CHAPTER 4

*VERONICA*

When I stepped outside, I was shocked to see Hunter standing close to the door.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked him after taking a deep breath.

"Wait, don't shout; I just want you to come to the party, please," he replied, raising both hands as if in surrender.

"Well, I guess I will give it a try then," I said.

"Does that mean you are going to come?" he asked hopefully.

"I guess. It better be worth it," I replied.

"Can I hug you?" he asked. WEIRD.

"Sure," I said with a toothless smile.

He hugged me in a big embrace and sniffed my hair.

"Can you stop that?" I said, and we both started laughing. That was how I found myself getting involved in something I didn't need in my life right now.

He asked for my number, which I gave him. He then called my phone and asked me to save his contact.

I saved it, and then we left for class—yes, together.

When we arrived at the classroom, Mrs. Judge, our literature teacher, was already inside, so I decided to enter first.

As I walked in, she asked where I was coming from, and I told her that I had gone to the restroom.

"Find somewhere to sit, Casper," she said, causing everyone to laugh.

I wondered what was funny about her comment. After I sat down in my seat, Hunter came inside, and all eyes turned to him.

"So, where are you coming from?" she asked him.

"I don't think you want to know," he replied with a smirk, and the laughter grew louder this time.

"Will you all keep your mouths shut?" she shouted, and the class fell silent again, but they still kept looking at Hunter since he was sitting next to me.

"What are you all staring at?" Mrs. Judge asked, and they all turned their attention back to her.

Please help me ask them.

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When I got home, nobody was around, so I took the spare key from under our old brown flower pot outside and opened the door. We've had this pot for as long as I can remember.

Yeah, typical American spare key hideout.

I know it's not safe to put your keys there, but we haven't found any other place to keep them.

As I got inside, I quickly headed to the kitchen because my stomach felt like there was a monster living inside it.

When I reached the refrigerator, I saw a note on it; it was from Mum, telling me that there was soup and other types of food inside and she would be late coming home from work, so I should take care of myself.

After reading the note, I opened the refrigerator, and sure enough, there were different types of food inside. I grabbed an apple, rinsed it, and went upstairs to change my clothes. I entered my room, dropped my bag on the reading table, and put my clothes in the laundry basket before quickly heading to the bathroom to shower.

After taking a shower, I put on a bright yellow shirt and a black crop top. Yellow isn't really my colour; I prefer darker shades.

I tied my hair up in a bun and went downstairs with my phone.

When I got to the kitchen, I quickly fried some bacon, heated up chicken soup and rice, and then poured chilled milk into a glass cup before going to the living room. Trust me, I eat a lot when I'm in the mood.

Actually, I don't really like eating in the dining room, but Mum always insists we eat there when she's home.

"The dining room is not for decoration," she always says.

I prefer eating in the living room because I enjoy watching a movie while I eat. I turned on the flat-screen TV and searched for Gossip Girls on Netflix because that happens to be one of my favourite series.

So, I started watching it while I ate.

Once I finished eating, I cleared the dishes and quickly washed them because I hated seeing a pile of dirty dishes. However, sometimes I get too lazy and end up leaving them for Mum or Liam to wash when they get home.

As I sat down on the couch and continued watching the movie, my phone rang. It was Hunter. I answered the call, and he asked me what I was doing. I told him I was watching a movie.

"I'm bored," he replied. In the background, I heard laughter that seemed to be coming from a group of guys. Great!

"Where are you?" I asked him.

"I'm at Bryan's house, or let's just say my house because that's like my second home."

"Okay," I replied.

"Why did you ask?" he inquired.

"I thought I heard something," I answered, and then he mentioned he was still bored.

I told him to watch a movie or play a video game.

"I've been playing video games since I got back from school," he responded.

"Oh, then watch a movie," I said, just as I heard someone knocking at the door.

"I have to go now; I'm expecting someone," I told him.

"Okay, bye," he replied and ended the call.

I quickly went to the door to see who it was, and luckily for me, it was Sam.

I opened the door and hugged him tightly as he stepped inside.

"Are you that happy to see me?" he asked, chuckling.

"I'm more than happy to see you," I replied, and then he touched my forehead and my neck as if checking my temperature.

I won't blame him, I'm unusually energetic today.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"very okay," I replied, and then the both of us went to the living room, laughing on our way.

"Are you feeling better now?" I asked him.

"Sure"

"What are you watching?"

"Gossip girls," I replied as I joined him on the couch.

"Don't you get tired of watching this movie?" he asked.

"Well, you very well know the answer to that question," I replied.

Gossip Girls is one of my favourite Netflix series.

"Okay, so what did you say you want to tell me?" he asked sitting on the couch.

"Do you remember that day that Hunter wanted to talk to me and I followed him outside?" I asked him.

" yeah, so what did he tell you?"

"He asked me out, "I replied and Sam didn't disappoint me with his reaction.

His eyeballs almost popped out of their socket.

"He did what?"

"he asked me out."

"Seriously?" Sam shouted.

I'm not surprised by his reaction because I also found Hunter's approach weird.

"So, what did you say to him?"Sam asked.

" I told him that I don't think it is a good idea then I walked out."

"That's my girl," he said as we high-fived each other.

"But I don't think he means any harm," I said.

"Please do elaborate," Sam said with an eye roll.

"I think he actually likes me but I'm not sure," I said with a shrug.

"But what makes you think he likes you?"Sam asked.

"He was just following me around today, then we became friends if that's what I will call it, and we exchanged phone numbers."

"you did what, why will you give him your phone number? "

"He asked for it and you know he will still get it without me giving it to him if he really wants it," I replied.

"So, what do you suggest I do?"I asked him.

"I don't know Veronica but just be careful and try as much as possible to stay away from him.

I just don't trust that guy."

"Why?"I asked as if I didn't know what he was talking about.

"I'm telling you to stay away from him because everybody knows he is a player and you can never know if he truly likes you or not and if you ask me I will say I don't think he likes you,

And that doesn't mean you are not beautiful; he is a player, and we all know."

"Who cares, it's not like I'm going to accept him anyway and thank God it wasn't his cousin," I replied.

"Oh, you mean Bryan."

"Yeah, does he have any other cousin in the same school as us?"I asked laughing.

"I don't think you expect me to answer that," he said looking at me.

"Why are you staring at me?"I asked.

"I don't know, I just feel happy and sorry for you at the same time," he replied.

"What do you mean by that?"I asked him.