Hunter

Chapter Thirty One - Running Into Trouble

The redundant cracking of the gravel under my shoes was soothingly irritating. I wanted to be done with our warm up laps so that we could actually go and run on the track. It was our first day back on the cross country team and I was already over it all. I was stuck running behind everyone else because I didn't know the trail, and all I wanted to do was run wild and uninhibited on the trail, but no. Just like other aspects of my life, I was held back and unable to proceed the way I knew would be best for me.

My feet continued to pound steadily on the stones, no sweat breaking out on my forehead from the lack of exertion. Dee jogged silently beside me, not saying a word. I knew she wanted to say something, however, because she kept glancing at me as we ran. I could feel the anticipation crawling up my back from the prospect of what she was going to say. The feeling was unsettling, and I was already irritated from practice.

"So, are you--"

"I think I'm ready." I almost tripped on a stone. I wasn't ready.

"Ready for?"

"Tonight. I'm ready to go to South Africa." Nervous apprehension fluttered in my chest as I imagined us being one step closer to the answer. "I already told Jasper. He said he'd meet us at your house."

"Are you sure?" An unsettling feeling loomed over my head like a stubborn cloud.

"I'm as sure as I've ever been. My dad has been helping me out. I'm ready."

"I didn't know that your dad was the Hybrid." I felt the need to change the subject: as much as I had pushed her to do this, I was suddenly unsure about it all.

"Well, now you know. Jasper knows where the cave is. You can meet me there. I think... I think that you should bring Aiden too." I looked at her from the corner of my eye.

"You want me to--"

"SHUT UP, okay?" Either she was blushing, or her face was red from the jogging. It was not the jogging "I do not have a crush on him, I just think that this could be a good opportunity for you guys to talk about him and his powers, you know?" I stopped my feet and glared at her, my eyes directly on hers.

"Deirdre, do not let Aiden distract you. You had a job to complete and you don't need anything getting in your way, especially some half-assed demigod that we know nothing about."

* Ω *

At the end of practice, Dee drove away to get ready without a single glance or word directed at me. I made my way down to the football field where the guys were practicing. Grabbing a bottle of water from my bag, I poured it over my head, immediately feeling cooler and more energized. The water seeped into my skin almost immediately, and I was dry. When I arrived at the turf, the guys had taken off all of their pads and were spraying each other with the hoses. It was a sunny day, and the behavior was understandable. As I walked onto the turf, the scent of sweat hit me so hard I almost passed out from the intensity. I gagged, not looking forward to being so close.

I spotted Aiden immediately, his wet hair curling all the way down to his shoulders. When the rest of the hundred guys spotted me, the catcalls didn't stop. I honestly considered ignoring Dee's request and going home, but since she had already left, Aiden was my ride. As I got closer to the bleachers, someone had the utter audacity to spray me with the hose. Gasping from the surprisingly cold water, I glared at the sorry punk.

"Sorry, you were just so hot that I couldn't stop myself from cooling you down." His buddies all chuckled as though he was a Grade A comedian. I felt that sensation in my gut once again and I smirked. I spread out my fingers as I kept walking and then pushed that feeling forward. Immediately, a gush of water flew out of the hose and splashed him painfully in the face. He landed flat on his back as the water sprayed everywhere. Aiden spotted me and then looked at his teammate who was struggling with the hose. Noticing the connection immediately, he grinned, his pearly whites flashing at me.