Six billion people in the world, six billion souls. And sometimes... all you need is one. -One Tree Hill


|Edited|

~~~~~~~~~~~

The smell of disinfectant stung my nose. I struggled to open my eyes.

I was in a hospital. The bright light of the morning sun streamed through the windows. I tried to sit up but groaned as a sharp pang of pain raced up my shoulder.

"You're finally awake."

I shrieked in surprise. My hand clutched at my chest as my eyes landed on Jace who was sitting on the small couch in the corner of the room. Danielle was curled up beside him sound asleep.

Jace slowly got up, careful not to wake Danielle and adjusted the blanket around her before approaching me.

"Sorry for startling you." He spoke softly. "I called your father. He and Sara are taking the first flight back from the Hamptons."

I sighed. "I wish you hadn't. They were supposed to be on vacation."

Jace sat down beside me. "He's your Dad, Bambi. We had to call him."

"Yeah, I know." I admitted begrudgingly.

For a moment we just sat there in silence. Then finally he moved.

"I believe this is yours." He murmured as he held up my cell phone.

My eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Why do you have my phone?"

"When I dropped you off at Hunter's place yesterday you left your phone in my car." He answered. "I came to give it back to you but when I came back I saw you leaving with Tristan. I had my suspicions, so I contacted Hunter. He asked me to follow you guys, so I did." Jace paused and gave me a small squeeze. "I followed Tristan's car to the safe-house, when I saw Ryder and his men dragging you inside, that's when I realized what was happening. I was the one who called the cops."

I swallowed.

"What Ryder said. . . about Megan. About violating her. Please tell me it isn't true." My voice was barely a whisper. I was shaking all over, praying that it wasn't reality.

Jace's face contorted in pain and I felt like the life had been sucked out of me.

Oh Megan.

I'm so sorry. So so sorry.

I'm sorry you had to go through that.

"No. No! NO!" I sobbed into his chest.

Megan had been like a sister to me. I felt like I was going to throw up.

I wanted to kill those bastards.

I could hear the pain in his voice when he spoke. "Tristan admitted that he was the one who had taken her to Ryder. He owed Ryder money for the drugs he was supplying him and when he couldn't pay him back Ryder asked him for Megan in exchange. They've both already been charged. They're in prison Scarlett, for good."

I raised my tear stained face to meet his gaze. "Hunter. How is he?"

Jace winced. "Not good" He answered. "Finding out about Megan destroyed him."

I squeezed my eyes shut trying to deal with the waves of agony crashing down on me.

Hunter.

I had to see Hunter.

I yanked off my IV, completely oblivious to the pain, and quickly jumped off the bed.

"What are you doing?" Jace asked in alarm.

"Take me to see Hunter." I demanded.

"I don't think-" He started but I cut him off.

"Look, you can either take me or I'll find a way to get there myself." I could see the conflict in his eyes. "Please." My voice was desperate.

His shoulders slumped as he finally caved. "C'mon. Let's go. I have to drop Danielle home anyway. Might as well take you too."

He gently lifted Danielle in his arms, she was still sound asleep and walked out the room with me following close behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I took a deep breath as I stood outside Hunter's house.

Finally I summoned the courage to knock. No one answered. I frowned.

I tried the door handle and to my surprise it opened. My eyes widened in shock as soon as I stepped inside.

It's empty.

All the furniture was gone. The house was completely vacant. I ran upstairs to Hunter's room and wrenched the door open.

Emptiness.

My whole body trembled.

No.

He can't be gone.

As if they had a mind of their own my legs were carrying me outside. I was running as fast as I could.

Please. Please. Please.

I chanted a silent prayer in my head.

By the time I reached the clearing. I was panting like crazy, my legs were on the verge of giving out.

"Hunter!" I screamed. "Hunter where are you?" Looking around desperately.

I couldn't find him.

A strangled cry left my lips as I sunk down on the grass and sobbed.

"How could you leave me?" I whispered brokenly.

How could you leave me here all alone.

"I don't think I can live without you." I choked out.

"I'm here."

I gasped.

Hunter walked out from behind a tree. Tears trailed down my cheeks as I watched him walk towards me. I shakily got back on my feet.

"I had to see this place one more time before I left." He murmured.

My lips trembled. "You were going to leave without even saying goodbye?"

He turned away from me. My heart ached.

"It would have been easier that way." His voice was hoarse.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Did you for one minute stop to think about me? How I'd feel if you left? After all we've been through, how could you?"

He didn't answer. My anger spiked and I stomped towards him, till we were face to face.

"Answer me!" I hissed.

His jaw clenched but he didn't speak.

I shoved him but he barely budged.

"Do you even care? How am I supposed to live without you? How can I survive without you?!" I started to shove him again but suddenly he grabbed my wrists and pinned me against the nearest tree.

His chest was heaving against mine. His eyes were dark, angry.

His voice was low. "After everything that's happened to you because of me! Don't you see? Me not being in your life is the best way for you to survive! Don't you care about your life at all?" His voice cracked and I could see the pain in his eyes.

"Why do you want me in your life? Why don't you hate me?!" He demanded.

My eyes locked with his.

"Because I'm in love with you." I whispered.

I could feel his breathing stop. His eyes widening in disbelief.

"W-what did you say?" His voice was so low, I almost didn't hear him.

"I love you." I said slowly.

Everything stopped.

Then suddenly, his lips were on mine. Desperate. My eyes closed automatically as his body pressed against mine.

His hands left my wrists to cup my face and I entangled my hands in his hair. He groaned, almost like he was in pain and my lips parted. I tilted my head and the kiss deepened. He made a sound of approval at the back of his throat. His tongue slipped between my lips as his hands slowly traveled down, one settled on my back and the other on my hip as he pulled me impossibly closer.

I felt something drip on my cheek and my eyes flew open.

Tears trailed down Hunter's cheeks.

"Oh Hunter." I whispered tenderly, my thumbs brushing away the wetness.

My arms wrapped around him and I hugged him tightly.

For a moment he just stood there but suddenly he was sinking to the ground, pulling me with him. He clung to me like I was the only thing holding him to the earth. His face buried in my neck. His shoulders heaved. I could feel the dampness of his tears soaking my clothes.

How much I wished I could take away his pain.

"I couldn't protect her, Scarlett. I should have protected her. I was supposed to protect her, she was my baby sister. It's my fault. I should be the one who's dead not her."

I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest.

I pulled away slightly so I could look at him. "It's not your fault Hunter. Do you hear me? The only ones responsible are those sick bastards. Do you understand?" My voice was firm.

Hunter's face hardened. "I wanted to kill them." He gritted out.

"I know." I kissed his jaw. "But you didn't. I'm so proud of you Hunter. I can't imagine how much self-control it must have taken for you to stop yourself and leave them in the hands of the law."

"You should stay away from me Scarlett. I'm just going to ruin your life, more than I already have."

I took in a deep breath.

"You can't possibly ruin my life. You are my life. Without you there is no life for me. I love you Hunter Adams. Every fiber in my body loves you. When my mother died she begged me to come back here, for a long time I didn't understand why, but now I do. She wanted me to find purpose, and I found it, I found it in you."

A heavy silence enveloped us.

"Say something, please." I whispered.

Hunter's eyes met mine. His gaze was tender.

His forehead came to rest against mine. "I have loved you my whole life Scarlett Hudson. Every minute, every second. I never stopped loving you. Even when I tried not to, I couldn't. You own my heart. You are everything."

He kissed me softly. His lips were gentle, like he was afraid I was going to disappear.

"I can't stay here Scarlett." He whispered.

"I know."

"There's too much pain, too many bad decisions. I want to start over. I want to start a new life, with you." My heart squeezed as I heard the raw vulnerability in his voice.

"You'll stay with me?" He whispered.

"Forever."   I whispered back.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Sad to announce that this story has almost reached its end.

I hope you all enjoyed it. I know it's different from the kind of stuff I usually write. Hope I didn't disappoint.

I'll be taking this book down in a while to fix it.

Love you all. Thank you so much for always motivating me. xx