Hunter

Chapter Twenty Nine - Jumping In With Both Feet

My muscles cried as I moved, protesting any motion that I was making as I tried to get out of bed. I had been training so extensively that I didn't know what it felt like to rest. I had mastered the art of the underwater bubble, despite my near death three times. I had practiced fighting with my companion, Midnight, which was more laborious that I thought it would be. I practiced hand to hand combat with some of the aides at Arcadia. I worked on my marksmanship and my sword skills. My body was banged and bruised, and it's safe to say that without syrup and magic bandages, I would've been stuck in a hospital. I was already late for school, so I took my time getting up and getting ready.

As soon as I walked through the door of my class, all eyes were on me. The messy-haired girl with an empty backpack who looked like she had been sleeping in trees for the past four weeks. The teacher raised her eyebrow at me for interrupting her spiel.

"Are you Hayley? Hayley Hunter?" I nodded as I took a seat next to a familiar face. "I thought you were a no show. Here you go." She handed me a textbook and a packet. I opened the packet and I was welcomed with numbers and words that looked like Greek to me.

"As I was saying, this is the hardest math class that the school offers, and it doesn't let just anyone take this class, so you should feel proud to be here. Along with that pride, you should have a strong sense of dedication, because this class is tough and it takes a lot of work. If you're not willing to put in the time that this class demands, then maybe you should talk to your counselor about taking an easier class." She eyeballed each and every one of us, daring us to go for some unsaid challenge. No one moved. "Good, now let's begin."

Ten minutes in, I was asleep. My body and mind couldn't take it anymore. I was on the verge of being fully gone when Aiden poked me in the side with his pencil.

"What do you want?" I groaned.

"We have to do a partner problem." Sighing, I shook myself awake and shifted my desk like everyone else had. She was giving us fifteen minutes to do the problem, but from the looks of things, Aiden was already done.

"Why'd you wake me up if you had finished the problem?" My brows were drawn into a frown as I stared at the letters that were too plentiful to be in a math class.

"Because I want to talk about yesterday." That woke me up.

"What about yesterday?"

"Jasper Knight: has never gotten anything less than an A in any class. Deirdre Storm: all of her electives have been social sciences, and she's never gotten anything less than an A in those classes. Hayley Hunter: stellar athlete, made the varsity team freshman year and has gone to state three times, placing in the top three." His eyes watched my every move. His scrutiny was uncomfortable, and he seemed as though he was waiting for me to crack. He wanted me to tell him something, but I didn't know what that something was.

"Creepy, but endearing?"

"Aiden Steel: freshman varsity starter of the football team. Received an All-American award, and has taken his team to nationals for Robotics and Science Olympiad twice in a row."

"Why are you referring to yourself in the third person?"

"Because you three have something in common, and I think that I might be a part of it." I chewed on my lip as I watched him.

"What do you mean?" I asked, leaning in just a tad bit closer.

"Don't play around with me. I've always known that I was different, I just didn't know how. You guys are the answer to that question."

"Why don't you ask your parents?"

"I would if I wasn't adopted."

"Are you sure?" The question came out of my mouth before I could stop it, and Aiden directed the most pointed look at me.

"Considering the fact that both of my parents are white, I'm pretty sure."

"Oh, well I'm adopted too." I don't know why I felt like throwing that out there, but I did.

"Are you two talking about math?" The teacher, whose name I still didn't know, asked.

"Yeah. I was just helping Hayley figure this out."

"Maybe if she wasn't asleep, she would understand." She turned and walked away, her shoulders swaying haughtily.

"Maybe if you didn't have a stick up your..."

"Excuse me?" Her head snapped back quicker that I thought possible.

"Nothing," I quipped. "I was talking to Aiden." She narrowed her eyes before proceeding on her tour of the classroom

"Is she always like this?" I asked, my mouth curving into an unpleasant line. Aiden laughed at me before smiling with perfectly white teeth.

"You'll get used to her."

"What's her name again?" He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Mrs. Avis? Our math teacher?"

"Yeah, don't give me that look." He rolled his eyes at me, as the bell rang. I started to pack up my stuff when Aiden stopped me. "What do you want?" I was angrier than I should've been.

"I want to talk to you." His voice was pleading, begging for just a moment of my time.

"Well, I have to get to my next class. We can talk later."

Before he could respond, I was out of the door. For a moment, I thought that I was home free. Free from Aiden for the passing period, and hopefully, the next class, but I wasn't. He grabbed my hand and pushed me against the wall. His bicep rested by the side of my face and I looked at it from the corner of my eye. I was irritated that he had me trapped, and I was too tired to fight back.

"Listen, Hayley," his head dipped down low to separate the short distance from the crown of my head to his. His breath fanned over my neck as he breathed softly into my ear. "I know that I don't owe you anything, and I am literally the last thing you could care about, but please." His head rested on my shoulder, his muscular body pressing into mine, crushing me. His coarse hair tickled my nose and I almost sneezed in his face.

"Aiden, I can't exactly breathe, what with your hair up my nose, and you pressing the life out of me." His hand grabbed onto my wrist as he straightened up slightly. His hands were warm on my cold skin.

"I want to show you something." His hand still on my wrist, he pulled me to a supply closet and shut the door. How cliche. Once the door was shut, I was in complete darkness. My fingertips danced lightly, a tingling feeling growing. "Are you ready?" I nodded at his question until I realized that he couldn't see me.

"Yes." I waited in the darkness. I waited for him to do something... to do anything.

And then... there was light. 

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Hey there, my fellow Hunters!

Sorry I took so long to post, but here is another chapter for you to consume and enjoy. I hope you like it! Have a wonderful day!!

Love,

-ABD