Annie
Tamsin’s leaning against her locker, books hugged to her chest, throwing questions at me. ‘So you followed him to the beach, and he didn’t tell you to get lost?’
It’s clear she wants every detail about the time I spent with Hunter on Saturday night. I think back to how comfortable that moment felt with him. ‘Not directly, but it’s possible I missed non-verbal cues in that state.’
Her eyes are shining with mischief. ‘It’s also possible Hunter Reed tolerates your company.’
I roll my eyes in her direction. ‘Forgive me, because I’m new to this, but am I supposed to be flattered when a boy tolerates my company?’
‘Not a boy. Hunter Reed.’
I close my locker and turn to her, wondering if I should mention that I saw him again yesterday. That was a very different exchange.
‘You’re so far from his usual type it’s laughable,’ Tamsin says, ‘but I’m definitely picking up on some weird chemistry between you two, and I’m not usually wrong about these things.’
We start walking to our classes. ‘What’s his usual type?’ I’ve never seen Hunter with a girlfriend before, so I’m curious.
She thinks for a moment. ‘Well, firstly, he doesn’t date girls at this school. I’m not certain about the reason why, but some say it’s so when he breaks up with them, he can cut ties completely.’
That seems cold and a contrast to the guy I raced along the creek yesterday. The Hunter from yesterday is complicated, not cruel.
As we round the corner, I almost run straight into the man of the moment. My eyes travel up to meet Hunter’s glare, but the moment he recognises me, the edges of his face soften. We stare at one another.
This is the part where I’m supposed to look away, stutter out some sort of apology, move aside and flee to safety. That’s the correct response for someone in this situation.
Look away.
Move aside.
But I don’t do either of those things. I do hold my breath, though. His eyes bore into mine for one long, intense moment before he steps around me and keeps walking.
He steps around me.
‘Wow,’ Tamsin breathes. ‘I bloody knew it.’
I realise that the other students have all fallen silent and are staring at me like a person who’s just revealed their superpower.
Lee’s first to break the silence. ‘So the rumours are true, then?’
I pinch my eyebrows together. ‘What rumours?’
‘Ignore him,’ Tamsin says.
Lee turns to Sammy, whose locker is next to his. ‘Must have been some good head on that beach.’
Tamsin produces a pencil, from goodness knows where, and throws it, hitting him squarely in the head. ‘Don’t be gross.’
Lee laughs. ‘Relax. I know for a fact that J-dubs have a sense of humour.’ He meets my eyes. ‘That’s why you come knocking again after being told to piss off, right?’
Sammy shakes his head and exits the scene. His next class is biology with Hunter. Hopefully he doesn’t say anything. I’m embarrassed enough without Hunter finding out.
‘Not cool,’ Tamsin says to Lee. She grabs me by the arm and pulls me away from all the stares. When we’re out of sight and earshot, she asks, ‘You all right?’
I nod, even though my heart’s racing. I’m used to jokes about my religion. They’re easy to ignore and shrug off. Jokes about me and boys is new territory.
Mr Petros steps out of a nearby classroom. ‘The bell rang five minutes ago, ladies.’ His eyes narrow on me briefly.
Heads down, we flee the corridor.