Why You Shouldn't Lend A Bad Boy Your Clothes

Chapter 13

Most of the time, almost every single day, to be honest, I wouldn't have minded staying at home instead of going to school at all. However, now that I actually had to stay in bed and was unable to go out, I hated every second of it.

I had climbed into bed the moment I had returned from the field trip, and hadn't really left it since, except for little trips to the bathroom and the kitchen.

It had turned out I had not only caught a cold, but nearly a lung inflammation and it was probably only thanks to Hunter, who had gotten me out of the water and had given me his coat, that it wasn't more severe.

It had been four days now, and I was convinced that one more day spent watching reruns on TV and not really talking to anyone would drive me insane.

Nate and I were texting loads and Emily had called three times, but that was it. My parents were at work nearly all day, and when they were home, they only briefly checked up on me before going back to more pressing matters like grading exams and watching Baseball games. Mom wouldn't even let Maya go into my room, fearing she could pick up my illness.

It was past three at night by now, but since I had slept so much during the day, I was wide awake now. Bored out of my mind, I flipped through the pages of a random sports magazine I had found on the kitchen counter, when quiet clinks distracted me.

I looked around in my room, searching for whatever was making the noise, but didn't find anything. Eventually I returned my attention to the magazine, passing the noises off as unimportant.

But even after two minutes, the clinking hadn't stopped. On the contrary, it was actually increasing, almost sounding like it was hailing.

With an irritated huff, I sat up to look out of the window, just in time to see another pebble stone flying against the glass.

I shot out of bed immediately, only wincing slightly as my naked feet hit the cold floor, and ran over to the window.

"What are you doing here?" I whisper-shouted as soon as I had opened it.

Hunter was barely more than a shadow in the darkness around him, the light of the street lamps not reaching the spot beneath my window where he was standing. I only knew it was him because of the way he tilted his head in an impatient manner while he was toying around with the next stone in his hand. Besides, no one else would get the stupid idea to show up at my house in the middle of the night.

Instead of answering, Hunter just pointed at the front door, gesticulating wildly for me to open it for him.

I considered this for a moment. Of course I was bored and would actually be happy about some company, but did I want Hunter's, out of all people?

He had somehow grown on me during the field trip and I felt like I should at least be nicer to him after all he'd done for me.

On the other hand, I was looking a mess; wearing my usual clothes (sweat pants and a hoodie) was no problem in front of him, but I was still looking...well, sick. Hopefully better than I felt.

Eventually I nodded and tiptoed down the stairs and to the door, which I quietly unlocked.

"Hey, sugarpie," Hunter whispered while he looked me over.

I immediately felt my skin tingling under his stare, but suppressed my urge to fidget nervously. Instead, I decided to do the same to him and studied him, too.

As always, his hair looked messy, but I knew exactly that he had achieved that look with at least ten minutes in the bathroom and a lot of hair wax. One dark strand had fallen into his eyes; my fingers itched with the urge to push it out of his face. His eyes were the same color as the blueish-green tee he was wearing along with his leather jacket.