chapter 19

"Lia it's almost 9, we're late," JJ shouted for the umpteenth time this morning. I frowned at him and Hunter let out a small laugh. 

Today morning was the absolute worst. Not only did I forget to set the alarm, but I slept on the floor and I didn't have time to take a decent shower this morning, I could barely brush my hair. 

I was currently the world's biggest mess and I probably smelt like it too, 

"We're almost there, " I growled. I am naturally not a morning person. Add a grouchy little brother and no shower to that, I feel terrible. 

My car finally pulled up in front of JJ's school and he skipped out as soon as the car stopped running into the empty looking building. 

I sighed in frustration 

"Goodmorning," Hunter said playfully and I rolled my eyes at him. How is he even cool with this, we are both very late and it's mostly my fault , he should be fuming right now. But I didn't bring that up, the last thing I need is someone getting pissy with me right now. 

I stopped my car in my usual parking spot and I stared uninterestedly at the building in front of me. Hunter must have noticed. 

"Wanna skip?" He asked and my head snapped in his direction, one eyebrow raised in a doubtful expression. 

He was smiling at me. 

"Ok pause, why are you suddenly being nice to me, you don't even look in my direction for almost a week and now you're suddenly all cherries and butterflies," I asked actually curious, it could be my bad morning making me snappy and alot more aggressive but I was actually curious, the question had been on my mind since last night. 

"Cherries and butterflies?" He smirked.

"Besides the point Hunter, why are you being nice?" I asked again. 

"You're friends with all my friends first of all, and we might not have started off on the right foot but I see how you stick up for Dylan and Sierra it's pretty cool, so I guess I'd like to get to know you, plus I keep a small circle and am critical of who I let in, that's it," 

"So you're saying, I had to earn your friendship?" I asked

"Earn is a strong word, I was just making sure," 

"So are we friends now?" I asked.

"Yeah, Lia I'd consider you someone I'd want to be friends with, yeah we're friends,"

"No we're not, " I smirked and he raised his eyebrows in confusion, he looks darn sexy when he does that. 

"If I had to earn your friendship, you have to earn mine," I state, looking away from him, liking where this was going already. 

He let out a gentle laugh and licked his bottom lip. Goddamn. 

"Okay, I hear you, so what do I have to do to be your friend Lia," 

"Well first, we're definitely skipping, but you're driving, am a princess and princess is lazy and grouchy," I batted my eyelashes at him and got out moving to the passenger seat where he was, I could hear him laugh, he stepped out when I opened the door and I had to take a couple of steps back because I hadn't calculated how much space he would need to stand and he was too big and too close, my Asthma was coming up again but thank goodness he walked to the driver's seat before I started wheezing. 

Hunter Daniels should come with an inhaler. 

"So where are we going?" He asked when we were both settled in the car. 

"So you know that Jaccuzi at your place?" I smirked and he face palmed, shaking his head. 

"I should not have agreed to this," he breathed out while starting the car and I clapped my hand like an excited toddler. 

Yay.

Their mansion was quiet and that added to its overall picturesqueness, we walked up the white staircase until we were on the floor where the jacuzzi was. 

Hunter opened the door to the indoor Jacuzzi following lightly behind me, I drew in a deep breath willing my body to relax even just for a second. 

I haven't been myself since last night and I wasn't sure how long I was going to be able to convince myself I was okay when I clearly felt like shit.  

I just needed a minute to relax and unwind.

"Hey I hope this doesn't make you look at me in some type of way, I just didn't have a goodmorning or shower and I just want to relax," I tell him and he nods. 

"It's all good as long as my dad doesn't catch us," he said and I laughed. 

"Turn around," I requested so that I could strip into my underwear and get into the now bubbling water. 

He obliged and I took off my clothes hastily, unable to hold in my excitement to be in the water and I let out a deep breath when I was settled in closing my eyes to feel the warmth of it caress my skin.

Moments later I felt something enter the water and I opened my eyes just as Hunter settled directly in front of me, he must have seen the perplexed look on my face because he spoke. 

"You really expected me to just stand and wait for you," he scoffed 

"I just didn't think you would get in I guess," 

"Are you uncomfortable?" The question wasn't cocky or teasing in any way, it was genuine and I thought about it for a while. Am I uncomfortable?

"No, you can stay, I'm okay," I said and gave a small smile. His presence was actually comforting, I didn't want to be alone with my demons and having him here helped. 

I closed my eyes again as Hunter scrolled through his phone and then I heard three little birds start to play, a smile made its way onto my face. 

"I love this song," I said, humming along.

"It's relaxing," my voice was barely a whisper when I added that. I had good memories attached to this song like that one night when JJ was 18 months old. He kept crying because he had a cold and only stopped when dad and I made an over dramatic performance of the song. 

I let out a small tired laugh at the thought. 

"Cause every little thing's gonna be alright…" I sang, my voice barely audible and I felt a tear escape from the corner of my eyes but I was too tired to wipe  it away, I just hoped Hunter didn't notice. A deep slumber  crept up on me and soon I couldn't hear the music.