Red Hot Obsessions (25 page)

Chapter 6
Troubled Hearts

“Yuck, don’t they have some real food here?” Evie throws the spoon she’s holding into the lettuce behind the counter. The lunchroom lady grimaces at her, but turns around shortly after.

“Fat and juicy burgers aren’t exactly real food either,” I say, carrying my plate to the checking counter.

She snorts. “Hell, I’d prefer Mickey D’s anytime over this junk.”

I laugh as I pay the cashier and watch Evie snarl at the lunchroom lady to make her something that includes at least an ounce of meat.

When she finally has her slab of meat, we find a free spot and sit down to eat.

“I swear, one day I’ll just drag you into a real lunchroom. Some place they serve nice, tasty food.”

I roll my eyes. “You know I can’t afford that.”

“I know, but that’s why I’ve decided that from now on I’m just going to save up every cent I have so I can take you with me to one of those damn fine restaurants maybe once a month.”

I smile, but feel embarrassed because of my lack of money.

Evie’s hand is suddenly wrapped around mine right on the table. “Hey, don’t you even think about feeling bad. It’s supposed to be a good thing.”

“I know … it’s just that—”

“Stop it. I’m not taking no for an answer. You’ll come with me, and I’ll pay, and that’s that. No buts. No ifs. Once a month, we’ll gorge on delicious junk food or better.”

I chuckle. “All right. Thanks.”

She smiles and squeezes my hand a bit.

“I’m really glad I have you as a best friend,” I say.

The twinkle in her eyes disappears, and she lets go of my hand.

“That’s what friends are for,” she says. Diverting her eyes to her food, she grabs her fork and knife and starts cutting up the meat like a butcher, making me wince.

There goes my appetite.

“Could you be a little less …” My eyebrows draw together as my mouth drops open. “Is that Brody?”

Evie turns her head like a hawk in the direction I’m looking, so I say, “Don’t stare! God, do you want him to see or something?”

“Does it matter? It’s just Brody.”

I sigh. “That’s not what I meant. Don’t you see who he’s standing next to?”

“Yeah? So?”

“It’s that guy. The guy Hunter was talking to the other day. When we were going to the library, we saw them talking about some weird business.”

“Oh,
that
guy!”

“Shhh!” I say. “I’d rather not get caught staring again.”

I blink again, but nothing changes. It has to be the same guy. I’d recognize that flowerpot hairdo anywhere. It’s the guy Hunter was talking to. The guy who told him to do ‘something’ to ‘someone.’

I wonder what the hell he’s doing with Brody.

So many questions pop up into my mind. What does he want with Brody? And what was he doing with Hunter? If they both know him, does that also mean Brody knows Hunter?

So many things I don’t know the answer to, and it’s making me insane.

Brody bumps fists with the flowerpot hairdo guy, and they both take off in different directions. I wonder what they just talked about. I wonder how the hell they know each other.

When that guy passes us, I pretend I’m eating some lettuce and stuff my mouth full of it. As he leaves, I almost choke on the huge amount of food in my mouth. I wash it down with a bottle of water, and Evie starts cutting up her steak again.

“I wonder …” My voice stops working.

I don’t know what I want to say anymore.

As soon as my eyes catch a glimpse of that guy entering the cafeteria I’m flabbergasted.

My mouth drops open and I stare at him.
Him.
I know I call him ‘him’ all the time, but that’s because he is the only guy my attention is ever drawn to. It’s like there is no other guy around
but
him.

“What?” Evie says, but I ignore her.

I completely zone out, my eyes glued to his being. He’s not just another guy, not one of the many flocking into the lunchroom. No. This is Hunter Bane, the guy whose mood changes with a snap of the fingers. The guy who goes from being a complete jerk to a witty, cute guy. The guy who looks like a sex god, but seems to have no interest in other girls whatsoever. Or at least, not that I can see.

There is so much I still don’t know about him, and for some reason I’m intrigued as hell. I want to get to know him. Maybe it’s because he taunted me that day with my bracelet, because I want to know why he is the way he is.

Whenever I see him, all I can think about is him.

He’s the guy I’m swooning over.

And it’s making me look like a gasping, drooling girl.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and focus on the here and now. I can’t go to him. I can’t talk to him. I’m having lunch with Evie, and it’s rude to leave her like that. I have to keep my eyes shut to prevent myself from failing in my resolve. I can’t look at him, because I know I’ll falter and go over there eventually.

Still, I can’t help but open my eyes.

He’s much closer now, and he’s leaning against a vending machine. He coughs and then looks at his hand, wiping something on his dark, frayed jeans. He’s wearing unusually thick clothes today, which isn’t at all like him, and from the looks of it they’re cheap, too.

Jamming one hand into his pocket, he runs the other through his spiky hair. He fishes a few coins from his pocket, gazes at them, and then crushes them in the palm of his hand. The look on his face darkens, and I can see his chest heave as he stares with anger at the vending machine.

I gulp at the sight of him and can’t get a word out of my mouth. Hunter Bane, the guy who seems to have it all, doesn’t have enough to buy some snack from a vending machine?

The idea alone makes me gasp. I can’t believe Hunter, out of all people, doesn’t have enough to go by. Is it just a coincidence? Or is this what he goes through on a daily basis?

Just like me?

I shake my head when he suddenly turns his head and looks at me. We stare at each other, and my eyes widen. His eyes are bloodshot, and his eyelids are swollen. There’s a huge purple mark on his left cheek.

My fork drops onto the table.

“Autumn? Hello? Earth to Autumn?” Evie yells. She’s been calling my name all this time, but I haven’t paid any attention to it. And I don’t want to right now.

I need to know what’s wrong with Hunter.

“Be right back,” I say.

“Huh? What? Where are you going?” I think she follows my gaze, because she immediately says, “Oh, God, you’ve got to be joking. Hunter?”

“Sorry,” I say. “I really want to talk to him.”

She stammers, but I ignore her, and I hurry over to him.

When he sees me coming, he pulls up his hoodie, turns his head, and starts walking in the opposite direction.

I run up to him and grab his arm, but he jerks loose.

“Leave me alone,” he says as he walks through the cafeteria door.

“What happened to you?” I say.

I push myself past the doors and step in front of him. He looks miserable. His face has all the colors of a rainbow, like he’s been hit with a baseball bat. His eyes scare me even more. They look dreary. They’re red and big, as if he’s been sick or crying.

Or something way, way, worse. Drugs.

I can’t even think of it without wanting to puke.

The abrasive look on his face sends shivers down my spine. The only time I’ve seen him more upset was when he leaned against his door in the middle of the night, crying.

He closes his mouth, leaving a small gap in between his lips, as if he still wants to say something but doesn’t know quite what.

I swallow. “I asked you a question.”

It’s not like me to be this upfront, bold, but I have to. He looks sick, and it seems to me like he doesn’t even care. It’s as if he’s completely oblivious to the state he’s in. Or there’s something else going on that makes him ignore it.

“And I said: Leave me alone.” His hands curl up into fists, and I get the sudden urge to bolt away, but I don’t. I have to make a stand. I have to help him. I don’t know why, I just have to.

“I want to know what happened,” I say.

“Why?” His teeth grate, and his lips barely part as he speaks the words. It almost makes me feel like he’s angry with me, but that can’t be. I didn’t do anything. Or did I?

“Because you seem hurt,” I say with the calmest voice I can muster. I don’t want to make him angrier.

“Why do you care so much?” His voice is hoarse, and it almost sounds as if he finds it strange that anyone could even care.

But I do.

I don’t know why, I just feel like I need to care. Like I have to find out what’s wrong with him, so I can fix him.

As if
I
could fix him. Me. Little, goofy, broke me.

As if he’s been waiting for that. He just said he wants to be left alone.

He doesn’t want to talk to me. He’s been avoiding me since the moment he saw me. He doesn’t want my help. Doesn’t even need it.

But I can’t leave him alone. For some reason I feel this unspoken, undeniable connection between us. I can’t put my finger on it. It’s not tangible. I just know it’s there.

And I have to find out why.

“Because ... I just do,” I say.

Maybe I’m selfish for wanting to talk, but I think it’s worth it. If I can talk to him, I can find out why he’s been acting so strange lately. Maybe I
can
actually help him, even if he thinks I can’t. Maybe we could become friends. Maybe …

I look up into his eyes, which he keeps hidden behind his hoodie, and I can barely spot his glinting gray eyes. They’re half-mast and not even pointed at me. It almost makes me think he’s ashamed to look at me.

But why?

When I first saw him, he mocked me, but he was just playing around. He’s a cocky, confident guy with a cute, boyish smile I can’t ignore. His jokes make my skin crawl with anger, but that’s him.

This is not him.

He looks broken, damaged, beaten. Literally.

Seeing him this way breaks my heart, even if I’d rather be taken to hell than admit that.

Without realizing it, my finger lifts to touch the bruise on his face.

Hunter cocks his head and backs away before my finger reaches his face. “Don’t.”

His lip contorts, his eyebrows draw together, and for a second I almost believe I see tears forming in his eyes.

Then he storms off.

Chapter 7
Devilish Games

“Did you hear?” Evie says, as we walk to our classes the next day. “Someone got beat up yesterday. Here on campus. During the day. In plain sight.”

“Seriously?” I say, gasping.

My throat feels like it’s being squeezed together. Images of Hunter and his bruised face and bloodshot eyes flash through my mind. All I can think about is if it was him. Or maybe he did it to someone else.

“You know what’s even stranger? There were only a handful of people who saw it, and they said it looked like it came out of nowhere.”

“What?” I didn’t think my mouth could drop any farther, but it just had.

“Yeah, I reacted the same way. I can’t believe someone would do that. It was in broad daylight.”

“My God …” I say, still baffled.

“I’m wondering if it’s some sort of calculated, premeditated fight. Like it was set up, or something like that. I know it sounds strange, but it took ages for word to reach our end of the campus, and fights like this usually take no more than five minutes for everyone to know. I mean, the guy was busted up pretty bad.”

“Who was it? Were there more?” The words roll over my tongue like they’re in a rush.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there when it happened, you know. I just hear the rumors.”

“So that’s it? That’s all you know?”

“Wow, calm down, girl.”

“Sorry … I’m just curious.”

“Since when do you care so much?”

“I don’t know. Never mind,” I say.

I don’t have the guts to tell her that I’m actually nervous that it might be Hunter we’re talking about here. And I’m even more anxious to find out whether it was him that received the beating, or if it was him who was handing it out.

That last thought is making me want to puke.

I can’t imagine him doing that to someone. Hunter Bane, planning a fight? No, that doesn’t seem like him. He can’t have.

Although he looked just like the type yesterday.

“Well, I have to be in here, so …” she says, and she points at the door to her right. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Actually … I have to work tonight.”

“Oh …” she says, her face turning gloomy all of a sudden. “Okay. Well, put your best foot forward.”

I roll my eyes. “Like I ever do anything else.”

“Of course you don’t. You’re perfect, remember?” she winks, and we both burst out into laughter.

“See ya!” I say, and I walk into a different hallway to get to my own class in time.

I sit down somewhere in the middle and start unpacking my stuff. Soon the entire room floods, but my area stays nicely quiet. I don’t mind. I mean, I’ve known for a long time people don’t really like to sit next to me. I don’t really care about the reason. I don’t care at all that they don’t want to sit next to me. I like being on my own. I have Evie. Enough friends for me.

As I finish placing my stuff on the table, I notice a guy opening the door. The teacher has already started his class, and seems pissed when the student stands in the doorway.

“Well, come in then,” the teacher says, annoyed.

And then I notice it’s Hunter.

His face has turned from a colorful palette into a much less noticeable shade of green. Lucky for him he’s hiding part of his busted face in his thick vest. He probably only put it on to hide that fact.

I snort as he turns his face toward me and stares at me with his piercing gray eyes like he can see right through me.

I swallow and sink back into the chair. Especially when I realize the only empty space in class is right beside me.

“You’re late,” the teacher snaps.

“Yeah … Sorry.”

“And your homework is shoddy at best.”

Jesus, he’s really getting it today. I’m starting to feel embarrassed already, and the teacher isn’t even talking about me!

“Mister Bane, I don’t know if you realize this, but your grades are on the line.”

Hunter seems unfazed by the teacher’s comment. His face is unmoving but sincere, as if he really cares.

I envy him. I wish I could remain that confident, hard like a brick, when facing a sneering teacher.

Especially in front of the entire class.

“I know, it won’t happen again. I’ll work harder. I promise.”

The teacher squints in silence and looks intently at him for a second. “This is your last chance, Mister Bane. Don’t screw it up.”

Hunter nods, and somehow that’s enough for the teacher to let him off the hook. I don’t know how he does it.

When he comes up the steps his gaze is already set on that one empty spot beside me. I’m squeezing my legs together as he sits next to me. My instinct is to scoot far away, but I can’t; there’s nowhere to go.

I feel watched, which isn’t strange, considering his gray eyes are practically trying to penetrate my skin.

Anger is seething inside him; I don’t have to look at him to know. I can feel it flowing out of him like a radiator that’s burning up.

God, I want to die.

He keeps staring at me, as if he has nothing better to do. My heartbeat is rising, and I’m starting to feel really sweaty. I don’t know why he’s doing this, but it’s freaking me out, and I don’t like it one bit.

“Don’t you have to pay attention?” I say, avoiding his eyes.

“To you? Yes.”

His words make my insides broil.

“The teacher has already started talking.” I point to the front, but Hunter doesn’t even flinch. His eyes are still on me like a hawk zooming in on his prey.

“I don’t care.”

I swallow, gathering the courage to turn my head and look at him. The moment my eyes make contact with his I’m drowning. Drowning in amazement. Drowning in fear.

Fear of the unknown.

“But your grades …” I stammer.

He snorts, and a smile curls the corners of his mouth while he shakes his head. “Yeah, right.”

And all I can do is stare.

If looks could kill, I would be dead.

He looks so damn handsome when he smiles. It’s like everything around us fades, and all I ever want to see is that smile. It just makes me feel good.

But when the smile disappears, so does my good mood.

The darkness falling over his face unsettles me.

In his eyes I see the hurt, the worries, the insomnia. Sleepless nights have worn down his face, making him look saggy and dull. But I know there’s so much more inside there.

Endless stories and an undiscovered world I’m intrigued by.

I want to know what’s in there. Inside him. Why he’s so angry and sad at the same time.

A sudden overwhelming feeling to grab him and hold him tight takes me aback.

He’s having so much trouble in his life right now, even though I have no idea what’s going on. I can see there’s something wrong. And I want to help him get through it.

But I don’t come any closer. I don’t move one muscle.

I’m scared. Scared of what he can do. Scared of his power, and his temper.

In my mind I can still see his bloodshot eyes and the hateful look on his face. He was in that fight yesterday, I’m sure of it. The only question is: who was the one instigating it?

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

I can’t ask him. I just can’t get the words to come out. I’m really chicken-shit.

“Something wrong?” he says.

I shake my head.

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

Hunter inches closer. I instinctively draw back, but he scoots even closer to my side. I’m scared to death he wants to do something to me, and I have no idea what, which makes it even scarier.

A devious smile appears on his face, and it’s almost as if he’s enjoying this. Taunting me seems like his way of passing time in class. I don’t like it one bit, but on the other hand I’m excited as hell.

He raises his head, and his nostrils flare. I turn my head, my breath hitching in my throat. I can’t look when he’s doing this, entering my private space uninvited.

It feels as though his nose is close to my hair, because there’s hot air flowing close to my ear. And then he inhales.

Holy shit.

Is he smelling me?

I’m frozen in place from sheer panic, my heart beating like crazy.

No guy has ever come this close to me.

He lets out a huge breath afterward and chuckles softly. His breath lingers on my ear, and a shudder runs through me.

“I like it,” he whispers.

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

My skin tingles where his hot breath brushed over me. My groin clenches, and my clit thumps.

Why?

His whisper does this to me. Just a whisper.

I’ve never felt like this before. I think I just died inside.

Hunter muffles a laugh. It’s like he can smell my fear.

He takes in a sharp breath and moves back to his usual spot. As if what he did just now was the most normal thing in the world.

I’m still shaken, my body stiff from the encounter. I feel completely naked, and I know he’s watching me.

The look in his eyes is like that of a boy who just did something totally against the rules. And it’s so fucking sexy I can’t stand it.

Still panting, I straighten my glasses. I wait until I calm down before I open my mouth again. “Why did you do that?”

The left corner of his mouth forms half a smile, and he continuous to gaze at me with animal-like eyes. It’s his thing, I guess. A ‘Hunter’s’ thing.

“No reason.”

“What?” I say, befuddled.

He slumps down in his seat and starts watching the teacher.

“Are you going to explain why you’re acting this way?” I ask.

“Nope.”

I frown. “Why do you even come to class anyway? Only to torment me?”

He closes his eyes and laughs out loud, making me feel like a fool.

“Leafy, don’t take life so serious.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You gotta live a little.”

“Excuse me, but I think I’m fine without your advice, thanks.” I open my books and concentrate on the pages instead. I’ve had enough of this.

I don’t want to be his plaything. I don’t want to be made fun of, to be ridiculed, to be laughed at. If that’s all he wants from me, then I won’t give him anything at all.

“Oh c’mon. Is your life really all that exciting?” he says.

“I don’t need excitement,” I snap.

“Everyone does something they get excited about. You’ve got to have something you love doing.”

I sigh and close my eyes, trying to wish him away.

“Come on … you can tell me,” he says, poking my arm. The moment his finger comes in contact with my flesh I feel weak to the bones.

“Fine. I like reading. Happy now?”

“Reading?” he jests.

“Yes. Books. You know, the thing lying on your table that you refuse to look at.”

“You think I’m doing that out of disinterest.”

I nod.

“Wrong.”

The full stop to our conversation feels uneasy. He clears his throat. “Just because I don’t like it, doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I know it’s important. Just like I know it’s important to have some fun once in a while.”

“Right, because you’ve seemed so happy these last couple of days.”

The uncomfortable mood becomes even more apparent.

Shit. I went a little too far with that last remark.

He knows I saw everything. He knows I’ve seen the hurt. He doesn’t want anyone to notice.

“Believe me, I would give anything to be in your shoes right now instead of my own.”

I chortle. “Of course you would.” As if my life is so easy.

“Except for the whole monthly women things … you know …” he clears his throat again. What a weird conversation.

“On second thought, never mind. Anyway, you should really start enjoying life more. Might make it a little easier.”

“You mean by fighting with people?” I say.

His smile disappears. His eyebrows draw together, and his face turns bitter. His jaw is clenched, and he looks pissed now.

I don’t care. I need to know. “Whose idea was it? Yours or his?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he murmurs, and he turns his head away from me.

The teacher puts down his chalk and says class is over. The students around us stand up and start packing their things.

Guess it’s time to go.

“Whatever,” I say. “If that’s your idea of having a nice, easy life, have fun with it.”

I fetch my stuff and stand up. Suddenly Hunter reaches forward and grabs my wrist. “I never said I liked that part.”

“Then why do you do it?” I say.

His fingers are warm and engulf my wrist completely. I feel so tiny and fragile right now.

“Because I have to,” Hunter says, and he lets me go.

Sighing, he stands up too, and waits. I don’t know what for, but he continues staring at me until I’m done packing my things. We walk out of the classroom together while he keeps his eyes on me like a hawk, as if he’s afraid I’m going to tell someone.

Suddenly Brody pops up out of nowhere.

“Hey, Autumn,” he says.

When he notices Hunter standing next to me, he looks up in surprise. His brows furrow and his lips part, as if he doesn’t understand what’s going on. “Um … Who’s your friend?”

So then I guess he doesn’t know Hunter; even though they both interacted with the flowerpot-hairdo guy, they don’t know each other. Or they’re just trying to fool me.

“Hunter Bane,” Hunter says, clearing his throat.

Brody squints at him with a suspicious look on his face, as if he doesn’t trust him.

“What do you want?” I say crudely.

“Look, I’m sorry about my friends. I don’t want to make things worse, so I was wondering if you’d like to hang out for a while. You’re done with classes for today, right? Let’s go grab some food.”

I stare at him and then at Hunter, who shrugs.

“You should come, too,” Brody adds, looking at Hunter.

“What? I uh … no, I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. A friend of Autumn’s is a friend of mine,” Brody says.

I roll my eyes and check my wallet for the little amount of cash I still have left. Hunter rummages his pockets, but pulls them out and shows they’re empty.

“Sorry, I’m broke,” Hunter says.

“Yeah … me too,” I say. “Rain check then?”

“I can pay, no problem,” Brody says.