The Fighter that He Swore to Save

Chapter 22

            

Gunner

~*~*~*~*~*~

Oh, my gosh.  Gunner, breathe.  Oxygen will help.  I had been talking to myself like this and trying to catch my breath for the last ten minutes outside Everett's door.  My jaw was probably going to bruise from the hairbrush, but that wasn't the issue.

The issue was that I had been standing here for ten full minutes and I still couldn't breathe.  I think I'm having a panic attack, this is all too much. 

Vi-Vi and Tristan totally set me for that.  They called me and said they had a list of things they wanted me to do, so being the good brother I am I went to hear them out.  Then she showed up like that and that whole ordeal and I was left a panicked mess.  I haven't even read the list Tristan gave me.

Hesitantly, I opened the letter with shaking hands and read over it.  It was just as I expected, they were up to something.  I have known Tristan long enough to know she's the master of coincidence and perfect timing.  She can manipulate situations with such ease it's honestly scary.

Last night I know they were up till at least four in the morning setting up the perfect trap.  Vi-Vi knows Everett and I are... I don't even know how to explain our relationship, but they are trying to set us both up.  Ten minutes ago was evidence enough of that.

I shook my head, finally catching my breath and went to my room, falling face first onto the bed.  The first item on the list said to clean my room and not to leave till it was perfect.  I don't know why that matters but my room does need to be cleaned badly.  At least they gave me time because the next thing on list was to go get a haircut at 11.  Of course, they had already made an appointment...

"What are you doing?"  I groaned internally at the German accent.

"Wallowing in self-pity."  I grumbled into my pillow.  Hildegard scoffed at that and I felt a pillow hit my head.

"Well, get up and clean this place up."  I sat up and looked at her.

"You've never made me before."  I said and she sighed.

"Your sister asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Of course, she did."  I grumbled.

"I'm not complaining about the room part."  Hildegard said handing me a sweeper.  "You better get to work."  With that she turned and left my room.  I sighed and began cleaning up my clutter.

"Hey Bro, we're about to head out so..."

"Hey Vi-Vi, hold on."  I said and she looked at me with a freckled smile.

"Yeah?"  I grabbed the list they gave me and looked it over again.

"What are you and Tristan setting up?"  Vi-Vi glanced down the hall before walking into my room and closing the door.

"Okay, Tristan didn't want me telling you but I think you should know." 

Oh dear, this is what I was afraid of.

"So," Vi-Vi continued, "Tristan thinks you and Everett need to hook up, and I totally agree.  So, we created a whole day where you two will keep running into each other at random moments.  Hence the list.  Finally, at the end of the day, we reserved a nice restaurant for you two."

I blinked, not sure how to answer to all of that.  "Wasn't this whole shopping day set up to fix her wardrobe?"  I asked the probably the dumbest question I could.

"Well, that's part of it too."  She said.  "Everett seriously needs a new style."

"So, I'm just supposed to follow this list and..."

"And enjoy the ride I guess."  She smiled.  "I'll see you later."  She opened the door.

"Yeah, see ya Vi."  I said and she froze.

"Wait, I almost forgot why I told you all that."  She said and I paused as she walked back into my room.

"Do you like Everett?"  She asked and I blinked, taken off guard.

"W-what?"

"Tristan and I set this whole thing up, but it'll kind of be pointless if you don't even like Everett in a romantic way.  I mean judging from the way you reacted this morning and what happened last night, I assume it's yes but still.  I want to be sure."

"I, um... I'm..."  Vi-Vi sighed.

"Do you want to kiss her?"  At this question my face turned cherry red remembering the kiss we shared just last night.  I defiantly wanted to that again.

"I guess."  Was the answer I gave my sister.  Her lips were so soft.

"Wait a minute."  She said as if she just discovered something.  "Have... have you ever kissed Everett before?"  She asked and I knew my face gave it all away.  "You eel," she cried her favorite insult.  "Here I was all worried if was the right thing to be doing, but what the heck Gunner.  Why aren't you two already dating?"

"I don't know, it's weird and I don't know if she actually likes me back or anything.  The first time we kissed she ran away and–"

"Hold on, you've kissed her more than once?"

"Um, yeah, I guess."

"You guess?  Ugh, I swear, how can you be so stupid?"  She shook her head and went back to the door.  "Gunner, you just follow that list and go with the flow okay?"

"Vi-Vi, wait a minute."

"Nope, if the two of you aren't an item by the end of  this weekend, I'll bash you head in, got it?"

"Vi-Vi."

"Tristan and your Boo are waiting for me.  Follow the list and I'll see you tonight.  No excuses you idiot."  With that she closed my door leaving me alone.  I sighed and went back to the task of my room.  Taking a step back and looking at the place, I swear a tornado ran through here.

All else aside, I had to admit I was kind of excited to see what they had planned today.  One thing was for sure and that was that it was going to be interesting.