I had woken up with a raging headache, a throbbing pain making it hard for me to concentrate at school. I had considered staying at home, but immediately decided against it. Not only because I wanted to see Hunter today, but also because I had promised him I'd go to Starbucks to apply for the job. At first, I had been sceptical whether that job was something for me or not, but after I had texted about it with Red, I was highly motivated to apply.

It was just a small job, fifteen hours a week, but it would definitely help me make some extra money. I also didn't have to be too nervous about the other workers; Red worked there too and had already said she would try and have shifts together with me.

I had already sent my online application and only three days later, I had been invited for a personal interview with the manager. Somehow I had the feeling that Red had something to do with the unusually quick response.

Right now I was sitting in Hunter's car in front of the coffee shop, nervously thrumming my fingers on the armrest while I eyed the entry. I was ten minutes early and didn't want to seem all too desperate for the job, so I was stalling in the car.

I nearly flinched when Hunter's hand suddenly shot forward and clasped mine tightly, interrupting my drumming. The look on his face was sixty percent amusement and forty percent annoyance. "Jules," he said sternly, looking me straight in the eye, "Calm down. What are you so nervous about?"

"Certain humiliation? Becoming the laughing-stock of the entire shop? Answering every question wrong?" I suggested. "Never being able to go there again afterwards? Oh god, that'd be awful. I'd have to drive to the one fifteen minutes further away every morning before school..."

Hunter closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled loudly. "Jules, we already talked about this."

He let go of my hand and brought his to my hair again, fingers tangling in my curls and pulling me closer. Over the past few days, he had developed kind of an obsession with my hair, always burying his hands in it when we were kissing or absentmindedly brushing his fingers through it.

"Your wrong self-image is seriously starting to become a problem. If you'd only see yourself through my eyes for once..." He broke off, not finishing the sentence.

"What do you mean?" I laughed.

Hunter rolled his eyes at me, although he was still smiling. "Fishing for compliments, are we?"

I huffed when he didn't answer my question, but dropped the subject and played along. "And why would I want you to compliment me?"

"Because you like when I tell you nice things?" Hunter guessed.

"I wouldn't know," I said, grinning provocatively. "When do you ever say nice things to me?"

Hunter replied with a crooked smile. "Oh, alright."

I knew he was going to kiss me even before he actually pulled me closer; it was the look in his eyes and the way they were fixed on my mouth for a second that gave his intentions away. The kiss was shorter than I had anticipated (and secretly hoped), his lips only brushing against mine for mere seconds before he pulled away. His face was only a few inches away from mine, his hands still in my hair and on the back of my neck.

My eyes snapped open, but before I could complain, he lowly said: "You're beautiful."

I opened my mouth to reply, disagree maybe, but his next kiss smothered my answer. When he broke away again, I knew better than to try and say something in return when he muttered: "You're intelligent."

Kiss. "You make me laugh."

Kiss. "You're caring."

Kiss. "You're brave."

The next kiss was longer, more passionate, leaving me breathless and feeling like my heart was beating out of my chest. When Hunter retreated, his eyes were sparkling, his forehead leaning against mine. "You feel so much better than stupid car races and fights and getting drunk at house parties."

I chuckled and lightly cupped his cheeks, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes. "You say that now."

He raised his chin in a stubborn manner. "And I'll still say it in a few weeks and months and years."

The idea made my heart beat faster and I leaned closer once more, kissing him until I had to break away for air. Then, with a look at the watch, I said: "I have to go inside now... How do I look?"

"Perfect," Hunter said without missing a beat and grinned at me while I glanced at the small rear view mirror.

I grimaced when I saw that my hair was tousled and my lips red and slightly swollen. "Literally everyone can see that I just made out with you."

Hunter reached out and adjusted the collar of my flannel. "Like I said, perfect."

Scowling at him, I got out of the car and only leaned inside once more to ask: "Are you gonna pick me up afterwards?"

"Sure," he said cheerily. "You'll smash that interview."

"Hopefully," I sighed. "See you then."

After I slammed the door shut, I turned around and entered the coffee shop. The familiar scent of coffee and baked goods was somewhat soothing for my nerves, as was seeing Red behind the counter. She beckoned me over with a wide smile as soon as she spotted me.

"Hey, J," she said, ruffling my hair. Then she took a step back and eyed me intently. When she looked back up at my face, a knowing smirk was playing around her shockingly red lips, complete with a raised eyebrow and a hand on her hip. "You look a little... No, you look a lot like you just hooked up with leather-jacket-jerk. Did you?" I could tell that she was genuinely curious.

"Jade!" I exclaimed. "No, I didn't."

"Pity," she laughed. Then she made a vague gesture towards the corridor leading to the rest rooms. "Darryl's office is right down there. You're the last applicant, so make a good impression."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay, uhm... any advice?"

"Just be yourself... in a version that's a little less nervous. Or something."

"Great help, really," I snorted and turned around.

As I was walking towards the office I could hear her shouting "Good luck, J!" after me, causing me to smile slightly despite my nerves. However, the smile quickly vanished once I was standing in front of the black door cutting the manager's office off from the rest of the shop. I took one last steadying breath and wiped my sweaty palms on my pants.

Then I lifted my hand to knock, but I didn't get that far; the door got yanked open from the inside and I nearly got tackled to the ground by the tall man storming out of the room. With an audible gasp, I clung onto the doorframe to keep my balance.

The other man came to a stop, cussing under his breath, before he turned around to me. When I looked up at his face I was surprised to see that he was smiling; teeth flashing white against his dark skin, chocolate brown eyes with long lashes looking at me apologetically. He was muscular, the grey shirt stretching over toned muscles. Despite his build, he didn't appear to be that much older than I was, maybe by four of five years.

"Sorry," he said in a surprisingly deep voice. "You must be... Julius?"

"Jules," I said, chuckling a little despite myself.

He scrunched up his nose and held one hand out for me to shake. "Sorry... again. I'm Darryl, the manager. You're probably asking yourself how the hell I got that position right now and honestly, so do I... Anyway, come in!"

I walked past him into the tiny office, looking at the small desk that was cramped with empty coffee cups, houseplants and papers. The rest of the room was occupied by shelves filled with all kinds of books about coffee plantations and all that.

Darryl was standing in the doorway, still looking a little embarrassed. "Uhm, do you want anything? Coffee?"

"Only if it isn't inconvenient," I said politely.

Darryl stopped me with the wave of his hand and shouted something over his shoulder. Then he turned back around to me, closed the door behind him and crossed the room to sit down behind the desk. "So, Jules... what makes you want to work at Starbucks?"

In the midst of my speech about how much I loved coffee and Starbucks and working with people, the door opened and Red entered, her boots clacking loudly against the floor.

I grinned gratefully at her as she simply shoved a few documents off Darryl's desk and set a cup of my favourite coffee down in front of me. She winked at me and left quickly, not without her hand lightly grazing Darryl's shoulder in passing.

Once the door fell shut behind her, I looked back at Darryl, who was still gazing at the door Jade had just walked through. "She's impossible, isn't she?" he muttered and finally focused his attention on me again.

I shrugged, sipping my coffee. "I think she's pretty amazing."

Darryl laughed, showing dimples. "I know she is. So, when would you like to start working here?"

It took a few seconds for me to grasp what he had just said. "You mean... I can... I'm hired?"

Darryl nodded, looking amused by my surprise. "Yeah. You're by far the most promising out of all the applicants... besides, Jade would have my head if I turned you down."

"Oh, uh... thanks. I can start working anytime really, I don't mind. It's not like I have any hobbies anyway," I said, still slightly in shock.

"Okay... then how about next Monday at four? That's when Jade is here too."

I nodded happily. "That's perfect."

"Alright. Let's get the paperwork over with then," Darryl said.

Only fifteen minutes later, I was officially hired and leaving the office.

As soon as Red saw me, she stormed towards me with a curious expression. "So?"

"I got the job," I said and laughed as Red hugged me tightly, squeezing all the air out of me despite her size.

"I knew it," she squealed when she finally let go, still beaming at me.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Of course you did. Since when are you together with-"

"I'm not together with him!" she protested, then reconsidered. "Well, maybe a little. We haven't put a label on it or anything, I'm just going with the flow for now."

"Ah. What did you give him to make him hire me?" I laughed.

Red shook her head. "I didn't do anything. That's all on you. I mean, perhaps I let your name drop in a few conversations, but..." She shrugged casually while wiping over the counter with a rag. "Anyways, Darryl is cute though, isn't he?"

"He's not really my type."

Red heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, I know. Your type is dark haired sex god who spends all day keeping up his bad boy reputation and smirking mysteriously." Before I could start wondering how the hell she knew all that, she said: "Your boyfriend is over there. He's been staring at you longingly for the past five minutes."

I could feel my cheeks heat up immediately and looked over at Hunter, who was sitting in the seating are. He was slouching in his chair, hair falling in his face. Right now he looked utterly disinterested, but I could see the corner of his mouth quirking up when we locked eyes. Seconds later, he rose to his feet and made his way towards us.

I swallowed and looked back at Red. "Hunter's not my boyfriend."

"What do you mean? Why else would he be here waiting for you?"

"Because I asked him to pick me up?"

Red cracked up laughing at that, rolling her eyes. "Jules, if Hunter really is the player you described him as, he wouldn't just... obey like that. Believe me, he's-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Hunter reached us and she broke off and smiled at him instead.

I grinned up at Hunter when he came to a stop next to me, standing so close our arms were brushing. "How did it go?"

"I got the job," I said happily, watching as Hunter's face lit up. Then I pointed at Red. "Jade, this is Hunter. Hunter, this is Jade, my-"

"Wife," she finished, smiling sweetly.

Hunter turned around to me with a put-on scowl. "I'm scandalized! All along I was hoping you liked me when you were cheating on me with a tattooed Starbucks goddess?"

"Did you just flirt with us both...with only one sentence?" Red asked slowly, looking almost impressed. "Fuck, you're good."

Hunter laughed, delighted. "Why, thank you."

I snorted, rubbing my temples. Hunter's attention immediately was back on me. "Do you still have a headache?"

Surprised by his concerned look, I nodded. "Yeah, I always get them when I'm stressed."

Hunter considered this, then he said, directed at Red: "Well, it was nice meeting you. Jules and I should probably head home now."

I didn't really know why Hunter was so eager to leave all of a sudden, but then I just shrugged and hugged Red. "Bye. See you for our first shift together!"

She laughed, breaking away from me. "Yep. You two have fun!" When I walked past her, I suddenly heard her whispering in my ear. "Go get some."

I didn't turn around to her, instead I flipped her off behind my back. Her laughter followed us outside.

"So she's the reason why you love going to Starbucks so much?" Hunter asked with a cheeky grin when we sat in his car.

"Yeah, right," I snorted. "We both know that I'm not into... that stuff."

"That stuff meaning girls?" Hunter laughed as he swiftly merged into the traffic.

"You know that answer," I growled.

"True," he said, unfazed. "Red is pretty hot though."

He was probably right about that, though hot wouldn't have been on the list of adjectives I would have used to describe her. It was true, she looked pretty, especially today; her vibrant red hair had been in a bun so that only a few curls framed her face, her green cat-like eyes and the few freckles were standing out in her pale face. She was curvy, her arms covered in tattoos. Of course I acknowledged all of that, but it never made me think of her in a way I'd think of Hunter.

And for some reason it bothered me a lot that Hunter had apparently been checking her out.

I felt the smile fading from my face and quickly turned my head to look out of the window and hide my grumpy expression.

Hunter chuckled quietly. "Don't worry, she's nowhere near as hot as you."

Rolling my eyes at him, I muttered: "You don't have to say that, you know."

He looked at me, amused by my sulking. "I mean it." He laughed and rested his hand on my knee. "Somehow you're even hotter when you're jealous."

Against my will, my cheeks flushed, but I didn't look away. "Stop being so smug. Obviously I get jealous when you shamelessly flirt with other people! You would too," I muttered.

"Jules, if there's one person who has absolutely no need to get jealous, it's you," he said, smiling to himself, and pulled up on the driveway in front of his house. When he saw me looking at him with a confused frown, he explained: "I thought we could hang out a little longer at mine... in private."

I wasn't sure if I imagined the suggestive tone in his voice when he said the last part or not, but something about it made my heart leap.

I followed him silently up to the big house, where he unlocked the front door and let me enter before him. The only time I had been inside before was when I had brought him home after he had gotten plastered at the party the other day, so now was the first time that I saw the house in the light of day. The entrance area was bright and open and all throughout the house the walls were painted in shades of white and light furniture was everywhere. The interior didn't seem cold though, thanks to the many paintings and house plants.

Hunter turned around to me with a grin as soon as the door fell shut behind us and pulled me closer with his hands locked behind my neck. I gasped in surprise, taken aback by the sudden proximity of our bodies, even though I had somewhat expected it. Since we tried to keep our weird relationship as low-key as possible at school (obviously they knew there was something between us after the whole video-incident, but I didn't want to feed the rumours even more), we could barely hold back when we were in private.

Hunter kissed me as if this had been everything he had been thinking about all day. While his mouth was expertly driving me insane, his body pressed harder against mine until I could feel his heart beating fast against my chest through the fabric of our shirts.

My hands were clinging to his shoulders, desperate to get more of him, even though I had no idea how we could possibly get any closer.

Hunter was the first to break away. To see his cheeks reddened and his eyes blown wide was somehow weirdly satisfying. "Sorry," he laughed breathlessly. "I need to stop attacking you like that every time we're alone."

"You need to stop apologizing every time," I retorted. "Do I honestly look like I mind?"

Hunter shook his head, grinning. Then he asked, more serious now: "Do you still have a headache?"

I nodded. "Yeah... why?"

Instead of answering, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen. While he was rummaging through one of the cupboards, I sat down on one of the counters, watching him curiously.

My breath hitched when he turned around to me and I saw what he was holding in his hands. For a second I felt like I was going to throw up.

"I've got some Advil, maybe it'll hel-" Whatever he saw in my eyes made him break off. "Jules, are you okay?"

I forced myself to breathe slowly and tightly gripped the edge of the counter, my knuckles white against the wooden surface. It was an overreaction and I knew it, but the memories and images swirling through my head once again made it impossible for me to stay calm. I should have laughed it off, said something, anything, but all I could do was swallow against the lump in my throat, my eyes still fixed on the pills in Hunter's hand.

Hunter carefully set them down and walked up to me. I looked away, only now realizing that my eyes were tearing up, and wiped across my face with my sleeve.

"Hey... what is it?" he asked. His voice sounded awfully concerned and when I finally looked up at him I saw that the expression on his face was guilty. As if this was his fault.

"Sorry" I said and cringed at the way my voice was shaking. I cleared my throat and tried again, faintly this time. "I... sorry, I'm not... I don't know why-"

"You don't have to explain," Hunter said softly and stepped closer.

It was an impulse, something completely irrational. But somehow, as soon as he was within reach, I pulled him closer, burying my face in the crook of his neck. At first, Hunter stood frozen in shock, then he wrapped his arms around me, lightly caressing my back while I tried to calm my breathing and held onto him for dear life.

"Shh, you're okay, it's alright..." he whispered into my ear, his voice a steady murmur that was strangely soothing. "Calm down, Jules. You're fine. You hear me? Everything's okay."

Nothing's okay, I wanted to shout, it hasn't been for years. But all that came out was a shallow breath.

It took solid ten minutes for me to pull myself together. Hunter held me tightly the entire time, whispering quiet reassurances, until I finally let go of him.

"Sorry," I murmured again, staring down at the floor.

Hunter gently took hold of my chin. For a moment, I was scared he might tilt my face upward and force eye contact like he sometimes did; right now there was too much raw emotion evident in my eyes, feelings I usually kept guarded. To my relief, he didn't. Instead he lightly traced his thumb over the outline of my lips.

"You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to," Hunter said quietly. "I just need to know if you're alright. Are you?"

I exhaled a deep breath and finally looked up at him. "I'm okay, really. Just give me a moment."

Hunter looked slightly relieved and nodded with a reassuring smile. Then he turned around and walked back over to the cupboard, quickly putting the Advil away and out of my sight. Shortly afterwards, he took something else out, making a triumphant noise.

Showing me a small bottle with no etiquette, he asked: "Is it okay if I touch you?"

I nodded, surprised that he had the sensitiveness to make sure of it. Usually I hated being touched after a breakdown, but this was different. Something about the softness in Hunter's face made me believe that this could actually help.

Hunter carefully trickled a drop of the liquid onto two fingers of each hand. I winced when his cold fingers suddenly touched my face.

Hunter immediately stilled when he saw my reaction, ready to pull his hands away. "What is it?" he asked worriedly.

The concerned look on his face was an expression I definitely had seen too many times in one day, so I let a shy little laugh slip past my lips. "Nothing, just cold."

Hunter nodded, clearly relieved, and began to slowly rub circles onto my temples, wetting them with whatever was on his hands. I inhaled deeply when I recognized the scent of lavender.

He nodded encouragingly. "Lavender oil. Inhale some more, it has a soothing effect. And it helps against headaches."

I closed my eyes, letting the rhythmic massaging of his fingers calm me down. "How do you know all that?"

"My grandma used to know a lot about herbs and essential oils. When me and my sister were little, those were the only things she'd treat us with when we were sick. It really does help."

"You have a sister?" I asked, surprised, and peeked at him through half-closed eyes.

A tender smile tugged at his lips as he said: "Yeah, Olivia. She's two years older than me. She moved out last year to go to Stanford."

"Stanford?" I asked. "She must be incredibly intelligent then."

"Oh, she is. Model student, bookworm, smartass... She's pretty much the exact opposite of me," he laughed.

I was surprised to find that I was smiling too. Maybe it really was because of the lavender oil, maybe it was because of Hunter. Fact was, that I was feeling way better already, which was unusual after a flashback. My shoulders had relaxed, my hands were laying still in my lap while Hunter was applying the oil to my temples with feather-light touches that sent shivers down my spine.

Without thinking twice, I took hold of both his wrists, and while Hunter was still about to say something, I kissed him softly. I felt him smiling against my lips when I opened my mouth to grant his tongue entrance.

I squealed and instinctively wrapped my legs around him when he picked me up and off the counter. Instead of putting me down like I had expected, he carried me out of the kitchen, up the stairs and to his room. "What are you doing? Hunter, you're going to break your back or something! Put me down!" I whined.

Hunter just rolled his eyes at me and said, slightly out of breath: "Jules, you're a flyweight. I carried heavier things than you."

I huffed, but rested my head against his shoulder while he walked into his room. "Poser," I muttered under my breath, but apparently still loud enough for him to hear.

A mischievous grin lit up his face. He pushed the door close behind him with his foot and finally let me down, only to push me up against the door, trapping my body beneath his. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," I replied with a grin, putting two hands to his chest to push him away.

He didn't budge an inch; the only reaction I could get out of him was a sinister smirk. "You're pretty sassy for someone who's caught here all alone with me..."

Coming from anyone else, these words would've made me panic instantly, but right now all I did was raise an eyebrow at him. "What are you trying to do, scare me?"

Hunter didn't reply to my question, instead he said, "I wonder if you're ticklish... on your neck?"

Before I even got the chance to answer, his lips were on my neck all of a sudden, grazing the skin right above my Adam's apple.

I immediately shivered and narrowed my eyes at him. "That's not fair!"

"I never said I played fair," he chuckled and locked eyes with me as he leaned closer again, placing a lingering kiss right below my left ear.

I broke away, startled as a strange, wanton noise escaped my mouth. Blushing, I slapped a hand over my mouth.

The grin that sneaked onto Hunter's face was even brighter than the shade of red on my cheeks. He lifted my hand away from my mouth and pinned it over my head, along with my other wrist. then asked quietly asked, "Is that okay?"

When I didn't react right away he flicked a look at my hands that he was holding above me. I made a vaguely approving noise and tipped my chin up in silent invitation.

Hunter looked at me for a moment before he leaned in again, gently biting down on the exact same spot that had caused me to moan earlier. This time I didn't try to stifle the sound, instead my eyes fluttered shut and I leaned my head against the wall behind me.

I got rewarded with a delighted chuckle from Hunter and a few more kisses down my neck, until he reached my collar bone. Each little touch of his lips on my skin drew little noises and shivers from me, until he suddenly pulled away. I whined quietly at the loss of contact and opened my eyes to see him study me with a thoughtful expression.

"Is it okay if I give you a hickey?"

"Yes," I breathed without a second of hesitation.

Hunter looked at me with a small smile. "You're so beautiful."

My answer turned into an appreciative sigh when he lightly turned my head to the side and pressed his lips to my skin again, licking and kissing until he suddenly started sucking at a spot on the side of my neck. I inhaled sharply at the sudden pain, but it was quickly soothed with another kiss. Hunter repeated this a few times, looking up at me with a content smile from time to time.

Eventually he let go of my hands, letting them fall down at my sides. As soon as they were free, I started to tug at the hem of his shirt, struggling to lift it up. Hunter let go of me and pulled it over his head himself.

For a second, all I could do was stare. Then I quietly whispered: "Holy shit."

Hunter laughed, running a hand through his hair. I wasn't exaggerating when I said that his torso looked like it was from the cover of a magazine. Defined muscles flexed under slightly toned skin that looked impossibly smooth. Of course I had seen him shirtless at the lake and in the locker room before sports class already, but not up close and only from glancing at him briefly.

"Your turn," Hunter teased.

I swallowed, feeling self-conscious looking at the Adonis in front of me and comparing him to my own body. But then I looked up at his eyes and realized that it probably didn't matter.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it aside. For a moment, everything was unnervingly quiet. Then Hunter suddenly stepped closer and kissed me again while running a hand up and down my chest.

I almost sighed in relief and pushed closer, feeling his naked skin under mine. It was then that I noticed something with a gasp, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment, and broke away.

Hunter only grinned, not at all surprised and jokingly said: "Oh, maybe I should've told you that the lavender oil also acts like an aphrodisiac. People get incredibly affected from only inhaling it a few times and-"

"I see," I said sarcastically, before I could think better of it. "I was already wondering why. I mean, it certainly can't be because of you..."

"Rude," Hunter said with a smirk and let go of me.

"Hunter, no!" I exclaimed incredulously. "Are you serious?"

He laughed and put his hand to my cheek, giving me a short kiss. "Yes, I am. We're not doing this already. No, don't look at me like that!" he said when I glared at him. "I told you I was not going to rush this and end up scaring you away in the end. And I'm sticking to that."

I groaned and let my head fall back against the wall, my eyes shooting daggers at his back as he picked his shirt off the floor and went back to talking to me like nothing had happened.