Fierce(16)
We make our way across campus toward the library, and I spot Hunter in the middle of the open ground. The moment his presence catches my eye I stop moving. He looks confident, but unsure of what he’s doing at the same time, and it alerts all my senses to what’s going on.
He’s standing with a group of guys that seem familiar. And now I know why. It’s the same guys as the ones behind the fence, the ones he made an exchange with.
One of them has brown Justin Bieber hair, what I’d call a flowerpot cut, but he looks quite handsome, and I swear I’ve seen him before. Maybe in class.
It doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that Hunter’s having a suspicious conversation with them, and this time I can actually hear them.
“Shit,” I mutter, and I push Evie against the wall.
“What?” she says, but I put a finger in front of her mouth.
“Shh … It’s Hunter!”
“So? Who cares?”
“I want to know what he’s up to.”
“Why do you care? He’s just a guy …” Evie sighs.
“Look,” I say, and I direct her attention toward the guys.
Her eyes widen when she sees what I mean.
“Shit, this looks serious.”
“Yes, that’s why I want to know what’s going on. Hunter’s been acting strange lately, and I want to find out why.”
She nods, and I turn my head and watch the guys. I’m completely focused on the voices, all unfamiliar except one. His. The gruffness of it never ceases to grab my attention.
Hunter’s standing close to the group of guys, and they’re whispering some things, but when actual words come out I can finally hear it.
“That guy,” one of them says, and he points at a guy standing near a fountain, talking to someone else.
“What do you want me to do?” Hunter says.
“You know …” the other one says, and Hunter freezes.
Their looks are stone-cold sober, so serious it chills me to my core. I don’t know what they mean, but it creeps me out. And the grim look on Hunter’s face doesn’t predict anything good.
He nods, and I gulp. They shake hands and then disperse, as if they were never even there, discussing secrets.
“I don’t like this at all,” Evie whispers.
“Me neither,” I say, and we make a run for it before any one of them notices we’ve been watching.
But before Evie and I turn the corner, Hunters eyes meet mine. His piercing gray eyes zoom in on me, and he starts to squint the moment he realizes it’s me.
Shit. I’ve been caught.
With his gaze on me I can barely breathe. I know he knows I’ve been watching him, I can see it in his eyes. I don’t need to talk to him to know that he wants me to keep it a secret. His intent glare is enough.
And then we turn and bolt away.
Chapter 6
Troubled Hearts
“Yuck, don’t they have some real food here?” Evie throws the spoon she’s holding into the lettuce behind the counter. The lunchroom lady grimaces at her, but turns around shortly after.
“Fat and juicy burgers aren’t exactly real food either,” I say, carrying my plate to the checking counter.
She snorts. “Hell, I’d prefer Mickey D’s anytime over this junk.”
I laugh as I pay the cashier and watch Evie snarl at the lunchroom lady to make her something that includes at least an ounce of meat.
When she finally has her slab of meat, we find a free spot and sit down to eat.
“I swear, one day I’ll just drag you into a real lunchroom. Some place they serve nice, tasty food.”
I roll my eyes. “You know I can’t afford that.”
“I know, but that’s why I’ve decided that from now on I’m just going to save up every cent I have so I can take you with me to one of those damn fine restaurants maybe once a month.”
I smile, but feel embarrassed because of my lack of money.
Evie’s hand is suddenly wrapped around mine right on the table. “Hey, don’t you even think about feeling bad. It’s supposed to be a good thing.”
“I know … it’s just that—”
“Stop it. I’m not taking no for an answer. You’ll come with me, and I’ll pay, and that’s that. No buts. No ifs. Once a month, we’ll gorge on delicious junk food or better.”
I chuckle. “All right. Thanks.”
She smiles and squeezes my hand a bit.
“I’m really glad I have you as a best friend,” I say.
The twinkle in her eyes disappears, and she lets go of my hand.
“That’s what friends are for,” she says. Diverting her eyes to her food, she grabs her fork and knife and starts cutting up the meat like a butcher, making me wince.