What am I doing?

What in the world am I doing?

I'm wringing my hands as I nervously pace the hallway, just outside of the doors to the Dalton Academy auditorium.  This door must have led to a hidden backstage area because there are various classroom doors running down its length.

The tears are finally beginning to overflow from my eyes, running unabated down my cheeks. I praise the heavens for my usage of waterproof mascara once again.

Really I should just buy stock in a makeup company for as many times as I've been overly emotional and grateful for my good sense in buying the waterproof varieties.

"This is ridiculous. I'm being ridiculous."

I shake my head and rub my hands underneath my eyes, fingertips gathering up the tears. Locking my knees I try and brace myself against a nearby wall. The last thing I need to do is to slide down the wall, like I want to. I've spent far more time than I'd like to admit in parts of this building emotionally disintegrating.

I don't need to have another breakdown darkening my last few days with these boys.

Those sweet, kind, beautiful and talented Warblers. 

Somewhere down the length of the corridor a door opens, I can here a snippet of a song floating down the hallway towards me from the stage. A voice that sounds vaguely like Nicky is singing a song that I immediately recognize.

At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off You

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Raising my head I start to subconsciously move my feet towards the end of the hall, back towards the stage area it seems. But before I get too far the door slams shut, snuffing out any remnants of the melody that was floating my way.

Only to be replaced by the sound of hard soled shoes, walking at a fast clip in my direction.

"Shannon?? Shann? Babydoll, are you out here??"

I exhale a breath I didn't even realize I was holding in and whisper his name softly.

Like a prayer falling from my lips.

Hunter......

I turn to see him hurrying down the hallway, coming in my direction. A small smile on his face but the action not quite meeting his eyes. A stormy, moss green. Searching my face questioningly.

"Hi Hunt..."

My voice is soft, almost unrecognizable. But it really doesn't matter. Any sentiments I try to express are just stifled the moment Hunter reaches me.

Strong arms pulling me in towards his body, wrapping around me as he bends down and presses his lips to mine.

A kiss that is both firm and gentle.

Fierce and passionate.

Leaving me gasping, fists tightly gathering up the lapel of his navy blazer, the crimson piping clutched between my fingers.

Hunter moves his hands from my waist, coming up to cup both of my cheeks as he separates his lips from mine.  Sadly I can't even conceal the small whine I give off at the loss.

And that fact isn't lost on him as he chuckles softly, tongue darting out to lick his lips. My eyes follow his movements intently before flickering up to look into his mossy orbs.  His thumbs rub across my cheekbones gently and he sighs.

"Angel, I was worried.  You basically ran out of the auditorium.  The stage lights are bright but I could easily see you from where I was.  Did I do something wrong?  Did you not like my song?  I meant it.  I meant all of it, every word.  Every single word Shannon.  Always."

My eyes flutter closed at the gentleness of his touch. The sweet, insecure, sincerity of his words.

When I reopen them he is studying my face, still looking for answers to his questions.  Biting my lower lip I finally ease my grip on his blazer. Smoothing the fabric back down underneath my hands. Then I reach up and place my hands over his, gently moving them away from my face while lacing our fingers together.

"Shay-baby?"

I take a few steps backwards, mainly so that I can mentally compose myself.  Being too close to him right now is jumbling up my mind, my emotions.

"Angel, you're scaring me.  Are we okay?  Did I overstep my bounds here?"

Shaking my head slightly I lower our hands down to about waist level.  But I do step a little closer to him again.  "Hunt, I loved your song.  Both of them actually.  And that is the problem.  You're so great at planting all of these seeds of doubt in my mind.  So good at making me reconsider all of my choices in life, all of my actions.  Needing you so much.  So very much."

He laughs softly at that, eyes losing their worry, smile finally reaching the corners of his eyes again.  I can even detect a small twinkle of mischief in them as well.  "Shann, you say that like its a bad thing. I want you and need you too.  We could, you know, disappear for a while.  Just you and me, if you're game.  No one would miss us for a while."

A smirk appears on his face as he unlaces his fingers with mine, looping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to him.  My arms automatically find themselves draped over his shoulders, hands clasped softly together behind his neck.  Pulling me closer, I murmur to him just before he presses his lips to mine.

"But what about Sebastian??"

We could be standing here just a moment or a lifetime. It doesn't matter really, because in this instant time no longer holds any real meaning for me.

Down the hallway a door opens once again, letting music from the auditorium float our way.  Voices slightly recognizable as Sebastian's and Thad's sound like they are singing a song that I kind of know. Washing softly over us.

But who is to say for sure, Hunter's kisses are clouding my judgement once again.  Getting me quickly lost in the taste of cinnamon and cotton candy.

Sugar and spice and everything nice.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I wish that I could wake up with amnesia
And forget about the stupid little things
Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you
And the memories I never can escape

"Clarington?!"

The voice calls irately down the hallway towards us and Hunter reluctantly pulls back, cutting off our kisses.  His hands stay firmly locked around my waist as he turns his head to look back over his shoulder to see who so rudely interrupted us.

Jeff, his mop of blond hair stylishly splayed across his forehead, stands beside the open door, face reddened in anger and brown eyes flashing. Never have I seen this good natured boy look so upset. I blush instantly when he catches my eye over Hunter's shoulder.  Self consciously lowering myself back down on my feet and pulling my arms back down from their perch around Hunter's neck.  Resting them gently and lightly on the front of his blazer instead, just above the one fastened button.

Hunter huffs in disappointment at my reaction, finally loosening his grip on my waist.  He turns around, stepping to the side and grabbing one of my hands in his own so that we can both face in Jeff's direction.

"What can you possibly want now Sterling?  Can't you see that I'm a little preoccupied at the moment?"

Even from this distance I can see Jeff rolling his eyes at Hunter.

"Dude, you need to get your ass back here, like now!  Show's almost over and we kinda need you for the last number.  Plus if Sebastian knows that you ran off just to try and hook up with his fiancée behind his back again like this, you don't even want to know what he'll do to you.  No offense to you, Precious."

Hunter whispers back a soft she's my girlfriend too but starts moving us back towards the stage door that Jeff still has propped open with his body.  Standing there watching as he pulls me gently along after him, Jeff alternately checking the progress of the other boys on the stage over his shoulder.  Motioning for us to hurry up.

He hurries us through the door and then rushes to meet up with some of the other boys who are congregating in the wings just off stage.

Hunter lets go of my hand and moves to stand in front of me, reaching out to carefully trace the plains of my cheek with his fingertips before he lets his arm fall back to his side once again. 

"Baby, I just need to do one more song.  And then we can talk about everything.  About me.  About you.  About him.  Okay?'

I nod and then he goes off to join the others in formation. Leaving me to watch their final performance, his final performance as a Warbler from the wings, backstage.