Hunter Academy - Book 1

GIRL'S NIGHT OUT

Jessica

I rub my eyes as I come out of my book stupor, then set my tablet on the coffee table. It's time to get ready for dinner with Cara and Belle. We're meeting at Spin Pizza, one of my favorite places to eat. It's Neapolitan style pizza and they make everything fresh in house. The pizza is amazing and so are the salads. I take a shower and get dressed, making sure I have have everything before I lock up behind me.

It only takes me ten minutes to get there, and the girls are already there waiting for me.

"I'm so sorry about last night," I tell them as I approach the table. "I fell asleep in the tub, and then had a really bad nightmare, and then I just didn't feel good after." They get up and we walk to the front to place our order.

"It's alright, girl. We totally understand." Belle says, her hand resting on my shoulder. There's a couple in front of us, so we have to wait a moment. "Want to share a meatball appetizer?"

"Hell, yeah I do." The couple in front of us finish up and we approach the counter.

"Three in your party?" The perky cashier asks us.

"Yes," Cara replies.

"What can I get for you today?"

"I'll have the Mini Mia, please. Artichoke and kalamata olive on wheat and the BLT salad, no green onions sub red onion, please."

"What would you like to drink today?"

"I'll have a glass of the featured wine, please."

She repeats my order back to me and Cara and Belle place their orders. We pay and then are handed a number block and we go back to the table.

"So what have the two of you been up to?" I ask them as we get settled.

"I've mostly just been focused on school," Cara says.

"And avoiding Dad like the plague." I look at Belle with confusion as our server sets our drinks down on the table.

"Hello, ladies! I'm Tina, and I'll be taking care of you this evening. How are you all doing tonight?" We all answer with a positive answer. "That's great! Here are your drinks, and your salads should be out shortly." We thank her as she walks away. I look at Belle with a look that says "continue."

"Little Miss Red Head here has been avoiding Dad since they told us about the divorce, and she won't tell anyone why." I look at Cara. She just shrugs.

"I don't know why I'm avoiding him. I don't feel like I have anything to say to him. He doesn't seem shook up about the divorce at all, yet Mom is practically crying her eyes out all the time."

"Whose idea was the divorce?"

"It was mutual, I guess. At least that what Mom says."

"Dad says it, too. You would know if you actually talked to him." Belle says, nudging Cara's shoulder.

"Okay, fine, I'll call him tomorrow. Happy?" I glance at Belle, and yes, to say she was happy would be an understatement. Our server brings our salads and we thank her. I look down, grabbing my fork and knife, and see the deliciousness before me. Romaine lettuce, crispy pancetta, halved grape tomatoes, chopped red onion, gorgonzola, and house-made croutons. All of it covered in their house-made gorgonzola buttermilk dressing. I could drink the stuff just by itself. I cut everything up so it's mixed together, and grab the perfect bite on my fork.

"So what about you, Jessie? What have you been up to lately. I finish chewing and swallowing before answering her, the mix of flavors bursting on my tongue.

"Okay, so remember me telling you about that night when I bartended with Matt, and those three incredibly hot guys were there?" At both of their nods, I continue. "And remember me telling you about the one who showed up to my house, pretending to be someone else?" They both nod again.

"I don't care what Matt says, it still seems hokey to me," Belle interjects, waving her fork in my general direction.

"Okay, so what I haven't told you is that I have been having nightmares, all revolving around this same chick." I pull out my phone. I had taken a picture of the book that Sparta brought to our coffee meet. After thinking it over, I decided that I would tell the girls everything. I can't keep secrets to save my life, anyway, and the minute I didn't have an answer for something, they would know something was up. They'll take it however they'll take it. And that's what I do, I tell them every little detail about what's been happening. Cara's eyes are wide as she takes in the information, while Belle's are just curious.

"So she targeted that guy who wigged out in front of that bus?" Belle asks. I nod my head.

"Yup."

"I don't know what to do with this information. Sure, we were raised Catholic, but I never believed demons and things like that were real. You would think it would be more common knowledge. I mean, a whole host of supernatural beings creating chaos, and it's kept silent? Why not warn people so they can be vigilant and protect themselves?" Cara is panting for breath, and our server arrives with our pizzas, taking our used salad bowls away. I take a bite before answering her.

"All very good questions, that I plan on asking the guys on our road trip to Wichita." Belle's jaw drops, revealing chewed up pizza. "Gross! Close your mouth!" I scold her, holding my hand up, and closing my eyes to block the offending sight. She closes her mouth and finishes chewing.

"Sorry, but are you really going to go on a four hour, and that's just one way, road trip with dudes you just met, one of which has lied to you? Are you out of your freaking mind?"

"Yes, I am. There's something about them, Belle. I don't know what it is, but I literally felt sparks the first time I touched each of them. There's a sense of peace I get when I'm around them. I don't know how to explain it any better. I trust them with my life. I kind of have to with this bitch targeting me. Plus, I want to be in on this every step. You know I don't like getting second hand information. What if I have a question they don't think of? Then I don't get an answer to it."

"I know what you're like, it doesn't mean I have to like what you're doing. You will take your pepper spray and have your phone in your hand at all times."

"Yes, Mother." Oh! That reminds me. "Oh! That reminds me! Mother called this morning."

"Of course she did," Cara says. For all of her sweetness, even she can't come up with something nice to say about my parents. "Let me guess, money?"

"Ding, ding, ding! Hit it right on the head. I blocked her and Father's numbers. Memaw was pissed."

"Of course she was. She can't believe her own son would be like that. Look at the way she raised you. You know she raised him to be better than he is."

"I know. It's like my mother corrupted him." We finish our pizza in silence. I wipe my mouth with my napkin and place it on my plate. I shudder just thinking about when people put their napkins in their water glass. Why do people do that? A wet napkin is so sickening.

"Thinking about wet napkins?" Cara teases me with a smile.

"Yes. So gross." I shudder again. We leave a tip on the table, and gather our things. When we get outside, I hug them both.

"I still don't know what to think about this demon stuff, but if it really is real, I want you to be extra careful, please." Cara whispers in my ear, giving me a little extra squeeze. I squeeze her back and assure her that I will.

"Be careful on your road trip." Belle tells me.

"I will. I promise." I respond. I get into my car and head home. Got to make my mixture and go to bed. I'm exhausted.

Kriss

Well, Cara's skepticism didn't surprise me in the least, but the lack of it with Belle certainly did. I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on her.