FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Placing her hands on either side of her, Samantha leaned back resting her body weight on her hands. Her waxed, smooth, fair skin was glowing. 

Ignoring her presence, Hunter started to towel dry his hair. He's standing in front of the mirror, but his eyes were downcast, not looking into anything. 

"What's wrong, Ace? Why are you avoiding me?" She asked, watching his bare upper body from behind. "I'm not in a mood to talk, Sam. Please leave me alone," Hunter said in a flat voice, without lifting his head. 

They both whipped their heads around eyeing the door simultaneously as someone swirling the doorknob caught their attention and the door to his room opened wide. Eric entered first, followed by Evelyn and Bianca. Hunter tossed the towel on his bed and turned to face the mirror. 

"How many times have I told you not to keep the wet towel on the bed? You don't listen, do you?" Samantha asked rhetorically, placing the towel neatly on the back of the wooden desk chair. Hunter still didn't react and was combing his damp hair with his fingers when Danny and Michael walked in together. Freshly showered the boys were all dressed in their gym uniform, a yellow T-shirt, and grey shorts. 

Eric pulled a chair, turned it around and sat, placing his legs on either side of the chair, typically using the back of the chair as an armrest. Michael too copied his edgy backward chair-sitting style. Danny sat on one of the bed, leaning his back against the headrest he got comfortable. Evelyn settled herself next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. As usual, she's in her designer clothes, white, ripped jeans with a pink turtle neck sweatshirt. 

Bianca had a small box in her hands. She walked up to Hunter's bed. "Ace, I bought your favourite sandwiches for you. You didn't eat your lunch, so I know you're hungry. Come on, have it now," she said, placing the paper box on his desk. She removed her jacket, revealing her black crop top, which she paired with denim shorts. Picking up Hunter's iPod and headphone, she laid on his bed comfortably and got engaged in his music collection. 

Samantha went around and stood beside him, running her fingers through her long, curly ash-blonde hair. As she saw his reflection in the mirror, a loud gasp escaped her mouth, and she covered her mouth with her palms in shock as if she'd seen a ghost. Hunter knew, exactly, what brought that overdramatic reaction out of her. 

He stared at himself through the mirror, checking the reddish bruises on his neck and chest. His thoughts immediately got surrounded by Hera. Even though lost in the music, Bianca had her eyes focused on Hunter, and she got confused as she saw Samantha's pale face. Taking off the headphone, she came around, wrapped her arms around Samantha's front from behind. 

Worried, Bianca asked, "What's wrong, Sam? You look like you're going to pass out. What happened?" 

Ignoring them both, Hunter walked to his wardrobe to get dressed. He took out a grey half sleeved sweatshirt. He's about to wear it when Samantha snatched it from his hand. Using all her strength, she turned his front for his friends to see the bruises. "This happened," she said, pointing to his neck and chest with her hand, anger evident in her tone. 

While Bianca and Evelyn looked shocked, Eric and Michael didn't react at all. Danny frowned, giving Hunter a sharp look. They all exchanged a knowing look and Eric was cruel enough to rub salt on her wounds. "You should've been more careful, Sam, before leaving those marks on him. Or were you upset that he wasn't flaunting it around? He asked, arrogantly smirking at her. Samantha glared at him in return, clenching her fists. The Bastard knew it wasn't her. He's mocking her. So she turned to the one who would listen and believe her, her best friend forever, Bianca. 

"I'm not the one responsible for it, Bee. I didn't do it. That can mean only one thing, he's screwing someone else," said Samantha, her lips quivering. Her face flushed red as she's on the verge of tears. Bianca pulled her into her embrace, trying to console her. 

Pulling a sarcastic face at her usual attention-seeking drama, Hunter snatched his sweatshirt back from her hand and pulling it down over his head, shoved his hands in the sleeves. Once it properly hugged his torso, he pocketed his cell phone. When Hunter was about to walk out on his friends, Michael stopped him. He stood in front of him, blocking his way, and one of his hands was resting on Hunter's chest prohibiting his next move. 

"We need to talk, Ace. What's bothering you? You were acting weird the whole day. You didn't eat, and you couldn't concentrate on our game. You had neither interest nor energy. You are avoiding your friends, no interaction, nothing. Why so? Get it out, what's wrong?" Michael asked, and his actions only made Hunter angry. 

He glanced down to the hand on his chest before grabbing it by the wrist and violently shoved it away. His rude reaction caught Michael by surprise. "Bro, you're upset for reasons unknown to me. So, please don't take it out on me, I only want to help. You were never like this. Talk to us, Ace, what happened?" Urged Michael, trying to block his way again. His face showed concern and his voice held genuine worry. 

Hunter didn't want to offend his friends, but they were not leaving him alone either, provoking his anger further. Still, he tried his best to not to lash out at his best friends. "Let me go, Mike. All I need is space now. We'll talk about it later, I promise," he said, hoping that his friend would understand. He took two steps ahead when Samantha gripped his hand. He grunted in frustration when she stood in front of him. He shot her a glare in silent warning, but in vain. 

Samantha crossed her arms around her chest and looked at him, challenging him to walk out on her. "Look, Sam, I'm not screwing anyone. Besides, even if I do, it's none of your business in the first place," Hunter made it clear, but it seemed to leave the least effect on her. 

He cursed out loud when Bianca beat him to the door and locked it. "No, Ace, I think it is our business. You can't ignore us like this. What you need is to talk to us openly, instead of hiding alone in the excuse of needing space. Ace, this is serious, and I want you to answer Sami's question. She deserves explanations for your," she paused, searching for the right word, but shook her head as if to say 'never mind' and said, "Whatever actions. She's clearly upset, and you owe her answers. And I want to know it too. The truth, come on, say it," Bianca said, her tone demanding. 

Hunter nodded in agreement, surprising everyone. "Fine, let's talk. It's time anyway," he said and turned to face Samantha. She gulped nervously, seeing the look on his face. He looked like he was actually counting on this opportunity. She could tell, the outcome of this interrogation wouldn't bring her anything pleasant. But she took her chance. 

"If you're not fucking anyone else, then who did this?" Samantha asked, pointing her finger at his bruises. "Don't tell me some guy scratched you in a fight. I'm not a fool, Ace, I know how and when guys get such bruises on their body. So, tell me, Ace, who is it?" She was impatient to hear his reasons or excuses to be precise, but she wasn't expecting the 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. 

Hunter casually shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts and smirked at her in his usual arrogant style. He could see the wheels turning in her brain, working rapidly to draw a definite conclusion of his reactions. She's not that dumb after all. 

"Hera?" She guessed by herself and went silent with that because that's a rhetorical question. She already knew its Hera. 

'It has to be Hera. It's so obvious. He has not even denied it.' 

She looked at him, eyes filled with absolute fury, clenching her fists, she bit her lip to stop the scream that she wanted to let out. The room was so quiet they could literally listen to everyone's breathing rhythm. Hunter chanced a glance at everyone because he could feel, Samantha's question shocked everyone. 

Michael and Eric silently raised a brow at him simultaneously. Meanwhile, Danny too held the same expression, but he couldn't hide the disapproving scowl stretching across his face for too long. Hunter read the unasked question in their eyes. They were all dying to know the answer to the same question. Did he really sleep with Hera? He sighed and shook his head just once in denial. It's a barely-there move. The girls didn't see his action, but the boys saw and understood it very clearly.