Hunting the Fairy Tale

Chapter 95 - Light the Fire

TW:- The next few chapters contain drug use and a high cringe factor.

Willow

Hunter barely looked at me or spoke to me on our way over here.

I hope I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not sure what to make of his sudden tense silence. Perhaps he's stressing because he's on duty tonight. From what I've heard, it's not something he is looking forward to.

He parked his mother's car in the parking lot at the foot of the lighthouse, and after walking with me down to the beach, he took off with some of the other student council members. I am glad that the Dragon Wagon arrived a few seconds after we parked and we were immediately joined by the Davenports, Tanner and Asher.

Jake went with Hunter; they are, apparently, going to join the quick meeting before the function starts in earnest. Students are starting to arrive in drips and drabs. Tanner also took off, but I don't know where he went. He was awfully quiet. I hope he is alright.

I nervously hold onto the sleeve of Paisley's denim jacket when I see Melissa and her friends sauntering over the sand near us. They have been giving me killer looks since the minute they saw me come down the steps with Hunter. I have honestly had enough of their nonsense.

I'm still angry about the messages they sent about Molly yesterday. Paisley told me the entire story while I was helping her get ready for her date with Austin. These girls need to be put in their place. I liked what the boys did in response to their nasty Molly posts, but I don't think that is going to be enough.

"Paise," I finally decided that I'm just going to ask the question straight out, and I hope I get an honest answer and not some vague deflection. "What is the story between Melissa and Hunter? Did they date, and it ended badly?"

Paisley and Asher share a look, and when he smiles at her, she turns to me and shrugs. I find it rather fascinating how these two are able to have complete conversations simply by glancing at each other.

"No, they didn't date, but they did have an encounter," Paisley says, pressing her lips together in distaste. "Every year, after the final exams, the school hosts an open-air movie night on the top rugby fields. They erect a huge screen and we all bring beanbags and picnic baskets. It is really quite fun... unless Mr Williams is placed in charge of picking the movies. Then it turns into a Physics documentary night... Happened one year, and it wasn't pretty. Only Jake enjoyed it. Well... the rest of us enjoyed it too, but we weren't watching the movies."

I laugh, thinking about the Physics teacher and the way he tends to digress and the overload of catch-up homework he'd given me. He truly does think the whole world revolves around his subject. He is not pompous or mean; he is just a little bit obsessed.

"Well, last year we were all in high spirits, looking forward to the holiday, and we were lying on our bags, watching... ugh... can't even remember what it was... some horror movie... when Melissa pulled her bag next to Hunter's. It was one of those gory movies, and she got scared... or he did... You know how he hates those movies."

I do; he clings to my arm like a frightened child whenever we watch gory things. At first, I thought it was quite funny, but now it makes me sad. I think I finally understand the origin of his fears and never suggest horror movies anymore when we want to watch something together, lying on the beanbags in their living room.

"Well," Paisley says with a grimace. "They ended up hugging, and hugging turned into cuddling. I think our boy was mostly just freaked out about the movie, and by the time he realised what was going on, he was making out with Melissa."