[Chapter 18] Your Turn

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The already huge lump in my throat only gets larger when I see Hunter's Jeep parked in the driveway of Mom's house.

So he is here. Just like Lake said he would be.

I park and get out, slamming the car door behind me before slowly treading up the walkway--a feeling of dread nestled in my stomach.

The ride back to the academy was spent with Lake re-apologizing to me every couple of minutes and me, unable to even speak. Then, the drive from the academy to here was spent alone with my thoughts.

Seething.

Sitting alone in a well of feelings colored by disbelief, anger and betrayal.

I walk through the front door, expecting to find him on the couch playing video games--but he's not.

"Hunter!" I yell, announcing my presence as I pass the barren kitchen and begin stomping up the stairs. "Hunter!"

No response, how typical.

I only get more and more mad on the second floor where I find his bedroom door cracked open.

That's enough of an invitation to me.

A burst of rage thrusts my arm forward and I swing the door completely open, causing it to crash against the wall with a thud.

Hunter remains sitting on his bed, phone in hand--clearly unbothered. "What the hell are you doing, Kelly?"

"You heard me calling for you and you just decided to ignore me?" I snap, not surprised but furious at yet another proverbial slap to the face.

Hunter arches an eyebrow. "Yeah? So? You found me, didn't you?"

I press my lips into a thin line, the boiling heat of anger continuing to rise in my chest.

He gives me a disinterested look before returning his gaze to his phone.

I wait a second, only to decide that there's no way this conversation will go civilly.

"So." No turning back now. "When were you gonna tell me?"

Hunter scoffs, not sparing me a glance. "Tell you what?"

I fold my fingers against my palms to keep them from shaking. "Guess."

At first, he doesn't reply and it almost makes me think maybe I'm crazy. Maybe Lake lied to me. Maybe this is all some crazy misunderstanding.

But then I see it.

The realization flash across his face.

His eyes suddenly glaze over.

"Guess." I hear myself repeat as I stare at him. "Guess what I know."

"Who told you?" He has the audacity to ask and I scoff in disbelief. "It doesn't matter, what matters is why wasn't it you?!"

"No," he nearly growls, standing to his feet and glaring at me. "Who told you?"

"Don't. You don't get to ask questions until you answer mine," I snap as I approach him, pointing an accusing finger at him. "I want to know right now how you could hide this from me. I know we're not close, I know you hate me but a kid? I'm your sister, Hunter!"

I feel my voice hitch, emotion threatening to take over but I re-focus all of my energy back to the rage inside.

"I don't expect you to understand." Is all he offers and in a fury, I watch my hands fly out to shove him. "I don't understand? Explain it to me then. Tell me how Lake knows and I had no clue--"

𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉Where stories live. Discover now