Chapter 14

Hunter

Hunter laid in bed with his sketchbook in his hand again. He was drawing a princess, but this time the princess was fighting off a fire breathing dragon. The princess had brown hair that trailed down her back and big brown eyes. Her cheeks were also filled with blush, as if the dragon had been flirting with her and Hunter smiled cheekily.

"Hunter, your father sent a note," Chase said.

Hunter jolted, eyes flying wide as he hesitated, before he placed his sketchbook down on his bed. He stood up and went to Chase who was sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Here," Chase said, handing it to him.

Hunter took the note and stiffened at what it said: We will be acting soon. Be prepared.

For a moment, Hunter did nothing but stare at the note, feeling his heart sink at his father's words. It felt like time had stopped ticking and he hoped it would because he needed more time.

Hunter crumpled the note and shoved it into his pocket. He strode to his bed and plopped down, running his fingers through his hair.

"What do you think?" Chase asked.

"I don't know," Hunter shot back. "I don't want to think about it."

Chase grew quiet for a moment. His eyes were clouded with emotions before he spoke.

"You care for Cassia, don't you?"

Hunter tensed. He wanted to deny it - to tell Chase there was no way he could care for her, but he wasn't sure. He didn't know how he felt anymore and it was driving him insane.

"I don't know," Hunter said. "I just don't know what I'm doing anymore."

Chase smiled sadly. He stood up and strode to Hunter and stood there, his eyes gentle.

"I want you to be happy," Chase said. "We came to Camp Trillion to better our lives, so do what makes you happy. I'm not saying I'll join you on the path you choose, but... don't worry about what others think. This is your life at the end of the day."

Hunter froze. Of all the things Chase could have said, he didn't expect that.

"I'm sorry I seem disloyal," Hunter said. "I just... I don't know. I didn't expect things to turn out the way they did and now I feel lost on what I should be doing."

"And that's fine. I'm sure your father wouldn't mind waiting for you to figure things out."

Hunter doubted that. His father had a short temper - he had the scars to prove it.

"Let's go to the contest," Hunter said, shoving the topic aside. He stood up and Chase nodded, and together they went off to the contest.

*****

All the campers stood in front of the forest. Dawson stood ahead of them and Hunter's eyes scanned the crowd as the sun beamed down on them on the sunny afternoon.

But as usual, he didn't care about the other campers - never had. His eyes searched for the girl with big brown eyes and soon, his eyes fell upon Cassia, who's eyes slid to his. And for once, she didn't seem surprised to see him. She simply smiled.

He bowed towards her and now Cassia seemed surprised. She lifted her hand and waved carefully and he couldn't help but smile. He couldn't help the way it made his heart feel.

"Well, this is an obstacle course," Dawson said. "So, there is a path marked out with white paint and I want you to follow it. As you can see, the first part is to climb the tree and then use the rope to swing onto the next tree, climb down it and then run towards the river nearby. I'll be waiting there and the first one to get there wins. Got it?"

Everyone nodded. Hunter grew thrilled to race others. He loved the feeling of wind soaring past him and loved nature more.

"Okay, we will do it in pairs of five, so the trees aren't overwhelmed with you lot," Dawson said. "I want the top five campers to come up here first: Hunter, Cassia, Liana, Mason and Astra."

They all went to stand in front of Dawson. Hunter slid to Cassia's side and she stiffened. He fought off a smile at the way she reacted whenever he was around and Liana slithered to his other side.

"For once we're enemies," Liana said, smirking.

"Yes, and I intend to beat you all," Hunter said.

Cassia shot him a look. "Who's the arrogant one now?"

Surprised, Hunter looked to Cassia who's eyes were gleaming. Under the bright sun, her eyes were dazzling.

"I'd like to consider myself confident," Hunter said.

Cassia rolled her eyes and returned her attention back to Dawson and Hunter grinned. Liana nudged him and shot him a look, and he ignored her.

"Okay, I'll be off now," Dawson said. "When you hear me shout, that's when you start the race. Got it?"

They nodded and Dawson ran off into the forest. Adrenaline pumped through Hunter as he grew excited for the race. As Cassia stood so close he could feel the heat off her, his heart pumped with adrenaline.

And soon, they heard Dawson shout out and they burst forward. Hunter's long legs sent him racing and he launched himself up the tree. He swung from branch to branch, shoving past leaves that tried to get in his way, and he rocketed higher and higher until the rope came into view. He grabbed it and swung onto the next tree and then he descended it.

He could hear Liana cursing behind him and Cassia gasped as she swung onto the next tree. His heart pounded harder as he rushed down the tree, hopping from branch to branch until he hit the ground.

And then, he sprinted forward to race down the path that led to the river.

Behind him, Cassia chased him, crashing through the woodland. As he dodged passed bushes and ducked beneath branches, he was smiling, his body full of life as he raced through the forest with his cherished girl behind him. And as they grew closer and closer to the river, Cassia cursed his name as if to banish him, and that made him laugh.

Soon, Dawson came into view in front of the river and Hunter slid to a stop. Dawson high-fived him and Hunter whirled around to see Cassia running towards him wearing a scowl, her face red and slick with sweat. But, all he could think was beautiful. Cassia was beautiful even in her worst state.

"Good job," Dawson said. He went to give Cassia a high five and Cassia glared at him. "You came in second."

"Good job," Hunter teased.

Cassia glowered and panted. Her eyes met his and he grew still, feeling trapped in those eyes of hers. They were intoxicating; like a drug he couldn't get enough of.

"Well, congrats," Cassia said, startling him. "But I'll beat you in the next contest."

Hunter gaped at Cassia as if she'd grown a second head. "You're congratulating me? Cassia, I must be dreaming."

Cassia rolled her eyes. She put her hands on her hips to glare at him and he chuckled.

"Shut up before I regret it," she said.

Hunter laughed and shook his head. His Cassia was back. "I couldn't have found a better rival."

He smiled and Cassia's eyes widened. She stared at him as if he was the first sun after a harsh winter - the sign of a new season blooming. And his smile grew as blush filled her cheeks.

But then, she whirled around and stalked off, and Hunter shook his head. But, he was still smiling.

*****

Hunter sat alone in his cabin. Chase was off training and Hunter held his sketchbook as he once again sketched the girl with brown hair and chocolate eyes. The princess wore a gold crown and this time, she was gazing at a boy with brown hair and hazel eyes who rode a horse. He was extending his hand towards her and the girl was reaching out to take ahold of it.

Hunter jumped when someone knocked on the door then. His eyes flew wide and he slid to the door and opened it, and grew surprised to see Liana. Her blue eyes were cold.

"Hey," Hunter said. He turned and walked back to his bed, laying down again. Liana strolled over to him and to his surprise, she slid onto his lap and he tensed. A month ago he would have welcomed this like you welcomed alcohol or drugs to twist your mood, but now he grew uneasy.

"I need to talk to you," Liana said.

"About?"

"Cassia. Stop interacting with her. Stop looking at her like you do. Stop looking as if she makes you happier."

Hunter stilled. Liana was leaning forward, her scarlet hair falling across her shoulders as she closed off the space between them. Hunter tensed, his hands nowhere near her body.

"You act as if she's the reason why the sun beams down on us," Liana whispered, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You think she's the star you can't pull your eyes away from, but she's the train wreck you can't help but watch."

Hunter stiffened. With every word Liana spoke, it was as if she was winding him up more and more.

"Kiss me," Liana whispered.

Her lips were a mere inch away from his and he withdrew. He shifted and she slipped off his lap, her body falling onto the white blankets. His eyes were wide as he turned away, trying to ease his thoughts. Maybe a month ago he would have indulged in Liana's touch, but not anymore.

"Why am I not enough?" Liana whispered. "I'm the one who was there for you when you had nothing. I grew up with you - shared every moment with you. I was there to tend to you when your father hurt you. Why is Cassia special?"

Hunter's heart pounded against his chest. It was hard to breathe as Liana stared at him as if he was crushing her heart.

"I... I'm not choosing her," Hunter said. "I never said I chose Cassia."

"Maybe you haven't said it, but you look at her like you've never seen someone so precious. And you run to her as if you're a starving man and she's the last apple on earth. Everyone can see it."

Hunter's heart slammed against his chest. It was almost too painful as Liana threw things he'd never known.

"I love you," Liana said. She slid over, closing off the space between them. "I loved you for years, Hunter."

Liana wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her and he stiffened. His heart slammed against his chest. He should welcome the touch. He should get lost in her like he did for months, but he couldn't. Because the truth was, Cassia was what consumed his mind now and he didn't need to touch her to put his mind at ease.

"Enough," Hunter said.

Liana's hands flew to the bottom of his shirt and she tried to pull it up, and he pushed her hands away. A look of hurt crossed her face and he stood up, annoyed now.

"Why are you stopping me?" Liana said. "A month ago you were whispering my name in bed."

He stilled. Liana's voice dripped with pain - with a hurt as if he used her. And maybe he had.

"I... I thought by being with you, I could forget about my past. But, I've learnt that getting lost in someone won't erase what happened to me," Hunter said. "It was unfair of me to do and I'm sorry. I truly am. And... I'm sorry if I made it seem like we were anything more than friends."

Liana winced and Hunter could do nothing but wring his hands together, growing fearful for how Liana would act. As she began to tremble, her body quivering, he stilled.

"You're heartless," Liana spat. "You think you're better than Chase and I - you think you have a better heart, but you're the same. You came here for the same reasons and once Cassia learns why you started talking to her, she's going to hate you."

Hunter's blood ran cold. "You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"No, but trust me, Hunter, she'll learn one day. And you know why."

Hunter's heart pounded against his chest. He opened his mouth to say something - anything to change their fate, but his mouth fell shut.

"You think Cassia is the one you want, but you're just blinded by her status. She has everything you wish you had," Liana said. She climbed out of bed and headed towards the door, only turning to face him at the last second. "You can never be with her and you know that. You know that, but yet, you are in love with her. So good luck ruining your life, Hunter."

Liana's eyes pooled with tears and she jerked away to leave before he could argue further. A part of him wanted to tell Liana that he wasn't in love. That Cassia wasn't the star she described her as, but he couldn't say anything. He couldn't bear to say words he feared were lies. So instead, he stood there fearing what she said. Was their fate really unchangeable?