My Flower

Chapter 18 - Its Just A Silly Bet

~ ~ ~ 1999

The splatters of vibrant paint, a chaotic tapestry of blues, greens, and yellows, adorned Blossom and Hunter from head to toe. It was a testament to their afternoon escapade at the rec-it room, a place where they had unleashed their inner artists, or at least tried to. They stood at the bus stop, a mismatched duo bathed in the fading light of the late afternoon, waiting for the familiar rumble of the city bus. The world around them seemed oblivious to their colorful chaos, a flurry of faces rushing past, each absorbed in their own world. But for Blossom and Hunter, it was just them, the paint, and the shared laughter still echoing in their ears.

Hunter, despite the lingering echoes of laughter, was a whirlwind of conflicted emotions. The vibrant hues daubed across his cheeks did little to mask the turmoil brewing within him. A few moments ago, he was teetering on the edge of confession, the words of his heart threatening to spill out like vibrant paint onto a blank canvas. He had almost told Blossom that he wasn't just doing this 14-day bet to prove a point; he was doing it for her, for the chance to be something more. But the words had caught in his throat as they always did.

But that wasn't the only thing troubling him. The memory of their third date, the scene he had witnessed while trying to locate her after she ran out of the dojo, kept replaying in his mind. There she was, Blossom, engaged in animated conversation with Evan, her ex-boyfriend. Evan, the charming, easy-going guy who was also best friends with her brother, had always been a fixture in Blossom's life. Hunter knew their breakup was amicable, a case of different paths diverging rather than a fiery explosion. Still, an irrational pang of discomfort had twisted within him.

He had watched them from across the park, as he tried his best to comfort her and stop her crying. And now that small pang of discomfort had quickly become a gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach when Blossom had mentioned in her earlier story that Evan had made her feel better that day. Hunter wrestled with the feeling, the unfamiliar sensation of jealousy creeping into his thoughts. He had no right. Not when they were together back then and not when they were apart now, he told himself. This was all just a bet, a silly game to prove the existence of love, a concept Blossom so vehemently denied. He was just participating in said game. And yet, the seed of possessiveness had already taken root.

"So, what'd you and Evan talk about after our last date?" Hunter asked, the question tumbling out before he could censor it. His tone was casual, but the question was laced with a hint of a need to know.

Blossom tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, right," she said, a slight smile playing on her lips, "We were just talking, he was trying to make me realize I...well he calmed me down that's all. He was there that night so he kinda knew how to help." She didn't feel like this was something he needed to know. "You okay?"

Hunter shrugged, trying to dispel the image of the two of them together. "Yeah, I guess. Just curious, that's all." He regretted asking right away. What was with him? This wasn't him, and he didn't like it at all.

Blossom's smile faltered. He was being weird. "We hadn't spoken in a while so it was nice seeing him, that's it. I thanked him for helping me and he bought me ice cream it's not a big deal."

Hunter's silence was heavy. The air around them felt thick with unspoken words. He had hoped that it was nothing, but hearing her talk about him so fondly made his mind turn "What if Evan wanted to get back together?" "Does Blossom still have feelings for him?"... It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

Blossom searched his face, her brow furrowed in concern. "Hunter? You're being weird. Did I say something wrong?"

Hunter shook his head, trying to appear as if he was okay. "No, no, it's nothing. Just thinking, that's all."

But Blossom was no fool. She had known Hunter long enough to recognize when he was trying to hide something. She pieced together the puzzle, the unusual question about Evan, the subsequent silence, the way he avoided her eyes. The meaning was clear. "You're jealous," she stated, the words laced with a mixture of disbelief and irritation.

Hunter's eyes snapped up, his face flushed a deep crimson. "Jealous? What? I'm not jealous! Why would I be jealous?" he protested, the denial ringing hollow.

"Because you're acting like it," Blossom said, her voice rising slightly. Hunter knew what Evan meant to her, she didn't have any romantic feelings for him anymore but that night he saved her life will always connect them on a level Hunter could never understand.

"Evan is my friend. And he'll always be my friend. These dates don't really mean anything, Hunter. They certainly don't mean you can act like a jealous boyfriend all of a sudden. This is just a silly bet we are doing, right? You were the one who wanted to prove that love exists, not me. So why do you care who I talk to?"

The words landed like a physical blow, each syllable twisting in Hunter's stomach. The painted facade of their afternoon together, the colorful bursts of laughter, seemed to fade in the face of Blossom's sharp words. The bet was a game to him but it was also a chance to be something more, a way to get closer to Blossom so she could see how he felt about her. And now, all of that was being thrown back at him.

"Yeah, I know," he mumbled, the air deflating from his sails. "I know it's just a bet."

The bus pulled up to the stop, its brakes hissing as the doors swung open. The air was suddenly filled with the mechanical whir and the chatter of fellow passengers. Blossom stepped towards the bus without a second thought.

"Are you coming?" she asked flatly.

Hunter stared at the steps of the bus, an overwhelming sense of defeat crashing over him like a tidal wave. The vibrant colors that had adorned both of their faces, now seemed to mock him. He shook his head, not trusting his voice.

"No," he finally managed, the word barely a whisper. "I think I'll walk home tonight."

Blossom watched him for a moment longer, a mix of confusion and hurt swirling in her eyes. But before she could say anything she walked up the steps of the bus without another word. Hunter watched as the bus pulled away, leaving behind an empty space instead of the one he had hoped to spend the rest of the night in.

As the bus disappeared into the distance, Hunter turned to face the path home, his heart heavy with each step. The challenge he had initiated, now felt like a cruel trick, a reminder of the growing chasm between what he desired with Blossom and the reality of their friendship. He had been so confident at the beginning of this bet, that he could prove to her love existed and maybe even get her to fall in love with him. But now, under the streetlights, and the lingering smell of spray paint he had never felt such a defeat in his life.