The Canary And The Blue Bird.

Chapter 7. Heartbreak.

I stayed at Hunter's house for the weekend, but left Sunday night.

The unspoken rule my mother had set was that as long as we came back before the Monday after that weekend, she didn't care where we went.

That's what I thought at least.

"Thank you for letting me stay here for the weekend and taking care of me." I said, putting on my shoes and jacket.

"You don't have to thank me," he reassured, "Those guys were complete jerks and almost knocked you out."

He was right. I couldn't do anything to help myself so I just let them beat me up.

"Listen. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide things from me. I want you to feel comfortable talking to me the way we did back when we were kids. I miss being able to do that with you." he said, leaning against the door frame. "I'll see you tomorrow after school for practice okay?"

"Yeah, alright. I'll keep that in mind." I said, walking out the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Before I could turn around, I felt arms wrap around my body. They were Hunter's arms. I wrap my arms around him too, and we just stand there hugging each other for a moment. Then we let go of each other and Hunter stepped back inside.

"Okay," Hunter said, "you should probably head home. I remember what your mother is like. Besides, mine is gonna be here soon and I don't think she'd want company."

"Alright, I'll be off then. Thank you again for taking care of me."

"You don't have to thank me."

"Okay, sorry." I chuckled. "Bye, Hunter. I'll see you Monday."

"Bye, see you Monday." He said, closing the door.

I started walking away from his house. It was late evening. The sunset looked so beautiful. The sky was painted a warm orange and faded into various pinks and purples. There were small birds flying in the sky from power-line to power-line. There was a slight wind coming from the north, and the trees moved with it. I walked for a while, but got home in good time.

"I'm home!" I said, entering my house.

"Hi Jamie," my sister, Dani, replied. "Where were you all weekend?"

"Oh, I was—"

"Where the hell were you all weekend, Jamie?!" my mother yelled, storming to the front door.

"I—I was at a friend's house.." I stuttered.

"What kind of bullshit answer is that? You better not have been fondling yourself and being weird like the perverted fucking queer you are."

"But mom I didn't do anythi—"

Before I could finish talking, she slapped me across my face. It stung. The pain was warm. It was the same place one of my teammates had punched two nights prior.

"Mom!" Dani gasped.

"Stay out of this, Danielle." my mother snapped. "This is none of your concern."

"But he didn't do anything! I know he didn't! He is not like that." She said, "Hunter called yesterday saying he was staying over for the weekend to rest from a head injury at the party on Friday."

"Since when the hell is Hunter back from Argentina?" my mother asked angrily.

"Since the start of September. You'd remember that if you actually cared and paid attention to what I was saying to you." I said, wiping a tear off of my face.