Chapter 24

**Esmeralda's POV**

Bloom and Blake are kissing!

Before my brain can even register what's going on, I see Bloom push Blake away forcefully.

"How dare you? Don't you have any dignity? Do you think I'm like you? For God's sake, my boyfriend is nearby, you pig!" She yells and Hunter starts to move towards them dragging me along with him.

"Hey, hey, Bloom calm down. He won't try that again" Hunter pleads and Bloom eyes Blake in hatred before answering.

"He better not if he knows what's good for him"

"Will you just let us talk for once?" Blake asks Bloom; anger audible in his voice.

"We have nothing to talk about. Hunter, do you mind if we switch partners?" She directs the last part towards Hunter and I.

"Sure" Hunter says letting go of my hand and pecking my forehead.

"See you later" he murmurs just before Bloom storms off making me follow her.

We walk in silence for a while with her lost in thoughts but when I hear her sniffling, I decide to try to talk to her.

"Are you okay?" I ask already accepting the fact that she might not want to talk to me before she responds.

"No" she croaks out and turns to face me and I notice that her eyes are filled with tears.

She suddenly blinks and they fall as she sits down on a tree stump.

I sit down beside her hoping she would continue to talk to me or at least let all her frustration out.

"I hate that bastard so much" she says starting to shake from her sobs.

I place my hand on her back and start rubbing to comfort her.

"I loved him so much you know? Much more than I loved myself and that was my biggest mistake" she adds; her words becoming inaudible towards the end.

"What happened?" I ask again pushing my luck.

"I'd rather not talk about it. That's one memory I wouldn't mind losing.... Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean....shit I should just shut up now" she stutters.

How does she know I lost my memory? I only just told Hunter yesternight.

Oh well....

"It's fine, do you feel better now?" I question.

"Yeah, thank you Esmeralda. I guess those tears were pent up and I just needed to let them all out" she says smiling.

"You know what would be a good 'piss-off' message to Blake? Winning this game!" I cheer as I stand up making her grin.

"I found two eggs when I was with Blake and they're still in my bag. Did you find any with Hunter?" She asks and I shake my head in response.

"He couldn't care less" I respond glaring at the tree imagining it was Hunter.

"He was probably too busy staring at you, that goofball" she says shaking her head and I blush at her words.

What is going in between us anyway?

We're definitely not dating, that's for sure.

Is he just treating me like that because I'm the only girl within reach at the moment?

"Come on, let's go" She says dragging me along excitedly.

*

*

*

Lily and Fury ended up winning but we came in second place while Mark and his partner: a random camper came third.

"In your face everybody" Lily chirps while dancing around with the pirate hat that was part of the prize for first place.

Bloom has Fury's hat on and she snuggles into his side as we walk to get lunch.

After lunch, everyone goes to their tent with the promise to meet up at night and make a camp fire.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened with Blake and Bloom?" I ask Hunter once we're inside the tent.

"A whole bunch of shit that would have have probably been resolved had it happened at a better time" He responds as I lay on my bed ready to take a little nap.

"What are you doing?" Hunter asks when I shut my eyes.

"Taking a nap" I hold back from adding 'what does it look like?' because despite everything, he's still my boss.

"What are you doing?" I ask when I hear footsteps approaching my bed making me open my eyes.

"Taking a nap" Hunter replies as he settled beside me and folds one hand behind his head.

"I can see that. Why on my bed?" I grit out trying to scramble out of bed because my heart has already started beating wildly.

He pulls me back and into his arms before I can get far.

"Just sleep Esme, I won't do anything but hold you" he says and I lay rigidly in his arms while he strokes my hair.

Slowly, I start to become less tense and relax before sleep finally takes over.

******

I wake up to someone's arm locked around me. A few seconds later, my self consciousness  returns to me and I remember it's Hunter's arm.

I gently turn to face him and see that he's still asleep. Without thinking, I move my hand up to palm his cheek which had a little stubble on it.

He looks so much  like that boy I used to see in my dreams when I was in college.

But then again, I don't remember those dreams clearly and my brain might just be making up images based on recent events.

I jerk when he places his palm over mine on his face as he opens his eyes.

"Hey" he says softly and I suddenly become dumb as my breathing leaves me.

"Hey" I whisper captivated by his eyes.

"I could get used to this" he says smiling making me notice he has a dimple on his right cheek.

He moves his hand on mine into my hair and uses his body to turn me until my back is on the bed and he's half lying on top of me.

"I really like you Esme. Will you go on a date with me when we get back to the city?" He says and my heart goes crazy.

"I...yes" I reply unable to hide my smile making him grin.

I really like him too.

"Yes!" He exclaims quickly pecking my lips.

He starts to lower his head for a proper kiss...

"Esme, Hunter, it's time" I hear Dean's voice outside and Hunter raises his head laughing.

"What's so funny?" I ask laughing too because his own is just so contagious.

"It's like all I need to do to summon my friends or yours is just try to kiss you. They always show up somehow" he responds shaking his head.

"Come on, let's go" he says walking to his side to grab his jacket while I wear my hoodie.

After, he comes to my side to grab my hand and we walk out together.

I could get used to this too.