It was late at night when Hunter stepped out of the splintery doorway, his bare, cracked feet brushing the sandy ground and collecting bits of dirt that dug grooves into the balls of his heels. He could only assume that it was dark out because not one streak of light gave him an image of silhouettes. All he had was darkness and his own thoughts, which was why he decided to slip outside for a cigarette. That and his shoulders had started cramping under the pressure of Archers limp body resting on his, as it had been since hed dozed off hours ago, exhausted from all of their endeavors. Hunter took a drag on his cig, turning his head when Archer made a mumbling sound, the crinkle of pillows and the rustle of blankets heightened to his sensitive hearing. He was about to stub his smoke out and ask if Archer was okay, if he needed him to come back-which he would gladly do, if only he could sit in a slightly different way-but the burbling and shifting limbs quieted, and Hunter realized that all was fine with the peacefully snoozing boy.

Shutting the door behind himself, Hunter worked on the buttons of his shirt, closing them up until they came to the middle of his chest. He put the cig back up to his lips, pinching it between them as he finished his buttons. When his shirt was straightened out, he placed his fingers around the stick, drawing it out so he could blow out the smoke that had billowed from the roof of his mouth down to his tongue. He flicked away some of the burning chars, then rolled his eyes, dropping the rest of the simmering stick to the ground, where he stomped it out. Suddenly aware of someones presence approaching him, before he even heard the light footsteps creeping over the crunching leaves, he whipped around, holding up a hand in an automatic reaction to slap whoever it was away. "You wasted a good cigarette." Hunter lowered his hand at the sound of his girlfriends mocking voice.

"Im trying to quit." Hunter admitted, his voice no more than a low growl. Sneering at the brush of her hand against his shoulder, he shrugged away from her. "I got into smoking because you convinced me that it would make me sexier to you or something. I cant keep buying these packs. My dad and I need to save every penny."

He frowned at her sharp laugh, "Look who cares now." He could almost see her roll her eyes, and was glad that he couldnt. "What are you doing, Hunter? Are you doing this to spite me? I see the way you look at my cousin. You cant find him attractive. Hes daddys little virgin, you know-"

"And youre a vindictive bitch." Hunter closed his eyes, inhaling through his nostrils when her oval nails scraped over his collarbone, which stuck out over the top of his shirt. "You think too highly of yourself. My relationship to Archer has nothing to do with you." Curling his lip, he felt his chest rumble when she let out a high pitched giggle. "Youre too much like your mom. His parents are good to him. They have reason not to like me... and as much as I want them to, I might even rather they didnt. At least they protect him and keep him safe. One of us needs to not be fucked up in the head."

"Do you really think this is going anywhere?" She rebuffed, the skepticism threaded through her voice like a pointed needle causing him pause. It was like her chilled tone had frozen him, because he suddenly couldnt twitch a muscle. He felt her thin arms wind around his neck, her small head coming to the place between his shoulder blades. "Do you believe that youre going to grow old with him? Settle down and marry him? Archer isnt the dating type, Hunter... His dad wouldnt let him, first of all, but its also just him. Hes too focused on his future to be distracted by flighty boys. Hell expect certainty from you. I dont think you could handle it, Hunter. The longest time youve stayed with someone has been with me, and I know why. You like that Ill come to you when you need someone to get high with."

"You know less about me than youre giving yourself credit for." Hunter muttered, trying to appear unbothered by her vicious words that actually struck him hard enough to make his skin crawl. "Do you know that Ive never painted you, Beth?" Opening his eyes, he turned his head to the side as his hands raised to her arms, plucking them off of him. "I havent written about you. I barely think about you. Now get out of here before you break down in front of me because my words did hurt you."

By the wavering of her voice, he could tell that he had at least wounded her pride. "Youre not going to love him, Hunter. I dont think you have it in you. When you figure out that hes too good for you, come find me, okay? Archers a dancer... he has large sums of scholarships. Hes going to travel the world one day. Hell be on stage. And where will you be? Taking care of your drunkard dad. When you figure out that hes not right for you, come back to me. Theres no one more like you than me, Hunter."

Shaking his head as he heard her shuffling away, her unbalanced feet rocking over the uneven ground, he glanced over his shoulder at the silent cabin. His stomach rolled uncomfortably as he thought of the boy inside of that room, the only person hed ever come to love, besides those memories that he wasnt sure were real. Archer wasnt something he was guaranteed, or even had a privilege to. If he was smart, he would get away from him as quickly as he could. But, for some reason, Hunter knew that he wouldnt. Beth was right that Archer wouldnt be around one day. If Hunter was lucky, when that day came, his dad would have already been so far in his cups that he croaked, and then he would be free to go wherever he wanted to. He didnt know where that would be, but he had to force himself to admit that it wouldnt be with Archer. If he wanted to call what they had anything, he would say that it was first love, foolish and often short lived, something to simply wet Archers feet so he could be prepared for when his real prince came galloping in on a horse and swooped him up. Hunter wasnt meant to be with Archer, but, for now, he would take what he could get. And if he had to let go of what was certain, he would do it. Hunter didnt need stability in his life. Hed taught himself how to adjust from a young age.

Spinning around on his heel, Hunter called into the endless darkness, "Beth?" He took a few steps forward, his wide eyes flickering around for the thinnest line of light that would give him the ability to make out her moving form. Reaching out, Hunter grabbed onto something cool and paper thin, which he realized was her pale skin. She didnt say anything, but he knew that he had found her. "Beth... I cant."

"Cant what?" She yanked her wrist from his hand, so he moved closer to her, making sure she couldnt get away.

He shook his head again, his mouth falling open before the words came out. "I cant... cant come find you. If Archer needs me to settle down with him... at least for now... I cant be dating around. He needs me to only be his. I cant do this with you anymore-"

"Youre ending this with me?"

"We never started, Beth." He informed her, his lilting voice revealing the lack of nerve that he had. "We called each other boyfriend and girlfriend, but, Beth, all we ever did was sleep around and smoke together. You dont know a damned thing about me. I dont know anything about you. I dont love you, and you dont love me." When she didnt say anything for a few seconds, he quieted his voice, which came out even weaker. "I love him, Beth. I dont know if Ill ever be in love with him, youre right... but I love him with every part of myself. I cant say that gives him much... since Im ruined... but I want to give him whatever I have to offer, whatever he wants of me. And maybe Im not good enough for him... but he says that hes flawed, too. And he loves me, anyway."

Obviously offended, Beth spat at him, "I almost feel sorry for you, Hunter. I gave everything I had to you. Was that not good enough? And when he breaks your heart, just know that I probably still would have been there." She stepped away from him, hissing out one last sentence to make sure her point was grounded into his head, "And if Archer doesnt blow you off, just wait until his dad gets a hold of you. Hell take you apart limb by limb."

"I want to prove that I can take care of Archer." Hunter admitted softly, slowing down each word, even though his brain was churning out thoughts and images and sounds that he didnt want. "Ive kept myself and my dad alive for years now. I think I can do the same for Archer-"

"Theres a difference between living and thriving." She remarked, the last word she put in before she strode away, her steps much longer, so she could get away from him faster.

He stared at the empty air where she once stood, wondering what she looked like before she turned away from him, if her lips were curled, if her blond brows were ruffled. And then he figured that it didnt matter now, so he twisted around, heading back to the cabin. She was probably right, that his life was something to pity, but he almost felt worse for her than she did for him. She was completely alone, with only an incoherent mom to go home to at night. He was in the same situation with his dad, but now he had Archer.

Cracking open the door, Hunter slunk inside, moving his feet from heel to toe to muffle the clunk of them hitting the ground. When the blankets crinkled, he realized that Archer was probably awake, so he picked up his pace, appearing in the streak of light that pierced through the window. The blankets shifted once more, making Hunter certain that he was up and about, so he slowly lowered to the edge of the bed, placing his hands on the Archer shaped lump that was curled under the warm sheets. "Hi, baby." Hunter whispered, leaning his head down so he could press kisses along the curve of his cheek. "I was just outside for a smoke. Are you okay? Are you hungry?"

Archers small fingers came to his head, pushing into his short spikes. He fiddled idly with the strands, as if he was trying to count each one. "Im a little hungry. My stomach woke me up." Hunter smiled at that, pressing one last kiss to his thin lips before he raised up again. "I heard your voice. You sounded upset. Who were you talking to?"

Frowning, Hunter placed a hand over Archers forehead, smoothing his wild curls back. He pushed his mouth to one side of his face. Not wanting to upset Archer by telling him about the former relationship he had with his cousin, a girl known only for how many drugs she smoked and how many men she fucked, Hunter pressed him back onto his pillow, then scooped up a pile of his hair, fanning it over the mattress. "Archer... theres only one thing I want to tell you right now... and thats how much I love you."

He could hear the laughter in Archers voice, and he suddenly longed to see what the sweet smile on his lips might look like. Archer grabbed both of his hands, playing with his fingers, "I love you, too. Can I please have some food? My stomach is about to gurgle again and I dont want you to hear it."

Hunter laughed lowly, bending his neck down until his head hovered just above Archers. Suddenly, a tiny nose bumped his as a pair of soft lips brushed his mouth. "Ill bring you back something for dinner." Furrowing his brows at the sound of Archers light titter, Hunter shut his eyes, pressing his face into Archers. "I do love you so much, sweetheart. Do you know that, kitten? Id give up my life for you."

Archers face instantly scrunched up, "Dont do that. I want you to be here." He suddenly sounded very concerned, his voice ringing like a bell in Hunters ears. "Promise me youll always be here?"

Hunter smiled sadly, lowering his voice to a whisper, "I promise to be here as long as I can. I would be here a little more if you stopped sending me out to get you food." That made Archer giggle, a delighted sound that brought the refreshed smile back to Hunters lips.

"Hurry back." Archer pleaded, reluctantly letting him go as he slipped his body away from him.

"I cant tell if youre saying that because you want me back or because you want the food." Hunter, gently laying Archers hand on the mattress, joked, and then he turned away, about to head to the door, but a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him back. "Archer, love-"

He could almost see those big, blue eyes gazing up at him, shining with adoration and need, "One more minute, please. I need you more than I need food." After Hunter turned back around, Archer snuggled into his jacket, breathing in heavily as if he was trying to memorize the spicy scent of his cologne and the smoky cigarette hed taken a couple of drags on.

Quirking a corner of his lips, Hunter reached down for the top of his head, stroking a few curls back into place. "As long as you want me, kitten."