~Ashley POV~

It's been a month since the dare was put back on its course. Everything seemed back to normal, but Hunter would sometimes still "growl" around me. But most of the time he was smirking, cracking jokes, and pulling pick-up lines.

I'm still dating Alec and this last month has been fantastic! He's so sweet and caring and always there for me. I've had the best of times with him.

Even though he really is amazing, i can't but help a feeling in the back of my mind. Something was missing but I didn't know what. But whatever it was, it could wait. Why ruin a perfectly good thing?

~~~~~~

"Alec, hurry up!" I called up the stairs. He was taking forever. I'd been waiting for ten minutes for him to get ready.

Today, Alec was taking me to the beach. I was excited because I haven't been to the beach in years. I know, I live on the coast so how is that possible? Well, I've just never had the time.

God, how long could it possibly take him? I thought girls were the ones that were supposed to take forever.

Finally, Alec appeared and climbed down the stairs. "You ready, Cinderella?" I joked and he rolled his eyes.

"Oh shut up, you're so over-dramatic. It was literally three minutes."

I laugh but shake my head. We both know he was too embarrassed to admit that he wanted to take his time and look good.

Alec leads me over to his car and holds the dor open. I thank him and climb inside. Moments later, we were speeding down the road on our way to meet veryone at the beach.

~~~~~~

About twenty minutes later, we were pulling into a parking spot. When the car came to a stop, I hopped out and ran down to the beach.

I couldn't contain my excitement as I leaped into the cool, blue-green water. I felt right at home.

I sighed and smiled with my eyes closed as I breathed in the ocean scent.

"Careful, Sweetheart. With that look on your face, some would think that the ocean is bringing you more pleasure than your boyfriend."

My eyes popped open and I swung around with my mouth gaping open. I squinted and swung a handful of water into hunter's face. What a moron.

"Oh, sweetheart. Bad decision." he smirked.

He sprinted into the water and did a giant cannonball which created a huge wave that crashed over me, getting me soaked.

I made a fake pouty face because he had just drenched me in my clothes.

He took one look at my face burst out laughing. "Yo-You look so stupid!"

I rolled my eyes at how immature he was.

"Hey, Hunt- What happened to you?" Alec asked me as he walked up behind us.

I rolled my eyes, "I got wet."

Hunter snickered, "Hehe, yeah she did. I was th eone who made her wet," he winked.

"Ewww, stop, Hunter!" I whined. Why does everything have to be so sexual with him? "Whatever, I'm going to go set up my towel and dry off my clothes."

I walked up onto the sand and found a good spot to my stuff down. I pulled off my clothes and laid them on top of my towel so they could dry off.

I could feel the sun burning on my back and it felt good. I needed to get tan anyways.

"Ash!" Someone called out behind me. I turned around and saw Rachel and waved her over.

She was wearing a huge, and i mean huge, floppy sunhat. I frowned as she got closer.

"What the hell are you wearing?" I asked as she got closer.

"What?" she asked.

"You look ridiculous," i countered.

She scoffed, "I look fabulous, and so do you."

I shrugged, "Can't argue with that." She rolled her eyes and spread her towel out beside me.

I stayed standing for a minute before I realized I couldn't see Alec. Hunter had traveled oer to the rocky area and was climbing to the top of the cliff to jump off.

I frowned. Where is he?

Then, all of the sudden, i felt big arms wrap around my stomach. I was hoisted into the air and in seconds i was hanging over Alec's shoulder.

"AH! ALEC! PUT ME DOWN, RIGHT NOW!" I screamed. I kicked and flailed but it did nothing to faze him. He just chuckled and started running towards the water.

He splashed into the water and threw me up in the air. I came crashing down into the water.

I resurfaced moments later by lunging and grabbing onto Alec. I crawled onto his back and wrapped my arms around his neck so that I was in a piggy-back position.

"That wasn't very nice," i said as i ruffled his hair and he chuckled.

"I guess i'm not a very nice guy then," he grinned as he turned his heaed to look at me.

I laughed and kissed his cheek and hopped out of his arm and landed in the water.

I wrapped my arms around him and looked up at his eyes. He smiled down at me and kissed my forehead. "You look gorgeous right now," he whispered into my ear. His breath tickled my skin and sent shivers down my spine.

"Why thank you," I smiled.

He paused for a second and just stared at me. I frowned. Did I have something on my face?

"Wht's wrong?" I asked.

"There's something on your lip," he frowned.

I reached up to wipe it away but he caught my hands. "No, don't. I'll get it," he winked.

He bent down and captured my lips in his. I smiled. He really was the best.

~~~~~~

~Hunter POV~

I had finally reached the top of the cliff. I looked out towards the sea and sighed at the view. It was breathtaking.

This was my favorite spot in the wjole world.

I was just about to jump off when I saw two people in thw water. I squinted and saw that it was Alec and Ashley. I frowned. They were laughed and talking about something.

I saw Ash move her hand but then Alec grabbed her wrist. What was going on?

Alec smiled and then bent over and kissed her. For a second, I stopped breathing.

I don't know why, but I wanted to race down there and pull him off of her.

I was just filled with a sudden rage. Luckily, I was able to calm myself down by the time they finally pulled away from each other.

I watched them walk up to the beach holding hands and I scowled. He shouldn't be touching her.

Wait, what? Where is this coming from? Why do I even care? Knock it off, Hunter.

I finally jump off this cliff and moments later I feel the cool of the water surrounding me. I smile. Underwater was the only place that I can be completly peaceful and myself.

I staydown for a few more seconds before I push off the bottom and resurface.

I walk up to the beach and see that Patrick has arrived. He grins as he sees me and runs up to me. He throws his arms around me.

"Hey, baby. I missed you!" He smiled and kissed my cheek and I just stood there surprised. When I finally realized what just happened everyone was laughing at us and I rolled my eyes and pushed him off of me.

"Fucker," I scowled. In the back of my mind, I was laughing. Patrick always did know how to lift my spirits.

~~~~~~

~Ashley POV~

I smiled to myself as I sat on my bed all cuddled up in warm blankets. Today was a good day, I thought.

I sat in silence for a few more minutes before I heard a knock on my window.

I climbed out of bed and walked over to my window to see Hunter on the other side. I rolled my eyes and opened it so he could climb inside.

"Hey, Sweetheart. Whatcha doin'?"

"Nothing. Can I help you with something?" i asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Why are you being so rude?" He whined.

I rolled my eyes. "You're an idiot."

He scoffed and put a hand over his chest, "Sweetheart," he was starting to fake tears. "Why are you being so mean? I'm feeling so attacked right now." He waved his hands in front of his face as if to stop his fake crying. "I mean, I'm just tying to be a friendly neighbor. Why am I so disrespected?"

I fronwed. "What do you want?"

He immediatly perked up and winked at me. "I was wondering if you wanted to watch a horror movie with me."

I raised my other eyebrow. I loved horror movies, but did I really want to watch one with Hunter?

He saw me thinking and rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Gosh, Sweetheart, are you really that scared?"

How dare he! Of course, I'm not scared.

"Fine. Let's go," I wstalked over to the window and hopped off onto the neighbor's roof.

Hunter grinned and followed.

~~~~~~

Ten minutes later I was curled up on the couch in his living room as he was choosing a movie.

As the movie started I realized that the movie was The Shining and laughed. This was one of my favorite movies.

~one hour later~

Hunter had gotten up to make more popcorn a few minutes ago. The more I thought about it the more I realized he'd been gone for a long time.

As if on cue, a pair of hands grabbed me from behind causing me to jump. "AH!"

I spun around and found Hunter leaning over cluthing his stomach with laughter. "HUNTER! What th hell?"

"Ah, did I scare you, Sweetheart?" he smirked.

"Hah, not even a little. That actually tickled," I threw a smirk right back at him.

"Oh, so you're tickilish?" He raised an eyebrow.

Oh, no. He wouldn't...

But he did.

He launched himself onto me and tackeld me to the floor with tickles.

"Ah! STOP! HUNT-HUNTER!"

"I had no idea you were so tickilish, I would have done this ages ago!" He shouted.

"No! AHAHA S-STOP!"

"What's going on here?" someone from behind us yelled.

We turned and were surprised to see Alec in the doorway. He looked so mad and confused, but worst of all, he looked hurt.