=Normal POV=
(Tuesday, 3/20/2018-8:30 pm)
(Archian Island, Berk)
(Haddock Home)
Nicole got permission to stay with Hunter all night if she wanted, not for any other reason that Nicole fibbed a bit and told them that the sleepover revealed the real reason why Ashley broke up with Hunter and it was awful, so she was going to do the right thing and tell Hunter the truth. Her parents understood that Hunter had been hurt by Ashley and would need some comfort, especially because of the time of year; it was almost the one year of his mother's passing. Keith and Ella trusted their daughter and Hunter; they knew Hunter was a good man and wouldn't do anything to hurt Nicole as he'd been hurt himself by a past lover, maybe not in the same fashion, but pain was pain no matter how it was brought on. Also, Hunter and Nicole were eighteen now, it was a Friday night on their anniversary, so what harm was there in letting her spend one night with him; they were certain nothing would be happening anyway. Keith trusted Hunter to keep his word about letting them in on any intimacy that could be going on.
So Hunter and Nicole grabbed fast food, and then stopped at the store to get some snacks as they had some time together tonight. Hunter didn't know her parents said she could stay over if she wanted to; she'd keep that a surprise until later when Hunter inevitably said he'd take her home tonight, which he should end up doing around 10:30 pm. When the two reached Hunter's house; they greeted Glenn and Spencer before getting to Hunter's bedroom. The two made themselves comfortable on the couch, flipped on the TV for background noise, and then got into their food while chatting about how the day was since they last saw one another. When their food was gone and cleaned up; Nicole sighed some.
"Babe, tell me what happened at Ashley's…" Hunter said to her. "I'm not gonna get upset or anything, I just want to know what has you so upset about whatever was said regarding mine and Ashley's past relationship." He added.
"Nothing got said until I had left to use the bathroom upstairs. I guess that's when it got talked about because I wasn't there, or so they thought. I made it back pretty quick in time to hear Ashley say that everything started after the first time you two had sex." Nicole started. "I had to assume that maybe the girls asked her why she actually broke up with you; I wasn't there for how things got started. I just happened to hear it as I was about to go down. I stayed hidden on the stairs and listened to things, what I heard set me off and I yelled at Ashley, then asked if you'd come get me." Nicole explained.
Hunter could tell that this was probably not going to be something good about the breakup, and that's what he feared. If Nicole got upset about what was said; he knew this would likely confirm what he'd worried about this past year regarding the breakup. Hunter put his hand on hers softly. "Tell me…Don't hold back to spare my feelings, but I need to know. Nothing said will change how I feel for you, Nikki, I swear that. But I have to know what she refuses to tell me, so I can put it behind me for good." Hunter asked her.
Nicole looked into his eyes, knowing she couldn't keep it from him. He had the right to know. Nicole pulled out her phone and went to her videos, finding the one from earlier that she took. "I told Ashley that she should be the one to tell you, but I know she won't. Unfortunately, she also isn't aware that I recorded the entire thing, so I feel you should hear it from her yourself…" Nicole handed him the phone. Hunter held it carefully before pressing the play button and turning the phone to get the full video up as he saw it start with Ashley, Heather, Mindy, and Raelyn sitting on their sleeping bags; Hunter heard Ashley say that everything started after the first time they had sex.
Hunter watched the entire thing, even being it was just a few minutes long. All he needed to understand was that Ashley felt Hunter was bad at sex, and had disclosed personal information to her girlfriends about those moments where he'd been a little nervous to hurt her, or that they'd be caught since no one really knew they were intimate. Also, another big thing was that Bryan was in her life much earlier than Hunter believed, and it was there in color and from Ashley's mouth that she was fully aware she'd been cheating on him. When the clip ended, Hunter handed Nicole her phone back before sighing.
"Well, at least I know now…" Hunter stated.
"Hunter, I'm so sorry…" Nicole said gently.
"Sorry for what? It wasn't anything you did. She was cheating on me with Bryan, and…It was me apparently bad at sex…" Hunter replied, slightly ashamed of himself.
"Hunter, no. Her cheating, definitely on her and wrong. But bad at sex? No, not at all. You were nervous, as anyone would be for their first time. And all those other instances she mentioned…You guys were younger, and were scared to get caught. Anything like that would make someone nervous and have…Performance issues. Hunter, bottom line is that you're fine. You were good to have sex with that other girl after Ashley; there weren't issues then, were there?"
"I don't know, rather, don't remember…" Hunter admitted. "Cami and I talked in texts about it the next day after we'd woken up and recovered some. I asked her if she was okay, and said she was, just sore because the night we spent together was amazing. We agreed to never speak of it again, so I mean…I guess I was alright?"
Nicole smiled. "Because you were relaxed. Drunk yes, but relaxed. No nervousness, so you clearly did a damn good job if she was sore and calling it amazing. Maybe it wasn't you, maybe it was Ashley causing you to be nervous. You loved her, but you guys were sneaking around to have sex. And clearly, all her heart and feelings weren't into things after the first time because she was basically with Bryan. That's where her heart was, so to her, sex with you wasn't great."
"Yeah, I guess so…But I still…Released early, you heard everything she said…" Hunter looked down.
"Babe, listen to me. Okay? You were younger, like sixteen you said, right?" Nicole asked. Hunter nodded to her. "Hunter, it was your first time having sex…No experience and Odin knows it's a whole new level of pleasure you've never had before. You had no stamina to hold out longer, and I think I read somewhere that guys have a longer…Recovery time between orgasms. So maybe you came before she did, no big deal, but also consider that her heart wasn't really in it like I said before. And maybe she didn't release because she was nervous too. But it's not all on you, Hunter, and I don't want you putting yourself down or beating yourself up about this…"
"Hard not too, but I see your point." Hunter said softly. "Thank you, for telling me. I'm glad you're honest and wanted me to know the truth."
"I told you that is the kind of person that I am." Nicole leaned against him as Hunter held her. "Are you…Okay with the truth, Hunter?"
"Well, I'm not gonna sit here and say it doesn't hurt to know that she cheated on me. I won't include her saying I was bad at sex, because you're right…I was nervous, but I could still do everything I did. It probably wasn't good for her because he didn't love me anymore, so there was no passion to it. But her cheating, yeah, that hurts. Like I said the night I told you; I kind of had a feeling there was something going on, she was getting distant from me." Hunter replied. "But now that I know, I'm sure I can close that chapter off of my life. I guess you could say it was still there, sitting on standby for an ending. Now I know, so it can be done for good."
"I understand, babe." Nicole mentioned, snuggling into him.
"So…Out of curiosity here, what did you say to her? To Ashley after all this came out?" Hunter inquired.
"Without repeating it word for word, I told her that it was wrong of her to do what she did. I told her that it still bothered you because it's, as you described, a chapter in your life that couldn't close. I packed up my stuff and they told me to stay and forget what happened. I refused and said that I couldn't stay somewhere with an active liar." Nicole explained. "I really don't know if I can consider her a friend anymore knowing what I do. She lied to and hurt you, Hunter. And she was willing to keep doing it even after I told her that she should tell you. She said it didn't matter because it was over a year ago, but ugh, I just don't agree with it." Nicole muttered with a slight huff.
Hunter chuckled a little, turning her head towards him as he kissed her softly. "Hey, don't worry about it." Hunter said afterward, looking in Nicole's eyes. "Ashley and I aren't really friends either, we just put on the act for the sake of having mutual friends. Not sure what will change now that Heather, Mindy, and Raelyn know; I'm certain they'll tell Fisher, Travis, and Shane. Bryan, I assume, knows all this already as he was part of it. Heather will tell her brother, who will tell Myra. And Raelyn will end up telling Elijah. The whole group is gonna know by Monday morning, and while little misses too shy to be honest is gonna get questioned to Helheim and back about what she did to me; I'm still gonna be the bigger guy and call them off her, just to show no hard feelings and keep the peace. It's what I do; I hate drama." Hunter reminded softly.
Nicole mumbled something about hating it too and then sighed as she leaned against her boyfriend of three months once more. "I know, but still…It was wrong, Hunter. And you're an amazing man to just let it go. And for your sake, I won't cause any trouble with her."
Hunter smiled and held Nicole close still. "I appreciate it, babe. Now, it's still our anniversary for another…Three hours and fifteen minutes. What do you say we just cuddle up and watch a movie, then I can take you home for 10:30 pm." Hunter suggested.
Nicole blushed a bit. "A-Actually…I can stay later, if you want…O-Or even overnight." She suddenly said, taking Hunter by surprise. He quickly pulled back and stared at her with slightly widened eyes.
"Wait, what did you say just now?" Hunter asked, after slightly recovering from shock.
"When I texted my parents earlier, I asked, because it was a Friday, the nature of leaving the sleepover, and the fact I'm eighteen now, that if you had needed comfort from knowing why Ashley left you…If I could spend the night, since I had all my stuff anyway. My parents agreed," Nicole informed softly. "They trust you, fully, and know that it's not just a rouse for us to be able to sleep together because you promised dad you'd…Let them know when the time came that we did it. If we do! Not saying that's an immediate thing, just that…If we do, you told dad you'd let him know as the heads up." She added quickly, not wanting Hunter to think she did all this just to get in his pants. She was curious about sex, but tonight was not the night to fulfill curiosity. Plus, they'd only been together for three months, as of today; there was no rush on such an act despite the love they had for one another was stronger than what they felt for their ex's.
"Your…Parents gave you permission to spend the night here with me?" Hunter asked as Nicole nodded. "On the grounds that you wanted to be here to comfort me because of learning why Ashley broke up with me over a year ago?" Nicole nodded again to him. "And they trust me, fully?"
"Yes, babe, they do. I know, I'm just as surprised as you that they came to trust you so fast as even I believed that after what happened with my first ex, and Tristen, they'd never trust me with another male again. I figured it would take them a year, maybe more to spend the night at a guy's house, much more even dating. But I think they know you're a good man, great background, and the fact that I'm eighteen says they can't really tell me no as long as you're okay with me staying." Nicole shrugged softly. "But I think it's still more that they just trust you."
Hunter just stared at her for a moment or two. "Huh…Didn't expect it to happen so fast, and really surprised that you'd ask to stay with me thinking I needed comfort over what Ashley did, and said."
"Well, I love you, Hunter. If something like that happened to me, I'd be upset and hurt. Only wanting someone who actually cared about me to comfort me. I knew this was something you've wanted the answer too for a long time, but you never pressed the issue for the sake of keeping the peace. So when I learned about this, I knew I had to tell you and while I know you love me and the information wouldn't change how you feel for me…I just thought you'd take tonight to actually be upset about what happened. I wouldn't hold it against you, of course, and I just wanted to be at your side to offer any comfort I could through the night." Nicole explained, looking down a bit bashfully, feeling like she sounded stupid considering Hunter stated earlier that he was hurt by the truth, but now he could close the chapter and be done with that segment of his life with Ashley.
Hunter just lifted Nicole's chin up and before she could ask what he was doing; he leaned in and kissed her deeply. Nicole closed her eyes, melting into it. After a few moments, the kiss ended as he looked into her eyes lovingly and with a soft smile gracing his lips as he cupper her cheek now. "I truly appreciate that you'd go out of your way like that for my sake, Milady. And I have no objections to spending the night as long as it's what you want to do." Hunter said.
"I want to." Nicole nodded her head to him.
"Do you want to sleep in the bed, I can stay on the couch or out in the living room?" Hunter offered.
Nicole giggled a little as she hugged him. "Hunter, if I'm gonna spent the night with my boyfriend, then I'm spending the night with him. We don't have to sleep in separate rooms or pieces of furniture, babe. I don't mind sharing the bed with you, I trust all we'll do is sleep." She smiled playfully.
Hunter blushed a little, but the dimmed lighting of the room hid it. "Yeah, of course. You know I'd never do anything to you unless you asked it of me." Hunter replied.
"I know that, baby. You're not like the other guys I've been with, or have even met. To be honest, I get a little uncomfortable around Shane because he's so…Unfiltered, I guess is the word." Nicole admitted.
Hunter chuckled softly. "Yeah, I know…It's how he's always been, but calmed down a lot since being with Mindy Not that their together together, but neither one of them will make the first move." Hunter shrugged a bit. "You don't have to worry about him; he knows his place before a taken woman because I socked him in the gut once for hitting on Ashley when he knew we were together. He touched her once on the thigh and I punched him because of it. No one really held it against me either." He added.
"Well, you don't have to worry about me because if a guy touches me without my consent, I'll sock him myself. I was scared with Tristen, never been in that situation before. But I don't let fear control me and I don't make the same mistake twice." Nicole promised. Hunter smiled and nodded to her, understanding that Nicole was not a just take it kind of woman and he respected and admired that fact. "So we're cool to share the bed?" She wondered.
"Yes, of course. Um, do you prefer closer to the wall, or easy out in the morning?" Hunter wondered.
"Easy out in the morning; I kind of literally roll out of bed when I get up." Nicole blushed some.
"That's fine, babe, because I prefer wall." Hunter chuckled a little.
"Well, guess it's settled then." Nicole smiled. "So, we still on for that movie tonight? And our date tomorrow, to make up for what we lost today because of that sleepover and you having to work?"
"Absolutely, Milady. We'll have all day together tomorrow, promise. I already talked to Glenn about it." Hunter informed. "I'm all yours tomorrow."
"Yay. Why don't you go make some popcorn and grab drinks while I pick a movie?" Nicole stated.
"Sounds like a good plan." Hunter kissed her lightly before getting up to leave the room and get to the kitchen.
Nicole was excited, her first sleepover at Hunter's. She wasn't expecting anything out of it, of course; just a peaceful night with her boyfriend. Nicole used the bathroom first, and then sat down with the remote in hand to browse through the movies available. Hunter told his dad that Nicole was staying over, and for no other reason than he learned why Ashley actually broke up with him, so Nicole wanted to stay and keep him company. Hunter didn't go into detail about the reason when asked; he said it didn't matter anymore because that chapter was closed. Hunter returned to the room with popcorn, and drinks as Nicole located something for them to watch. Hunter sat down, the movie began, and they relaxed together. Around 11:15 pm, once the movie was over and they made out a bit; the two used the bathroom and got ready for bed. By midnight, the both of them were fast asleep with Nicole in Hunter's arms.
