The Secrets That Free Us

Chapter 21

"No"

"Why not? Come on it'll be fun." Hunter whines.

"No."

"Come on Gracie, I'll even let you win." He pleads with a smile on his face.

"Hunter, I am not ditching school to go and play mini golf. Besides, I would win anyway." I smirk. I close my locker door and start walking down the hallway with Hunter hot on my trail.

Ever since the beach on Saturday things have been good with Hunter and I. We spent most of Sunday texting, him giving me hourly updates on Eva's 'sick and twisted ways of torturing him' - which was actually her trying to bond with her son by doing activities such as playing board games and watching movies. According to Hunter the whole experience has scarred him for life.

He's took me to school every day this week and drove me home, we even went to a little diner in town we used to go to for milkshakes yesterday.

It's safe to say our friendship is rapidly healing.

However that also means I'm reminded of what an annoying ass Hunter actually is. Apparently calculus is pointless and unnecessary but mini golf is 'good shit'.

"What about after school?" He asks.

"Um, actually Cole's going to pick me up today, I have to go somewhere with him." I tell him.

I don't miss the furrow in his brows at my vague answer. I don't know why I don't just tell him I have an appointment with my therapist, but for some reason I don't want him to know I'm still seeing her.

I know there's nothing to be embarrassed about, but I'm not ready to open that box with him yet.

Rachel and her entourage are headed towards us and I inwardly groan. I swear they almost walk in slow motion like they're in some kind of teen movie.

Rachel's smile grows as she spots Hunter. "Hunter hey how are you?"

He stares blankly at her and I resist the urge to laugh. "Good. Great. Me too." She answers for him in his silence before continuing, "So I was thinking, we should totally study or something sometime." I don't hide my disgust at her desperation, hasn't she already tried this tactic?

Her tight pink Tshirt looks like it would maybe fit my one year old nephew.

"No." Hunter simply states.

"No?" Rachels squeaks and places a perfectly manicured-clad hand onto her hip.

Hunter pinches the bride of his nose and sighs, "Do you want me to spell it out for you? N-O. No. Not in a million years, now please fuck off your ruining my day by making me listen to your whiney fucking voice." His tone is bored but even I flinch at his harsh words.

Rachel stomps away in a huff with the mean girls wannabes right behind her; not before they all shoot daggers at Hunter and then me. The hell did I do?

"You know, you didn't have to be so mean to her." I tell him as we make our way to our art class.

"I wasn't mean, I even said please when I told her to fuck off.  She's been hounding me in our English class too, the bitch doesn't take a hint."

Hunter's words, although true still leave a sour taste in my mouth. I'm so used to the goof ball he is with me I forget how cold and brutal he can be towards other people.

Hunter stops and turns to me, still in the middle of the hallway so some students have to step around us as he's causing a human traffic jam.

He grabs my wrists gently in his hands, and furrows his brow as his eyes rake over my face, "Why are you upset with me?" He asks softly.

"I'm not." I tell him, looking away from his intense gaze although it's pointless. Hunter knows me too well.

"You are. Why?" His tone is soft but his words demand an answer.

"Your just so..mean..sometimes." I tell him choosing my words carefully, "Sure Rachel's a dick but you don't have to be so rude to her, or call her a bitch."

"She is a bitch, the fuck do you care for anyway? When has she ever been anything but rude to you? Sorry I don't feel the need to treat her with the upmost respect when she treats you like something she fucking stepped in." The conviction in his voice and the sharp edge to his tone shows me I'm not going to win this argument.

I guess he's right, I just don't feel comfortable when he speaks to people like that.

He purses his lips slightly and shakes his head, "Look, I won't call her names to her face or tell her to fuck off anymore okay? You can stop looking like I kicked a fucking puppy now." He pouts slightly.

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." His pout morphs into a slight smirk, "So since I'm such a gent does that mean you'll come play mini golf tomorrow after school?" His smile is child like and I can't deny his request.

"Sure."

.................

The tension is thick in the air when I get into Cole's car. We haven't spoke much since the incident with the rude driver last week and he was on his handsfree to the bank on the way over here so we managed to avoid any awkward conversation.

"So, I hear you've been spending a lot of time with Hunter lately." His tone is casual. He takes his eyes from the road for a brief moment, likely trying to gauge my reaction to his not-so-subtle prying.

I just nod in response. I feel exhausted after talking to Dr. Blaylock today. Not physically tired, more mentally drained.

"You okay?" He asks when he realises that's the most he's getting out of me on the whole Hunter situation.

"Yeah, just tired." It's not a total lie, I am tired. Which is why I'm grateful when the rest of the drive home is silent.