This.

This is what fucking happened when he tried to be nice.

Hunter's heart pounded in his chest, the realization of what he almost said hitting him like a freight train. Actually, what the hell was he about to say? The panicked teen mentally scrambled to regain his composure, his mind racing for a way out.

“Uh, I mean... you know, what I was trying to say,” Hunter stuttered, his tone betraying his attempt at nonchalance. He averted his gaze, feigning indifference as he struggled to salvage the situation. “I was just…talking about the people who were around when we met. Y’know, at the bus stop. They kept staring at you and stuff, but like, in a good way, I think. So, I guess that’s something, right? Like, other people think you stand out a lot. And that’s cool.”

Although he still avoided them, Hunter could feel Ashley’s watchful eyes on him. The kid who usually had a quick response to everything was stunned into silence and just stood there, seemingly waiting for whatever Hunter would say next. The blond could feel sweat beading on his forehead. He swallowed.

 “Ah, fuck—you talk instead!” Hunter barked out, with an embarrassing hint of a crack in his voice. He was beyond uncool right now.

Ashley scratched his arm, gingerly, looking off to the side. “I’m…not sure what to say.”

Hunter’s heart was racing so fast at this point, he swore it’d explode. Ashley took in a light breath and continued, to which the other boy unintentionally straightened up where he stood.

“I suppose…I just wish I could talk to those other people you mentioned.” Ashley murmured, his voice soft, yet sure. Hunter wasn’t sure if it was a trick of the light, but he thought he could see a faint blush on the spectacled boy’s cheeks. He looked up at Hunter through his thick, dark eyelashes. “I’d tell them that…they’re very sweet.”

And just like that, there was that weird pang in his chest again. Hunter cleared his throat and turned away. “Y-yeah, whatever. It’s getting late, so…let’s just work on this another time, ‘k?”

“Okay.” Ashley whispered, his mood hard to decipher. Hunter felt a little surprised that he agreed to his suggestion. Maybe he wanted to bury that conversation as fast as he did by getting out of there.

The slender teen moved to collect his books and notes, while Hunter pretended to scroll through social media. Without thinking about it, he occasionally glanced over at Ashley, who seemed slightly more relaxed than before. When Ashley finally opened his mouth to speak, Hunter felt a wave of nervous electricity run through his body.

“…I’ll see you in class tomorrow, Hunter?” he almost whispered, his tone still hard to place. Hunter hesitated for just a split second, but nodded, trying to maintain his tough appearance. He then rose to his feet from where he sat, following Ashley out of the bedroom and to the front door.

“’night.”

“Goodnight.”

And with that, Ashley crossed the yard to his house, as Hunter watched. He couldn't make sense of what happened between them. All he knew was that his mind was becoming more and more of a jumble of emotions lately. Why the hell was that happening to him?

Shaking his head to dispel the whirlwind of thoughts, Hunter pivoted back into the house. He needed something to ground him, something familiar. Then it hit him—his stomach growled, a reminder that amidst all this teen angst, his body had been left behind.

Gas station, he decided. It was close enough, and a bag of chips or whatever junk they had would give him something else to focus on. Something normal.

****

In the dimly lit aisles of the rundown store, Hunter found himself wandering. The quiet in there was only broken by the rhythmic buzz of the refrigerators and the occasional ding of the door signaling another customer's arrival. He felt irritated as he sensed the cashier’s eyes on him while he walked around, most likely suspecting that he’d steal something. Yeah, he’d done it before with ease so it wasn’t like the guy was entirely wrong, but right now, for some reason, Hunter didn’t feel up to pulling that kind of thing.

He grabbed a bag of chips and a soda almost absentmindedly and headed to the counter, exchanging a nod with the previously wary cashier as he paid. Stepping outside, the chill of the night air washed over him as he inhaled, deeply. Hunter tore open the bag, the crinkle of plastic loud in the stillness as he took a bite, the salty taste providing a much-needed distraction from everything else on his mind.

A sudden rustling from the side of the gas station further drew Hunter’s attention. 

Under the flickering lights, a group of other teenage boys loomed, silhouetted against the darkened lot. Dressed in hoodies and T-shirts, their postures exuded a quiet menace, which was only accentuated by their low murmurs and occasional laughs that pierced the cold air. Upon hearing their voices and catching their eyes on him, Hunter took a sharp breath. It was them.

They were the same bastards he fought with the very day he met Ashley. He’d been in countless fights in his young life, and so with that one Hunter came out victorious despite being alone, a fact he knew for certain the callous trio were enraged over. It was their fault for coming up to him, talking shit, and then not knowing how to fucking fight. Although that was the truth of the matter and he was nowhere near afraid, it was dark, and late. Hunter was not in the mood for dealing with this.

But, just as expected, once they caught sight of Hunter, there was no way they’d just let him go. Before he could even start his casual stride home, the group, sensing an opportunity, tactically circled him and blocked his path. The leader stepped forward, a smug grin playing on his lips.

Hunter exhaled through his nose as he made eye contact with the boy, a fellow sixteen-year old named Dylan. He was the toughest out of the three for sure, being the one to get the most hits in on Hunter during their hostile clash. The blond squinted a bit in disdain and lifted his chin, waiting for whatever bullshit Dylan was going to spew out.

“Well, well, ain’t this a nice surprise,” the teen sneered, a glint of challenge in his expression. “Remember us?”

Hunter met his gaze head-on, becoming increasingly irritated. “How could I forget? I beat my own record with how fast I kicked your stupid fucking asses.”

His biting reply triggered a mix of chuckles and scowls from the group. The tension heightened, but Hunter remained mostly unfazed, his stance unwavering.

“You try to act so tough but you’re just a little bitch--what's the matter, afraid we'll finish what we started?” one of them taunted, and gave Hunter a forceful push with his fingertips. He grunted lightly but stood firm.

Dylan edged closer, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Better be fucking careful, Hunter. Don’t think we’re just gonna let it all slide. And trust me, next time, you won’t be so lucky.”

A sly smirk curled on Hunter's lips, and he furrowed his brow. “We’ll see about that, Dyl. Because I don’t know…I think I like my odds.” With that, Hunter returned the shove to the same guy who did it to him and began walking away, his usual confidence evident in his steps.

Dylan let out an incredulous chuckle, but then started to move in fast towards Hunter, fists clenched and temper flaring. Sensing him coming in from behind, Hunter immediately turned, poised for retaliation. Yet, just as the two were about to brawl once more, a sudden flash of red and blue lights entering the parking lot shattered the tension—a police patrol car, lighting up the night. The interruption caused a momentary freeze among the group, their attention quickly diverting to the vehicle.

The officer, a stern-faced man with a rigid air about him stepped out, his presence commanding respect.

“What's going on here, boys?” His voice was firm, cutting through the quiet murmurs among the group. “Everything alright?”

Dylan straightened up, shutting off his bravado in the face of authority. “Nothing, officer. Just talking.” He tried to feign innocence, but the officer didn’t pay him much mind, as his gaze lingered on Hunter.

Hunter folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “Yeah. No trouble here.”

The officer eyed them all, his attention staying on Hunter for a moment longer. “I've had my eye on you lot for a while. You better not give me a reason to come around again, understand? I'll be keeping watch.” His warning was clear, and with a final scrutinizing glance, he returned to his car and slowly drove off.

Once the cruiser disappeared into the night, the animosity between the boys lingered. Dylan gestured to his buddies with a nod, and they sauntered off, muttering curses and shooting resentful glances Hunter's way.

Alone again, Hunter released the tight hold he had his fists in. His heart was still racing, the adrenaline from the confrontation pulsing through his veins. He surveyed his surroundings, ensuring the coast was clear before he returned home.

He knew this wasn’t over.