Finding You

Chapter 43 - Never Let Me Go

A/N - Hey guys!

Song up top is Never Let Me Go by Florence and the Machines. I just really love it for this chapter. So, please please please comment and vote letting me know what you think!

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We walk the rest of the way back to the house in silence, with Hunter's arm still tightly around me. By this point, I've calmed down enough to walk on my own, which I do for the most part, but I still refuse to release my one-handed grip on his shirt.

Once we're back inside, he moves away from me to turn on the lights, and I take the opportunity to finally slide my arms through the sleeves of the jacket he draped over me earlier, feeling self-conscious and desperate to cover up.

I just feel so exposed right now, and I don't ever want to feel that way again.

"I, uh, I texted Zack and told him that we left early," Hunter says, breaking the silence, and I lift my head to look at him. "I didn't tell them anything. I just figured you wouldn't want them to worry."

"Oh, wow," I say, wrapping my arms around myself. "Thanks, I didn't even think about that," I finish. Just then, my head suddenly starts throbbing where I hit it earlier. I screw my eyes shut and lift a hand to it.

"No problem," Hunter replies, narrowing his eyes as he notices my actions. He walks towards me. "Are you alright?" he asks, voice full of concern. He lifts a hand to reach for me, but when he does, I notice the split skin around his knuckles, and it's like everything stops.

I don't know where it comes from, but a pang of guilt shoots through my chest like an arrow, and the words my fault start running through my head.

He's hurt. He's hurt, and he didn't say anything. His hands are literally bleeding and bruised, and he's asking about me.

Why does he always do things like that? He should be concerned about himself, not me. God, could I be more of a burden on him?

He's hurt again, and it's because of me.

It's always because of me.

"You're hurt," I say finally, tears starting to prick my eyes. Emotion threatens to overwhelm me, but I quickly push it down.

Stepping towards him, I gently take his hand in mine and start pulling him towards the bathroom.

"Mia...," Hunter begins softly, voice full of concern, but I cut him off.

"Please," I begin, refusing to meet his gaze. "Just... let me do this, alright?" I say, and I know my voice is only seconds away from shaking.

I'm sure Hunter can hear it too because he simply nods and relents to my efforts, allowing me to pull him after me.

In silence, we head to the bathroom and I make him sit on the toilet lid as I rummage through the cabinet under the sink for a first aid kit or some kind of antiseptic.

After finally finding some, I take a seat on the edge of the tub in front of him. One look at the split skin of his knuckles has me ready to cry all over again. Of course Hunter immediately notices the look on my face as I grab his right hand and silently begin tending to it.

"Mia, it's nothing. It happens all the time," he says.

I let out a short laugh, but it comes out dry and uneven. "Yeah, it happens all the time since you met me.."

"That's not true," Hunter replies. He hisses through his teeth and curses as I dab the rubbing alcohol on his cuts.

"Isn't it?" I continue. Grabbing the bandages, I begin wrapping them lightly around his knuckles. "I mean, you get in a fight with Sean because of me, then you fight with your parents because of me, then you let Jay beat the crap out of you because of me, and now this," I say, holding up one of his bandaged hands.