Her Lonely Grey Eyes

Chapter 17 - Brother doesn't like the outfit

𝘾𝙀𝘾𝙄𝙇𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙓 𝘿𝘼𝙎𝙃𝙒𝙊𝙊𝘿

I woke up the moment I felt something too close.

Too close.

Like someone was hovering right above me, right at my face.

My eyes snapped open instantly.

Instinct took over before my brain even caught up.

In one second—I grabbed the person and flipped them onto the ground.

"Ouch!! CARMEN YOUR LITTLE SISTER IS USING VIOLENCE IN THE HOUSE!"

Hunter's voice echoed through the room.

I blinked.

"...Oh."

I let him go immediately and stepped back.

"What are you doing here?" I asked flatly.

He sat up, rubbing his arm like I had personally betrayed him. "Family breakfast. It's 9 AM. And I am not eating while someone is missing."

I stared at him for a second.

"Why were you sneaking up on me?"

"I wasn't sneaking," he said immediately. "I was checking if you were alive."

"By touching my face?"

"...Yes?"

I exhaled slowly. "I thought you were trying to choke me."

He paused.

Then mumbled, "That's... kind of concerning."

From outside the room—

"Hunter?! What's happening?!" Carmen called.

"Why are you screaming?" Elijah added.

Hunter immediately pointed at me. "She attacked me!"

I rolled my eyes. "I thought you were attacking me first."

"You're insane," he muttered, still rubbing his arm.

Carmen and Elijah stepped in, both looking half-awake and fully confused.

"Alright, both of you—breakfast," Elijah said, already tired.

Hunter pointed at me again like I was still on trial. "She's dangerous in the morning."

I looked at him. "You're annoying in general."

That shut him up for exactly one second.

Then he just sighed and sat on my bed like he owned it.

"I'm staying until you get ready," he said.

I stared at him. "Why?"

"So you don't take ten hours," he replied without looking up from his phone.

I didn't argue.

Mostly because I didn't have the energy.

After my shower, I got dressed and walked back out.

That was when Hunter saw me.

And froze.

For a full second.

Then immediately frowned.

"You're not wearing that."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

He stood up, walked over, and turned me slightly toward the mirror like he was presenting evidence.

"Look at this," he said seriously. "Do you see how short that is?"

I crossed my arms. "Yes. It's called fashion."

"It's called exposure."

I stared at him. "Are you my dad?"

He ignored that completely and continued, "Your legs are literally—on display."

I sighed. "You're more dramatic than Logan."

"Who's Logan?" he asked instantly.

I paused slightly. "...A friend."

That wasn't a lie.

But it wasn't the full truth either.

He narrowed his eyes. "Boyfriend?"

"No."

"Then why do you sound unsure?"

"Because I don't classify my life like a school chart," I said, grabbing another outfit from the closet.

He immediately snatched it from my hand.

"This one's fine," he said.

I looked at it.

Then at him.

"...That's not even mine."

"It is now," he replied.

I didn't bother fighting anymore.

Mostly because arguing with him in the morning felt like a crime against sleep.

So I wore it.

A few minutes later, we went downstairs.

Hunter kept walking slightly in front of me like he was escorting a prisoner.

"I swear," I muttered, "you're worse than Logan."

"Good," he said.

At the bottom of the stairs, Nolan looked up and immediately smirked.

"...Did I just get reminded we have a scary grandfather coming soon?" he said, chuckling.

I blinked. "What?"

Before I could ask more—

Mabel suddenly appeared, grabbed my hand, and started pulling me toward the kitchen.

"Hurry up," she said brightly. "I'm starving."

I didn't even get a chance to resist.

And somehow—

I let her.