Chapter 30: Hannah's Heart

Conner was walking towards his car after soccer practice. "CONNER!" Hunter shouted. Conner looked up just as Hunter grabbed his shirt and threw him up against the wall of the school. "You think you're so high and mighty. You hurt my sister," he snapped. Conner let everything come into focus first before speaking.

"Dude, I didn't mean to hurt your sister," Conner answered.

"Bull, you broke her heart."

Conner stared at him and Hunter lifted him off the ground a bit. "Why did you have to do that to Hannah? She came to tell you that she was achieving her dream," he snapped. Conner glared at him.

"It's none of your business of why I did what I did," Conner answered.

"Of course it is. I want to know why you broke up with her. Why you shattered her."

"I wasn't going to let the same thing happen to me again."

Hunter stared at Conner and then it sank in, which ticked him off more. "Don't you dare compare my sister to Krista. She never has and never will be Krista. She would never leave you," Hunter snapped. Conner stared at Hunter.

"Says the man who walked out on his family," Conner snapped.

Hunter raised his fist and punched Conner in the face. "Don't you ever say that to me again," Hunter snapped. Conner's head jerked to one side and he looked over at Hunter with a glare.

"It's true. I wouldn't have left Hannah if she was pregnant. Not like what you did to Tori," Conner answered.

"Is that what you think of me, Conner McKnight? Do you think of me as a deserter?" He asked.

"There's not other name to call you."

Hunter raised his fist to punch Conner again. "HUNTER!" A voice shouted. Hunter stopped and looked over to see Tori standing there. "Don't do it, Hunter, he's not worth it," Tori insisted. Hunter looked at Conner.

"If you do anything to hurt my sister again, you'll have me to deal with," he snapped.

He let Conner drop to the ground and left with Tori. Conner sat there for a minute and touched the spot where Hunter hit him.

The next day, Kimberly was sitting in Hannah's room when she heard the door open. She looked up expecting it to be Tommy, but she saw that it was Conner. She stood up with anger showing on her face. "Get out," she ordered.

"Mrs. Oliver, let me explain," he insisted.

"No, get out. You've said enough last night."
"Wait please.
"Go."

Conner shook his head. "I'm not leaving until I talk to Hannah," he insisted.

"You've said enough to my daughter last night when you smashed her heart," she answered.

"I never meant to hurt her."

"Then why did you break up with her?"

Kimberly pushed her hair back and she walked by him. "And don't say "Because of what Krista did" because that won't cut it for me, Conner McKnight," she answered. Conner looked at her confused. "Hunter called me last night and told me everything. Including how you practically called my son a "deserter". Don't you ever insult my son like that," she hissed.

"He walked out on Tori," he pointed out.
"But he went back. You did exactly what my son did though."

"I didn't walk out on Hannah because she was pregnant, Hannah's not even pregnant!"

"No, but you walked out on her while she was telling you that she was going to go fulfill her dreams."

Conner sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I really screwed up this time," he mumbled. Kimberly nodded and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, yeah you did, Conner. My daughter came home crying last night because she got the opposite reaction she was expecting when she told you about how she was going to go to Miami and fulfill her dreams," Kimberly told him.

"Please, just let me talk to Hannah."

Kimberly shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea," she answered.

"Mom, let me talk to him," Hannah put in.

Kimberly looked over at Hannah. "You sure sweetheart?" She asked. Hannah nodded. Kimberly walked over and kissed her cheek before leaving. Hannah looked at floor.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hi," she answered.

Hannah looked at him to see the black eye. "Looks like my brother knocked some sense into you," she commented. Conner laughed slightly and touched the bruise on his eye.

"Yeah, you can say that," he answered.

"Look, Hannah, I want to apologize."

"You should."

"I'm sorry."

Hannah leaned against the wall. "How could you say that to me last night?" She asked. Conner sighed and leaned against the wall.

"I don't know," he replied.

"You compared me to Krista. You know I'm nothing like her."

"I know."
"Then why did you do it?"

"I don't know."

Conner sighed and he looked at her. "Hannah, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean any of those things," he insisted. Conner placed his hands on her waist. "Hannah, I love you, I'm sorry. I want to start over," he told her. Hannah let out a shaky sigh and she hugged him tight. "I love you," he whispered. Hannah let out another sigh.

"I love you too, I love you so much," she answered.

Conner kissed her neck and hugged her tight.

(Three Days Later)

Kimberly was hugging Hannah goodbye. "I can't believe this day has finally come," she murmured. Tears were falling down her face. "My little girl's all grown up," Kimberly commented.

"You have another little girl," Hannah pointed out.

Kimberly nodded and she let Hannah go. Hannah walked over to her brothers and she hugged them both. "You take care of yourself down in Miami," Hunter told her.

"Yeah, you know how to get a hold of me," Blake commented.

"I know. You guys take care of yourselves too."

She kissed them both goodbye before she walked over to Tori. When she hugged Tori, she felt a kick. "Whoa! Someone else wanted to say goodbye too," Tori commented. Hannah laughed and she placed a hand on her stomach.

"Hey, little girl in there. I know it's my little niece. You be good for your mommy and daddy. Don't give them such a hard time and make sure your daddy stays out of trouble," she told Tori's stomach.

Hannah hugged Kylie goodbye as well as Tommy. "You take care," Tommy told her. Hannah nodded.

"I will, I love you dad," Hannah answered.

"Love you too, kiddo," Tommy answered.

Hannah hugged Kylie tight. "You take care of mom and everyone okay?" She asked. Kylie nodded and Hannah kissed her forehead. She set her down on the floor and she looked around and saw that Conner was nowhere insight.

"Flight 897 to Miami is now boarding," the announcer announced.

"That's you kiddo," Kimberly commented.

Hannah nodded and she turned to get on the plane. "WAIT!" A voice shouted. Hannah looked up to see Conner running over to her. "WAIT!" He shouted again. He stopped in front of her and Hannah smiled.

"You're late," she commented.

"Well, you know how I like to make an entrance," he answered.

Hannah smiled and Conner held the box up. "Took me forever to get this. Don't open it here, open it on the plane," he instructed. Hannah nodded and she hugged him tight. "I love you," He told her.

"I love you too," she answered.

"Last call for Flight 897 to Miami," the announcer announced.

"I have to go."

Hannah let him go and kissed him goodbye before getting on her plane.

While Hannah was sitting on the plane, she took out the box and opened it. Tears fell down her face to see a promise ring inside. "Oh…Conner…" she whispered. She looked at the engraving inside the ring and she let out a small sob. "Always yours…always mine…" she murmured. She placed the ring onto her finger and she wiped her tears away. "I love you, Conner McKnight, always," she thought.