Always and Forever - Book 4

The New Rachel

Hunter woke up on the first day of senior year with a mix of excitement and nerves. The summer had been a whirlwind, full of music and late-night sessions in L.A., but now, everything was about to shift. His senior year was finally here, the last chapter before graduation, and the weight of that reality hit him as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Beside him, Sam stirred, still half-asleep. Hunter smiled, reaching over to brush a hand through his boyfriend's messy blond hair. Sam grumbled something incoherent, making Hunter chuckle.

"C'mon, Evans. First day of senior year. We can't be late," Hunter teased, leaning down to kiss Sam's forehead.

Sam groaned, pulling the blanket up over his head. "Five more minutes..."

Hunter rolled his eyes fondly. It was moments like this that made everything feel right. The rush of returning to Lima, the anticipation of seeing all their friends again—it all faded into the background when he was with Sam, in these quiet, easy moments.

Still, Hunter knew they couldn't drag their feet too long. He slipped out of bed, stretching as he glanced out the window. The early morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow over their room. It felt surreal, knowing this was the start of the last year they'd spend together in high school.

After a few minutes, Sam finally gave in and rolled out of bed, rubbing his eyes as he made his way over to Hunter. "Alright, alright, I'm up," he mumbled, leaning against Hunter's shoulder. "You're too chipper for this early."

"Just excited," Hunter said with a grin. "We've got the whole year ahead of us. One last time to make some memories."

Sam smiled sleepily, his eyes soft. "Yeah, you're right."

***

"What's up, blogosphere? Jacob Ben Israel here, back on the street with an exclusive look at McKinley's newest celebrities, the New Directions!" Jacob's voice boomed through the crowded hallway as he weaved his way through the chaos, the camera man trailing behind.

Hunter Blake still couldn't stand Jacob—no surprise there—but today was different. For once, he didn't feel the urge to duck out of sight when the camera zoomed in on him. After all, this was his year. He had everything he could ever want, and he was owning it.

As Jacob approached, trying to keep up with Hunter, the girls around him giggled, vying for a chance to run their hands through his hair. "Twitter says you're still dating Hobo McBieber," Jacob sneered, referencing Sam in his usual obnoxious way.

Hunter raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by Jacob's attempt to stir up drama. "Yeah, I am," he replied coolly, glancing at the crowd of girls around him. "But there's nothing wrong with a bit of attention."

Jacob, always one for gossip, wasn't satisfied with just that. His eyes darted across the hall, where Sam Evans stood leaning against a locker, his casual charm radiating even from a distance. With a sudden jolt of enthusiasm, Jacob scurried over to him.

"Sam Evans," Jacob began, thrusting the microphone in Sam's face. "From hobo stripper to glee club celebrity. How does it feel?"

"Awesome," Sam replied with his signature grin, not even giving Jacob time to react before flashing the camera a perfect, charming smile. "And about time. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Without a second thought, Sam made a beeline for Hunter, who was clearly basking in the attention from all the girls around him. Sam didn't say a word as he reached out, grabbing Hunter's hand and pulling him firmly against his chest. The gesture was as much a claim as it was a reminder.

"Do you mind?" Sam asked, his voice low but possessive, looking down at his boyfriend with a raised brow.

Hunter, ever the tease, smirked. "What can I say? They all love me," he shrugged, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'm the hottest guy in school, I'm on the football team, dating the quarterback, who's the second hottest guy in school, and I'm kinda famous after my summer in L.A. with Mercedes."