Invisible

Chapter 47 Shockwaves

Deep breathes, duck down a little farther, the bill on the cap shades my eyes. I curse the camera and anyone who had anything to do with its creation.

"But look at you two! You're so cute!" Tiffany argued with me when she first showed me the picture.

"Stop!" I glared at her from over my untouched breakfast. Hunter's flight wasn't even gone off the ground yet and there was trouble.

"And you're trending!" That squeal made me stand up and walk out, I knew it was like running away, I figured getting dirt under my nails and leaves at my fingertips might burry my problems.

Usually we only wear hats on jobs not at the green house but with one pleading look at Bill he turned a blind eye to my dark blue baseball cap.

"Hey, how you doing?" Al's reassuring hand rests on my shoulder and I look up at him, at the clock just beyond him, shocked to see its well past 2.

"I'm okay... Just getting lost in the job." I smile down at the tender stalks and soft leaves that occupied my mind for 6 hours straight.

"Noticed you didn't take a break for lunch... Or just in general... Maybe you should take the rest of the day off."

"But I'm dealing with the beginnings of root rot in these-"

Al holds up a dirt worn hand and cuts me off. "Leah, no one died and no one is gone. You're not allowed to close yourself off this time. Go call him."

"But-"

"Go, I'll tell Bill you weren't feeling well."

I deposit my apron after cleaning my tools and notice I am being watched. Usually Tori's icy stare unnerves me and I look away or feel a rising panic. Today I walk by her and smile, resettling my purse strap on my shoulder. "See you tomorrow, have a nice night."

Tori's mouth drops open much to my delight and before she can recover I'm outside. I don't take the exit to go home but instead continue on, I'm tired but very decided in my destination.

The chime sounds on the door as I step in and I can see Mr. Grumby is busy with a couple near the back of the store. He waves at me and I gesture to the back, receiving a nod. After fixing myself a cup of tea and snagging a novel I'm deep in the middle of I walk behind the counter and enter the world of music and dust.

I start off with good intentions, I lay on the couch and read and listen to a record Hunter recommended. But soon my phone lights up and I decide I'm calm enough to talk to him.

H- 'Just saw the picture. Are you okay?'

L- 'Doing better. How are you?'

H- 'Can I be honest?'

L- 'I don't know, I like the name Hunter ;)'

H- 'lol very funny.'

L- 'go ahead.'

H- 'I'm relieved, at least I can tell the band.'

I feel bad for making him keep that information from them.

L- 'You were right. I'm sorry they found out through someone else not you.'

H- 'Don't apologize. If I had to do it again I wouldn't change a thing.'

This brings unexpected tears to my eyes. There have been so many moments of doubt in my mind about Hunter and I, even our friendship just about did me in with worry and the guilt of not being able to be as good of a friend to him as he was to me. But he's happy with what I have been able to give him, even though it was such a small amount.