Invisible

Chapter 33 Cherry Juice

My arm is yanked away as I again step away and look at him. "You know I can't."

"Well then what am I doing here?"

"Excuse me?" I have no idea what he means.

"Well, I'm nuts, but you keep me around." He's trying not to smile but his eyes flash with humor.

"Please don't joke." I'm getting irritated but I can't quite put my finger on why.

"I'm sorry." He backs off, his shoulders slump and he shoves his hands in the side pockets of his swimming trunks as he looks at the ground. The shirt is several sizes too big for him and he is just swimming in it... Swimming!

I look down at myself and back up. I never changed into my swimsuit and now I feel extremely awkward about the whole thing, in what desperate world did I enter this afternoon that I thought this was a good idea.

I suck in a breath through my teeth and try to give him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I've just been a bit emotional lately... I thought I was doing better but I keep relapsing." My attention turns to the cake, I grab the knife and half another cherry.

The pit falls into the waiting garbage can with a heavy thump that sounds like my heart falling flat with anguish. I fix the mistake and pop the other half in my mouth, trying no to look at anything but my handiwork.

"Want to talk about it?" His words ring out through the giant house and I find I'm too tired to put up a fight.

"Sometimes I feel like everyone looks at me and sees a worn out joke. I'm just too different..." I trail off, hanging my head and trying to hold back the sadness that threatens to escape through my eyes.

In the corner of my vision I see Hunter stretch around and grab something. "Here." He holds out a tissue.

I shake him off. "Really I'm fine."

He opens his mouth.

"How do you do that?

"What?"

I think over my words carefully before I reply. "Make me tell you things... Knowing when I'm not being truthful with you?" My hands still, while I've been talking I've cleaned up the island and started cutting the beans into a pan.

"I don't know. I value honesty, I've always been honest with you. Maybe you just feel the need to return the favor."

His calm words reach me and I bring the scissors together too close to my index finger. I wince as a thin line of blood appears and starts to pool into a drop. "Shoot!" I whisper harshly.

"You okay?" Hunter steps forward and grabs a paper towel, reaching over to rinse it with water in the sink. He holds it out to me once he's rung it out and I accept it gratefully. "Listen, why don't you let me finish this and you can go get that cleaned up."

"Thanks. Just wash the scissors and don't cu-"

"Don't worry, I got it." Hunter waves me off and I retreat, carful to avoid getting blood on the yellow apron as I slip it off.

It takes a minute to clean and bandage the sliced skin and when I walk into the hall I look to my doorway. I need to change, despite the apron I still managed to get cherry juice on the shoulder of my pink shirt somehow and I'm sweating like crazy, that needs to stop.

I brought all of my swimsuits along for my house sitting duration, not sure why, I never figured on having anyone to see me besides Blake and Gordi. I settle on my light pastel, floral print tank and the black boy shorts, completely modest, completely covered. I slip a light green hoodie on that falls to my mid thigh and stuff my hands in my pockets as I race downstairs. The ponytail holder I slipped onto my wrist cuts into the skin slightly and is distracting.

For a second I stop and stare as I round the corner and see Hunter standing there, moving a little as he sings along with the radio, which he must have figured out how to turn on, he's making quick work of the green beans and his navy blue trunks with white lines down the side away as he gets into the beat. What did I ever do to deserve a friend like him?

"Thanks for the help." I reveal myself as I take the pan from him and run some water on the bottom of the pan.

"Don't mention it. Thanks for having me over, I... I wanted to apologize for earlier."

"What do you mean?" I avoid his eyes as I turn the gas stove on and watch the flames encircle the round container. Slowly a mist starts to rise and I close my eyes as my face takes in the heat.

"The whole shirt thing, I didn't think... You invited me over to swim and I just figured you wouldn't mind."

"Oh, no problem. I hope the stains come out. It was my fault anyway."

"No, the other thing."

I look over at him and see his face coloring, my thoughts turn grateful that the steam and stove cover my blush.

When I don't answer he continues, "I'm just comfortable with you. I sometimes forget you might not be at that same familiarity as me."

"It was a bit... surprising."

"I'm sorry."

"Hunter, no more saying sorry. You did nothing wrong." The timer goes off on the oven and I check the temperature of the bird. "Done." Mind helping me just a bit more?"

He grins. "With how amazing that smells I think I have to. If I have to wait too much longer I'm going to die."

"You and your dramatic antics." I roll my eyes at him as i hand him the stack of plates that balance the napkins and silverware. "Dining room is on the left."

"As you wish." He bows low and leaves the kitchen. I finally let myself giggle as I set to work opening the bottle of wine.