Chapter 12

Hunter

Hunter couldn't stop smiling. As he sat with his friends in the cafeteria, Hunter couldn't repress the smile that was plastered on his face - permanently etched there as if Cassia had drawn it with permanent ink.

And as usual, his eyes drifted to her and her eyes slid to his. She seemed surprised when their eyes met and he inclined his head towards her, as if to say hi, and she flushed. Her eyes darted away and his heart jolted at her simple, but innocent reaction.

"What happened between you guys during the scavenger hunt?" Liana asked. "I thought you hated each other? What's with the googly eyes."

Hunter flushed. He scratched the back of his neck, his heart fluttering with nerves.

"I guess Cassia isn't so bad after all," Hunter said.

Liana scoffed. "You're blinded by her beauty. You're losing track of why we're here."

"I couldn't care less about the way she looks," Hunter retorted. "I just think she's interesting, that's all."

Now both Chase and Liana gaped at Hunter as if he'd gone insane. And maybe he had. Because he shouldn't like Cassia. He shouldn't care for her, but he did. Despite everything, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

"Liana is right," Chase said. "You're losing sight of why we came here. Don't you remember what happened to your father?"

Hunter was quiet for a moment. He could never forget. Ever since Hunter was born, his father would retell his story over and over again, leaving Hunter to feel his pain as if it was his own.

But yet, he wasn't sure how to fulfill his wishes anymore. At least, in the way he was expected to.

"Don't worry," Hunter said. "At the end, we'll all get what we want. I promise."

Chase shook his head as if he didn't believe Hunter and Liana wore a heartbroken expression. Hunter pulled his eyes away, feeling lost. How did he end up in this position?

*****

They all stood outside on the field. Dawson had set up a few events that consisted of track-like tasks. Everyone was to verse each other in them and their scores were to be calculated for each game they played.

Everyone littered the field and Hunter stood with his friends. Liana was avoiding eye contact and Chase was fixated on the games being set up, and Hunter's heart jerked. His friends were mad at him - it was obvious from the silent treatment - and he didn't want them to be. They were the only people who knew his pain completely, who understand what it was like to struggle growing up. And he couldn't bear the thought of losing them, so he reminded himself of his mission. His real mission and purpose.

"Okay everyone. Once again these events will be done in pairs," Dawson said. "But this time, you can choose your partners."

Hunter stiffened. Chase and Liana exchanged a look and looked to him, and Hunter looked to Cassia. Despite everything, she was the one he wanted to be next to.

"I'll be partners with Cassia," Hunter said. When Liana pouted, he added, "Just to mess with her. I swear."

Liana sighed and shook her head and Chase nodded. Hunter grew relieved and he made his way towards Cassia, who was standing with her guard.

"Hi," Hunter said, nearing Cassia.

Her head whipped to face him and her jaw dropped at the sight of him. They hadn't talked since the scavenger hunt and Cassia seemed stunned.

"Hi," Cassia said. "What do you want?"

No longer did Cassia scowl or glower at him. No longer did she boil with rage. Now, she stared at him with those big brown eyes, looking both fascinated and bewildered.

"I was wondering if we could be partners," Hunter said, smiling a bit. "We made a great pair at the scavenger hunt."

To his utter surprise, blush filled her cheeks. It tugged at his heart and even her guard seemed surprised.

"Um, I already have a partner," Cassia said, glancing at Astra.

"You can be with him," Astra said, waving at Hunter. "I'll find someone else."

Cassia opened her mouth to argue, but Astra wandered off. Hunter grew relieved and smiled at Cassia again, hoping she'd agree. She may not be cursing at him, but she seemed unsure.

"Come on," Hunter said. "It'll be fun."

"Fine." Cassia sighed. "Just one more time, okay?"

"Perfect."

Hunter beamed and Cassia rolled her eyes. They turned to face Dawson, who to their surprise, was holding up a bunch of ropes.

"Okay, I hope you all found partners," Dawson said. "Because the twist to this challenge is that you're going to be tied to your partner. This isn't some regular track and field event. No. This is track and field on hard mode."

Cassia's jaw dropped and Hunter smirked. This was going to be fun.

"So come on up and get your ropes. You must tie each other's wrists together."

Hunter approached Dawson with Cassia trailing behind him and got a rope. They then wandered off to the side and Hunter glanced at Liana and Chase, who were tying their wrists together. Liana would glance at Hunter occasionally, her eyes full of heartbreak, and Hunter had to pull his eyes away.

"Okay, do you want to do the honours?" Hunter asked. "Because I know you've dreamt of tying me up."

Cassia's face reddened and Hunter laughed. It was enthralling to see Cassia drop her guard to blush whenever he made comments like that. He didn't expect her to be so shy.

"You're nauseating," Cassia said, grabbing the rope from him. "Your fantasies are not my own."

Hunter smirked. "But yet, you're the one blushing."

Cassia's cheeks darkened and she shot him a deathly glare and he laughed again. He shook his head as Cassia's nimble fingers glided across the ropes as she looped their wrists together, so they were stuck together now. He shot her a smile as she continued to glare at him.

Soon, everyone was tied by the wrist to their partners and Hunter and Cassia stood facing Dawson, who was motioning towards a small track he built; merely white lines across the grounds that represented lanes for runners. They strode over as Dawson explained how the first contest was a race.

"This is going to hurt," Cassia muttered. "You're so much taller than me."

"Don't worry, I got you."

Hunter shot Cassia a reassuring smile and she sighed. They settled into their lanes along with the other campers, prepared for the race along the field. Cassia's eyebrows were furrowed and her hands were shaking. His hand curled into a fist to stop himself from reaching over to touch her.

"Okay, so first one to me wins," Dawson said. He stood meters away at the end of the track. "On your mark, get set, go!"

They bolted forward. Next to them, other campers raced and Hunter's long legs launched him forward, so he was ahead of Cassia and dragging her along. She was in a dress and lifting it up with one hand as her feet slapped against the ground and Hunter glanced back, realizing the rope was yanking at her wrist - burning into her.

His heart stuttered and without a second thought, he took ahold of her hand and her eyes flew wide as he pulled her forward, pushing them to run faster. They were in third place and he was confident they'd become first.

"What are you doing?" Cassia asked.

"Helping us win."

Hunter hauled Cassia along, hand in hand, and they ran past the pair in second place. They kept going faster and faster, advancing on the person in first place. They were so close - merely a hairbreadth behind, but it was too late. The first pair reached Dawson and Hunter and Cassia came second.

"Dammit!" Hunter exclaimed, scowling. "Sorry, I didn't realize how much height affects speed."

Cassia stared up at him with wide eyes. Her small hand in his was warm and soft, and there was blush creeping into her cheeks. But yet, she didn't let go.

"Sorry," Cassia said. "I dragged you back."

Hunter shook his head. "Don't worry about it. We still have other contests to do."

Cassia smiled and pulled her hand away, a shy expression crossing his face and Hunter gulped. There was something about Cassia that made him want to reach over and touch her, to make her stare at him with those big brown eyes of hers. And he didn't understand this desire to touch her. Not in a scandalous way either. He just wanted to cradle her and caress her, to make her feel less uneasy.

He'd never felt this way before.

They continued participating in more events and they won some of them, like the shot put contest, and lost others like the javelin contest. But, the entire time Cassia was smiling. Despite not winning, Cassia wasn't fuming at him like he expected her to, and he appreciated her presence.

Soon, the sun was hovering just above the horizon and the field was casted with an orange glow. Cassia and Hunter were tied for first place with Liana and Chase. They had climbed the ranks throughout the day and now it was just the two of them facing off with the last contest of tug of war.

Cassia and him stood on one end of a long rope and Liana and Chase stood on the other. Dawson was standing in the middle holding the rope and he glanced between them.

"Who would have thought it would be us again," Hunter said, grinning. "Good luck, my friends."

Liana scowled and Chase frowned. Hunter's shoulders grew slack.

"Okay, I think you should stand in front of me," Hunter whispered to Cassia. Their hands weren't tied anymore and Cassia slid forward. "Then I'll do this."

Hunter leaned forward, his body covering Cassia's and his hands were in front of her hands that held the rope. Her back was an inch away from his chest and her eyes flew wide.

"Why-why are you..." Cassis drifted off, but it was obvious what she was going to say - hugging me. "I mean, I don't think this is an efficient position."

Hunter said nothing. Because maybe it wasn't efficient. Maybe he was crossing a line he shouldn't be crossing, but he wanted to be selfish. He wanted to see the blush in her cheeks, see the way she stammered over her words because of the way he touched her. He was so horribly greedy and yet when Cassia didn't push him away, his heart soared.

"Okay, so first one to cross the middle loses!" Dawson shouted. "Begin!"

Dawson released the rope and both teams tugged at it. Hunter grunted at how strong Chase and Liana were. They were lugging them forward. Their feet slid closer and closer to the middle no matter how hard they pulled.

So, Hunter tugged harder. Cassia's back slammed against him as she yanked with all her might. She was gasping and grunting, and he knew he couldn't lose. He had to win for Cassia, so Hunter yanked with all his might, pulling the Liana and Chase forward now.

Liana gasped and Chase cursed, and Cassia panted as they pulled and pulled, slowly backing now. Cassia's back was pinned against his chest and she fit perfectly in his arms - in a way that made his heart race, and he pulled and pulled until they'd win.

Because for Cassia, he would move the sun and earth.

Liana gasped and Chase cursed as Hunter yanked at the rope so hard, Liana and Chase slid over the middle line. They let go of the rope and Cassia stumbled back. She crashed into Hunter and his hands fell to her hips to keep her steady as she breathed heavily, panting at how much energy they exerted.

"Hunter and Cassia won!" Dawson exclaimed. "Congrats! You have earned the highest scores in today's contest!"

Campers cheered and Cassia panted, her body rising and falling against his, and his heart pounded at how she was pressed against him. His hands held her and he yearned to pull her more firm against him, to keep her there forever and move against her in ways his body craved to.

But then, Cassia shifted away and turned to face him, and he felt empty. He yearned to pull her back to him - to fill the void she created, but he clasped his clasped together to stop his insane desire. And to keep himself distracted, his eyes focused on the colour in her cheeks.

"We did it," Cassia said. "Looks like you're right. We make a good team."

Hunter smiled. "Looks like it."

Cassia stepped forward to close off the space between them and he froze. Because not once had Cassia been the one to near him like this. It had always been him to push boundaries and he froze in her trance.

"By the way," Cassia's said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I didn't realize how nervous I make you. I've never felt a boy's heart race so fast."

Hunter's face exploded with heat. He didn't realize when she was pressed against him, she could hear his heartbeat that had been pounding at their bodies together.

"I-I-" Hunter caught himself, humiliated by his stuttering. "Well, you're the one blushing. You're just as nervous as I am."

"I'm sure my face isn't as red as yours. You're as red as scarlet."

Hunter blushed more madly and cursed himself. He should be the one embarrassing her - not the other way around.

"Where's your scowl?" he asked. "You can't even scowl anymore because you like me."

Her eyes flew wide with horror and Hunter smiled smugly. Got you.

"In your dreams," Cassia snapped. But, her cheeks darkened and he was sure her cheeks matched his own. "You're infuriating, you know."

"And so are you."

Cassia rolled her eyes, but Hunter smiled. And even after the day ended, his heart continued to pound and the void continued. Because without Cassia in his arms, something was missing.