Hunt Me Down - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Nathaniel's POV
So many people and we are not yet in the yard, I thought as my parents – yes, my father too – my twin and I neared the Johnson's residence. There were many decorations on our street – all the houses were laden with lights and garlands and so were the trees – but the Johnson's family had outdone everyone. Maybe it was the huge snow globes which glowed in different colors, maybe it was the giant snowman – they'd probably used a ladder to place the top hat on the six foot five snow sculpture – or maybe it was the wooden sleight with the ceramic deers, one of which had a shining red nose, of course; I didn't know which awed me the most but judging by my mother's flat smile I'd say she wasn't happy with the display and I knew we'd be going shopping for more lavish decorations first thing in the morning and mounting them in our garden as soon as we got back.
From the moment we stepped into the yard, I began to look for the familiar bleached head. I knew Hunter would be here; Val had assured me that he would even though Betty would not show up. The lack of the aunt made me wonder why the nephew would come; I doubted it was because he wanted to socialize with our neighbors. I began to suspect it had something to do with my presence. Did I dare to hope that was the case?
Should I?
After all, the mere thought of being with him had me panicking.
But if I had to be honest with myself: I hoped. Why else would I spend over half an hour in front of the mirror to prepare myself?
I shaved, my hair was rinsed and combed, my teeth were washed twice, I had put on my favorite dark blue turtleneck which Hunter claimed that I looked hot in... I'd even clipped my nails and who would pay attention to that?
No one. Yet I'd made sure not a single part of me was neglected while I was getting ready.
"Quite a turnout." The jealousy in my mother's voice was barely contained, but our hostess, who'd come to greet us as soon as we'd walked into her house, either didn't hear it or chose not to.
"Oh, you should've seen the crowd last year, Lydia! There were so many that we had to send part of the guest over to the Andrews'; we just couldn't fit everyone in," Mrs. Johnson commented, pointing to the house to the right. "Can I take your coats? I'll leave them up in the bedroom."
"Thank you!" My father was the first to forsake the top clothing and we all followed his example, me in a hurry. I was already beginning to sweat; the presence of so many guests was making the air stifling. Or was it nerves?
I had yet to find Hunter, but perhaps that was a good thing; I still didn't know what I'd do once I did.
I felt a jab in my ribcage and turned to my sister in annoyance. Whatever she was planning tonight, she was on her own; I had enough worries as it was to be dealing with her shenanigans. She was pointing at a brown-haired figure, partially hidden by those around it. At first, I could not make out why she was smiling but then I noticed what that figure was wearing: a cream colored sweatshirt. The owner of said clothing turned around, eyes scanning through the crowd until they fell on me. The smirk, that painfully familiar tilt of the left corner of his lips, greeted me from the familiar face; a face which seemed strange under dark hair. He tilted his head, beckoning me to join him before disappearing behind one of the biggest Christmas trees I'd seen in a private home.
I looked towards my parents – they were talking to each other – and then at my sister who gave me an encouraging nod. If I were to talk to Hunter – something I desired and feared – it would be best if I did it in relative privacy, somewhere where we won't be heard but also where we wouldn't be completely alone; I was not sure what may happen if we were to end up in a room together with no one else around.
I walked towards the tree, glancing sideways to make sure no one kept their eyes on me. Once I reached the evergreen, I looked around one last time before slinking behind it. The space between the tree and the wall was narrow and the many presents that were to be exchanged at midnight made it even smaller, but they provided extra cover so I was grateful for the piles they formed.
"You look a little pale, Natty; are you alright?" Hunter asked from his position, leaning against the wall. I chose to stay close to the tree and away from him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Didn't expect so many people," I muttered. Would the two of us manage to hide from everyone? "What's with the change?" I pointed with my chin to his hair.
"Oh, that?" He ran his hand and messed the hairs up; the look suited him. "This brown is close to my original color. Do you like it?"
"Yeah," I admitted before I could stop myself. Was approving of his new style an innocent remark or would he take it as a flirt?
I better distract him before he thought I was coming on to him.
"What prompted the change?" I asked.
"Didn't you say you'd like to see my natural color one day?"
I gaped at his reply.
"You did it because of me?"
"If I say yes, do I get a reward?" His tone was a dangerous murmur. It would be better if I left now; it would show him that I was not interested in giving him rewards of any kind. It would be better, yet I stayed in my spot and not only that: I encouraged him to tell me more.
"What kind of reward do you have in mind?" My voice came out breathier than I'd intended and the smirk only grew. His body jerked and for a moment I thought he'd push himself off the wall and come to me. He stayed still though and replied:
"A kiss." I opened my mouth to protest but I did not get a chance to. "That's what it's there for."
"That's what what's there for that?" The sentence sounded weird but my mind was too busy to correct my grammar; all I could think of was that Hunter straight out asked me to kiss him.
"The mistletoe," he took one of his hands out of his pocket to point at what he'd said. "There's plenty of that scattered around the house."
"Oh, that, yes, that," I babbled. "Erm, it's a... I should find my parents," I was talking too fast but he got the meaning; the smile was off his face. "And Vallery is... You know, she can do something stupid. I'll see you around."
I turned to leave, my feet tangling in one of the many garlands the tree was wrapped with. I lost my balance and grabbed for the nearest thing to steady me: a glass red ball which slid off the branch and shattered in my hand, one of the pieces slicing through my skin as I fell on my knees, taking more of the decorations down with me.
"Are you alright?"
"What happened?"
"Oh, my God, is he okay?"
There were so many voices, I wouldn't be able to distinguish which belong to whom even if I was close friends with all of my neighbors. A crowd of about a dozen had gathered around me by the time I was back on my feet, holding my injured hand. I was grabbed by the wrist, my arm pulled towards someone's face.
"Let me see." The voice was finally familiar; it was his voice.
"It's fine," I said, retrieving my bleeding hand. The last thing I wanted was for everyone to see I was getting special treatment from Hunter Harris. "It's fine," I repeated. "I just need to wash it. And I'm sorry about the tree decorations, Mr. Johnson," I turned to my host.
"Don't worry about it; let's just attend to this wound of yours." He took a step towards me, but I backed away from him.
"I can do it myself," I reassured. All the staring was suffocating me. "Do you have a first aid kit?"
"Yes," he nodded. "In the largest bathroom. It's the one..."
"I know," I interrupted already walking towards it. "All the houses here are built the same."
I moved as fast as I could between the people, constantly repeating 'sorry', as I kept bumping into them. A climb to the second storey had never felt this long; thank God I did not run into my mom or dad!
I barged into the bathroom, closing the door in one swift motion. The sounds from the other rooms muffled, I could hear my own irregular breathing: shallow as if my lungs refused to take in the air they needed. I searched the large cabinet beneath the sink; there were plenty of things stuffed in there, but not what I needed. I opened the one with the mirror on the outside and there it was: a small first aid kit. Regardless of its size, it had all I needed; I saw the items I sought the moment I removed the lid.
The noise from outside became louder.
"I'll be out in a minute," I reassured whoever had opened the door. I assumed they left once I heard it close so I startled at the quiet but firm words:
"Let me see."
I jumped, dropping the pack of bandages on the floor.
"Hunter, what are you doing here? I can take care of it myself!"
He did not leave or reply but bent down to retrieve the items. When he straightened, he grabbed me by the wrist and turned my palm up so he could examine it. I tried to retract my hand, but his grip only tightened. He turned the tap and guided my hand under the running water, the coolness of which eased the stinging. Still without a word he turned the tap off, dried my wound with a towel, rubbed some saline on it and carefully dressed it. I let him do all that without any more protests; it felt good to be cared for.
"Thanks," I muttered and when his eyes met mine, I looked away. There was mistletoe typed to the edge of the mirror and it got me thinking about his request from before. Could one kiss be too much trouble?
Even if it was on the cheek?
He had helped me after all... And I wanted to kiss him, I was already licking my lips.
"Thanks," I repeated, darting towards him and pecking him – just for a second – on his right cheek before lowering my gaze to the floor.
My chin was grabbed between his thumb and index finger and lifted towards him. Hunter plunged down, his lips covering mine. I staggered back but his free arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me towards him. Before I knew it, my hands were in his hair and I was kissing him back.
This feeling, this need for contact, was something entirely new to me. I wasn't uncomfortable, I wasn't thinking about possible excuses to get out of the situation; all I could think about was how to get closer, how to get more of him.
My body was hoisted up and placed on the counter. I wrapped my legs around his hips, thrusting into him. His hands lifted the hem of my turtle neck then slid beneath it. I tilted my head back as they roamed over my naked flesh and Hunter's mouth moved to my neck. He sucked my skin and I moaned, lightheaded by all the unfamiliar sensations that he brought me.
I didn't want him to stop.
I had no control over my body. One part of it was swelling to the point where I reached down to unbutton my jeans. My hand froze at the last button, the crashing sounds from outside startling me to my senses.
Hunter had ignored the noise and kept sucking on my neck. But now I could think more clearly; now I could look through the haze of hormones and say no. There were people outside the door; there were people everywhere in this house and any of them could walk in on us at any moment. That sobering thought had me pushing him back with so much force, he almost fell.
"No!" I jumped off the counter, buttoning my jeans back up. "I can't do this, Hunter, I can't... If my parents... Oh, God!"
I ran out the door, nearly toppling over Mrs. Johnson who had crouched over a fallen tray and the remains of what once must have been wine filled glasses. I didn't pause to apologize to her or the other people I bumped into; I ran towards the first storey and had almost made it to the front door when I was grabbed and forced to turn around.
"What happened?" Vallery's eyes were large with worry.
"I..." I was about to burst into tears. "Hunter... In the bathroom upstairs. I'm sorry, Vallery, I need to go home; I need..."
I didn't know what I needed; I just knew I wanted to be away from this place, away from him.
"Do you want me to co..."
"No," I cut her off. "I want to be alone."
"Alright." She bit her lip and nodded, letting go of my elbow. "Go home; I'll cover for you in front of mom and dad."
I've always loved my twin but had rarely felt such gratitude towards her as the one I experienced while running towards my bedroom, the snow falling in rags over me.
*****
Vallery's POV
I was going to search through all the bathrooms and all the other rooms in this house and if he'd left, I'd go to his home. I was not going to let Hunter Harris walk out of this; I had never seen my brother so distressed, not even in Vegas.
My teeth gritted as I opened the door to the largest bathroom and oh, what luck! He was here. He had his back to me, hands placed on the counter and head dipped low. I walked in and slammed the door behind me.
"What did you do to him?" I snarled, my fisted hands trembling. "What did you do to my brother?"
His body shook as a humorless chuckle echoed through the room.
"What did I do to him?" His tone was low and he had yet to turn towards me. "How about what did he do to me?"
"The fuck do you mean with that?" I grabbed the back of his sweatshirt and forced him to face me. I let go of him and took a step back once he did; I'd never seen such cold eyes. I tried to decipher the emotion in them; was it anger, resentment, disappointment? I could not tell. I concluded that there was no particular emotion; just a cold, unblinking stare.
"I kissed him, Vallery; I kissed your brother." He informed me in an even tone. "And he kissed me back."
I gasped, loosening my fists.
"He kissed me back and he enjoyed it. And then he told me he couldn't do it." Up until now, Hunter had been staring at the wall above my shoulder; now he looked at me. His eyes became softer, vulnerable for a moment. They turned back to steel as he said: "I thought he wouldn't run away this time; I really thought he'd stay this time."
And with a burst of that humorless laughter he stormed out and left me alone in the bathroom.