Hunter smiled sadly before picking up Kenzie in his arms, knowing she was exhausted. He didn't want to leave her alone, but he also didn't want her to misunderstand.
"Stay in my room," Hunter murmured to her. "I can't leave you alone like this."
"I– Um…" she trailed off quietly, not meeting Hunter's eyes, and was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. Nothing would happen, she knew that. Hunter was too respectful of her to even try anything. "Just… Let me change first?" She gestured to the dress she wore. That was not something she could sleep in.
Hunter chuckled.
"Yeah, you do that…" he said. "I have to change, too. Just come to my room when you're done, 'kay?"
Hunter set Kenzie down, kissing her cheek softly.
"Mm'kay," Kenzie agreed softly.
She made her way to the spare room, where she had left a bag with some of her things, and grabbed a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt. After getting ready, she stood in the doorway of Hunter's room, a blush showing on her now-makeup-less cheeks.
Hunter used to sleep shirtless, but considering Kenzie and him were sharing a bed that night, he opted for a gray shirt. When he saw Kenzie in the doorway, he gestured her inside and closed the door, rubbing the back of his neck as he waited for Kenzie to get comfortable.
Kenzie sat down on the edge of Hunter's bed and looked around the room, blushing furiously.
"So…" she said awkwardly, twisting her ring absentmindedly as she turned her attention to Hunter.
Hunter shrugged and sat down on the opposite side, tossing his legs over the bed and leaning against the bedpost.
"Get comfortable, Kenz," Hunter murmured, but he didn't wait for Kenzie as he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards himself, wrapping an arm around her frame. "Much better…"
"Sorry. I'm an awkward mess," she muttered, moving closer to Hunter's side as she made herself comfortable.
"I understand," Hunter murmured, running his fingers through her hair. "But it's not like it's our first time."
(Awww!)
Kenzie hummed in acknowledgment and closed her eyes. It felt nice having Hunter run his fingers through her hair, and she didn't really like when people touched her hair so that was saying something.
"That feels nice," she whispered as she started to drift off.
(Awww!)
(Lol. Ikr?)
Hunter smiled, continuing to run his fingers through her hair as he felt her breathing get even. After a while, with Kenzie asleep in his arms, Hunter soon fell asleep himself.
Kenzie whimpered and twitched in her sleep.
Her mother, on her way home from the store, crossing an intersection. A drunk driver running the red light, t-boning her mother's car. Crashing. Sirens. Frantic yelling. Heart monitor beeping. Flatlining. Her stepdad crying beside his wife's lifeless body.
Hunter woke up to quiet whimpers and the dampness of his shirt. He opened his eyes, blinking away sleep as he realized Kenzie was whimpering and crying in her sleep.
Hunter pulled her over his chest softly.
"Shh…" he kissed her head lightly. "It's just a dream, princess. It'll be okay…"
(Sorry I'm so late! We went garage sailing.)
Kenzie's breathing slowly evened out, and she fell into a deep, blissfully dreamless sleep.
(I have no idea how to respond, lol.)
(Skip to morning?)
(Lmao it’s okay. And yeah, let’s do a skip.)
When Hunter woke up the next morning, he still felt drained. Kenzie was still sleeping, and somehow they had ended up tangled into each other; Hunter hold Kenzie tightly while the other seemed to hide in his chest. Their legs were tangled in the sheets and Kenzie’s head was tucked safety Hunter’s chin.
Smiling, Hunter shifted slightly, now laying on his back with Kenzie’s head on his chest. The girl moved slightly, but made no move to wake up.
Kenzie opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the surroundings that were not her room. Oh, right. She was at Hunter's. In his bed. And apparently tangled up with him, as well.
She blushed slightly and lifted her head up from Hunter's chest. Seeing that he was awake, she gave him a small smile.
(Most likely not going to be on this weekend, but I'll be back Monday!)
Hunter smiled back, relieved that she looked better than last night.
“Mornin’, beautiful,” he murmured, running his fingers through her soft hair again. “How was your sleep?”
(Most likely not going to be on this weekend, but I'll be back Monday!)
(Ah, see you then!
Goodnight!)
Kenzie's smile faded as she took a deep breath and let it out.
"It was…okay. A little rough at first, but it got better," she replied quietly. "I think it helped that I wasn't alone."
(Bumping.)
(Bumping.)
(Geez, this got to the 3rd page!!!)
(Geez, this got to the 3rd page!!!)
(Whoops!)
Hunter tightened his grip on her, hiding his face in her neck, kissing her neck softly.
"I'm glad I was here, with you," he murmured.
"Me, too," Kenzie sighed, closing her eyes again. She buried her face in Hunter's shirt as she choked out, "I can't believe she's gone…"
"She's not," Hunter murmured. "She may be gone physically, but she'll always be with you."
Kenzie took a shaking breath.
"Thanks," she whispered. "I needed to hear that."