Hunt Me Down - Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Hunter's POV
The time was nearing.
It was December 31 and there was less than a quarter of an hour left until midnight. Aunt Betty had called for me to join her, the steaks, the brownies and a bottle of cheap champagne downstairs, but I'd told her I had other plans and stayed in my room.
Eleven minutes.
Would he come?
I knew he'd try to, but would he succeed?
That over-possessive mother of his was a huge hindrance; if she could keep him in her pocket, she would.
Nine minutes.
It was a whole miracle she didn't send him to a vet to implant one of those microscopic electronic pet trackers on him or keep him on a leash. Maybe I could convince him to put on a collar for me...
Six minutes.
We'd have to start with something more conventional though; I couldn't have him tied to my bed for his first time...
Five.
... Could I?
I sat up in my bed and looked towards the window; his room was still dark. My eyes fell on the screen of my phone once more: four minutes.
My fingers started drumming on my knee.
Come on, Nathaniel, don't leave me hangin' here! I silently urged in my mind. Do this for me and show me that you care enough about me to oppose your parents. Show me that you can muster up that courage again; I've seen you do it for Val. You will eventually have to do it for yourself... If you are not ready yet, then do it for me... For us...
Two minutes.
*****
Nathaniel's POV
"I would not go around the house, carrying a bag of chips; it's just not me," I told Val as she pushed me through the kitchen door. "Mom will suspect something's up; I'm too tidy to eat while walking."
"Well, she's not in the kitchen and she has to see you eat," she replied, shoving me again. I stumbled forward. I should start working out; my sister was manhandling me like a weightless rag-doll.
"If you are putting on a show, you have to set the stage first," she added wisely and I jumped to the side when she raised her hands to drive me further into the hallway. "It won't be believable if she doesn't see you stuffing yourself silly."
"Who is stuffing themselves silly?"
I jumped up at her voice, some of the chips leaping out of the open bag.
"Oh, sweetie, be careful! You are spilling them all over the floor."
"I'm sorry, mom." I crouched to gather the escapees. Some of them broke as I picked them up, leaving tiny crumbs and salt on the floor. "I'll go get a broom."
"No need to; I was about to clean up with the vacuum anyway," my parent waved her hand at me.
"You cleaned yesterday," Val pointed out.
"New Year is less than four hours away, Vallery, and I do not plan to spend it in a piggery," my mother crossed her arms over her chest.
I looked about: not a speck of dust was in sight. Even the biggest clean freak would find it impossible to complain over anything other than the chips I'd just spilled in our hallway.
"Speaking of piggery," Val slapped me on the back and our parent frowned at her, "my favorite older twin brother's developed quite an appetite today."
"And for junk food only, it would seem," our mother shook her head. "First the popcorn, now chips... You are setting a very bad example for him, young lady."
"How is that my fault?" Vallery shouted at the same time I'd voiced 'Val has nothing to do with this'.
Mom raised a hand up to hush us.
"Your brother knows better, Vallery, but you buy all this junk and it tempts him." Both of us tried to speak, but once again, she hushed us. "Now, I'm going to get started on the rest of food for tonight. In the mean time, you two clean your rooms. I want the vacuum to be at my disposal in forty-five minutes. Go!" She urged as neither of us had moved.
I turned around and walked towards the closet - the place where we kept the vacuum cleaner. From the corners of my eyes, I saw my sister following me and mom entering the kitchen.
"I'm sorry about that," I apologized as I opened the door with my right hand, the left one still clutching the chips.
"Never mind," my twin shrugged. "I'm used to her blaming me for everything. She definitely wouldn't have started with 'Oh, sweetie, be careful' if I'd been the one to throw chips on her floor."
"I didn't throw it," I insisted as I took the vacuum out. "She startled me and I spilled it."
"Either way," Val closed the closet door for me, "phase one of our plan is completed: she thinks you are eating the junk food."
*****
I could hardly appreciate all the effort my mother had put into the New Year preparations. The meat was perfectly cooked, the gravy didn't have a single lump in it, the silverware was polished, the table cloth was the whitest of whites, yet all I could think about was that there were less than ten minutes left until I had to excuse myself then run off to meet Hunter.
"Bend in two, darn it; you are supposed to be in pain," my sister hissed from her spot to my left.
I leaned forward.
"You suck at this," she went on, just as quietly, covering her mouth with a glass of soda. "Do you want me to punch you in the gut?"
I glared at her.
"It will seem more real." She took a sip. "At least you've got the unhealthy paleness right."
I was sure I did. I was so nervous, I could feel my heart pumping in my head. I wouldn't be surprised if mom followed me upstairs. Val promised to do her best to keep our female parent here, but would mother listen to her?
My twin would probably have to misbehave to distract her; even then I wouldn't have much time.
"I could at least pinch you," my sister offered again.
"What are you two murmuring about?" Mom asked and I opened my mouth to answer; the sound of Val's voice forestalled me and thankfully she had a reply ready:
"We were conspiring to steal the expensive champagne dad bought and drink it by ourselves."
"Alcoholism and theft are not topics you should joke about, Vallery," mother reprimanded.
"Come on, Lydia, she didn't mean it as an ill jest," dad intervened, wrapping his arm over mom's shoulders and attempting to kiss her on the cheek. She pulled away in her chair, a look of disagreement on her face.
"If you justify her actions, George, how is she to learn?"
"Lydia..."
"You know we need to be sterner with her otherwise there's no telling what she would get into," mother insisted. Our father sighed, sitting back into his seat whilst I looked down into my lap.
Five minutes left till midnight, the screen my phone showed.
I had to time this right.
If I took too long, I wouldn't be at Hunter's at midnight; the chances of my mother following me to check how I was increased proportionally to the time I was away so I couldn't go too early either.
"Why are you looking down, sweetie? Is anything wrong?"
Four minutes.
"I don't feel so good," I said, getting up and discreetly - or so I hoped - putting my mobile away.
"I think it's all that junk food I ate today," I went on, placing a hand over my stomach. "I need to use the bathroom." My mom was on her feet as well, worry in her eyes. I felt guilty about lying to her, but I saw no other option.
"I need to use the bathroom," I repeated. "Excuse me."
I commenced walking towards the door; I felt like speeding up - there were less than three minutes left - but I knew that would make mom more anxious and she was sure to follow. Even now, as I slightly turned my head, I saw her stepping towards me.
The sound of glass smashing came from behind me, only seconds before I heard mother shout 'Vallery!' I knew this was my chance so I ran towards the stairs, then up to the landing and into my room. I didn't bother wasting time to turn on the light; I could already be too late.
I opened the window and dashed out, slipping as I miscalculated where to put my foot. Regaining my balance, I thumped over the glass. Hunter opened the window right when our quiet neighborhood erupted into cheers. I plunged forward, attacking his lips with mine, almost falling over him in my haste.
"Just in time," he murmured when we separated to take in some air. A moment later his lips were on mine, our hands on each other's faces.
I didn't know how long we kissed, but when we were done, the celebratory noises that went along with the New Year had died out. I was sitting on his sill and he had snuggled between my parted legs.
I stared silently into his eyes. I had to wish him goodnight and get back home, but what I wanted was to stay with him. Hunter being Hunter, he could tell what was on my mind.
"Go," he nodded towards my house. "Before your mom barges into your room and sees us through the window."
I bend forward to kiss his moist lips again.
"Goodnight," I whispered against them.
"So far, so good," he purred. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how he kept his smirk on while we kissed.