Goodbye Lucy

320 days before

I'm not even angry or upset anymore, I'm just kind of numb.

-Hunter's letter

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320 days before
September 28th

The next time he saw her it was in art class.

The minute rainbow girl entered the classroom, you could feel the animosity radiating off of her, filling the entire vicinity, like she wanted everyone to feel what she was feeling.

Hunter's initial reaction was shock:
She goes to this school?!
Rainbow girl goes to this school?!

Which then turned into distress:
Oh no, she must have seen the painting.

And finally elapsed into fear:
I'm screwed. I'm freaking screwed.

Hunter tried to make himself smaller by shrinking back into his seat and hiding behind his messy curls. Maybe then she wouldn't see him.

He was still in shock. Rainbow girl - the girl who had spilt his paints and wrecked his artwork - went to his school.

"Excuse me," she said as she approached the art teacher, Ms Nemo. Really, the teacher's name was Ms Nihmo but everyone called her Nemo. She did look like a fish to be fair.

"Yes?" Asked Ms Nemo.

"I have a complaint to make," stated the girl. "About a Hunter Cakafanzo?"

Oh no.

"Do you mean Hunter Costanzo?" His art teacher asked, setting down the work she was currently marking.

Oh no, oh no.

"Yes, I was walking into school this morning and I saw a new painting had been put up in the foyer. I think you know the painting, miss. Autumn trees, leaves sprawled on a park floor?"

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Ms Nemo paused for a second, trying to visualise the painting in her mind. "Ah, I know the one you're talking about. That beautiful picture was made by a student in my class."

Rainbow girl didn't try to conceal her annoyance at how long this was taking as she replied, "Well, that wasn't what caught my attention. The central point of the painting is a peculiar looking girl with long, dark hair and rainbow headphones. I think you'd find that girl is me. I didn't give anyone permission to use me as a muse in their artwork. I'd like to speak to this student of yours." She frustratedly pushed her hair out of her face.

Fuck.

Hunter picked up his 5B pencil in a futile attempt to make himself look busy.

Ms Nemo called out his name. He had no choice but to face rainbow girl.

Hunter got up from his seat and made his way to the teacher's desk, ignoring the inquisitive glances of his classmates.

"Hunter, I think you have some explaining to do, I believe your muse didn't give you permission to paint her?" Ms Nemo said in a discomfited tone.

Hunter didn't want to look at her; at her molten gold eyes, her wind blown hair or her ridiculous headphones which were poking out of her bag.

But his eyes didn't comply, they were drawn towards her as though she were the centre of a gravitational pull.

The girl's eyebrows were furrowed, her forehead a clear display of irritation. "Do you mind if we speak outside the classroom?" Rainbow girl asked the teacher. Her deadly stare, however, was pinned on Hunter.

With Ms Nemo's permission, Hunter followed the girl outside the classroom.

What do I even say?

As they walked, Hunter noticed how much taller he was than her, even when she she wore her roller skates. He also saw the way her hair swayed rhythmically with each step she took. He saw the colour of her brown eyes - not chocolate brown like his - but gold.

Hunter noted that his dark, unruly hair could never match the colour of hers.

What colour was it?

Looking at her hair now, he saw there was a tint of blue in it. He wanted to slap himself for not adding the tint of blue in the painting, he hadn't done her justice, no wonder she was mad.

She came to a stop, making Hunter snap out of his reverie. "What made you think you could paint me without my permission?" She demanded, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Her hair always seemed to be in the way.

"I didn't- I-"

"Why did you paint me?" She whisper-shouted.

Because you look like art.

"Because you ruined my picture you vandalising-" Hunter bit back the retort. She'd ruined his homework, she could consider the painting as retribution for the damage. Plus, he didn't know you needed a girl's consent to paint her.

"Listen. Next time you try pull something like this I will hunt you down, Hunter," she growled, beginning to stride anyway.

He suppressed his laughter at the irony of the sentence.

Wow. He had been expecting more bitchiness, like the kind of angry girls get in movies. That said a lot about his experience with girls.

Mid stride the girl - he wished he knew her name - turned around.

"And you forgot my leg warmers in the painting," she remarked with a slight smile.

Hunter smirked, "I did you a favour, they're hideous."

Rainbow girl rolled her eyes and the look of disgust returned before she turned back around and made her way back to class.

But all he could do was grin.

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Bit of a cheesy chapter but what love story doesn't have a bit of cheese? ;)

J&F xx