Chapter 13

Aiden's throat burned as he tried to hold back the tears in his eyes. His vision blurred and for a second, he felt utterly stupid.

Why the hell am I crying for? Stop embarrassing yourself! It's just a seat. A damn seat.

And yet, seeing Hunter not fight for him, not even hesitate to let someone else sit beside him felt like someone had just ripped his heart out.

Hunter, on the other hand, was completely losing it internally. The moment he saw Aiden's glossy eyes and trembling lips, panic flared in his chest. His muscles tensed as an unbearable urge to pull Aiden into his arms nearly overpowered him. But he clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay still. 

Sophia noticed Aiden's distress and immediately spoke up. "Aiden, you can sit with me," she offered gently. "I saved a seat for you."

Pepper, sitting behind her smirked. "Yeah, she was super serious about it too. Like, 'no one sits here but Aiden' serious."

Some students laughed and let out teasing whistles. Sophia's face burned with embarrassment.

"Okay, students. Settle down fast!" The teacher yelled. 

Aiden snapped out of his daze and turned away from Hunter. He didn't even look at him again as he moved to sit next to Sophia.

Hunter let out the breath he was holding, running a hand down his face in frustration. His entire body sagged against the seat as he stared at the back of Aiden's head.

And then he made the mistake of glancing sideways.

Sophia was smiling happily, talking about something animatedly, her hands moving as she explained something to Aiden. And worse Aiden was actually nodding and responding to her, like nothing had just happened.

Hunter's expression twisted in a snarl. His fingers tapped restlessly against his thigh, his jaw clenched so hard it ached. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his brows furrowed as a sharp, suffocating heat settled in his chest. His stare grew cold as he forced himself to look away.

Next to him, Casen was silently observing the whole exchange. He had seen the way Hunter's eyes darkened, the way his fingers twitched with suppressed emotions, the way his entire posture screamed jealousy.

Casen leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only Hunter could hear him. "You like him, don't you?"

Hunter's expression didn't change. He didn't flinch or even reacted in any way. He just let out a small indifferent hum.

Casen's face dropped at that. "That's a yes."

Hunter's gaze remained fixed outside the window. "Not that it matters."

Casen tilted his head. "Why?"

"Because he doesn't like me back."

Casen processed that for a while and then a small smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back in his seat.

Oh! So maybe I do have a…chance. Casen's smile widened. I'll stop if he asks me to, he asks me to. But until then… I should keep trying.

When they arrived at the campsite, everyone filed out of the bus excitedly. Casen immediately stuck to Hunter's side, his small frame practically glued to him.

Hunter raised a brow in annoyance. "What are you doing?"

Casen whispered scaredly. "My bullies are here."

Hunter sighed. "Great."

Their teacher was an older man with a reputation for being strict. He clapped his hands to get their attention. 

"Alright, listen up kids. Here are the rules. Rule number one. Don't wander off alone unless you want to become a missing person case."

A few students chuckled, but someone in the back muttered, "Finally, a solution to my problems."

The teacher deadpanned. "Seek therapy, not the woods." 

"Rule number two," the teacher continued, ignoring them, "No fighting. Unless it's to the death then at least make it interesting."

Nick, without hesitation, raised a hand. "Do we get extra credit if we survive?"

The teacher smirked. "Only if you make it look like an accident."

The students howled with laughter. Ethan leaned over to Pepper. "Good thing Aiden's here. He's been fighting for his life in exams anyway."

Aiden shot him a glare. "Shut up."

The teacher rolled his eyes before moving on. "Rule number three, respect nature. That means no littering, no breaking branches, and definitely no trying to befriend a wild animal. You will lose and be left with bruises or maybe even dead."

Nick sighed dramatically. "Damn, there goes my plan of adopting a wolf and raising it as my companion."

"You wouldn't even last five seconds." Pepper snorted. 

The teacher nodded in agreement. "Exactly. I don't have time to write 'death by dumbassery' on an incident report."

Another teacher clapped his hands again. "Alright, you unhinged little disasters, go set up your tents before I make you sleep under the stars with the bears. But before that! Find a partner for your tents. Make it quick!"

The students immediately paired up with their friends. Aiden's heart thumped when he instinctively glanced at Hunter. He expected—no, wanted—Hunter to come over and ask him to be partners. That's how it always was. They always shared a tent together. Hunter knew that Aiden was terrible at setting it up, and he always did it for him, grumbling about Aiden being useless while secretly enjoying taking care of him.

However, this time. It didn't seem like the case because…

"Hunter…can we be partners?" Casen turned to Hunter, eyes practically glowing with hope. 

Aiden, standing a few feet away, heard it too clearly. His fingers clenched into fists as he waited for Hunter's reply, his eyes were shining with expectation. Surely, Hunter would say no. Surely, he would glance at Aiden and—

"Yes."

Aiden's breath hitched in his throat and his heart twisted painfully. He…agreed?

Aiden felt like an idiot. The heat in his chest burned into something bitter. He turned away. Well, fuck you too! 

And so Aiden's partner turned out to be Sam, a guy who worked like a fucking machine. Aiden tried to help with the tent but his attention kept wandering. 

From the opposite side of the camp, he could hear laughter. Aiden's grip on the rope tightened as he stole a glance toward their tent. Casen was giggling about something, his cheeks pink, looking up at Hunter as if he was the best thing in the world. Hunter was crouched down to fix the tent poles, his face blank as always. But then Hunter leaned forward adjusting something near Casen's collar. Casen stilled at that, feeling flustered by the closeness.

Aiden's stomach twisted in knots and his eyes burned. His fingers ached from how tightly he was holding the rope. What the hell was Hunter doing? Since when did he help others like that? That was supposed to be him. Aiden was supposed to be the one Hunter took care of!

Sam, noticing Aiden's lack of help, scowled at him. "Dude, are you even gonna help?"

Aiden didn't reply. He just threw the rope down violently much to Sam's disbelief. He could still hear Casen giggling, and could still see the way Hunter didn't push him away. His chest felt like it was caving in.

Screw this.

Before he could stop himself, Aiden stormed off toward the woods.

Hunter barely tied the last knot of his tent when something caught his eye. It was Aiden's back disappearing into the tree line.

Feeling worried, he was about to call out when Sam furiously called out after Aiden. "Where are you going? I can't do this alone!" 

Aiden didn't respond and just kept walking. Hunter frowned in confusion. What's he doing? But then Sam muttered something and moved on, and a second later, the teacher was shouting for everyone to finish up.

Thinking that Aiden was probably just sulking as a habit, Hunter turned back to finishing his work. 

That was his first mistake.

The realization that Aiden was actually missing didn't hit anyone until much later when his group of friends started asking around.

"Where's Aiden?" Ethan frowned, looking around for Aiden. 

"Probably with Sophia."

"No, he's not," Sophia cut in with her face scrunched in worry. "I haven't seen him for a while."

Now everyone started looking. Sam, who had been finishing the tent alone, suddenly sighed. "Oh, he went into the woods."

"What?!" Sophia shrieked, turning on him with a glare. "You saw him go into the forest, and you didn't stop him?!"

Sam shrugged. "I thought he was just looking around. He'll be back in a few minutes."

Mr. Davis, who had overheard, stormed toward them. His usual lazy expression had vanished and been replaced with something sharp and strict. "You mean to tell me that one of my students wandered into the woods alone at night and you let him?"

Sam's face paled. "I-I didn't think. I mean he's not a kid and he knows the rules." 

"That much is clear!" Mr. Davis barked. "Do you know how dangerous that is?!"

The entire group broke into whispers and nervous glances exchanged.

"What if he got lost?" Pepper muttered.

"What if a bear got him?" Nick added darkly.

"Oh my God. Shut up, you're not helping at all!" Sophia snapped at him.

Mr. Davis exhaled sharply and turned to the group. "Everyone, in your tents. I'm going out to look for him. Two teachers will come with me, and the other will stay here."

But before he could move, a dark blur shot past him. Aiden's friends barely had time to react before Hunter ran into the woods without a word.

"Hunter!" Mr. Davis called after him. "Get back here—!"

◾◾◾

Hunter's lungs burned as he ran through the dark forest. "Aiden! You stupid idiot, where the hell are you?!"

He couldn't believe this. He knew Aiden would do something reckless, but he let him go anyway. Why did I let him out of my sight?

The guy had zero self-preservation instincts. If there was a cliff, Aiden would probably walk right off it while admiring the view. If there was a bear, Aiden would try to befriend it. If there was poison ivy, Aiden would somehow end up rolling in it. Aiden was the kind of person who could turn breathing into a dangerous activity. If there was a tree, he'd find a way to walk into it. If there was a river, he'd fall in—even if there was no bridge to cross. If there was nothing around, he'd still manage to trip on thin air.

Hunter cursed himself. He was about to yell again when suddenly he heard. 

"Hunter!"

Hunter froze and his pulse spiked.

"Aiden?!" He turned sharply, following the voice. He ran faster and nearly stumbled over a fallen branch. "Keep talking! Where are you?"

"Here—ow—stupid rock—ugh—Hunter—"

The voice was coming from behind a thick cluster of bushes. Hunter shoved through them, and the sight made his heart stop.

Aiden was on the ground with his leg stretched out awkwardly. His knee was scraped and blood trickled down his shin. He looked miserable. 

Hunter stormed over to him. "Are you kidding me?!"