The Unseen

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

Friday. I usually enjoyed Fridays, but not so much when there was a possibility Quinn was going to be at school. I clambered onto the bus in the morning, fearing the worst. 

Quinn was actually there, unfortunately, in the seat next to Hunter. I sat in the very front, face flushed, my hands balled into fists. Quinn hadn't even looked at me. Right after I sat, to my surprise - though I shouldn't have been so shocked by then - Hunter got up and sat by me. I wondered if Quinn was jealous and if he would try hurting Hunter later for it.

"Hey," Hunter said.

"Hey." My heart skipped a beat when I looked into his sweet, endless brown eyes.

"Nikkia...you know what?"

I shook my head slightly. "What?"

"I'm so sorry I got your name wrong. The first time I met you, I thought it was Nicki, and it stuck ever since. But now," he said earnestly, "I know it's Nikkia. So now...I know you. All that time..."

I shook my head again, pained at his now sad eyes. "Really, it's okay. It's my fault for not correcting you the first time."

Hunter didn't notice how pained my smile was. He kept on smiling sweetly. "I would like to make it up to you. Do you, uh...want to go...to the movies sometime?"

My lips parted a little as I stared at him. I should have been ecstatic, but all I could hear was Quinn basically predicting that this would happen.

Shivering, I thought I could feel Quinn's eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.

I blinked. Hunter's anxious eyes watched my every movement.

"R-really?" I asked, stupidly.

He chuckled, his brown eyes lighting up. "Of course. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

Slowly, I craned my head to see Quinn. He was looking out the window, though his jaw was hard, and his hands, resting on top of the seat in front of him, were tense. I swallowed.

"Uh...sure." I smiled hesitantly, turning back around to Hunter. He had been looking a little uncertain during my silence, but now that I agreed, his grin returned.

"Great! I was just thinking that you were weirded out." He relaxed in the seat.

"Nah. I was just...surprised."

Hunter cocked his head. "Why?" he asked in a confused voice.

"I'm just...well...I don't seem like your...type."

He shook his head, smiling. "You are." He flushed.

***

When it was time for lunch, I was nervous. Hunter beckoned me again. Quinn wasn't there - yet. I sat next to Hunter, giving the group a small smile.

"Hey, Nikkia," they chorused.

"Hey."

"There's Quinn!" one of them crowed, grinning. It seemed like they really liked him. Unfortunately, they didn't know who he truly was. My stomach flipped and I wiped my now sweaty palms on my jeans.

I didn't look. I only heard a chair scrape against the aluminum. "'Sup, guys?" said a deep voice. Quinn.

"Just chilling with our new buddy here," Xander said.

I felt eyes burning at me again. "Cool." He didn't say anything else. I was relieved, but I wondered what he was playing at. He didn't even give off the appearance of hating me. He just...ignored me.