Exposed

7

{This chapter is back in Gem / Charlie's POV}

My mouth drops open in shock and I take a step back, it couldn't be? He was back in Australia, but it was him. This was the best friend Lily had talked about. His eyes come into contact with mine and I see realisation wash over his face as well.

"Hunter, this is Charlie. Charlie, this is Hunter" Lily introduces us

"I know you" Hunter says in a demanding voice. I nod, Lily looks at Hunter, then me, confused.

"But, no I don't, what did you say her name was again?" Hunter asks Lily

"Charlie..?" Lily looks confused, so does Hunter.

"I changed my name" I explain to Hunter. "Uhm, good to see you."

He nods, "You too."

This was weird, of all the Australians in the world and Lily just happened to have Hunter as a best friend. I was forever thankful towards him but having him here bought back memories, ones I had been trying so hard to forget. I feel tears starting to form in my eyes as the scene begins to replay in my head, our laughter, the road, the truck and then the ear piercing scream.

I break out of my thoughts when I hear a shout behind me and a girl runs up to Hunter, giving him a big hug.

"I MISSED YOU SO MUCH" She says, hugging him again. He smiles and hugs her back, his sparkling eyes meet mine and I quickly smile, realising my staring at them was kind of creepy.

Lily steps over to me.

"That's Frankie, the one who I was telling you about before. She is a year older than us at school but she's cool, Hunter is too. How do you know him anyway?"

I didn't want to tell her about the funeral or anything so instead I just blurt out "Saw him at the shops a few times back in Aussie."

She looks unconvinced but doesn't question me. Hunter appears at her shoulders and puts his arm around her, pecking her on the forehead. Some kind of wave of jealously waves over me but I shake it away, I did not have time to crush on anyone, especially not someone who reminded me so much of what had happened.

"I gotta go, see you next period" I excuse myself to Lily and quickly walk away, I needed some time to think.

I walk over to behind a classroom thinking it would be a place where I could go to think, alone, but I was wrong. A bunch of kids sit in a circle smoking and listening to really heavy music, the kind that gives you a headache thirty seconds in. Someone turns around, it's the cute boy from my form class, Graham. His eyes are red, he has a green glass bottle in one hand as well. I realise they're not just smoking, but smoking weed.

"Come, have a puff" He slurs

"I'm.. good" I attempt to sound calm but it comes out shaky and nervous. An arm snakes around my shoulder and wraps around me.

"Look who we have here" Hot breath tickles my neck, I turn and my face comes into contact with a mop of shiny hair, it's Jack from form class. He pulls me off my feet, against my will and sits down with me in his lap, his long heavy arms wrapped around me.

"Pass the bottle eh Graham?" He says. Graham hands him the bottle. He presses it against his lips and tilts the bottle, gulping down half the bottle in one go. He breathes out and I crinkle my nose at the smell of his breath.

"Want some?" He offers me the bottle but I shake my head.

"I should go" I say, attempting to wriggle out of his grip.

"Nah don't stay with me" He says. "Please"

I relax again, I must be stupid.

"Fine" I say, "hand me the bottle"