Chapter 28

As soon as everyone got out of the principal's office, Carolyn turned to Hunter with a dramatic sigh, flipping her expensive designer bag over her shoulder. "You know, sweetheart, I'm starting to think you don't like me."

Hunter gave her a blank stare and declared emotionlessly. "Because I don't."

Sam snorted behind her, watching her stunned face. "Don't take it personally, Aunt Carolyn. Hunter doesn't like anyone except…." His eyes turned to Aiden who was talking to his mother. 

Hunter gave him a death glare. "Keep your dirty mouth shut." 

Carolyn gasped, placing a perfectly manicured hand over her heart. "What, he doesn't like anyone? That can't be! He saved me, after all! And I even gave him my number, yet the sweetheart never called me."

Hunter shoved his hands into his pockets. "I didn't need to."

Carolyn pouted. "You wound me."

Sam laughed again and tried to comfort her Aunt. "Aunt, give up. Hunter ignored my texts for months, he's never calling you."

Carolyn dramatically placed the back of her hand against her forehead. "I can't believe this! My own beauty and charisma got ignored for the first time? I can't live now." 

Hunter's head tilted, eyes half-lidded, looking more tired than entertained. "I don't have time for this."

Carolyn still smirked, she was having the best time of her life teasing this kid. "That's what all emotionally unavailable men say."

While Carolyn was happily tormenting Hunter, Aiden and his mother were passing by when Hunter suddenly spoke up.

"Thank you, Mrs. Harvey." 

Aiden's mother turned and gave him a gentle smile as she reached out and patted his shoulder. "You don't have to thank me, Hunter. You're like my own son. And it's a good thing Aiden called me on time."

Hunter barely glanced at Aiden which made him sad after being ignored. 

"Hunter…" Aiden desperately called out, finally getting Hunter's attention. Hunter's sharp gaze moved to him and saw Aiden's pleading eyes. 

Hunter felt his throat tightening up and he quickly looked away, clearing his throat as he turned his attention back to Aiden's mother. "Still…I appreciate what you did. For me and Casen. If you ever need anything, I'll be there."

She smiled, brushing it off. "Just take care of yourself, that's enough for me. And speaking of Casen, how is he? I was planning to visit him soon."

Hunter hesitated for a second before answering. "He's still recovering. I think seeing people come because of what happened might…pressure him. But once he's better, I promise you can meet him."

Aiden's mother nodded. "I understand. Let me know when he's ready."

Carolyn, never one to stay quiet for long, grinned at Aiden's mother. "You know, I really like you. Women like us should stick together."

Aiden's mother smirked. "Agreed."

The two women immediately launched into conversation, praising each other and exchanging connections as if they'd been friends for years.

Meanwhile, Aiden and Hunter stood there awkwardly, one dying to speak and the other feeling completely out of place.

Aiden's heart ached, the Hunter he knew would have at least snapped at him by now. But instead, all Aiden got was silence. When the silence got too heavy, Aiden took a deep breath, ready to break it but before he could, Hunter suddenly turned to Aiden's mother and spoke. 

"I should get going. My shift will start soon."

Aiden's mother agreed. "Of course, don't let us keep you."

Hunter gave her a short nod and walked off without looking back.

Aiden stood there dumbfounded for a moment before turning to her mother. "I-I'll get home by myself!" Aiden blurted before turning and sprinting after Hunter.

His mother simply watched him go and sighed. "That boy…"

Aiden's heart pounded as he sprinted after Hunter, weaving through the crowd of students and parents. "Hunter! Wait up!" he yelled, practically stumbling over his own feet as he caught up. He grabbed Hunter's arm and stopped him while breathing heavily. "Hey…Wait…Can we talk?"

Hunter groaned upon being stopped aggressively. His honey-brown eyes turned sharp. Aiden felt like he'd been slapped. Hunter's expression used to be unreadable, sure—but not like this. The kind of anger that settled deep, where forgiveness seemed impossible.

"What?" Hunter's one brow arched lazily, his lips pressed into a thin, unimpressed line. He continued when Aiden remained silent. "If you're done wasting my time, I need to leave."

Aiden's eyes widened in panic. "No, wait! Uh—um…" He scrambled for something, anything to keep Hunter from walking away because after seeing Hunter anger he couldn't bring himself to talk about Casen. "I-I mean…Your shift, right? Where do you work again? I can visit! Not in a creepy way, just, you know, like…casually. As a friend. Best friend! Buddy! Pal?" He winced. "Okay, I hear myself. That sounded weird."

Hunter stared at him blankly as if trying to process the sheer absurdity of what he was hearing. He simply turned around and began to leave. Aiden panicked and grabbed his arm again. 

"Wait, wait, wait! Uh, your hair! It looks nice today! Did you do something different? No? Okay, cool, cool. Hey, remember that one time you saved me from falling into the school fountain? Good times. Uh…Hey, did you know the school cafeteria's fries taste like cardboard now, I mean they were never good before too? We should totally—"

"Aiden?!" Hunter exhaled through his nose, eyes closed to hold himself back. He rubbed his temples, eyes squeezing shut, muttering something under his breath about needing a vacation. 

Aiden instantly shut up, standing straight like a scolded puppy. "Y-Yeah?"

Hunter's eyes opened and gave him a sharp glare which made Aiden flinch. "Get. To. The. Point."

Aiden gulped, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I…I wanted to explain." He swallowed, trying to meet Hunter's eyes but was failing miserably. "About Casen. About why I didn't help him." 

"Don't-" Hunter's face hardened instantly at the mention of it.

"But—"

"I said don't." Hunter's hostile eyes locked onto Aiden unblinking, and the weight of his glare enough to suffocate Aiden. "I don't care what excuse you have. But I don't want to heat it. Because nothing you say is going to change the fact that you didn't help him. You stood there, and you did nothing."

Aiden felt like the air had been knocked out of him. He flinched, barely noticeable, but enough to show the words had cut deep. His hands fidgeted at his sides, tugging at the hem of his shirt. He dropped his gaze to the ground, kicking at a pebble. 

"I…I know. Still, I wanted to explain…" 

Hunter watched his face fall and clenched his fists so tight his knuckles went white. For a split second, his cold expression faltered—but he pushed it down. 

"You know, Aiden…People can pretend to be blind, but eventually, they'll trip over their own lies." 

"Huh?" Aiden blinked, squinting at Hunter like he was speaking another language. He felt utterly confused by Hunter's words. "What does that even mean? Blind, lies?" 

"Kill me," Hunter threw his head back with a long anguised sigh. He dragged a hand down his face, fingers lingering over his eyes as if blocking out the stupidity might somehow make it disappear. "Forget it. I forgot who I was talking to." He turned to leave again.

But Aiden darted after him like a lost child. "Wait! What does that mean? Am I blind? Am I lying? Is the ground involved? Wait, do you think I'm gonna trip? Should I watch my step from now on?" He glanced around nervously. "Are you cursing me? You want me to fall and break my legs!"

"What? What the hell are you saying?" Hunter stopped abruptly and turned to him. His hand hovered mid-air as if trying to gesture some kind of explanation, only to drop limply to his side.

Aiden nodded seriously. "It's okay. You don't have to explain. I'll watch out for cracks in the sidewalk from now on." 

"Oh my God." He stared at Aiden for a long moment before quietly whispering. "There's no hope."

Aiden frowned as his lips pursed in a small pout, he crossed his arms because he felt extremely offended. "Hey! I may not be the smartest, but I'm not dumb. And who asked you to talk big again? Can't you talk like normal people?"

Hunter exhaled sharply, turning on his heel and walking away. Aiden stood there, staring after him, feeling completely bewildered.

"Did I just get cursed? I'll show him that I'm not blind and can properly," After a long pause, Aiden scratched his head and started walking while closely looking at his legs without looking where he was going and still bumped in a wall.