The First Steps (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction, Book 1 of the Hardships Saga)

Chapter Nine

❝trust (pronounced trʌst or truhst), verb
believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of.
eg. You can trust me.❞

"So, how long have you been seeing her?"

Hunter was sitting on the couch, while his parents stood over him, looking not quite angry, but very disappointed.

"Two weeks now," muttered Hunter.

"Why didn't you just tell us?" asked Lynette, sadness in her voice.

"She didn't want me to."

"And did you ever wonder why?" asked Leo, a hint of danger in his voice.

"A couple of times, but-"

"Hunter, they have different rules, different customs than we do," said Lynette. "Her parents wouldn't want her to marry just anyone."

"Gee, thanks."

"Don't you use that tone of voice!" thundered Leo. "They aren't like us, Hunter, and she could get in serious trouble if her parents ever found out."

"I love her!"

"You don't know what love is!"

"Leo, stop it!"

"No, he needs to hear this. You are seventeen years old, young man-"

"You said it! You just said it! Young man! I am a young adult, Dad, and I-"

"You didn't move to Nashville to flirt with every girl you meet-"

"What, you think I planned for this to happen?!"

"Do you know why we gave up our jobs?!" yelled Leo. "Do you know why your mother and I work so hard to get a little money?! It's for you! We moved to Nashville for you, we spend all the money that we have on instruments and recording devices and things that aren't necessary, yet we do it anyway! Do you know why we did that?! It was so that you could follow the dream you've had for thirteen years, and not so that you could elope with the girl next door!"

"Leo!"

"Yeah?! Well, maybe I should've moved here alone, and then I wouldn't need you two around me all the time! You think you two are the only ones pulling us along?! I give you the money I get from gigs, yet you never even-"

"Hunter, that is enough." Lynette was quiet but firm. "Go to your room. Leo, I want to talk to you."

Hunter stormed upstairs to his room, and he could hear his parents yelling at each other from downstairs. He cried into his pillow for a while, and seriously considered calling or texting Lucky, but he just wasn't sure if that was the best thing for the situation.

Hunter: Are you there?

Lilly: i is, i is :P

Hunter: Lilly, I need you here.

Lilly: is everything okay?

Hunter: No. Nothing is okay.

A second later, Lilly was calling his phone, and he answered, trying to sound normal. "H-Hello?"

"Oh my lord, you're crying!" said Lilly. "Hunt, what happened?"

"Everything is going wrong, Ana," he cried. "My parents are angry, and Lucky won't say she loves me."

"Shh, shh," she said reassuringly. Hunter had to admit, just hearing her voice made him feel a little better. "Tell me from the start."

"Lucky and I went on a date tonight, and I told her I loved her, but she said she wasn't ready to say love yet. What does that mean? Does she not feel the same about me?" asked Hunter, choking up.