A.N.: Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long since my last update! Been really busy with university. Hopefully this will tide you over for a while if I can't update for a while. Love you! And thanks for reading! <3
~ Kat’s POV ~
I scoot my way over to my window as I hear the front door close. He isn’t really that mad, is he? So much that he’s gonna leave? Relief spreads through me as he sits on the stoop. Okay, he’s not leaving. He sits there for a while. I wonder what he’s thinking. He seems to be more on edge lately because of this whole Abner stuff. It makes my blood boil just to think about it.
It’s one thing for Abner to mess with me. But the moment he drags my friend into the mix, he’s crossed the line. I let out an exasperated grumble as I look out the window at Hunter. Even from here, I can see his forehead is creased in thought, and it breaks my heart to know it’s all because of me.
Hunter gets up abruptly and goes inside, and I quickly scoot back over to my bed so won’t know I was just spying on him. I sit on the edge of the bed with my legs dangling off. However it’s a few more minutes before I hear a soft knock on my door, and he cracks it open. I see a sliver of his face through it, and then he comes in silently.
He walks over to me and stands directly in front of me, which forces me to look up at him. I can’t get any words out for fear I’ll make things worse between us, so I wait for him to break the silence. But he never does. All he does is slowly lean down and kiss my forehead gently, before silently excusing himself out of my room once more, leaving me there to process what just occurred.
I’m pulled from my reverie only by the buzzing of my phone. It’s a text…from Hunter:
Kat,
I have no idea why I blew up back there. I had no reason to. Just know that whatever you need starting tomorrow, I’ll do it. You’re my best friend, and I owe you that much for all the support you’ve given me over the years for my music. See you tomorrow,
Hunter
It takes me a moment to digest it. And then it hits me. I’m not alone in this. Hunter has my back. And that’s all I can ask of him. I touch my forehead where Hunter kissed me and for reasons unknown to me, grin stupidly. Then I realize how weird it is and wipe my forehead with my sleeve. Feelings can’t surface during these next few weeks. For the sake of my own heart, they can’t happen. They won’t happen, because there aren’t any, I reassure myself.
~ the next morning ~
I get up and groan. Today is the day. The day I have to face my problems. Well, more like one problem. But because of him I have lots of little problems stemming from it. In all honesty, I can say I’m feeling more okay about it all then I thought I would. I almost feel like Hunter and I might actually be able to pull this off. I don’t necessarily feel the impending doom I’ve been feeling since Hunter hung up the phone with Abner.
I drag myself from the warmth of my bed and go to the bathroom to take a shower. I put the ugly trash bag around my cast, securing it tightly with a rubber band at the top. It’s a hassle to have to do this before every shower but I’ve gotten used to it. After my shower I pick out clothes to wear for school while wrapped in my towel. I choose a pair of jeans that don’t have the gape in the back above the butt. I have a large butt so it’s hard to find jeans that don’t do that, or don’t stretch out and do it after I buy them. I also choose a blue Genesis band t-shirt and a white zip-up jacket.
Getting dressed quickly, I look at the time. I gasp when I realize Hunter will be here to pick me up in less than an hour. Running a brush through my wet hair, I go downstairs as fast as a girl on crutches can to go to get breakfast. It consists of a poptart, much to my healthy mother’s dismay. At least they’re the organic kind. I make my way back upstairs to try and dry my hair some and maybe straighten it if I have time. No use going outside with wet hair and catching a cold when I already have enough on my plate. My hair is dried and I make sure it’s all straightened smoothly. It’s such a satisfying feeling running your fingers through perfectly straight hair. I spritz on some body spray so I smell nice and look at myself in the mirror. Yep, this is the look I want for today. It totally will make Abner’s stomach do a flip. He loved it when I straightened my hair and this body spray was his favorite scent I ever wore. I add a little more body spray so it’ll linger when I walk by him.
Hunter honks from outside. After calling goodbye to my mom, I grab my backpack and make my way out to his truck. The front walkway has been de-iced, thank God. Wouldn’t want another accident. It also helps that it hasn’t snowed in the past week. Hunter waves at me as I slowly get closer and closer. He’s early, which isn’t new, but I think he predicted I’d be slow this morning. I want to drag my feet as much as I can, because I’d rather not go to school at all. But I know I can’t skip the first day back. I’d be too self-convicted to do it.
I slide my crutches in the back seat and slide into the passenger side next to him.
“You ready?” He says. I’m hesitant, staring down at his outstretched hand.
“Ready.” I finally decide, and take his hand in mine as we begin the drive to our charade.
We pull into the school parking lot and while I grab my crutches Hunter comes around and opens my door for me. Already being the perfect gentleman, I think to myself. He takes my backpack and carries it for me. Walking through the halls, I get some weird looks which I’m guessing is because of my crutches and inherently obvious cast. Even with my jeans’ pant leg over it, it’s still pretty noticeable. We stop at my locker and I swap materials for classes in and out of my locker.
“I can carry my own backpack, Hunter.” I almost laugh. “I broke my leg, not my back.”
“I was just trying to be nice. But if you think you can carry it, be my guest.” He shifts it over my shoulders and we walk to homeroom. We have the same homeroom, as our last names are very close alphabetically: Hayes and Hazelwood. Ever since 3rd grade we’ve been put in mostly the same classes because of it. Our seats in homeroom are right next to each other. It makes sense; “Hay” should be right next to “Haz”. So far Hunter and I haven’t really been acting differently than we would if I was on crutches when we were just friends (which we still are, but nobody can know that). That will come later when we inevitably see Abner in the hallways. I’m just glad he’s not in our homeroom. Our homeroom is only last names A through H, the one in the classroom next to us is I through P, and thankfully his last name is Jayman.
Homeroom goes as normal and Hunter and I get up to go to our first period classes, which we don’t have together but are in the same wing of the school. We walk down the hallway, him slowing down his pace so I can keep up, and stop outside my classroom, making sure to stay along the side so we don’t get trampled. I mentally note how weird it is that this is something couples do, and yet I’m doing it with Hunter.
“So how are you holding up mentally so far?” He asks me.
“Well I don’t think I’m about to have a breakdown any time soon, if that answers your question.” I giggle. That’s when I see him. Abner has turned the corner and is at the far end of the hallway, coming this way. He’s still a ways away, and I don’t think he sees us yet, but if I remember correctly he has a class just on the other side of us. He has to pass us, and there’s no way he’s going to miss us. “Abner alert.” I whisper to Hunter. He takes my hand off of my crutch like it’s nothing and interlocks his fingers with it.
“Remember that time at my 9th birthday party when I got so excited I tripped and fell into the cake?” He asks randomly. I can’t help but laugh as I remember that day. We hadn’t been friends very long, but that was one of the moments I realized we’d be friends a long time.
“Yeah, what about it?” I grin widely as I continue to laugh. It’s one of those memories I will always find funny.
“Aaaaand you’re clear.” Hunter whispers.
“Huh?” I say, confused.
“Abner’s passed. I only brought up the cake thing so you’d be less nervous and forget about him. Plus, it probably made you look like you were having a wonderful time with me. So there’s that bonus.” He smiles.
“You’re the best.” I hug him awkwardly despite my crutches. “I always have a wonderful time with you.”
“See you after class then?”
“Most definitely.” I reply, and we part ways before we’re late to class. I have the excuse of my leg, but Hunter doesn’t have any excuse at all. Though it would be funny if he was late to his first class of the day on the first day back to school because he was “talking to his girlfriend”.
The rest of the morning goes pretty much the same. Before every class I talk to Hunter, and soon things are coming naturally between us. Hunter holding my hand isn’t just for show anymore; it’s to calm my nerves every time Abner walks by. I try not to notice when Abner is near, but Hunter says he’s been giving us more than a few annoyed glances. So far we haven’t had any direct issues with him, and that gives me hope that maybe this will all blow over soon.
At lunch Hunter and I sit by ourselves. Neither of us really have any friends besides each other. We both pack lunches because my mom got his mom on board with healthy lunches or something.
“So how’s that unfinished song coming?” I ask nonchalantly, hoping he’ll let me listen to it soon. I don’t know what it is about that song, but it really intrigues me. He seems caught off guard by my question for a fraction of a second.
“Still writing. It’s funny; I never really get writer’s block. But with this one, I kind of gave myself it. I just don’t want to mess it up so much that I screw with my brain and second-guess all my lyric ideas.” He takes a bite of his sandwich.
“That makes sense. When something is really important to you, you don’t want to lose it. So you make extra sure you don’t mess it up and sometimes that makes you stop trying to act on your ideas.” I agree.
“Exactly my thoughts.” He approves. We sit and talk some more during lunch before going to our next afternoon classes, seeing each other in between each class. Abner gives me more annoyed looks, but at this point I don’t even care. I have Hunter here to help me get through whatever’s thrown my way. I’m on cloud nine in terms of self-assuredness.
And then Abner decides it’s okay to approach us.