Scott's reaction was mild compared to Stefan's and Lia. He was just pissed off Hunter and I started dating before the end of the week. Apparently, he and Jason had a bet going on, and he lost.
So at lunch, Jason joined us with a loud hoot that melted into the cafeteria's noise. He slammed his tray down, sloshing his already open drink everywhere. Lia wrinkled her nose next to him and moved her tray away.
Hunter was sitting next to me, closer than usual.
"Scott! Pay up!" Jason said, wiggling his fingers.
"I don't have cash right now," Scott said. "I'll pay you later."
"What the hell! You knew they were dating since last night. You should've brought cash."
Hunter leaned in closer to me as Scott and Jason bickered back and forth. "What are they talking about?"
"They had a bet going on," I said. "Jason said we'd start dating before the week is over. Scott gave us until the end of the month."
"Mhm," Hunter said.
I glared at Jason. "How did you know we'd start dating?"
He grinned. "How couldn't I know? You're the only one who didn't."
"It did happen rather fast," Lia said. "I expected you to last a couple of months at least."
"Damn, should've made a bet with you too," Jason said.
The pickles in Hunter's tray were untouched. He pushed the tray closer. "Take them."
I glanced at him. He was so close I could smell him. The brown of his eyes looked lighter today. "Are you sure?"
He rolled his eyes and pushed the tray closer. I grinned and snatched them. He offered, who was I to argue?
"Awe, look at the love birds," Jason said.
Scott gagged. "Dude, stop. Gross. That's my sister."
I rolled my eyes, pushed my tray aside and pulled out my notebook.
"Calculus?" Lia asked. "Do you want to copy my homework?"
"I already did," I told her. She'd ended up spending the night yesterday and I'd copied her homework. She hadn't even noticed because she'd been so engrossed in teasing me about Hunter.
"So what are you doing?" She asked.
"I'm trying to make sense of it," I said, tuning them out. I pulled out a pen and started working on the first problem.
After a few minutes, my temples started to throb. I groaned and scribbled the nonsense on the paper.
"What's wrong?" Hunter asked, leaning closer.
"Calculus. That's what's wrong," I grumbled.
He looked at the problem, his dark lashes fluttering down. Then he took the pen from my fingers. "Watch."
I frowned, following as he solved the problem step by step.
"Use this," he said, circling a formula at the top of my notes. My brows raised. The glyphs on the sheet of paper began making sense.
Hunter worked through the problem with deliberate slowness, writing notes between every two lines. He didn't speak a word, yet the veil of mystery that shrouded calculus disintegrated. I gaped at him, hope filling my chest.
"You're good at calculus?"
He shrugged. "Good enough."
I looked at the meticulous notes he scribbled down on my notebook. He was brilliant. "I actually understood how you did that," I mumbled to myself. Then beamed at him and blinked my lashes. "Will you tutor me?"
He blinked. "Sure."
I grinned, grabbed his face and kissed his cheek with a loud smack.
"Ewww!"
Scott threw a fry at me. I didn't care, and I almost didn't notice the pink on the tips of Hunter's ears, I was too buoyed by the prospect that I would actually get a decent understanding of calculus from now on.
So during Calculus class, I sat closer to Hunter. It was like magic. Mr. Barcroft's scribbles no longer looked like ancient hieroglyphics to me.
For someone who didn't speak a word, Hunter was a great teacher. He scribbled notes on the margin of his notebook along with Mr. Barcroft's notes, explaining everything to my pea-sized brain. I wasn't an idiot, I was pretty decent in all other subjects. Except calculus. Now, that hurdle didn't seem very high anymore.
"Sapphire," Mr. Barcroft said, making me snap my head up from Hunter's notes. Mr. Barcroft leaned against the whiteboard, his face patiently amused. "What are you and Mr. Jamison finding so intriguing, I wonder?"
"They're dating, sir!" Someone called out. Someone else whistled. Whispers rippled through the classroom.
I glared at the two boys, feeling heat crawl up my face. "It's calculus," I said.
Mr. Barcroft sauntered over. He looked at Hunter's notes, blinked, then smiled. "Carry on. But I'm expecting a better mark on the next test, Sapphire."
Ugh. "Yes, Mr. Barcroft."
Mr. Barcroft went back to the whiteboard. I leaned even closer to Hunter and whispered. "Be prepared. You'll be tutoring the shit out of me for the foreseeable future."
Hunter turned his head to me. Close. My heart skittered. "What do I get in return?"
Um, what? "The satisfaction of having a smart girlfriend?"
He smiled. "I want something else."
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you want?"
"I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I figure it out." He leaned back and focused on the board.
Lia caught my eyes and made kissy faces at me. Ugh. I flipped her off and focused on the math. I had a test to ace.
*** **** ***
It was the end of the day, I was at my locker when I felt someone lean on the locker next to me. I glanced over. Jake. I closed my locker and looked at him. "Yes, Jake?"
"Are you dating him?"
"Who?"
"Jamison."
"Yes."
He frowned. "You're shitting me, right?"
"Why would I?"
His frown deepened. "He's an asshole."
I swung my backpack over my shoulder. "What did I tell you last time?"
He scoffed. "Are you serious right now? Why are you going out with him?"
"Because he asked me out?"
"I asked you out," he said, straightening up. "And you rejected me."
I slammed my locker shut and sighed. "Jake, what's this about? Do I have to get your permission for my dating life?"
"You-"
"Piss off."
I jumped and turned my head. Hunter stood behind me, looking at Jake like he was going to break him in half. I
Jake sneered. He looked between the two of us and took a step back. A few students walking by looked, but fortunately, the hallways were almost empty, everyone was already out in the parking lot. "I always thought you were reasonable, Sapph. I guess you and your friend have similar tastes."
The bastard! He turned and strode away before I could chew him out. "Prick," I mumbled.
Hunter watched him go, his face set in hostile lines. I was beginning to recognize that look. It was the look of wanting to punch someone's face in.
"He's obsessed with you or what?" he asked,
"I wouldn't say obsessed. His ego is bruised because I rejected him last year."
"He asked you out?"
"Yep."
"Why did you reject him."
I made face. "Jake is... I just don't like him much."
"And you're going out with me."
"Last time I checked, yes."
He put his hands in his pockets, rounding those massive shoulders. "Does that mean you like me?"
I linked my arm through his and pulled him along, joining the thin stream of students heading outside. "Yeah, I guess I do."
He turned his head again to hide his smile, but I caught it, and it made my heart leap like an overjoyed bunny.
Lia and Jason were waiting by Lia's car. They saw us coming, Lia grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. My arm was still linked through Hunter. I didn't want to let go. His warmth felt nice.
"Sapph," Lia said, batting her eyelashes.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"There's a party on Friday..."
I groaned and hit my forehead on Hunter's forearm. I hated parties. Lia tugged on my arm. "Come on... you never go with me!" She said. "I really want you to come. I want to have some fun."
"I know what you're doing," I grumbled.
She grinned. "Is it working?"
Damn it. At least she'd have some fun and take her mind off things. "Fine. I'll go."
She squealed and hugged me quickly, then stepped back. "You should come, too, Jamison," Lia said. "Wouldn't want someone to hit on your girlfriend."
I rolled my eyes. Hunter nodded.
"See you later!" Lia said, skipping to her car.
"Hey-"
"I'll take you home," Hunter said.
I looked between him and Lia, who was already strapping her self in her car. "Okay. Thanks."
Hunter's car was parked in the very back of the parking lot. As we approached and the mass of students between us and the vehicle thinned, I would see someone sitting on the hood of his car.
The skinny white jeans and red cropped top stood out against the sleek black of Hunter's car. I recognized her. She was the girl from the party. Next to her stood Charlotte and a couple of her girlfriends.
So she was one of Charlotte's clique. That was why she'd looked familiar.
"You have company," I mumbled.
Hunter grunted. I glanced at him. He looked bored. As we drew near the car, the girl straightened, still sitting on the car. She spared me a glance before fixing her black-lined eyes on Hunter. Wow. Her make-up was flawless, jewelry sparkled in her ears and on her wrists. Her hair fell in full waves of reddish brown down to her waist. My eyes flickered down to the dip of her tank top. Those were...Double wow.
The amount of time and skill it must take her to look like that every morning. Respect.
"Jamison," the girl said, glancing at our linked arms. I tightened my hold on his arm.
"Move," Hunter rumbled.
She bit her lip. "Are we still on for tonight?"
Something cold and ugly twisted my guts. I glanced at Hunter. He was frowning at her. "The hell are you talking about? Move."
The girl pursed her lips and swung her gaze to me, looking me up and down with a condescending smile. "When you get sick of your little virgin girlfriend, come find me."
Aha. I saw how it was. Someone was trying to stir trouble. I snickered. "Oh, you're so lucky I don't punch girls," I said.
The girl scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest and pushing the twins up. Any higher and she'd have boobs as a double chin.
I held up my palm for Hunter. "Keys."
He put his car keys in my palm. I moved to the driver's seat, he moved to the passenger seat.
Once we were both strapped in, I looked at the girl. Her big bubble butt was still firmly planted on the hood of the car. I lowered my window and stuck my head out. "Move, or your butt will land on the concrete."
I started the car, checked the rearview mirror, and backed away without waiting for a response. The girl squealed, almost falling as the car backed away and she scrambled to get off.
Hunter's low chuckle filled the car. I followed the line of cars slowly making their way to the road. "I'm glad you're amused," I grumbled. "Maybe I should've just left you with your little date. Sorry I ruined your plans."
That was petty, but I didn't care. My stomach was tied up in knots. It was a novel feeling, and I didn't like it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hunter turn fully in his seat to face me. His intense dark eyes branded my cheek.
"You're jealous."
I frowned, putting my hand on my stomach. Jealous? Was this what it was?
"You're changing the subject," I told him instead of addressing his statement.
"I never dated her, and I didn't have plans with her," he said.
"I saw you in the party last Friday."
He shifted in his seat. "Yeah. But it wasn't a date. We just..."
"Had sex."
"Yeah."
He'd said he had a crush on me. Yet he slept with someone else. Would I even be able to do that?Be intimate with a person when I liked someone else? I didn't think I could.
Maybe he never really had a crush on me. Was I too naive to have believed him when he'd said he did?
Or maybe I was judging the situation from my point of view. Maybe intimacy meant nothing to other people. Maybe they could have sex with others even when their hearts were attached to someone else.
Ugh. I hated this.
"Sapphire."
My heart jumped. He very rarely said my name, and it sounded like a caress coming out of his lips. My hands tightened on the wheel. I followed the car in front of me and merged into the main road. "What?"
"Why are you angry?"
"I don't know." I huffed. "I just don't understand how you could have had a crush on me and then sleep with someone else."
He was quiet for a few minutes. I thought he wouldn't reply. "I didn't think you'd actually go out with me, you know. So I just... slept around."
I glanced at him with a frown. "How long have you had a crush on me exactly?"
His response was immediate. "Long enough to lose hope."
Oh. He was really bad for my heart. "Stop saying things like that. You don't mean it."
I stopped the car at a red light and looked over, locking eyes with him. His head leaned against the headrest, his dark eyes lazily blinking at me. The air crackled in the car. It suddenly felt too small.
Someone honked behind me. I jumped. The light turned green. I moved the car along. My cheeks felt warm.
Turning the car down my street, I loosened my fingers around the steering wheel. I wanted to spend more time with him.
"The history project," Hunter mumbled. "When should we start on it?"
I perked up. "Yeah. We should probably start on it, right? How about today? Do you have any plans now?"
"No."
I parked the car and looked at him. "We can work on it in my place. Or yours if you prefer."
"Yours."
"Let's go." I jumped out of the car and made my way to the door. The car locked behind me, and Hunter's heavy footsteps followed.
I unlocked the front door and was greeted by Cheddar's meow as he bounded over from the couch.
"Hey, big baby," I crooned, petting him, leaving the door open for Hunter.
He never tried to escape. He went to the backyard only when the weather was nice or when he spotted a bird. I tried walking him on a leash once. He made it to the end of the street before plopping down and refusing to move a step. I ended up carrying him the entire time.
Hunter loomed in the doorway. I picked up Cheddar. "Come in and close the door."
Cheddar's little nostrils flared as he drew in Hunter's scent. Awe, he was just so damn cute! I kissed him roughly. He meowed and wiggled, so I let him go. He looked up at Hunter. Hunter looked down at him. The stare off continued for several seconds before Hunter crouched, offering his hand for my cat. Cheddar sniffed, then deemed Hunter worthy enough and pressed his head to Hunter's hand.
"Oooh, you got the seal of approval," I said, hanging my keys. Cheddar, having made his feelings about the newcomer known, made his way to the kitchen.
"Good to know." Hunter stood up, glancing at the cat-shaped key holder.
"Come on." I slid my hair tie out and snapped it on my wrist, letting my hair down.
We made our way past the living room, into the kitchen. I dropped my backpack on the island and paused.
"I usually do my homework here," I said. "Do you prefer the living room?"
Hunter sat in a stool, his eyes flickering around. "Here is fine."
I looked around to see what he did. The cupboards were a deep green, the counter and island were a marbled grey veined with white. The fridge had a picture of Sam and us from a few years ago in the backyard, and a load of sticky notes.
The place was clean, because it had been Stefan's turn to cook the night before and he always left it immaculate. But a bowl of half-finished cereal was left in the sink. No doubt Scott.
I poured Cheddar some food and opened the fridge. "Want something to eat? I make a killer turkey and cheese sandwich."
"Sure."
I hummed under my breath, moving on autopilot to make my special sauce, picking cheese and turkey as I went.
I pressed the two sandwiches in the panini press, put them on plates and turned. Hunter leaned his elbow on the island, his chin resting on his fist, watching me.
"What?" I asked, feeling self-conscious. Did I have something on my face? I put the plates on the island and discreetly checked my face. Nothing stained my fingers.
He just stared. I rounded the island and sat next to him. Leaning forward to slide the plates closer, my hair curtained my face.
Hunter's fingers brushed it out of the way, grazing my cheek. I turned my head and froze. Our faces were an inch away.
"You should let your hair down more," he mumbled, his words sliding through my ears and right into my heart, making my skin shiver.
I swallowed, my throat dry. Hunter's eyes, so dark and warm, flickered down to my lips and stayed there. My heart exploded. He leaned forward.
--- ---- ---
Hey guys! I hope you liked this chapter.
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Much love <3 <3 <3
M.B.