New Girl In Town (1) ✔️

Dessert for....

Dinner is quite the event. Rachel and Wes are talking almost nonstop, trying to micromanage our schedules for tomorrow. But really, how can you plan out a day at an amusement park with this many people involved. David is lamenting his displeasure at spinning rides, he gets motion sickness. Mercedes doesn't like roller coasters. Tina doesn't do water rides but Mike wants to go to the water park instead. Finn is trying to convince everyone that it would be a good idea to race go carts. We have a whole week, so why plan so much at one time.

Me, I've been here before so I'm just sitting back. Eating and observing.

This isn't my event.

I'm just here.

From my vantage point I can hear and see Sebastian getting very excited as he talks about New York, his wishes for when he gets to the city.  Blaine and Thad are throwing in ideas as well, since Blaine won't be that far away when he ends up at NYU next year.  Thad seems to be pushing hard for he and Sebastian to be roommates.

I lock eyes with Hunter as all of these conversations swirl around me. He raises an eyebrow at me, sipping casually on his drink. I'm still very unsure if I will be in New York or Los Angeles come the fall and he knows it. The offer from UCLA is honestly more lucrative and beneficial for me, for my future when you really think about it. Full tuition paid plus stipends for books, room and board. They're basically trying to pay me to attend their school, that is how much they want me in the program.  He knows all of this and he is pleading, begging me with his eyes to come with him.

To be with him.

To choose him.

Honestly it is quite the intriguing offer.

Because I can picture it entirely in my head already.  Living off campus in a cute little beachside bungalow.  Flip flops and sunglasses all the time. The sun bringing out the natural red highlights in my hair, giving me a coppery glow. Hunter's skin darkening in a tan like it did when he was in Florida. His hair getting a bronzy tinge, perfectly complimenting his green eyes.

In a word, paradise.

Living beachside has always been a dream of mine. And it is there, a fingertips length away. Just within my grasp if I wish to reach for it.

A touch on my right arm shakes me out of my daydreams.  I glance to my right to see Quinn and Santana looking at me expectantly.  Brittney is happily munching on her fries occasionally glancing my way as well.  I blink a few times, blush growing on my face. "Um, wha??"  Quinn shakes her head while Brittney giggles behind her hands.  Santana looks perturbed with me.  "Water Sprite we asked if you wanted to go around with us tomorrow.  But you were too busy gazing off into the distance and eyefucking your dance partner to notice anything else.  Do I need to take out the razor blades?"

I'm shocked.

Puck and Hunter are snickering at me from across the table. I could slap them both right now because it is my life on the line with these girls. "I was not eye..." Realizing how loud I'm speaking I lower my voice some and start again, "I was not eyefucking him. I was thinking about something and just happened to be looking in Hunter's direction."  Brittney blinks her pretty blue eyes at me, so innocently.  "What were you thinking about Shanny?"

I sigh.

"Nothing really. Random thoughts.  Next year. The future. College plans. The beach..."

My eyes momentarily flicker from Brittney to Hunter. So quickly that it would be easier to see the individual wing beats of a hummingbird than my action. The girls don't catch it but he certainly does. At the mention of beach Hunter's moss green eyes take on a new glow.