Secrets Unknown

<-*^Chapter Three^*->

Chapter Three -

"Gemma, wait up!" I spun on my heels at the sound of Hunter's voice as he rushed to catch up with me. I had an extremely long tiring day and wanted to get home as soon as possible. If it weren't him, I probably would have ignored the call.

"Yeah?" I asked when he had caught up. I wasn't in the mood for a chat - even one with Hunter and that's saying something. I needed to needed to talk with Mavis and no one else.

"I was wondering," he smiled at me, not even out of breath from his run. "Can I catch a ride with you home?"

"Um," I tried to smile back. "I thought you were going with Chloe?"

"Yeah, but she has extra cheerleading today for the big game on Friday. I would wait and watch her, but you know...Friday pop quiz in Bio."

Big game tomorrow, how oblivious to school events was I? I think maybe I overdid the playing-it-low thing.

I shrugged. "Sure. But be warned, I don't have a posh Porsche like her."

"Gemma," he rolled his hazel eyes. "I've seen your car before."

Right. Way to be cool, Gemma, he is your brother.

"Sometimes," I sighed, slipping my hands into my green hoodie pockets. "I forget we're supposed to be siblings."

"Excuse me?" He laughed slightly. "Supposed to be?"

"Maybe that wasn't the right word." I started towards my car at the end of the parking lot, and Hunter followed, matching my pace. "Still, living with Mavis most of my life and suddenly coming home to be told I have a brother is kind of awkward, don't you think? Three weeks isn't enough to settle in with that type of information."

"I know what you mean, I consider you more a friend than a sister."

I smiled at this and felt glad he couldn't see my face. "Same here. 'Kay then, hop in." I unlocked my car and slid into the drivers seat, slamming the door shut behind me.

"Third week and you're already Miss Popular," he grinned at me, referring to earlier when half of the girl population was at my heels (well, Chloe's heels).

"Yeah," I tried to smile as I heard the car engine roar to life. A silence fell between us and I kept wracking my brain for something to say. I found myself peeking through the various car mirrors and spying on Hunter. I was glad the fifteen-minute journey from home to school was on a road that was always peaceful and free of cars except weekly at 5:00PM, which is two hours from now. I didn't have to be that careful driving and could study him properly. He looked uncomfortable, to say the least, like how you feel in a complete strangers car. You don't want to touch anything, lie back comfortably or anything like that.

After a while of him shifting slightly and looking out of the window, he suddenly turned to me and asked unexpectadly, "why don't you like Chloe?" His tone clearly implied that he couldn't believe that anyone wouldn't like his perfect girlfriend.

"Of course I do, everyone likes Chloe." It was close enough to the truth for me not to feel guilty. In all honesty, I have no idea why I'm not so keen on Chloe. She's sweet, fun (or so I'm told), kind, pretty and happy. Okay, I had a slight clue as to why she was not on my best books but it's so ridiculous I'm forced to think it's not the case. I certainly couldn't admit it right to Hunter.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly as if he was really trying to fathom my thoughts. Like he was trying to see through me, to read my mind almost. "Are you sure?"

"She's a gem," I replied, a bit of sarcasm ringing my voice. I couldn't hate Chloe, she was too nice for that.

"Don't lie, Gemma."

I turned to him. "Hunter, I don't hate Chloe."

"Siblings are supposed to tell each other this stuff aren't they? If you don't like my girlfriend just tell me, I'm not blind I can see your expressions when she talks to you!" Hunter, having noticed I was watching him through the mirror, stared straight at me through it too. The atmosphere had suddenly gotten very bitter.

"I don't know, do I?!" I snapped back, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. "I've never had a sibling."

"Are you jealous of her?" He asked softly.

Yes. "No!" I answered incredulously and luckily he seemed to believe me. I couldn't believe he hammered it right on the point. The reason for my dislike for the popular brunette.

"Then I just don't understand!" Frustration was clearly evident in his facial expression and voice. "She keeps trying to reach out for you and you keep shutting her down! You turned down her sleepover for James?! I thought he annoys you!"

I suddenly felt angry. "You know nothing about him! He's been there for me far more than you, and you're my older brother."

His eyes suddenly softened and he turned away as if embarrassed about singling me out. "Sorry. That was way out of line. You don't deserve to be accused like that. I'm such a jerk."

"It's okay," I sighed, suddenly regretting what I'd said. It's not as if Hunter had the option to be there for me. "This being-related thing is really going to need some work, huh?"

"Tell me about it." He sighed and looked at me through the mirror again. I could see regret in his eyes too. "Let me make it up to you. Dinner tonight, my treat, huh? We can do more sibling-bonding."

"That sounds nice," I answered, pulling up into the driveway. "Thanks."

"Be ready by five," he grinned and got out of the car, leaving me smiling genuinely for once.

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