Chapter 21

Aiden looked everywhere. The café Hunter liked? The park where he sometimes sat? But there was no sign of him. Even the rooftop where they used to ditch class together? He even went to the restaurant where Hunter works but Hunter already left from there and they don't know of his new address. 

Aiden's heart twisted in frustration.

"Where the hell did you go, you idiot?!" he grumbled under his breath, kicking a stray pebble.

His mom had called him three times already, demanding that he come home. He barely paid attention to what she was saying since his mind was too wrapped up in thoughts of Hunter. 

He went home but couldn't sleep. The image of Hunter's empty seat haunted him like a ghost. He promised himself that he would continue his search again tomorrow. 

But as if luck was on his side, he didn't have to do that because Hunter walked into class.

The moment Hunter stepped into the classroom, Aiden sprang up from his seat so fast his chair nearly toppled over. His heart slammed against his ribs as he bolted towards Hunter, almost ready to pounce on him like an excited puppy.

But at the last second, he stopped himself from jumping on Hunter. "You bastard!" 

Hunter barely had time to register Aiden's presence before his wrist was seized in a tight grip. "What the—"

Before he could finish, Aiden dragged him out of the classroom with surprising strength for someone so small.

"Hey, where are we going?" Hunter asked, confused but letting himself be pulled. 

Aiden didn't answer. His grip tightened, his small fingers wrapped so firmly around Hunter's wrist that his pulse quickened beneath them. He pulled Hunter into the empty hallway behind the science labs, a spot no students ever came to.

Hunter tilted his head. "Okay, so are you skipping class or—"

Suddenly, Aiden threw his entire body against him, making his words stop in his throat. 

Aiden was so much smaller that even standing on his toes, he barely reached Hunter's collarbone. But that didn't stop him from wrapping his arms tightly around him like he was afraid Hunter would disappear again.

Hunter's heart lurched, he felt everything at once. The scent of Aiden's shampoo filled his lungs and the warmth of Aiden's body against his made his pulse race. Hunter clenched his fists, trying to keep himself in check.

"Where the fuck were you?!" Aiden's voice was muffled against Hunter's shirt, but the anger, the frustration, the relief—all of it hit Hunter like a punch to the gut.

Aiden pulled back slightly, just enough for Hunter to see his face. His eyes were glassy, wet with unshed tears. His bottom lip wobbled as he bit down on it, trying to stop himself from crying.

Hunter's throat went dry. Then, before he could react Aiden sniffled before raising his fist and punching Hunter's shoulder. "Ow—"

"You asshole! Why didn't you tell me your aunt kicked you out?! Why did I have to find out like this?! Do you know how fucking worried I was?! I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere, you piece of shit!" 

"I—" Hunter tried to explain himself but Aiden hiccupped, his face scrunching up in frustration. 

"Do you have any idea how many places I checked?! How many hours I spent running around looking for your dumb ass?! And you—!" He tried to hit Hunter's shoulder again, but before his fist could land, Hunter caught his wrist mid-air. 

Hunter's fingers wrapped around Aiden's small hand gently. He felt the warmth of Aiden's skin, the slight tremor in his fingertips. Aiden's breath hitched. His face turned red, his gaze flickering between their hands and Hunter's unreadable expression.

"L-Let go," he demanded with a glare but Hunter didn't. 

Aiden swallowed. He could feel Hunter's eyes on him, intense and menacing. His face grew hotter by the second.

Hunter tilted his head slightly, his gaze slowly dragging over Aiden's flushed cheeks, his wide, watery eyes, his pouty lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how. His eyes were so damn intense that Aiden felt like he couldn't breathe.

Hunter knew he had to stop staring. He had promised himself he would give up on Aiden. That he wouldn't let himself fall deeper. That he would let go of these feelings. 

But standing here with Aiden like this with such a beautiful, flushed face filled with nothing but worry for him, Hunter's self-control snapped like a fragile thread.

His gaze dropped to Aiden's soft and pink lips. Slightly parted from all his rambling. Hunter's fingers tightened around Aiden's wrist as the urge to pull him close and kiss him senseless slammed into him so hard it was dizzying.

"How can someone be this cute?" Hunter murmured under his breath.

Aiden's heart skipped a beat. "H-Huh?"

Hunter blinked, realizing what he just said. He quickly cleared his throat, schooling his face back into indifference. "Nothing."

Aiden's heart was beating so fast he thought it might explode. What the hell is happening to me?

Why did Hunter's touch make his skin burn?

Why did the way Hunter looked at him—like he was the only thing in the world worth staring at—make him feel lightheaded?

Aiden ripped his hand away. "W-Whatever!" he blurted out, his voice a little too loud. "You still didn't tell me where you were, you jerk!"

Hunter smirked knowing Aiden was just trying to play it cool, he leaned back against the wall, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Found a place to stay. That's all."

"THAT'S ALL?! YOU DISAPPEAR FOR A WEEK, AND YOU THINK 'THAT'S ALL' IS AN EXPLANATION?! HUNTER, I SWEAR TO GOD—"

Hunter chuckled, his deep voice sending a strange shiver down Aiden's spine. "Relax, Drama Queen."

Aiden's face burned. "I—I'M NOT A DRAMA QUEEN!"

Hunter just grinned.

Aiden was still grumpy. His arms were crossed, his lower lip pouted slightly, and he refused to look Hunter in the eye. "If you hadn't shown up today, I was gonna go and destroy your aunt's house again."

This made Hunter choke. His expression shifted from mild amusement to complete disbelief. "What?"

Aiden huffed. "Are you deaf?"

Hunter grabbed Aiden's wrist firmly and yanked him forward. Aiden stumbled, his face almost crashing into Hunter's chest. His eyes widened as Hunter's grip tensed.

"What did you just say?" 

Aiden blinked up at him, completely unfazed. "I said I went to your aunt's house to ask where you were, but she didn't tell me, so I broke a few vases."

Hunter stared at him like he had just confessed to murder. "You did WHAT?!"

"What? It's not my fault she pissed me off!" Aiden scowled, looking away.

Hunter let out a frustrated sigh and gently wiped the lingering tear stains off Aiden's cheeks with his thumb.

"Aiden, you can't just go around breaking people's stuff like a little menace—"

"I'd do it again." Aiden declared making Hunter grow a headache in the morning. 

Aiden looked him dead in the eyes, his cheeks were still slightly red. "If you ever disappear again without telling me, I'll go back and destroy everything she owns."

Their gazes locked and Hunter felt a wave of heat rush through his body. Aiden was so close that his breath was warm against Hunter's chin, his red-rimmed eyes burning with stubbornness that he could never control. 

Hunter's thumb instinctively brushed against Aiden's cheek making Aiden gulp.

Neither of them moved. Neither of them looked away.

Though they both felt it, this weird, intense pull that neither wanted to acknowledge but couldn't escape from.

Hunter's grip on Aiden's wrist loosened slightly, but he didn't let go. Aiden's mind was screaming, Step back!—but his body refused to listen.

"S-So," Aiden finally stammered, breaking the silence, "are you gonna show me your new place or what?"

Hunter raised a brow, clearly considering rejecting him. But then he saw the light in Aiden's eyes, the way he was practically vibrating with curiosity.

He sighed, feeling himself give in. "Fine."

Aiden's face lit up. "Really?! Yes!" He jumped excitedly and hugged Hunter again.

Hunter's breath caught again. Aiden was so warm and so small. And he smelled like vanilla and citrus.

Before Hunter could react, the school bell rang.

Aiden flinched violently like he had been caught doing something illegal. He stumbled back, cheeks burning.

"L-Let's go to class!" he blurted out before turning on his heel and speed-walking away.

Hunter stood there for a second, staring at his retreating figure. After a moment, he smirked.

"Little minx." 

When Aiden and Hunter walked into class together, all heads snapped towards them.

There was a beat of silence seeing them together again. 

"HOLY SHIT." Nick practically jumped out of his seat. "Aiden got his puppy pet back!"

Aiden whipped around, glaring. "Nick, I swear to God—"

Nick waggled his eyebrows. "What happened, huh? Did you beg for forgiveness? Get down on one knee? Cry a little—"

"Joke's on you," Aiden said smugly, flipping his hair, "I'm adorable so I don't need to beg."

Nick cackled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever—"

BAM.

Hunter slammed his bag on his desk hard, making both Nick and Aiden jump. Hunter's eyes flickered towards Nik. "Stand up from my seat."

Nick blinked for a moment. "Huh?"

Hunter's gaze darkened as he rolled his eyes. "Stand. Up."

Nick, sensing immediate danger, scrambled to his feet without question. He quickly backed away from his desk and practically ran to Brian's table, where Brian was silently solving extra math problems.

Nick flopped into the chair beside him. Brian didn't even look up. "What do you want?"

"Protection," Nick muttered, eyeing Hunter warily.

Brian sighed. "What did you do now?"

"Nothing! I just said one thing and suddenly I felt like I was about to get murdered."

"That's because you don't know when to shut up."

Nick sighed. "I know when to shut up."

"Do you?"

"Yeah!"

Brian finally looked up. "Then why are you still talking?"

Nick gasped. "Did you just roast me? YOU, Brian?"

Brian deadpanned. "I'll do worse if you don't shut up."

Nick clutched his chest. "Betrayed by my own friend. This is worse than heartbreak."

Brian rubbed his temples. "Please leave me alone."

"Nope. You're my emotional support nerd now."

Brian sighed so deeply, it sounded like his soul was leaving his body.

◾◾◾

Aiden was excited all day. He had been looking forward to seeing Hunter's new place. 

But just when they got out of the class, Hunter's phone rang. He answered and after a short conversation, he sighed and turned to Aiden.

"I have to go to work early."

Aiden's excitement shattered. "Huh?! But you promised me!"

"I know," Hunter let out, genuinely apologetic. "I'll take you tomorrow. I swear."

Aiden grumbled with a sad face. "Fine. But if you break your promise, I'm sneaking in without telling you."

Hunter smirked. "You wouldn't even find the place."

"Watch me."

Hunter chuckled, ruffling Aiden's hair before walking away.

Aiden sighed dramatically and was about to leave school when he heard a commotion. It echoed down the hallway, and something about it made Aiden's stomach twist.

Curious, he followed the sound and froze.

Casen was being pushed and shoved, his already-thin frame nearly collapsing under the force.

Aiden gasped and his eyes widened. Casen looked so much weaker than before. Paler. Like a ghost of himself.

The moment the bullies realized Hunter wasn't around for days, Casen became an easy target for them again. They bullied and beat him brutally. 

"What's wrong, huh?" one of the guys sneered, shoving Casen hard enough to make him stumble. "Where's your boyfriend now? Why isn't he here to save your gay ass now?"

The others laughed. "Maybe Hunter finally realized how fucking disgusting you are. Or maybe he's just scared. What if we start treating him the same way as you?"

"Oh, maybe you taught him how to suck dick already!" someone shouted, and the whole hallway erupted in laughter.

Aiden felt his blood turn cold at the mention of Hunter as he heard the whispers around him. 

"Wait…is Hunter really gay?"

"Dude, for real?"

"I mean I have seen Hunter sitting with Casen at the cafeteria a lot of times. They were always together on the trip too."

Nick, who had been standing nearby, nudged Aiden without using his brain. "Hey, is it true? Hunter's actually gay? You never told us, man."

The hallway fell silent heating it. Every pair of eyes turned to Aiden making him turn into a statue. His eyes went to Casen again and he saw his gaze filled with hope. As if Casen was silently pleading with him to help him. 

Aiden knew what Casen wanted. But if Aiden said yes. Won't Hunter be bullied too? These guys just said they would treat Hunter like Casen too and Aiden couldn't let that happen.

So he did the one thing he never thought he would.

"Hunter's not gay," he let out in fright, forcing confidence into his voice. "It's just Casen who keeps clinging to him. If he never goes to Hunter, he won't even glance at him—"

Aiden stopped speaking when he saw something dying in Casen's eyes. And Aiden's stomach twisted violently.

Casen staggered slightly, as if Aiden had just punched him in the gut. He felt more hurt by Aiden's words than the bullies' beatings. 

The bullies grinned. "See? Even Aiden thinks you're a filthy little creep."

The real hell began.

Someone grabbed Casen by the collar and shoved him against the lockers. "You think you turned fucking special? Just because Hunter used to protect you?"

"Disgusting freak," someone spat, throwing dirt in Casen's face.

Aiden flinched at the scene, his whole body began to tremble. Another guy kicked Casen's bag, spilling his books onto the floor.

"Pick it up, whore," he sneered.

Casen, trembling, bent down to gather his things. While he was gathering his things Aiden's eyes landed on something that made his breath halt.

A cutter. Which had fallen from Casen's bag.

Casen's entire body stiffened as he quickly snatched it up and shoved it back into his bag. But before he could stand someone shoved him hard and he fell on the floor.

Laughter erupted and Casen's face burned with humiliation. He was barely keeping it together.

Aiden felt a sharp pang of guilt but he was too frozen to do anything. "L-Let him go or I'm going to call the teacher—" 

Before he could even finish Casen stood up without meeting anyone's eyes. He grabbed his bag, clutched it tightly, and ran away. 

Aiden stood there, watching him disappear down the hallway, his stomach feeling like it had been ripped open. 

He didn't even realize that not helping Casen was going to be his biggest mistake.

Because just a few hours later, while Hunter was wiping down tables at work, he received a phone call that made his blood run cold.

"Yeah?" he answered absentmindedly, still focused on his work.

But the second he heard the shaky breathing on the other end, something in his gut twisted.

"Hunter—" Sam's voice was shaking.

"Casen…he—he tried to kill himself."

The rag in Hunter's hand slipped to the floor. "What?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"I—I found him—There was so much blood. Can you please come to the hospital?"

Hunter didn't hear the rest. His body moved before his mind could process anything. He spun around and ran, slamming into a waiter and knocking a tray straight into the air.

Hot soup and rice splattered everywhere. A customer shrieked in shock. 

"HEY!" his manager roared. "HUNTER, WHAT THE HELL—"

Hunter didn't stop to hear him. He shoved through the door, sprinting full speed down the street.

By the time he reached the hospital, his whole body was shaking. His heart felt like it was going to explode.

He saw Sam sitting outside the ward. His hands were gripping his head. His white uniform was stained with blood.

Hunter's stomach dropped. "Sam—" His voice cracked as he rushed over. "What happened? How did this happen?"

Sam looked up with red eyes. "Hunter—" His voice came out in a broken whisper. "It's my fault. I—I should've known—"

Hunter grabbed his shoulders. "Tell me what happened!"

Sam gulped in trepidation. "I—I found him in the school bathroom. He was clutching a razor and there were cuts all over his arms, some fresh, some old—" Sam choked on his words. 

____________

A/N

If you wan to support me further since I'm keeping this story free and not making any profit. Support me on

buymeacoffee.com/Rain_345