Hunter

Chapter 6: The Day After

The sun was about half way in the sky, about 10:00. The parrots could be heard for miles, their squawking could almost sound like they were trying to sing like all the other birds. Hunter awoke in a light blueish room, she laid in a queen sized bed with white covers. She could see her reflection in a white vanity across from the bed. She wiped her eyes and yawned, she looked to her right to see Torey sleeping peacefully. "She looks so peaceful" Hunter thought. Hunter lightly pulled the covers off of her, trying not to wake Torey. She looked in the mirror at her messy short hair. She ran her fingers through her hair to smooth it out. She was wearing a blue shirt with Eeyore on it holding a hot cup of cocoa, she wore a dark blue pair of shorts and her socks that she had on the previous night. Hunter grabbed her phone that was sitting charging next to Torey's. She picked it up and looked at the screen to be welcomed with multiple text messages from both her sisters. "Hunter?!?! Where the hell are you we're getting worried, please messages us back" A text from Sam said. A text from Sonah said "Dude mom and Sam are worried about you please call us." Hunter took the phone off the charger and walked out to Torey's backyard. A giant oak tree stood in the middle of the yard with a tire swing hanging from it, and across the way a white hammock hung from the house and pole a short distance from the house. She opened her phone and called Sonah. It rang once and then Sonah answered.

"Hunter! Hello? Where are you we've been worried sick!" Sonah yelled in the phone.

"Yeah I'm so sorry. After Caroline's I drove to Torey's house and she didn't want me to drive home, because I was basically an emotional train wreck. As soon as I got in, I changed into a extra pair of Pajamas she had and we both just passed out. I should have texted you guys, it was just such a rough night, but I'm fine and I'll be home as soon as I get dressed. I promise." Hunter explained.

"Is that Hunter?!" Sam said in the background.

"Yes." Sonah told Sam. "Hurry home please."

"I will, bye."

"Bye." Hunter hung up and turned to see Torey standing at the backdoor.

"Was that Sonah?" Torey asked.

"Yeah, she wants me to head home." Hunter explained. "Thank you for letting me stay the night Torey, I really appreciate it."

"No problem, I would have felt guilty if I let you drive home in your condition and you had gotten into an accident."

"Well I'm going to go get dressed and then head home." Hunter said walking back into Torey's house and into her bedroom. Hunter grabbed her clothes that were thrown on the ground and started to change.

"So are you going to tell me what happened last night?"

"What do you mean? Nothing really happened. I left before I could even order dinner."

"Well what did he say when you accused him of cheating." Torey asked.

"He tried to throw it back on me."

"What!?"

"Back in my sophomore year, I cheated on him with this new kid." Hunter explained as she continued to get dressed. "His name was Oliver, we made out twice and then I stopped it. I'd felt so guilty that I would completely ignore him."

"So, what happened after that?" Torey asked.

"Well I told him he couldn't turn it back on me, and than I just said we were over and that I didn't want to see him anymore then I left. That's it." Hunter said as she started to grab her backpack. She walked out of Torey's room and headed for the front door.

"So, you're done with him? Completely?"

"Yep, and honestly it feels kind of good. I don't have to worry about telling him that I can't hang because of rehearsals, and I can finally be myself." Hunter stopped at the end of Torey's porch and turned, talking to her.

"Well I'm glad you're feeling better, text me when you get home please."

"Sure thing Torey." Hunter hugged Torey, and headed to her bike that was still parked in front of Torey's house. She got on her bike and waved to Torey. Torey waved back and Hunter started up her bike and slipped her helmet on and drove off. The entire drive home all Hunter could think about was Torey, but it was thinking of her as a friend, it was more of how much she cared for Torey as something more than just a friend. As Hunter arrived on her street she could see her sisters waiting for her on the sidewalk in front of their house. She pulled her bike into the driveway next to their black SUV. As Hunter got off her bike she was almost knocked over by Sam hugging her.

"Whoa kid hold on, let me set my stuff down." Hunter said pushing Sam off of her. Hunter looked over at Sonah. Sonah was trying not to look at Hunter. "Hey Sonah." Hunter said picking up her stuff. Sonah turned and headed for the door, she opened it and left it there for Hunter and Sam to close. Sam hung on to Hunter's stomach, not wanting to let go of her. Hunter threw her arm over Sam's shoulders and the two walked into the house. Hunter closed the door behind her. "Alright Sam, I'm in the house now you can let go." Hunter said chuckling.

"I was so scared you had gotten into an accident and I was never going to see you again." Sam said.

"We all did Hunter, we feared for the worst." Sonah snapped as she leaned her back against the wall.

"Look guys, I'm sorry. I've never gone through a break up like this before I didn't know what to do."

"So you went to Torey's house instead of coming home?" Sonah questioned as her voice became slightly louder.

"Something pulled me there, I-I don't know what but something did." Hunter stuttered 

"You stilled scared the crap out of us Hunter? How the hell do you think we were supposed to know if you were even still alive?" Sonah's voice grew louder and louder with every word.

Hunter's voice started to match Sonah's loudness. "I apologized and now I'm here. What more could you want?"

"I don't know maybe a sister who actually talks to her sisters?" Sam began to curl up in fear as she watched her older sisters yell.

"You know what Sonah your starting to act a lot like dad, maybe you should leave like he did." Without warning, Sonah raised her hand and swiped it across Hunter's face. Sam jumped and looked in surprise at Sonah. With the force of gravity Hunter's faced was turned in the direction that Sonah had slapped it. Hunter grasped her cheek and turned to face Sonah. Her eyes showed the pain and betrayal. Hunter grabbed her black backpack and her keys and stormed out of the house. Sonah finally realizing what she had done immediately regretted it. She ran after Hunter but was too late, Hunter had already started her bike and was backing out. By the time Sonah got to her, she already was turning around and she zoomed off leaving no sign of where she was going.

"What have I done?" Sonah whispered under her breath. She turned to see her sister standing in the entryway of the house, Sam looked down and then disappeared into the house.