You were sad. None of that was your fault—”
“I know that. But I was also living a really strange, shut down and selfish life.”
“You are anything but selfish. Don’t say that about yourself.”
He shook his head. “I was selfish today when you asked me to kiss you. Instead of walking away like I should have, I couldn’t.” He swallowed and ran his free hand through his hair before going on, “I wanted to be your first kiss. I knew that even if you never spoke to me again, you’d at least possibly remember me over Curtis. See? Selfish.”
The cameras fired, and the crowd went silent as the paparazzi creeped even closer with their digital recorders picking up every word and blink he and Vere put out.
“Wow. Okay. I’ll need time to think about that.” Vere flushed, her gaze bewildered and pleased all at the same time.
Hunter had to look away from her or he was about to be selfish again and kiss her right there.
He scanned the crowd, feeling suddenly lost and confused, but pressure from Vere’s gentle arm brought his gaze back to her and again, he found his center.
He started again, this time speaking to the press face on. “I’m Hunter Kennedy, and the most important thing I want you all to know is that I got really sad back in Los Angeles. I made some terrible choices that almost ended my life.”
He smiled at the cameras, hamming it up now with his trademark grin. “But now, I’m okay. I’m not ashamed of what I did, nor will I hide how I felt because I think it might help others to know what I went through. I’m happy to be alive and so thankful that my suicide attempts failed.”
Vere choked back a sob. “God. Hunter. So are we.”
He looked down at her and wiped away a tear. “I want to stay and finish high school, here, in Colorado.”
“You do!” She beamed. “Really?”
“I hope my agent and band will wait for me, but I’ll understand if they can’t. But I need to do what’s right for me, and staying here,” he pulled Vere tighter before continuing, “feels right.”
The media erupted into a new round of frenzied chaos. Everyone
seemed to be moving and shouting disjointed questions as they pressed in even closer to Hunter and Vere.
“That’s good enough. You’ve said enough,” Vere insisted over the noise.
He interrupted her by putting his finger gently, very gently, on her lips.
“I want to be sure we all get it. Including myself. Including my family, and yours.”
The crowd quieted again. He looked away from Vere and continued to face the crowd.
“Vere, until I came here, and met you, I didn’t understand that I was more than a lead singer of a band. I was so shut down, I couldn’t even pick my own socks, remember?”
Camera flashes and whispers ramped up all around them again.
She nodded.
“You were the first person who made me realize that I needed to start choosing again or I would never be happy. So thank you for that.”
She shook her head, but he interrupted before she could speak, “Let me say it one more time. This one’s all yours, Vere.” He grinned.
She turned bright pink all over again.
“I’m Hunter Kennedy. Real—flesh and blood. Just a normal guy, with a crazy job that’s currently on hold. I was pretending to be someone else; but our friendship was—is—completely real. I love music, poetry, drama class, hiking, swimming in lakes and spending every free minute I have talking to you.”
She gasped and then bit down on her bottom lip. He could tell she was about do that crying thing.
“Don’t cry,” he pleaded. “I have to finish. For the first time in my life, I love and understand the person I see when I look in a mirror. It’s the same person I see reflected back at me in your beautiful eyes. It’s simply me. And I like me how you like me. As is. Scarred, with a too-low voice, always hungry and everything else in between.”
She smiled and he knew she totally got what he meant.
“This is a gift you helped me find. I don’t think I will ever be able to repay you for showing it to me.”
“You—don’t need to—ever—and you know—you—just—you—” Vere gasped and shook her head. He could tell her shyness was not allowing her to continue. Her eyes held back a tangle of words he knew she wanted to shout out in his defense.
Damn, but she’s so cute like this.
He moved aside, and took up both of her hands in his again. “I know it’s too much for you to hear all of this in one night. But I have to say it again. I’ve fallen completely in love with you, Vere. I’m tired of hiding and pretending. I hope you will at least take a chance and go out with me. Get to know me as Hunter Kennedy? You once told me I could be perfect boyfriend material. I’m hoping it could be easier than I once thought. I’m also realizing the sweet, romantic stuff you believe in might be the way to go for us.”
Vere smiled wider, seeming to get some control.
He let go of one her hands and ran the back of his finger across her burning cheek. “So, what do you say? Even though we’ve only just met? And even with my crazy life? Would you consider me, your bestie—who wants to be so much more than that—as your homecoming date?”
Vere nodded. “I’d love to go with you. But—no—wait!”
Hunter paused. His heart stopped beating “But what?”
He and the waiting crowd went completely silent.
“What?” You’re killing me. What?” He tightened his grip on her hands and looked into her big, brown eyes. “Don’t change your mind. Please.”
She raised her brows and managed her impish challenge-grin. “Well...um. What’s your name again? Did you say it was Hunter? Hunter Kennedy?”
Everyone laughed, including him.
Hunter swept her into a spinning hug, desperate to have his arms all the way around her as he responded to her question, “Yes, yes, yes and yes! Hunter Kennedy. That would be me.”
Vere, now grinning madly, surprised him when she planted a quick, soft kiss right on his lips as he set her down.
He couldn’t help but kiss her back for a very long time while the crowd cheered.
Best part? Vere didn’t seem to care they were kissing in front of everyone.
And everyone’s parents.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Eliot writes sweet, bestselling teen romances about high school and/or first loves along with some tough emotional issues.
Thanks so much for giving your precious reading time to this book.
Reviews are important and help authors be found by other readers.
If you liked this book, please recommend it to a friend or review it on
Amazon.com
I also hope you will try my other teen romance:
Click the title below to preview or download free sample chapters
from amazon.com!
Almost,
a love story
For more information please follow me on twitter:
@yaromance
I would also be honored if you would 'like' my Facebook page, or want to email/message me directly there or on Goodreads.com!
https://www.facebook.com/anneeliotauthor
...
www.anneeliot.com
Anne Eliot
'BEST FIRST KISSES'
RESOURCES
To Cari Rhea and Kathy Loew:
Thank you for openly sharing your stories of teen and adult depression. Thanks for describing the roads you walked, sharing your beautiful journals, and/or giving advice on Hunter’s scars, inside and out. You are amazing women. Your kids are wonderful. We all are beyond lucky that you won your battles so we could share in yours (and their) beautiful lives.
If you are depressed, or thinking about self harm or have thoughts of suicide or cutting, please reach out.
Don’t hide or be ashamed of anything you feel
but please don't hurt yourself.
You are not alone. You are NOT alone. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Tell someone. Talk to someone. Please. Ask for help.
You are important, you are beautiful and you are worth everything.
There are best friends and amazing people you haven’t met yet...
they are real...and they are waiting for you.
For immediate help and links to suicide hotline
phone numbers in your country, get on the Internet and search:
teen depression
or
suicide hotline
This search method is a good starting point to find the places and phone numbers nearest you and in your own country. You can also use these searches if you think a friend might show signs of depression.
Many national suicide hotline numbers have people manning the lines 24 hours a day.
Your school can also help, but you must be brave and reach out to ask for help. There are many websites with interactive chats, stories you can relate to and groups who are available on Facebook and Twitter as well. Please search some keywords, tell an adult or someone you need help, or call your national suicide prevention hotline to simply talk.
Keywords that might help your Twitter and Facebook searches for support and people to connect with on this tough topic:
# teen suicide help # stop SUICIDE # depression # mental health
# stopselfharm # teen suicide # self harm # sad # cutting
# staystrong # warning signs of depression # stay positive # suicide hotline # end bullying now # stop bullying # teen # suicide
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are so many people to mention here, but first and always, I have to thank my family. My sweet husband Tom, my beautiful daughter Kika, my wild-child Wilson and all six of my parents: Louise and Louis Nelson, Chuck and Connie Powers, Bob and Jackie MacFarlane. Again, thanks for your love, patience and support.
The Book Makers Crew and Teen Reading Advisory Girls: Artists Peter Freedman & Katja Kulenkampff, the best editor/readers in the world: Tracie Schultz, Lana Williams, Michelle Major, Lara Hunter & Kika MacFarlane for the long hours of devotion to Hunter’s commas. To the crew who found m
e ‘the right Hunter’: Kika again, Saoirse O’Connor— esp. you and your constant, cute, RED CHEEKS. Kimmie Statman, Mackenzie Weller, yaromance.com girls, tweet masters and great friends, who along with Kylie Nash looked at proofs and pages, and for making sure I did not choose the ‘OTHER’ cover photo that made you all scream in horror. To Becca, Maddie D., Maddie J., Katie P., Valerie, and Greta from far away Germany too. <3
To sweet Keva O’Connor, Katy Offen, Kylie Nash again and Sammy Loew for braving the first proofs and making me feel confident enough to hit 'publish'. What would I do without all of you being part of my life? I am so lucky to know you all. A special shout out to Jenna and Sydne Shattuck who were the first to know Hunter so many years ago even before Almost. Jenna, remember when you threw the pages and got so mad after 'the kiss'? HA! And 'hi Molly O' -- You girls all rock. Always. Again. Forever.
To the amazing Jeff Bezos and Jon Fine and all who work at Amazon.com, CreateSpace, and the crew at Kindle Direct Publishing. Your work, your store, your easy publishing tools, PlugIns, devotion to making this easier for the writers to write and the readers to discover the books they want plus your unmatched customer service is so appreciated. Thanks for being in my dream come true and for letting me hold my books in my hands. amazon bestseller list dream! Also, thanks for creating a store consumers trust and for making the awesome Kindle products that allow so many easy access to great books in so many ways. THANK YOU. You’ve changed my small world while ever changing how the planet reads, buys and writes books. #grateful #kindle fire #kindle @amazon I <3 u.
To my agent, Jane Dystel at DGLM.com, for signing me, believing in change and making another dream come true for me in NYC. No matter what, it's impossible to top that lunch. #rockstar :)