Hunter

VII

Jade pushed open the door to the apartment, cringing at the mess inside.
Her SAT textbooks were strewn all over the table, loose note sheets floating around.
Her phone sat next to the books, the screen black.
Jade glanced back at Aric, who was looking around.
"Sorry for the mess."
He smiled slightly. "It's fine."
He stepped inside, looking around. "Uh, do you have somewhere I could, um, could get cleaned up?"
Jade led him to the bathroom, pointing out the soap and washcloth.
He thanked her and she headed back to the table, collapsing on a chair.
She took a few breaths, relaxing, and grabbed her phone from the table.
She tapped the screen and checked the time.
6:30.
All that happened in 3 and a half hours? Seriously?
She rubbed her thigh absently, flipping through her textbook, trying to distract herself.
She sighed and walked to her bed, lying there, staring at the ceiling.
Her thigh stung and she pulled herself up, and rolled her pant leg up.
The bandage was soaked with blood.
The cut must've been deeper than I thought.
She grimaced and walked to the kitchen, limping.
Jade huffed.
Where are the God damn bandages?
She pulled open cabinets, cursing under her breath.
Finally, she found the First Aid kit and went back to the bed.
She stretched her leg out in front of her, dabbing it with rubbing alcohol and ointment.
She wrapped some gauze around it and lay back down, pulling a blanket onto her.
Her eyelids felt heavy and her breathing slowed.
Jade fell asleep.

Aric winced as he moved his shoulder.
The hot water ran down his back, soaking his hair.
He cursed as he rubbed his shoulder.
The bruise still hadn't healed.
Stupid. This is why normal people don't jump from the tops of buildings to save pretty girls.
Aric snorted. Right. Cuz I'm perfectly normal.
He sighed and turned the shower off, grabbing the towel.
He rubbed his hair dry, glancing at himself in the mirror.
Massive scars ran across his torso, crossing his hip. They were dark against his tan skin.
Aric rubbed his knuckles against them, wincing internally.
I still feel it. Even after all this time.
He shook his head, water splashing against his neck.
He picked at strands of hair, noting how his hair fell into his eyes.
I need a haircut.
He reached over to the floor, rummaging through a bag he brought from the hideout.
He pulled a blank tank top over his head, pulling on his jeans.
He picked his sneakers up with his hand, rubbing the towel against his head with his other.
He flicked the light off.
Aric walked into the main room, seeing the stack of books on the table and the messy note sheets.
He flipped through a book, smiling softly.
It's been so long since I went to school.
He read a few pages, sitting down at the table.
Time passed quickly, and Aric kept reading.
He drummed his fingers against the table, his hair brushing his neck.
He read under his breath, thinking about each word that passed his lips.
He liked this. The peace and quiet. The silence.
Without having to worry about dying every other second. Without having to fight for yourself against arrogant monsters. Without having to deal with the pain.
Just him and the book.
He missed books.
"Why are you reading that?"
Aric jumped up suddenly, knocking the chair backwards.
Jade faced him, rubbing her eyes.
Her curly hair frames her face, her chocolate brown skin soft against the dark brown of her eyes.
Aric averted his eyes. "Uh, sorry. Are these yours?"
She nodded, waking forward. "Yeah. It's no problem. But why were you reading them?" Her eyes narrowed.
Aric felt his face heat up. Be strong, Aric. You're the strong one here.
"Is there a problem if I was?"
Jade's glared at him. "I was just asking a question, you don't have to be so rude."
He backed away from the table. "Whatever." He sat back down, his leg bouncing up and down.
Jade rolled her eyes, reaching past him and grabbing a book.
She thrust it into his hands. "Here."
Aric shook his head, confused. "Uh...."
She leaned forward. "Look, let's just say you owe me one, ok? You obviously like books, and let's face it, I could do without this one little textbook."
Aric stared at her, slowly nodding. "Ok. I owe you one?"
Jade nodded, smiling. "There you go."
She backed up, walking into the kitchen.
Aric looked at the book on his hands, touching the cover gently.
He liked having something of his own, besides his clothes and his weapons.
Something he enjoyed.
Aric smiled to himself, sitting back at the table and flipping it open.