Lifeline

21. Phobia

Third Person POV

Hunter looked at the intricate system he had set up.

Somehow, it seemed he was the only one in the house unafraid of spiders or other bugs. In the month he had been here, he had been pranked relentlessly, and he was not going to wait through a whole year of this.

"It's not so bad once you get used to it," Jane had said.

He was not going to get used to it. He absolutely refused.

So instead, he had gone out to get hundreds of rubber bugs, and he had rigged up a net above the kitchen, and after the whole pack was here for breakfast, he would pull on a rope hidden behind the refrigerator, and unleash his reign of terror on his pack.

Of course, all this was only to stop the pack from their games on him. It had nothing to do with how he had been completely ignored by Astra the past few days. Astra, who had been one of the best friends he'd had in the past five weeks.

Hunter shook his head and let go of that train of thought as people started to file into the kitchen. He was waiting, eating a bowl of cereal to look less suspicious than if he was just standing around. They were all tired, so they barely even noticed anything.

Except for Jane. Because of course Jane notices. She was the last to come in, and immediately took notice. She looked at him and narrowed her eyes, eyeing him suspiciously.

"What are you doing?" She asked as he stood up to put his bowl into the sink. Lucky for him, no one glanced up until Janenspoke to him, at which point other tool notice. Derek grinned at him.

"Haven't you given up yet, Clement? After the last few pitiful times, you should know nothing you do will surprise us." Hunter nodded, putting in a very noticeably fake act of defeat.

"I suppose you're right," he said, backing up slowly in the direction of the fridge. Now, everyone was looking at him warily. He was by the fridge now. "But you can surprise me. For example!" He slid his hand behind the fridge, and the whole room tensed, knowing something was about to happen.

"The fact that you're all afraid of bugs was very surprising." He pulled the rope before they had time to even register his words, and hundreds of rubber bugs came raining down.

***

"That was cruel." Jane told him.

After he had unleashed the bugs, all the screams had made it very that he was the only one who had known they were fake. Of course, he had bolted, and had hidden away for at least an hour. When he came back, most of the pack was bitter, while others either found him hilarious or respected his creativity with slight embarrassment. Jane was jumping back and forth between all the options.

"Well it worked. I'm not the 'new guy' anymore, now am I?"

"I'm not saying it didn't work! I'm saying you could have given me some warning! I thought we were closer than this, man!" Jane shook her head in annoyance. Hunter smiled at her.

"I'm sorry."

Jane rolled her eyes, but her expression did soften slightly. She jumped suddenly, jostling Hunter (who was on the same couch) and making him lean away from her slightly.

"Oh! Did anyone tell you about the party tonight?" She asked. Hunter frowned in confusion. "What?"

"Tonight there's this party down at the docks. The pack throws it every year, we invite a few vampires and warlocks and shadowhunters - some seelies too, but they have parties everyday so not many always show, but nothing personal. This will be the fifth year, and it's to celebrate how great it is here in London, especially on this side of town."

Hunter frowned. "What does that mean?" He didn't think he had said anything wrong, but the smile melted from Jane's face. She looked down.

"It isn't actually that normal, you know," she said. "It isn't normal for downworlders and shadowhunters to be close, or have a relationship, or to even talk in a civil way. And werewolves, we usually avoid and hate vampire. And it wasn't always like this here, when Astra and Jay's parents were still here. But then when Astra was about twelve, after Valentine died, then they moved to Idris permanently. And then a few years ago, they cut Astra off completely, and now they never even visit. And Astra and Jay are amazing, and they actually help downworlders whenever we need it. When something bad happens, we feel safe to call the shadowhunters, and we know they have our best interests at heart. They helped us come to peace with the vampires. Now we know that isn't normal to live so peacefully. So we celebrate."

Hunter looed down. "So I'm guessing we're going," he said, and she grinned. "Yep. I figured we would meet Astra and Jay there." Hunter tensed and Jane frowned. But she soon realised what was happening.

"She's been avoiding you, hasn't she?" Jane asked. Hunter looked away. Jane knew what was happening. She shouldn't meddle, but she saw where this was going, and she refused to allow this. Hunter and Astra would be great friends, and she had to ensure Astra didn't ruin it.

"We should talk."

At long last, I have returned to thou! OK, so I am so sorry it has been so long, I know I should have done this sooner. I do have reasons, but I still apologize. I love you all, and I hope you can forgive me.

Bye everyone! :) 

-Kaylee