Fierce(13)

And it’s making me drool like a teenager.

I can’t believe I’m thinking about him like that, let alone gawking at him.

Each time he hits the ball, he sends it flying into the air, and I’m amazed at his sheer strength. The aggressiveness in his stance, his power. It’s like a magnet to my eyes.

“Looks like he’s working out,” Evie says, jerking me out of my daydream about Hunter.

The moment she opens her mouth Hunter looks our way and stares right at me. My eyes widen, and my breath falters. I suddenly feel caught in the act of admiration. Dammit, I didn’t expect him to turn around, and I certainly didn’t expect him to notice me sitting here. What an embarrassment.

My face starts to glow. His lips quirk up into a smile, and he waves a little, so I wave back.

“Autumn!” Evie says, and she pokes me in the side.

I turn my face toward her. “What?”

“Don’t encourage him.”

“He’s not even into me,” I say.

“Well it’s sure a coincidence he keeps wanting to sit next to you,” she says.

“Maybe he just doesn’t have many friends.”

“I don’t think so,” she replies, and she points at something behind us.

I turn around again and see Hunter sauntering away. My eyes follow the direction he’s going, and I notice he’s walking toward the fence. A bunch of guys wearing ragged clothes and unshaven beards stand behind the fence. They’re clustered together, and it looks like they’re talking, but I can barely see their mouths move. Their eyes skid from left to right, scanning the area, as if they’re checking to see if the coast is clear.

With a quick glance, Hunter checks if anyone’s looking, and I quickly turn my head in the hopes he didn’t see me looking. When I think it’s clear, I turn my head again and see him talking with the guys.

“What do you think they’re doing?” Evie says, squinting.

“I don’t know.”

One of the guys behind the fence rummages in his pocket and takes out something I can’t see. Suddenly they exchange something, and Hunter pushes something deep into the pocket of his jeans. Then he does the same, giving something back to them. They’re lightning quick in the trade. I can’t even see what it is, just that it’s small and lightweight.

They all nod, and the look in their eyes is harsh, as if it’s a warning of some sort.

It freaks me out.

Everything. Not just the look in their eyes. Not just the exchange. Everything about it has bad written all over it. Just like Hunter.

“Nothing good,” I murmur.

“What?” Evie says, and she crawls closer to me, lying down on the blanket.

“Nothing.” It just doesn’t look good, but I can’t say what it is either. I didn’t see anything, but I know it’s not cool. But I don’t want to worry anyone without proof.

We both peer at the boys as they part. The guys stroll away from the premises, and Hunter comes back to the college ground. I quickly turn around on my back, and Evie does the same, and we pretend we’ve been laughing all this time.

Hunter passes us, and I know he’s been looking. I don’t want him to know we saw everything. There’s no need yet. I don’t know what it is he was doing, but I’m sure it’s something he doesn’t want everyone to know. And I intend to keep it that way, as I’m far too scared to face the consequences if I did tell anyone.

Yep, I’m chicken-shit.





Chapter 5


Chicken-shit



My hand is hovering close to the door of Brody’s dorm room, but I can’t pull the trigger and actually knock. I’ve been meaning to talk to him for the past couple of days now, but I can’t figure out for the life of me how to start this conversation. I don’t like fighting with my friends, but at the same time I don’t want it to continue the way it’s going right now. He’s important to me, and I can’t lose him. I want to see if I can change this.

I’m shaking from top to bottom as I blow out a final breath before knocking.

The waiting seems like minutes, but I know it’s only been a few seconds. Still, he doesn’t open the door. He doesn’t even respond.

I knock again, but still there’s nothing.

“Brody?” I call.

Nothing.

“Hey, Autumn.”

I turn around and Evie’s walking up to me.

“Do you know where Brody is?”

“Yeah, I just saw him downstairs. He’s hanging in the lounge room with a couple of his weird friends. Not a good idea,” she says.

“Well, I still want to talk to him.”

“Why? Is it important? He seemed too busy laughing his ass off at fat girls passing by.”