Like Real People Do - Jill Roord

Promise Me One Thing

Jill's POV

Back in the mini cab, we'd agreed not to tell Hunter the details of the team dinner. Leah had said something which struck a chord, 'she has enough demons within herself, we don't need her knowing she's surrounded by them as well.' Lia had agreed that Hunter realizing the team took her for granted, would cause more damage than positivity. I wasn't sure, but they knew her far better than me, so I'd was onboard.

Now, Hunter was sitting besides me on the plane back to London and we'd barely stopped talking. Next to us, both Leah and Lia sat asleep, the exhaustion had taken over them a while ago. 

"Where's one place you'd travel to?" Hunter asked, she begun speaking so quickly that it was difficult to keep up with her, "You've got the whole world... where are you going?"

I thought for a second, "probably Norway, I'd love to see the Northern Lights and go skiing."

Hunter's eyes lit up, almost as if the sights of the world lay right in front of her eyes, "I'd love that," she sighed, "I've never been."

"Then it's a plan," I smiled, saying it without even thinking. 

I questioned whether I'd known Hunter for twenty seconds or twenty years. It felt like I saw her, I felt like I noticed every detail about the way she spoke, the way her lips curled to form a smile, the depth in her eyes with every emotion. Time didn't seem to exist when I thought about Hunter because she seemed like a being of eternity; I didn't know exactly what that meant but I already couldn't imagine the world without her. 

I then realized my suggestion had been rather forward and shook my head, trying to play it off with quiet laughter, "Sorry."

Hunter leaned her elbow on the arm rest, her chin sitting gently on her fist, her face so close to mine, "You've got to stop apologizing," she told me once again.

"Sor-" I went to say, "Okay," I nodded taking her advice.

Hunter then smiled, her eyes looking up to reach mine, "But I like that suggestion Jilly."

Jilly. My heart stopped for a second, taking a moment to process those five letters as I felt my smile widen even further, "I guess we have gotten past newbie."

Hunter's head hung to the side, playfully admiring me, as she leaned towards the seat in front, "Well we're friends now."

Suddenly, the plane jolted slightly and for the first time I can remember, my first response wasn't worrying about our imminent death. Instinctively, my hands rushed to catch Hunter's head before she crashed into the metal.

"Verdomme (fucking hell)," I huffed after I'd positioned my hand in-between Hunter's head and the metal of the seat in front. 

Hunter just giggled, this stream of laughter continued as she sat up, "That was fucking close," her eyes widened.

I shook my head, not finding it funny, "Too close. Be more careful," I warned her. 

She just continued laughing, "Oh it's alright Jilly, I'm fine," She teased, sensing my worry, "Join in with the joke."

Still, I didn't find it the slightest bit funny, "No," I shook my head, adamant, "No, I won't," Then I looked to her and suddenly, I was having to force the smile off my face to remain stern. 

Hunter had these enchanting expressions; they lay everything out on a platter yet kept it all a complete mystery. Her smile was wide enough to see but never large enough to feel like she was genuinely happy. The green in her eyes had this unimaginable depth, I felt I should be able to read the story behind them, but I couldn't. I'd never seen someone so brightly lit from within with sparkles forever surrounding them; Hunter was like this light but it wasn't happy so I wondered what else it could be. 

Frowning, Hunter shifted closer to me, "Don't be mad," She pleaded jokingly. 

"I'm mad," I held my hands up, a slight laugh breaking free.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" She offered, now sounding genuine. 

I finally allowed my eyes to fall into hers' and it felt like the entire world stopped for a second, just to stare. "Promise me one thing," my voice was soft.

"What?" Hunter seemed intrigued.

I sighed, "You've got to stop running from me Putellas."

Hunter smirked, "And where would I be running to Jilly? We're rather trapped in here," she referred to the plane. We both knew what I was talking about; every time I got the slightest bit closer to Hunter, she ran and I got pushed away. 

"You know what I mean," I responded, not playing around anymore. 

Hunter nodded ever so slightly, her lips parted as she considered the promise. "I won't run," she gulped, lifting her head that little bit higher; she sounded genuine. 

We fell into this comfortable silence, now knowing that we both enjoyed each other's company. Though, I think saying 'enjoyed' was a little meaningless, I think I longed for Hunter's company even with knowing her for such a short time.

There was something about the brunette which pulled me in, she was a magnet and maybe I'd fallen for that trick but I'd happily follow that force if it led me to her. I think we'd be great friends, I also thought she needed some genuine friends. 
The Arsenal girls didn't hate her but they didn't love her. Hunter was there, in their minds, for entertainment, they might as well be paying her for the show because that's all they did; they just watched. I'm not even sure if they realized their own ignorance.

We arrived back in North London rather quickly, returning to our training schedule before playing the second leg of our Champions League match against Real Madrid. We won, again, it was an incredible victory and we had Hunter to thank. When I watched her play, I saw that Putellas flare, she was going to follow in her sister's footsteps and it wouldn't surprise me if she somehow went further.  

And so far, in that week or so, she'd kept her promise. Hunter hadn't run. In fact, for much of the time she'd been right by my side. We'd grown closer, I'd say it was an established friendship rather than one built on the basis of a few conversations but I didn't know Hunter any better. I hadn't learnt to read Hunter any better.

Hunter was a complete mystery hiding in plain sight. I wanted to open that book, read her story. But she wouldn't let me, she wouldn't let anyone it seemed, it felt as if she'd closed the book a long time ago and positioned it on the highest shelf as it sat there collecting dust. Part of me assumed that Hunter dreamed of loosing that book, misplacing it in some dark alleyway and never seeing it again. Perhaps she could loose the pages but the story itself would forever stay with her.