Where the Skies are Blue

Chapter Twenty-Three:

Walking into school the following day, I'm anxious to see Hunter after our argument last night. Or more so, me pushing my insecurities onto him. He seemed really angry with me before he drove away last night, and I'm unsure of where his head is at.

Gnawing away at my nails, I nervously step into the building. If Hunter decides to hate me, so will everyone else. If I lose Hunter, I lose everyone. And it's not even just that; I'm scared of losing Hunter as well. He takes me away from home. He makes me feel on top of the world at times.

Immediately, I see him with his friends all huddled near the bottom of the staircase. He's laughing, which is a good sign. I suck in a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves. I'm so shaky, so full of uncertainty that it feels like a million red ants crawling all over my skin.

Faran spots me first, her eyes light up as she ushers me over. "Girl, no joke, I have, like, fifteen bug bites from last night. Look at my leg. I've been scratching like a meth head." She lifts her baggy jeans so I can see before dropping them back down. "Did you get any?" She asks and I shake my head absently as I look over at Hunter, whose eyes fall on me slowly, his face turning serious, before turning his attention back to Raven. He's still pissed. Great.

"Where's Wednesday?" I ask as I notice she's missing.

"Oh, she's been totally bailing lately. She's still being a complete jealous psycho about Hunter. Can you believe that? Are you, like, totally pissed?"

My eyebrows scrunch. "No?"

"Are you feeling okay? You look super pale."

"I'm fine." I force a smile. "Didn't sleep much."

She gives me a wink. "Aha, I'm picking up what you're putting down." She smacks my hand playfully. "Naughty girl."

"No—"

She throws up her hand, cutting me off just as the bell rings. "Fill me in on the details later, you slut." She hurries over to Jacob as they head in the direction of their classes.

Hunter walks right past me with Raven, as if I don't exist. My feet hurry after him until I'm walking alongside him. He doesn't look at me or acknowledge me. "Hunter—"

He continues to ignore me and whispers something to Raven that makes her burst out laughing. I grip my elbow, pulling my arm into my side as I anxiously look down at the ground. He's completely giving me the silent treatment.

"Hunter?" I try again, my voice quiet.

He stops walking and turns towards me, a smirk on his face like he's genuinely enjoying how desperate I appear right now. "Take a fucking hint, Auden," he says quietly, so only I can hear him.

I lick my lips. "Can't we just talk?"

"No," He sneers. "I'm ignoring you today. That's your punishment."

"What?" I ask in disbelief. "My punishment? Seriously? I already apologized."

"Yes, your punishment. Don't talk to me today." With that, he turns and walks off with Raven.

My breath comes out shaky as I try to process it all. Why is he being this way? What else does he want me to do? I bring my finger to my mouth and continue chewing away absently as I hurry towards my class.

***

Today is abnormally hot, considering how cold it's been the last week. I'm panting and dying for water as I finally make it to my house that afternoon. This day couldn't have been any longer. Hunter's trying to fuck with my head. All day, he gave me the cold shoulder, and never before have I seen him and Raven talk as much as they did today.