Hunt Me Down - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Nathaniel’s POV
I didn’t know which feeling was stronger when the door opened: relief or disappointment. The large figure of Betty stood erect as the woman looked me up and down.
“He’s not here,” she took the cigarette out of her mouth to say and then placed it back in as soon as she added: “Don’t know when he’ll be back either; haven’t seen him since he left for the party last night.”
“Oh… Thank… Thank you,” I muttered and turned around, staggering as my head spun at the motion. It wasn’t even that quick of a movement; the lightheadedness was either due to stress or the lack of sleep, or perhaps a combination of both.
“I warned you he was going to hunt you down,” her hoarse voice stopped me in my tracks. “You are such a proper, willing-to-please boy; not bad-looking either… He just wouldn’t be able to help himself; he’d want to get his hands on a toy like you. At least at first.” I turned around in time to see her throw the cigarette on the ground and extinguish it with her foot. “But then he became… nicer, I guess you could call it,” she went on, her eyes on the smoke she leaned to pick up. She huffed as she bent in two, her stomach getting in the way, then she straightened up with another heavy exhale. “He’s no angel, that boy, but he’s been quieter lately, less rebellious. Maybe you rubbed off on him, metaphorically. Although looking at your pale face and how you need to see him… It’s going to be a loooong Christmas holiday,” she concluded.
“I…” My voice broke so I cleared my throat. “Can you tell him that I came to see him and that I want to talk to him? And that I also… that I’m sorry?”
“Yep. A long holiday,” she repeated, giving me a nod I hoped meant that she’d pass my message on before she turned around and lobbed inside her house, closing the door behind her.
*****
Hunter’s POV
I slumped down on my bed even though I fully realized I needed a shower; the stink of sweat and alcohol that oozed out of me was so strong, I myself was bothered. But I was too tired, too drained to undertake any initiative, even one related to my personal hygiene.
I heard scratching against glass; I knew that was Raph, signaling me to let him out. That didn’t make me move either; I just let out a sigh and was already half asleep by the time I closed my eyes.
A not-so-low noise – this time coming from the door – awoke me.
“Go away,” I slurred without opening my blinkers.
“Are you dressed?” She rumbled out in her sweet, melodious voice. “‘Cause I’m coming in.”
“I’m naked,” I lied, but it wasn’t enough to get rid of my Aunt.
“Then cover yourself with a sheet,” she shouted through the door and I heard her open it.
“What do you want?” I muttered, half on my way to dreamland.
“To know what you’ve been up to all night for starters.” The stench of cigarettes assaulted me as she came closer. Even though my stomach was churning from the lack of food and the copious amounts of various types of alcohol to the point I’d very soon need to faceplant into the toilet, I felt a sudden craving for the nicotine lollypops.
“What are you, my mother?” I sneered agitated by one – her presence here, and two – my need to smoke. Oh, and let’s not forget three – I was out of cigs.
“No, I actually care.”
I wasn’t even mad at her answer; she had a point. I’d never been close to my parents and the final straw was me coming out. If Boot Camp Aunt was to call them now and tell them I’d kicked the bucket, they’d probably send her sincere blessing and throw a party.
“I was out drinking, smoking and slutting around,” I replied to her question, hoping she’d leave.
“Maybe that was why he was so upset,” she suggested in a tone which warranted a reply.
“Who was upset?” I decided to play along; the sooner she said what she came here to say, the sooner I’d get some rest.
“The neighbor boy; he came looking for you a few hours ago.”
My neck snapped painfully when I twisted my head towards her, eyes fully open.
“Nathaniel? He was here?”
“That’s what I said, didn’t I?” She huffed.
“And he was upset?”
“Again, I…”
“Yeah, yeah, you already said that.” I buried my face back in my pillow. “So?”
“So? SO?” Her voice rose. “So get off your ass…”
“I’m lying on my stomach,” I pointed out.
“Get off your dick,” she corrected, without losing momentum and I smirked at her enthusiasm, “and go talk to him.”
“I’ve got nothing to say to him.” My smile was gone.
“You are almost twenty, boy; you are too old for teenage drama.”
“Technically, I’m still a teenager.” Arguing with her was somewhat brightening my mood.
“Fine; I am too old for teenage drama.” I gathered by the volume of her heavy footsteps that she was moving away. “If you don’t want to talk, then listen. He wanted to apologize so just hear him out; the boy looked like he’s been through Hell. And take a shower first; you reek.”
The door slammed and I turned to lie on my back.
To apologize… What were the odds of Nathaniel doing of that?
The act would take some balls and the boy didn’t have any, metaphorically speaking. Hell, his sister had more balls than him! Again, metaphorically; it would be one weird family otherwise.
Should I forgive him?
I could hear him out, but was there anything he could say to make it up to me?
What kind of an apology was it anyway?
‘Hunter, I’m sorry, but I don’t ever want to see you again’ or ‘Hunter, I was an idiot, wanna bang’?
Knowing Nathaniel, he wouldn’t use neither ‘wanna’, nor ‘bang’ even if he wished to get in bed with me; knowing Nathaniel, it was probably ‘Hunter, I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me and I have no idea what I want to do now.’
Was that even worth the bother listening to?
I turned to my side, my eyes falling on the window through which I could see his room. With a frown, I turned my back to that scene, but my thoughts were still swirling around him.
Perhaps I should hear Nathaniel out; it could give me a closure. God knew I needed to move on; I couldn’t even get it up last night with Cam.
The idiot had guessed that it was because I was drunk; he then suggested that it was because I was stressed; he’d even proposed to give me some mouth action so that I would relax. Instead of accepting, I’d put my pants back on and gotten out of the hotel room. He’d grabbed me by the wrist when I was about to close the door and asked what was wrong and how he could help me forget about it.
I’d laughed at his face.
There was no forgetting Nathaniel Reed; just getting over him.
And so, Cameron’s evening was ruined as well. And he’d been so happy to see me after the long time we’d been apart; he’d complimented my new hair color, he’d bought some expensive whiskey and told me he’d order me anything I wanted from room service. He’d been so eager to spoil me, to bribe me to get back with him even though it was only for booty calls that he’d seemed pathetic. Maybe that was why I wasn’t feeling guilty for leaving him at the hotel last night; either that or because I’d gotten to that point in being enraged where you just didn’t give a damn.
Until Aunt Betty had helpfully supplied me with the information about Nathaniel’s visit.
Now I was back to caring and back to being angry; so angry, that I no longer felt the need to sleep. My mind was working with full speed, thinking of the pros and cons of conversing with the boy. I got off the bed and began to undress; if I wasn’t going to be catching some shut-eye, I might as well take a shower; let the water wash off the sweat and the stench of alcohol I’d spilled on my torso and clear my head. But first, I should take Raph out; the scratches on the glass did not go well with me trying to calm down.