chapter 21

His hair was dark, almost as dark as Hunter's and he had the same striking green eyes, the resemblance was indisputable, he was nearly as tall as Hunter, only an inch shorter to be precise. They had the same dark brooding aura that was just so entrancing 

This tall brooding man whose name I've learned to be Carl Daniels was the father to Hunter.

They sat across from each other, each focused on their plate of food and I sat opposite his beautiful wife, Denise, who also happens to be Dylan's mother. 

She was a cherry one that one, with long blonde curls cascading past her middle back and a million dollar smile. She was the only one on this table that was ignoring the tension between the two men and my discomfort from the entire predicament.

She kept making polite small talk with everyone,her husband only nodding when necessary, Hunter giving short dismissive replies and myself smiling awkwardly. I couldn't even eat and coming from a food lover, this was a problem, this was scary. 

"So lia, you're a senior as well,"she directed me and I almost choked on breath when I realized I had to talk. 

"Yeah, yes I am ma'am," 

"Silly, don't call me ma'am, call me Denise honey," I smiled awkwardly, she was so much like her son, Dylan would have said something similar,  with more profanities involved though. 

"Sure thing Denise," I corrected myself and she smiled, eating some more of her salad.

"How old are you, girl?" Hunter's dad finally said to me, and I swallowed, he looked pissed off, immensely and utterly pissed off. 

"She has a name, don't disrespect her like that," Hunter put his fork and knife down staring at his dad, Denise placed a hand over her face as though she knew what was about to happen and my eyes danced over my barely touched food. This was not good. 

"I asked you a question miss," he was looking at me, eyes cold and still refusing to say my name, not that I cared I just wanted to be out of this house. 

"I turn eighteen in January," I said, not meeting his eyes. 

"Are you Hunter's girlfriend?" He asked and Hunter exploded.  

"Jesus Christ, that's none of your business," he shouted

"It is when you're bringing girls to my house during school hours to do God knows what, underage girls for that matter," he yelled back and I felt a bit offended at what he said, am not sure if it was the doing  God knows what part or the fact that he kept saying girls asin plural. 

Denise sensed my discomfort and came to my rescue.

"Well I am clearing the table, mind helping me Lia," I didn't have to be asked twice. 

"Not at all, I'd love to," she and I successfully carried all the dishes in one trip and the men didn't say anything till we were out of sight. 

The moment we entered the kitchen I began to apologise. 

"I am so sorry, for all this, this is all my fault, I didn't think this would happen. Am so sorry Denise, we just had a long morning and wanted to chill in here for a while, am so sorry for the trouble," she smiled at my state. 

"Calm down Lia it's okay, it's not that big of a deal, those two just have some unresolved issues," she said, putting a few plates in the dishwasher and I followed her lead, we worked quietly for a while until she spoke again. 

"Are you perhaps the same Lia, Dylan keeps rambling about?"she asked curiously and I nodded.

"I don't think he knows another Lia except me," the shouting in the dining room got a little bit louder.

"He speaks so fondly of you," she added, ignoring the noise her husband and stepson were making. I smiled. 

"I care about him as well, this is not how I hoped to meet you Denise honestly, this is tragic." I shook my head and she laughed. 

"I think it's cute, it makes for a sweet highschool love story," she teased and I went red making her laugh lightly

"How long have the two of you been dating?''she asked and this time i choked on air, i was not expecting that, light Pat's on my back were felt and a glass of water was handed to me, gulping it down as first as I could. I almost died.

"We're not….its not….we're just friends, we're not together. ..Hunter and I,``I rumbled and she stared at me  in a knowing way, I felt naked. 

"You like him," it was not a question, this was the second time today that my feelings were being pointed out like the most obvious thing ever and I didn't like it.

I opened my mouth to deny it but she beat me to it. 

"These Daniels men are a little complicated, a little lost, a little hot headed, but they're kind, and sweet, and…" she looked like she was thinking back on her own love story with Carl Daniels. 

"And they'll drive you insane most of the time, but they'll love you like it's what they were born to do," I was confused, why was she telling me this. 

"Why…" 

"Because he deserves it, Hunter, he deserves to be loved, I don't know to what extent your feelings go, but as a mother I can see your feelings in your eyes and they're not shallow Lia, dont give up on him, his just scared," I was staring at her in utter confusion and a little sadness. 

She had no idea how weak I was, I could not fight for both of us, I could barely hold myself up emotionally, how was I supposed to stand for both of us. 

"We're leaving Lia," Hunter barged in and Denise wrapped her hands around me in a swift move. 

"You don't give up on love Lia, never do that," she whispered then backed away giving me her signature cherry smile before Hunter started hauling me out of there. 

"Where are we going?" I asked when we were in the car. 

"Some place calm" he replied and we settled into a distant quietness, he was probably thinking about his father and I was thinking of Denise's words. 

You don't give up on love Lia, never do that.

She probably didn't mean for it to sound triggering but it was. I gave up on my dad, I disappointed the universe, if only I had called mum earlier, if I didn't let my resentment for her cloud my judgement of the situation, he might have survived, he might have not died sad and alone, If i had not left the hospital that day I might have been able to say goodbye, it's all my fault, JJ doesn't have a father because of me, it's all me. 

"Lia, are you crying?" Hunter asked, knocking me out of my train of thought and I quickly whipped the tear trails away, how did I not notice I was crying or that the car had stopped. 

"I must have been staring out the windows too long," I lied. "I have sensitive eyes," he nodded, not really believing me but letting it go. 

"Come on," he stepped out and I followed after him. He had packed on the sides of a forest highway, it looked deserted,  like one of those haunted roads from the movies. And began a trek along a small footpath in the forest.

"Where are you taking me Hunter?" I asked. 

"To a secret spot so I could cut you into small pieces and throw you in a river," he replied, stopping my movements. 

He must have noticed my footsteps had died out because he turned and gave me a mean laugh. 

"Am joking Lia, chill," 

"You can't play like that Hunter, this whole place looks like a scene from a serial killer horror movie," I complained, actually freaked out by our environment. 

"Are you scared of horror movies, Lia?" He asked and I chose to remain quiet because at this moment anything I say can be used against me.

He laughed " we are so watching a horror movie next time," and so can my silence, I facepalm mentally ignoring the flatter my heart did when he said next time. 

"Plus, why would a serial killer tell you he's taking you to a place to kill you, you'd just run and make the whole thing difficult," he added. 

"It happens in the movies all the time, the serial killer makes a crazy statement about killing them, the characters take it lightly and laugh about it, have a few drinks then boom they're all dead, I'll not be a victim Hunter," I argued stopping again

"Calm Down, we're here," he said, pulling another branch out of  the way and revealing the most magnificent wildflower meadow I've ever laid my eyes on. 

"Oh my God," the words fell out of my mouth. I could not even put it in words, the augustness of this place. 

In simple words, it was a dream, that's the only thing it could be.