The Secrets That Free Us

Chapter 10

I've managed to avoid Hunter all day and I couldn't be any happier about that.

I enter my art class and take my usual seat. I guess I've got a thing about sitting at the far left at the back. Art class is set up a little differently though and instead of single desks they're double desks.

I sit myself in my usual spot with ease, there is no way Hunter chose this class as one of his electives.

As long as I've known him he's always wanted to be a pilot. Actually that's not true, he wanted to be a pirate until he was about 13. Then when he was 15 he went through a phase of wanting to be a male stripper.

I pull out my notebook as the teacher begins the class. "Okay so, our new module is going to be a group project" just as our teacher begins to talk the door to the classroom opens and to my absolute fucking horror in strolls the one person I'm avoiding like the damn plague.

He scans the classroom and scowls as he notices the seat next to me is already occupied. Just when I think he's about to burn holes in James, the guy next to me's head, James gathers his belonging and scurries away. Coward, I inwardly groan.

Hunter's big build site beside him and because he's got so much muscle mass on his once brawny arms, his arm is brushing against mine.

The teacher looks at Hunter in annoyance but clearly has already heard about his shitty attitude because she doesn't bother to scold him.

"As I was saying. Group project. Your task is to explore the city, find beautiful, potentially undiscovered parts of where we live, where most of you have spent your lives. Find the beauty in the world. I want you all to take photos. You all have a week and a bit to compete the task and then next Friday's lesson I want you as a pair to choose your favourite photo and each draw it in any style you like." She continues rambling on for a while but when she says "you will work with your partner sitting beside you" I sit up straight in my seat.

I can not work with Hunter. No way.

"Looks like you can't run away from me forever, Gracie." A grin spreads over Hunter's face and I resist the urge to kick him under the table.

I can't help the obvious jibe at him when I say, "Running away is your specialty, isn't it?"

The smile falls off of his face and I feel guilty for a brief moment, I sigh and try again, "why are you even in this class Hunter?"

"I like art" he insists.

"That's a load of shit. You can't even draw a stick man."

"I need it for college?" He tries again but it comes out as a question.

"Pilot school does not require art" I raise a brow at him.

His eyes dart to mine and his eyes shine with hope, "you remembered?"

I realise my mistake and try to steer the conversation away from anything to real.

"Why are you really here Hunter?"

"Because you are." He doesn't miss a beat as his light blue eyes shine into mine portraying the honesty in them.

I have to look away before I get too lost in them. They make me want to forget all the bad stuff, everything that has happened and just settle in their comfort. But I can't do that. I can't just forget because all of the bad stuff has happened and Hunter hasn't been my comfort for a long time now.

"Just meet me at my house later okay?  We'll make a list of everywhere to go divide and conquer the city between us." His face falls when I say this and I turn my attention back to the teacher as she begins speaking again.

"Everyone must go to their destinations together. I want a photograph of the scenery as well as a selfie of the pair of you in-front of said scenery. I won't have one person doing all the work. It's about time you young adults took your faces out of your phones and got off of instagram and snaptalk and explored the beauty of nature."

I cross my arms on the desk and throw my head on top of them. Is this my karma for being such a selfish waste of space? Is the whole world just screwing with me at the moment?