The Chemistry Test

29. quests and apologies

Day Twelve

Rain pattered against my windshield as I drove up the twisting road to the Hollingsworth mansion. With each curve and turn, pine and evergreen trees swished past my vision, shrouding my drive in various shades of green.
I'd put on some soft music to calm my nerves, but even the melodious beats of Lord Huron couldn't untangle the clump of nerves in my stomach.

It was going to be okay. I had to promise myself it would be.

Pulling up the long driveway, there was a white Mercedes parked next to Hunter's black Audi, and I swallowed hard.

Gwyn. I hadn't expected her to be there. Then again, I hadn't told Hunter I was coming in the first place.

On the bright side, it was much easier to tell the both of them than individually, so I cut the engine and convinced myself to get out of the car.

My flannel was dotted with rain as I waited under the terrace, mindlessly scrolling through my phone to distract myself from the ever-building anxiety in my chest. My feed continued to remind me of the video, popping up in every Instagram story and rowdy Snapchat. Finally, I slipped it into my pocket, annoyed with my peers' insistent ridicule of my friends.

After knocking multiple times, it seemed best to turn around and go home, but just as I turned to leave, the massive wooden door creaked open.

Only one brown eye and a couple of chocolate curls peeked through the crack. "Oh, thank God." Hunter sighed, pulling it open to reveal his shirtless torso. "We thought you were like, a murderer, or something."

I laughed, trying to ignore the fact that he was wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist. "Aw, I didn't mean to scare you."

He turned over his shoulder and called into the foyer, "It's just Zoe. She's not gonna kill us." he laughed, turning back to me. "I hope."

I shook my head, smiling as my other half-naked friend poked her head through the opening.

"Zoe, hi!" Gwyn's voice chimed, and I peeked over to where she was tying a red robe around herself. "Just give me one sec, kay?"

"Yeah, of course." I sent Hunter an apologetic look, trying my best not to look as awkward as I felt. He flashed me a pearly white smile, acknowledging the weirdness of the situation with raised eyebrows.

"So, what brings you here?" He kept his smile, running a hand through his mess of curls, which were fluffier and bouncier than usual. "Did I leave something at your house?"

"Um, not exactly. I wanted to talk to you guys, but if it's not a good time, I totally understand--"

"Oh, no worries. We were, um, done anyway, so--" He closed his eyes, laughing. "Yeah, come in."

Wincing from the awkwardness, I followed my friends through the open foyer and into the spacious living room adorned with renaissance paintings and large, plush white sofas. One of the maids was dusting the glass coffee table, and politely greeted me as I made myself comfortable on the loveseat, waiting for the two of them to change.

God, I walked in on Gwyn and Hunter. I didn't know who to be more embarrassed for--myself--or them. Maybe myself, because Gwyn really had no shame, at least, not most of the time. The video was an exception.

They came clambering down the spiral staircase, Hunter in a wrinkled tee and Gwyn in his WBHS basketball shorts. Normally, the beauty queen wouldn't be caught dead in anything so casual or boyish, but the mile wide smile on her bare lips was far removed from any nagging thoughts about fashion. With her natural makeup and un-straightened hair pulled back into a ponytail, Gwyn was almost unrecognizable.