The Fighter that He Swore to Save

Chapter 19

            

Everett

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"Gunner," Cutter said, "meet the legendary Mt. Everest." 

My heart stopped beating as our eyes met.  He looked at me with confusion then alarm and then confusion again.  I just stood completely frozen.  What could I do?  I was caught in a very, very sticky situation.

"What... why... how... Gun... I... wait."  I looked at Cutter realizing he did this.  He is so dead.  "Did you bring him here?"

"Obviously."  He smirked and I lifted my arm to sock him but stopped when Gunner spoke.

"Everett..."  He breathed and our eyes met again.

"I'll you two alone."  Cutter said slipping out.  "I'll be in the parking lot when you're done."

I ignored him as he turned and left around the corner.  I'll deal with him later, but for now I have a huge issue right in front of me.  What is he going to do?  Kick Aunt Marcie and me out of his house?  Tell everyone about my fighting?  I was screwed no matter what happened.

"Everett..."  He said again and it was obvious he had no idea what to say. 

I shook my head and looked down at my feet and lowered my arms to my sides.  I didn't know why Cutter brought him, but it was obviously to get at me.  I'm just deciding what will be the goriest death for him.

"Everett, how did..."  He was really trying, and failing miserably, to end this awkward silence.  I looked up at him.

"Gunner, I can explain..."  I said taking a step forward, but he put his hands on my shoulders, cutting me off.  I swallowed my nerves and did my best to ignore his touch and keep talking.  "I've never really had a stable life, well you know that, and I tried to get a real job, but that never worked.

"Then I discovered I had a knack for fight-err-boxing, and found Paulo it seemed like the best way for me to help my aunt out.  I know it's probably illegal and all, but it's pretty low key and Paulo doesn't even ask for real identification.  I'm sorry, Gunner, and I understand if you want my aunt and I to leave."

"Everett."  He stopped me before I could say anything else.  "Why do you think I would want you and your aunt to leave?"

"Um, I..."  He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Look, let's... let's forget this happened, okay?"  He bent down and picked up my mask that Cutter had dropped and left.  I stood frozen as he examined my blue mask before pulling it over my head with a satisfied grin.  "Mt. Everest... has a nice ring to it."

"Gunner..."

"Come on Everett, let's go find Cutter before he does something else stupid."  With that, he turned and walked away.  I blinked before running off after him.

We walked silently next to each other as we made our way to the parking lot.  I risked a glance up at him and saw he was focused on walking and probably trying to find the way out.  I knew of course, but I followed him anyways. 

I was really confused by his behavior a minute ago, and even now I could practically see the billions of questions floating through his head, but he didn't ask.  In fact, he dismissed the topic entirely.  It was kind of unsettling.

I suppose I should be grateful he wasn't interrogating me or kicking me out of his house, but somehow, I found this to be much worse than any interrogation.  It left me with all sort of questions, probably more than him.

As we walked I could feel the awkward tension build between us as more and more questions arose.  Gunner started shooting me quick glances but when I went to look back at him he'd look ahead again.  We walked down a hall and I heard him groan as we passed the same bathroom for the third time.

"It's to the right and then left."  I murmured and Gunner stopped walking.  I stopped and looked back at him.  "What?"

"Why did you let me lead when you knew how to get out?"  I shrugged, not having a better answer, and looked down at my feet.  I heard more than saw Gunner walk forward and I turned to go the way to the parking lot but was stopped when he grabbed my wrist. 

He spun me around so I was facing him and I felt my heart rate pick up as he looked down at me.  He looked at me intensely for a moment before sighing.  Before I could react, he grabbed my mask and pulled it off.  I vaguely wondered how crazy my hair looked from having my mask pulled off twice.

We starred into each other's eyes and I noticed the tiny hints of blue in Gunner's green eyes.  It occurred to me how often we found ourselves in this position, neither one daring to talk while we starred into each other's eyes.  If someone didn't know any better, they might think we were in love.

"I'm sorry."  Gunner finally broke our silence.

"What for?"  I asked.  If anyone should apologize it should be me.

"For making things so awkward between us."  He said.  "After the classroom, then you ran, and then moved into my house."  I cringed at the memory of our kiss and my idiot move after.  "And now, even this whole thing."  He motioned around us with his hand.  "I'm just really sorry for all of it."

"Gunner, all those things were totally my fault."  I said wanting to smack some sense into him.  "You have been nothing but perfect to me and I... well, I can't do anything right." 

I looked down but he used his index finger to lift my chin back up.  My heart skipped a beat and my skin tingled from his touch.  I couldn't do anything right so why stop screwing up now? 

Gunner opened his mouth to say something but he never got the chance to.  I reached up and grabbed face and pulled it down to mine, pressing my lips roughly against his.  He had been trying to get rid of the awkwardness between us, and here I was making it so much worse.  Honestly what was wrong with me?

But it only took a second for Gunner to recover from shock and I felt his arms loop around my waist.  He leaned closer to me and I was afraid my heart would fly right out my chest.  I had started the kiss, but Gunner was running the show, and I wasn't complaining.

We pulled away and the smile on Gunner's face was worth a million dollars.  Maybe I didn't mess it up too badly after all.  He took a step away, but slipped his hand into mine.

"We probably shouldn't leave Cutter alone too much longer."  Gunner smiled and I nodded.  Cutter had caused enough commotion for one night.