Hunter's Lessons

Chapter Twenty-Five

Finally, Christmas Eve arrived and I cannot even begin to explain how happy I am. Not because it's Christmas, but because so many of my questions are going to be answered today. Why did Hunter freak out? Why does he go in my room and why can't I see him any other time than when he tells me to?

I wake up early and head out so I don't see my mom. I don't want her to stop me. I put on Hunter's sneakers, per usual, and head out to Hunt's tent with the flowers he told me to get.

When I get out there, I open the tent to see Hunter just sitting there, smiling.

"Hunter, we need to talk." I say, walking towards him.

"We can't!" He stands up and walks over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Cade, I promise, one day, I'll explain it all, but right now...I need you to work with me."

"Okay." I say I'm upset, but Hunter is known to hold a promise. Hunter takes his hands off my shoulders and slowly paces towards the back of the tent, putting a hand on his forehead. "You're not leaving me, right?" I ask. He turns towards me.

"I'm here right now, Cadence." He says. I nod. "Well, did you get the stuff?" He asks. I nod and hand him the bag of flowers. He looks inside and smiles. "That'll do." He puts the bag down and walks towards the tent. "And I got you this." He smiles, presenting a long, white lace dress. It's beautiful.

"Hunter." I say, as reality kicks in. "I told you, not to steal anymore." I say.

"This was the last time." He says.

"You said that last time." I scold, but I know there is a smile on my face, because of the beautiful dress presented to me.

"Well I mean it this time. Go inside and change." Hunt says.

"Hunter-"

"I'll explain it later." He says, giving me the dress. "Go." He smiles. So I obey and go to my room to change.

~*~

After I change, I realize that I may not be able to see Hunter until after Christmas, so I bring his gift out that I got at the mall.

I wear Hunt's green converse on my feet, because the dress is long enough that you don't see them. I run back out to the opening in the woods, but it looks all different. There are flowers lining the white snow. The tent is nowhere in sight and there is a tunnel made of flowers as the morning rising sun rises and peeps through. I begin to slowly walk through.

"Hunter?" I ask. I hear the snow crunch under my converse. I find, after a while, that the tunnel does not go further, but opens up. I am now in a dome of purple flowers. Where did these come from? It's the dead of winter...

"Hunter?" I ask. Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me, and I look back to see Hunter walking towards me. I turn, to see Hunter walking down the flower path in a suit.

"i-I didn't know you were behind me." I say.

"I was." He smiles. See his hair looks odd. Not like he would usually wear it. It's gelled back. "We have to-"

"Wait." I interrupt him. "I don't know when I'll see you next, so I got these for you." I say, handing him the wrapped box. He smiles and begins to open it. He tears the paper off and opens the box.

"Cadence-"He begins as he pulls out the brand new green converse.

"I wanted to keep yours. So I could have you with me all the time, but you can't be barefoot all the time." I say. He laughs, and puts them on.

"They're great." He smiles, hugging me. "Now are you ready?" He asks, pulling away.

"For what?" I ask, smiling up at him.

"To get married." He says.