The Hunter

Chapter 4 - A Normal Day

It's not often that I get to act like a normal teenage boy. So when I come to New Hope Brandon gives me that opportunity. He says that his duty as my best friend is to let me have fun. We leave his house, and begin to walk into the city. People are out today, going to who knows where, and doing who knows what. Most recognize me because of Adam and Caleb, so the smile and wave politely. I do the same back, hoping no one comes over and begins to bug me. They're only ten hunters in New Hope, Caleb's family, and not Adam and me, included. So when the city leader's son, and the new hunter are seen together, we get a lot of attention.

Brandon leads me to a restaurant, the only one in New Hope, "Now, you can't tell my parents, but I want you to meet my girlfriend."

A shocked expression appears on my face, "How long have you had a girlfriend for?"

"About seven months," he tells me, "you can't tell anyone though, because she's not a hybrid."

I soon realize what he means by this. While there's no law that makes hybrids have children with other hybrids, most people expect and want it to happen. Caleb is like that; he wants all three, and soon for, but his children to marry other half hybrids, and have children. Adam isn't the same way. He technically never had any kids, so he doesn't really care what I do. So the only girlfriend Brandon is allowed to have a hybrid. A nonhybrid girlfriend could get him in serious trouble.

We walk into the restaurant, and it makes me happy to see people talking amongst themselves. The atmosphere here is happy and full of life, and the smell is to die for. Brandon leads me over to a group of four girls, all talking at a booth. A small girl, with light brown hair, and blue eyes, comes over to us, and Brandon leans down to kiss her.

"Martin, this is my girlfriend, Penny," Brandon introduces.

"You're the famous hunter, nice to finally meet you," Penny says as we shake hands.

"And you're the famous girlfriend," I reply as we sit.

The rest of the girls introduce themselves to me, and say that they are friends of Penny's. They're all eating breakfast, so Brandon I sit quietly, waiting for them to finish. All the girls are dressed in light colored T-shirts, and short jeans. Look a bit fancier compared to the other girls in the restaurant, but then again, I probably look like hell. I forgot to change my shirt before I went out, and I have a feeling that there are stains all over it. Oh well, I guess I'm just not really a "dress to impress" person.

As far as the three other girls are concerned, I must look like a god to them.  They keep trying to start a conversation with me, and so far it's been about my future with girls.  I told him that in all honesty, I haven't put much thought into it. Though in all honesty, I don't even know if I live that long.  They constantly play with their hair, one of the girls, named Georgia, even winked at me!  I'm not ugly, but I've never been paid this much attention by girls.  Maybe this is what going away for a few months does for you.  However, their flirting skills could use a hand.

Trying to ignore them, I look out the window, and I zone out.  A few people are walking their dogs of various sizes.  Some smaller kids are playing with a ball, and look like they're having a fun time. An adult couple walks hand-in-hand down the road, talking about something that is making both of them smiling.  I can even see the community garden from here, and people walking out with different types of fruits and vegetables. The houses down the road from here are abandon, but I'm taken off guard when I see someone sitting on the steps of a house.

No one lives in the house is around her, so it's odd that she's there all by herself.  She doesn't look older than me, so she must not be by herself. Her hair, a darker color is pulled back from her face, she seems to be reading a book.  Then, she picks up a pen, and writes something down in another book.  It's not until Brandon says my name do I look up from him.

"Martin, are you ready to go live a little?" He questioned.

"Hell yeah," I answer, getting up to leave.