The Perfect Hybrid

CHAPTER VII

Hunter

The light of the bonfire danced along the music from the stereos of one of the students in my former high school. The sounds of the rowdy partygoers filled the night of the usually quiet clearing near the woods. Some students decided to have a sing-along around the bonfire while some are pretty much making the most of the party by getting drunk or getting high.

I was neither of those students considering I am no longer a student here. I felt too old to join the sing-along. Getting drunk and high would heighten my senses which would be messy. And I try to avoid being in messy situations as much as possible.

So here I am, beer on one hand, casually leaning on a tree, waiting for a miracle to happen and even questioning my decision for even coming.

I had a few jocks and their lackeys surround me earlier. Some of them probably recognized me from the pinboards of the school, being the school's MVP football player and all. They lingered for a moment, trying to engage me in their conversation, but a few clipped words here and there, they finally got the hint.

"Norwood!"

I tensed as I seemed to always do whenever I hear that voice. I masked my tension with a calm smile on my face before looking up.

"Mr. Tyler."

"Ah. No need to be so formal with me now, Hunter. We both know we're just a few years apart."

Forcing my nerves to relax, I managed a reply. "True, but I was still your student."

"Was," he nodded, agreeing only on that part of my statement. "Anyway, it's good to see you back in town. I remember when you were so eager to get out the moment you graduated. But two years later, here you are. Do you mind telling this curious soul the reason for your return? Does a certain childhood friend who is a girl have anything to do with it?"

I chuckled at that. I guess Mr. Tyler is still good at reading people.

"Skylar has nothing to do with me coming back," I paused as I saw the smirk on Mr. Tyler's face with my slip up.

"Oh, the girl was given a name. Well, I did not say that Ms. Tempest was the girl we were talking about but do go on."

I slightly blushed at that before I shrugged, "I guess I just wanted to have a breather. And what better way to have that is to go back home, right? I have done some pretty long soul-searching that I decided to find myself back."

"And I'm glad you did."

A few minutes of silence passed; I thought the conversation was over. It was until I felt the sudden shift in the air. The smirk on Mr. Tyler's face was replaced with a faraway look in his eyes.

"The girls are glad that you're here."

The girls

"They need you. Or rather, they will need you. They will need every help they can get."

I was about to have a smart retort to lighten the mood up however, something told me to listen well and take this conversation seriously.

He looked at me with this solemn look in his eyes. "Everything will change after tonight," he said, and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Remember, it's not your fault. I forgive you. We have forgiven you, a long time ago."

His words made my stomach turn even though I did not understand what he means.

Just then, I felt the presence of the two girls we were just talking about earlier. I turned in their direction to greet them, glad to have a distraction from the almost depressing mood.