Chapter 29

|3 years Ago|

I looked around in awe. The school gym had been completely transformed.

Disco-lights, balloons, music.

"I can't believe we're actually at senior prom!" Danielle squealed. "I'm so glad Jace asked you! We're the only freshmen who got asked!"

"Not the only ones." I muttered as my gaze wandered to where Nichole was standing clinging to Hunter's arm. My eyes moved to Hunter and my breath hitched when I found him looking at me.

I felt Danielle nudge me with her elbow, forcing me to tear my eyes away from Hunter's intense ones. "So you and Jace, huh?"

I could feel myself blush. "There's nothing going on between us." I said quickly. "I think the only reason he asked me was because he felt sorry for me."

Danielle looked at me intently. "And you said yes. Why would you say yes if you didn't like him?"

I found my eyes wandering in Jace's direction. He looked really handsome in his tux. He caught my gaze and smiled and I blushed and smiled back shyly.

When I turned my attention back on Danielle she was smirking.

"You do like him." She teased.

I sighed. "I'm really confused. I can't figure out my feelings. What I do know is that Jace is really good to me. He's always there to save me whenever I'm in trouble, he's like my guardian angel."

Danielle nodded. "He's a good guy and he obviously cares about you." She nudged my shoulder lightly. "If you really like him then you need to make your move, before it's too late. Tell him how you feel."

Her eyes trained on something behind us. "Bruce is calling me. I gotta go." She gave me a small hug before sauntering off.

I just shook my head and moved towards the refreshment table. I was just about to help myself to some cake when I felt someone tap my shoulder.

I turned around and came face to face with a guy I'd never seen before.

"This is for you." He said as he handed me a folded piece of paper.

Curiosity over weighed my confusion. I took the paper from his hand and unfolded it quickly scanning over the words, "You look beautiful tonight, Scarlett.

I can't do this anymore. I need to tell you how I feel.

Meet me on the roof?"

My eyes scanned the room till they met Jace's, he smiled. I could feel my heart beat quicken. I gave him a small nod.

Jace had given me the letter.

He wanted to tell me how he felt.

I rushed outside the gym and made my way to the stair-case which led up to the roof.

The roof was dark and I could just make out his silhouette standing in the corner.

"Jace." I called out.

But then realized that he couldn't hear me. I walked a few paces ahead so I was closer to him. I was too nervous to look at his face.

"It's dark here, I don't know if you can read my lips but I need to tell you this." I cleared my throat my eyes still trained on the ground. "You've always been there for me. I can't thank you enough for standing up for me all those times. Sometimes I feel like you're my guardian-angel. You're always there when I need you. What I'm trying to say is..." I took in a deep breath. "I-I like you Jace." I finally whispered.

Silence.

"You like Jace?"

My head snapped up.

Hunter?

"Hunter? What are you doing here? You wrote me that letter?" I asked, shock lacing my voice.

His face hardened.

"Disappointed to see me? Poor Scarlett, were you expecting Jace?" He mocked.

I could feel my anger building up.

How Dare He "What is this? Some sick joke to make fun of me?" I demanded.

He chuckled coldly. "I was bored and I wanted some sort of entertainment. And by the look on your face right now, it was totally worth it. You really are quite pathetic Scarlett."

"Why?" I whispered, my voice cracked, my eyes filled with tears.

He didn't answer.

"Why?" I asked again, louder this time.

"Because I hate you! You have ruined me!" He shouted and I flinched away from him.

He turned away from me and started walking away.

"Come back here!" I demanded but he didn't listen, he just kept walking.

"Hunter! I'm not done talking to you." I started to run after him but my foot caught on something and I fell.

I winced when I hit the ground.

My hands and knees were bleeding, my dress was ruined and my face was wet with tears.

~~

The walk home was long but I couldn't go back inside and ask Jace to take me back. I couldn't risk running into Hunter again.

As soon as I reached the front door the sound of distinct shouting greeted my ears.

I hurried inside and ran to the living room where all the noise was coming from.

"Mom? Dad? What's wrong?" I demanded.

My mother's tear stained face was the first thing I saw.

"I can't do this anymore." She was saying to my dad.

"You can't just leave!" My dad shouted, clearly agitated.

"It's not your decision Richard! It's mine. When are you going to understand that?"

"Julie please." My father's voice broke and my mother turned away like she couldn't bear to look at him.

Her eyes met mine.

She came over and hugged me. "I'm so sorry darling but I have to leave. You can stay with your father if you want, I will completely understand."

My world was being ripped apart.

Torn to pieces before my very eyes.

I couldn't take it.

I couldn't survive here anymore.

There was too much pain.

"Just take me away from here." I whispered.

As I sat in the passenger seat beside my mother, I took one last look at the place I used to call my home. 

Slowly, my hand traveled to my chest and clenched into a fist, right above the place where my heart was beating.

29.5

|Hunter|

|3 Years Ago (Prom)|

This was it.

It was officially the end of high-school. The end of possibly the worst year of my life.

A slim pair of arms suddenly wrapped around me "Hey babe. I've been looking everywhere for you." I cringed when I heard Nichole's voice purr in my ear.

"Shouldn't you be with your date right now?" I spat out.

"Nah, I ditched him. He was just my ticket to senior prom so I could come here and be with you." Her eyes narrowed. "I'm still hurt that you didn't ask me."

I was about to tell her to get lost when Danielle's voice caught my attention. "I can't believe we're actually at senior prom!"

That's when I saw her. Scarlett. My breath hitched.

So Beautiful. 

She always looked beautiful but right now she looked breath-taking.

"I'm so glad Jace asked you! We're the only freshmen who got asked!" Danielle squealed and my hands clenched into fists as jealousy stabbed my chest.

Scarlett had come here with Jace?

I watched as she whispered something to Danielle but I couldn't make it out. Then suddenly her beautiful doe like eyes met mine.

It took great effort to stop myself from going to her, it was physically painful. 

Enough I couldn't do this anymore.

I couldn't stay away from her.

I didn't have the strength to do it anymore.

Tonight I wasn't going to hold back.

I wrenched myself away from Nichole and quickly jotted down a note telling her to meet me on the roof.

Tonight I was going to tell her everything.

I was going to tell her why I treated her the way I did.

I was going to tell her how I felt about her.

"Hey Sam!" I called out one of my team mates. He jogged towards me and raised his eyebrows in question. "Do me a favor and give this to Scarlett, will you?"

For a moment he just stood there and studied me but then he shrugged and took the note from my hand. I watched him walk over to Scarlett, my heart thudding wildly.

I couldn't waste any more time. I quickly made my way to the roof and waited for her.

A few minutes later I heard the sound of her soft footsteps. I was so nervous I had to remind myself to breathe. My hands were trembling.

I saw her walking towards me and stopped a few feet away. It was dark so I couldn't see her properly.

I was about to speak but she beat me to it.

"Jace?" She called out.

My heart stopped. I feel like the air had been sucked out of me.

She came closer.

I couldn't move my lips to speak.

"It's dark here, I don't know if you can read my lips but I need to tell you this. You've always been there for me. I can't thank you enough for standing up for me all those times. Sometimes I feel like you're my guardian-angel. You're always there when I need you. What I'm trying to say is..."

No. Please no.

"I-I like you Jace."

I staggered back when she said that. I felt like I had been punched.

She had feelings for Jace.

I could feel the blood pounding in my ears. Red hot rage consumed every part of me.

"You like Jace?" I almost didn't recognize my voice. It was too calm completely opposite to the war raging inside of me.

"Hunter? What are you doing here? You wrote me that letter?" Shock and horror laced her voice.

Just leave Hunter.

"Leave her alone. Let her be happy." A small voice in my head kept telling me but I couldn't listen.

I was too far gone. Consumed by my anger. The jealousy was eating me alive.

"Disappointed to see me? Poor Scarlett, were you expecting Jace?" I spat the words out like they were poison in my mouth.

"What is this? Some sick joke to make fun of me?" She demanded.

I laughed coldly. "I was bored and I wanted some sort of entertainment. And by the look on your face right now, it was totally worth it. You really are quite pathetic Scarlett."

Shut up Hunter.

Stop this.

You're only making her hate you more.

"Why?" She whispered finally.

I squeezed my eyes shut at the pain I heard in her voice.

I felt like I was being torn to pieces. It hurt too much.

"Why?" She asked again her voice was louder this time.

My eyes snapped open.

Maybe it's better if she hates me.

Maybe that's all that I deserve. Her hatred.

"Because I hate you! You have ruined me!" I was surprised at how loud my voice was. She flinched away from me and I felt like I had been slapped.

What have I done?

I needed to leave. Before I hurt her any more than I already have.

I turned away. I couldn't look at her anymore. It hurt too badly.

I could hear her furious voice calling out for me but I didn't turn around.

I started to make my way back to the gym but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"Hunter man, where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you." I stiffened when I heard Jace's voice.

I gritted my teeth and I shoved his hand off me. "Stay the fuck away from me!" I spat out.

His eyes widened as he held up his hands. "Okay? What the hell is wrong with you?"

I walked up to him so I was in his face. We were about the same height but I had more muscle than him. Jace didn't step back, he stood his ground and eyed me warily.

"You know how I feel about Scarlett! I told you everything. I thought you were my brother but you've been stabbing me in the back this whole time!"

His eyes narrowed and he let out a humorless chuckle. "You really are messed up if you think that Scarlett would want anything to do with you after how you've been treating her. Maybe I should try being with her. She's better off with me anyway."

I curled my hand into a fist and raised it in the air. I wanted to beat the shit out of him. Just as I was about to hit him I stopped.

I couldn't.

I couldn't hurt Jace no matter how much I wanted to.

"Why did you stop? Come on, hit me." Jace hissed.

I stayed silent.

Guilt clawed me from the inside.

What have I become?

I've turned into a monster.

"We're done Hunter. I am done with all of your bullshit" Jace spat out before he turned and walked away from me.

I don't know how long I stood there, alone with my pain and anger but suddenly I felt a presence beside me.

"There you are! Where have you been all night?" Nichole's voice demanded. "Let's go home baby. I'll make you feel good." She whispered as her hands wrapped around me and I could feel bile rising in my throat.

"Enough Nichole!" I snapped as I yanked myself away from her.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"You need help." My voice was gentler this time. "I need you to understand this. I don't like you. I don't feel anything for you. I want you to stay away from me. And I want you to stay away from Scarlett."

"You don't mean that-" She started but I cut her off.

"I mean every word." My eyes flashed. "I want you to look into my eyes and hear me say this." I ordered. Her eyes met mine and I spoke again. "I don't want you Nichole Sanders." I told her slowly.

She gasped.

But I wasn't done.

"Stop following me around in school and stop coming to my house uninvited or next time it will be the cops who drag you out." My voice was hard.

I started walking away.

"If you leave me I'll hurt Scarlett." Her desperate voice called out.

I spun around to face her. The look on my face must have scared her because she took a step back.

"You'll have to kill me before I let you lay a finger on her." I sneered.

I needed to go to Scarlett.

I knew it was too late but I had to try.

"Where are you going Hunter?" Nichole's shrill voice called out.

"To apologize to the girl I love." I responded without turning back.

~~~

I was out of breath by the time I reached Scarlett's house. My legs were aching but I didn't care.

"Scarlett! Please open the door." I banged at the front door with my fist.

The door finally flung open and I opened my mouth to speak but stopped when I realized it was Mr. Hundson who had answered.

"I need to speak to Scarlett." I told him breathlessly.

He looked at me blankly and my heart dropped when I noticed how bloodshot his eyes were.

"She's gone. They both are." He whispered.

My breath was coming out in pants. I was starting to hyperventilate.

"Gone? Where? When will she be back?" My voice was desperate.

"She's not coming back!" He shouted before slamming the door in my face.

No.

This isn't real.

This has to be a nightmare.

She can't be gone.

My legs gave out as I sunk to the ground.

"I'm sorry Scarlett. I'm so sorry." I choked out a whisper.

Tears blinded my vision. They ran down my cheeks and soaked my shirt.

I didn't think it was possible for a person to feel this much pain.

I clenched my hand into a fist and brought it over my heart.