4

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The day went by smoothly, Hunter left early to drive to Neithines, it's about an hour and a half away. I'm guessing he's looking for apartments there. I wonder what he does? What kind of job he has or what his major was when he graduated earlier this month. My curiosity is high as I search through our small house for Rosalie. I don't bother changing out of what I slept in, no one is home but her.

I find Rosy sitting on the couch with her laptop open, typing violently against the keyboard. "Ro? You okay?" I ask curiously as I assess her behavior. She clicks one more button and then slams it shut.

"Yeah, I was just sending my History teacher a few key points for giving a seventy in my final. It was an essay about curbing corruption which is supposed to be subjective!" She silently screams. Which makes me laugh.

"Miss. Talon?" I ask.

"Yup, that's the one." She says while huffing.

"I think you'll be okay, you have a what... a ninety-nine in that class?" I ask with humor in my tone.

"I wanted a perfect one hundred, that essay was fifty percent of our grade! She's just angry because her husband was killed recently. I mean why make us write that for a final if you're scorned and don't want to hear about politics?" She places the laptop down on the table, to the left of it is the book that Hunter was reading yesterday. When I see the title I smile, I take a seat on the couch.

"Hunter reads classic novels?" I say with surprise as I stare at the bent and tattered copy of pride and prejudice.

"Yeah, it's weird right?" She laughs while gesturing to the book. "He's always been a reader, I always wondered why he went down the corporate road. He would have been great at a publishing house."

"Corporate? Hunter?" I ask astonished.

"I know, with the tattoos it seems odd, right?" She laughs as she pulls her thick hair through a scrunchie and leans back on our couch. "He went to Stanford and got his bachelor's degree in Finance." She says proudly.

I nearly choke on air before I compose myself. "Wow, that's amazing! Does your dad have money like that?" I say surprised. I know Rosy is here on a scholarship, her mom doesn't have a ton of money. She has no contact with her dad, but it seems like Hunter does. I remember her saying she originally wanted to go west for school, I'm glad she decided against it or we would have never crossed paths.

She lets out a loud laugh. "No way, even if he did there's no way Hunter would want shit from him. Hunter is completely self-made. He got a full ride for his academics in high school." She's beaming. I can understand why she's proud, that's a huge accomplishment at twenty-one. I ponder this for a second, a full ride to Stanford? He has to be insanely smart. I'm going to feel even more nervous around him. I feel more attracted to him knowing he has brains to go with his looks.

Like she's reading my thoughts, Rosy begins talking "He told me about how all of the classmates glared at him for a few weeks when he started." She laughs as she waves her hand absentmindedly. "I mean a guy who looks like Hunter, covered in Tattoos, has to be quite the unusual student at a school like that, but his brilliance showed through and the students there quickly realized it I'm guessing. He made some really great friends there, I know he was sad to graduate but he's ready to start his life in Neithines." She says.

"So why Neithines?" I ask curiously, my elbows on my knees. I am listening intently.

"That's what he is doing today, he interned through college making investments for high up businessmen. He is so good at what he does he was able to make his own investments pretty early on, he owns some properties in the Neithines area so that's why he wants to move there. He's also leasing a floor of a high rise so he has somewhere to meet with his bigger investors, some of them can be... intimidating." She looks at me uneasily. "Others are your normal run of the mill rich men. He's going to check out his new office and see about his lease on the apartment. That's why he's staying here for a couple of weeks, so they can get it finished." She says with another proud smile.

I sit up straighter "What do you mean intimidating?"

"I don't know how to explain it, almost like the mafia is what I would guess. Hunter can handle himself so he takes those clients when no one else will. I don't know much about it but I would stay away from his work if I were you." She laughs a pretentious laugh.

"What does he do though, like his title?" I ask curiously.

"He's a private investor, I'm not really sure what it entails. He's great with numbers, and I believe he purchases investments for CEOs and things like that?"

She questions herself. "Good for him! That's awesome he already got a job that quick. I hope when I graduate I can find somewhere I fit in." I say with a sad tone but hide it behind a smile. Everyone else has their lives figured out, my current major is the opposite of what I want to do. My dream is to become a fashion designer and artist. I would love to be able to go to an art school but I opted for community college, I didn't want to make my mom work even harder.

"Don't even stress. He's older than us, we just finished freshman year, you have plenty of time to plan your life." She says to reassure me.

I raise my brow, "Did he always know he wanted to do this?"

"You're curious about him aren't you?" She examines me as she waits for a response.

"No. no. I mean, maybe?" I say with a shy smile.

She throws her hands up, "Look, truly if you want to go after him I don't care. It's not like we are in high school, you're both adults." She smiles at me.

A laugh escapes my lips, "Yeah, I don't think that will be a problem. He's nice to me but I don't think he is interested and moreover, I'm not since I haven't gotten over Neo." I say, dismissing her thoughts. I shudder from the humiliation I received last night at his hand.

"Oh, fuck Neo." She bellows. "As for Hunter, I wouldn't be so sure he's not interested."

I grimace "I mean, really, he's just a nice guy." I say.

She scoffs, "To you, he is. Every other friend of mine that he's met he has ignored with obvious annoyance." She says with a smile. "Also, you need someone to take your mind off of that sporty douche bag." She shrugs.

I hit her with a pillow and a fight quickly ensues as she grabs two throws from the couch and hurls them at me. Laughter booms throughout the living room and soon we are in a fit of giggles on the couch, my legs are thrown up over the back of the couch while my backrests on the bottom cushions.

A deep cough interrupts our childish fight and we look towards the sound of the noise. My jaw involuntarily drops as I take in the sight of Hunter leaning against the door frame of the living room.

His black hair is slicked back perfectly. His eyes look deeper than last night. He has a more serious vibe, which matches his attire, A black suit with a black dress shirt underneath. His tattoos barely visible but I can see one peeking through on his arm as he undoes one of his cuffs.

I force my jaw shut and travel to his face, his eyes are burning into mine and that's when I realize I'm still in just my panties and a tank top. I flip my body around quickly and search for a blanket. I grab the one he used the night before and cover myself as I try to ignore the delicious scent that it's laced with. His cologne, leather, and mint.

"Hey, girls." He speaks in a serious tone, but a smile creeps up and makes his rough edges soften.

"You look all business, Hunter." Rosy laughs. He rolls his eyes, "I'm going to get changed." He says as he walks down the hallway slowly.

"Stop grimacing." She says quietly. I fear Hunter heard her attempted whisper, I look up to see him turning the bathroom doorknob and my stomach drops as I see his face turn slightly to meet mine.

The sexiest half-smile I have ever seen swipes across his perfect features, my face burns from disgust.

I hit her once more with the pillow after he steps into the bathroom.

Once the water starts running I look over at Rosy, my cheeks burning. "He heard you!" I quietly scream at her.

She shrugs and we fall into a fit of laughter, again. I quickly head to my room to throw on some jeans. Why am I thinking about him in his suit, what the hell? I decide to do something that I haven't done in a while to get my mind off things, it's a nice day and a drive downtown sounds like just what I need.

After a few hours of driving, I finally reach my destination. I make a call to someone I never thought I'd call again.

ring ring

"Alec, it's me, Esme. Do you have anything for me?" I say after clearing my throat.

"Wow, Esme, you called in such a long time. I didn't think you'd remember." He says with a laugh.

"Yes Alec, I called you. Now do you have anything for me"

"Oh yes my lovely, always. I'll bring it to you at our usual spot in ten minutes"

"I'm already there, I'll wait," I say. Without waiting for a reply, I end the call.

As promised, Alec arrives in ten minutes. "I just want to get this over with, how much?"

" Don't worry, It's on the house since I haven't seen you in a long time" He says with a smile

I quickly take it and get into the car and drive off. I arrive at a deserted street, get down from my car, and do the deed.

*****

I arrived home to see that Hunter's car is gone, I assume he made other plans and isn't joining us tonight. I sigh as I step out of my car and throw my arms over my head in relief that I'm alone. I feel a little uneasy due to the amount of weed I took. I head for the kitchen to look for something to eat. A note is placed on the counter.

Hey! We ran to get pizza, hurry, and get dressed! We are leaving at 10. Love you, xoxo Ash

I glance at the clock and see that it's nine, where did the time go today?

I run into my room to get ready. I start with my make up, taking more time than usual on my eyes. Focusing on making them a little darker than Ro did last night. I finish fairly quickly and begin to curl my hair. I hear the door opening and feet shuffling inside.

"Hey!" I yell as I twist the last lock that needs a curl around the large wand. I', happy that I'm a bit sober.

Rosy enters the room with a box of pizza and sits on the hardwood floor. Her hair and makeup are perfectly finished but she's in jeans and a t-shirt, I begin to worry about my dress.

She smiles as she hands me a slice. I put the wand down on the marble slab where it normally sits.

"I am about to throw my dress on, I'm wearing the red one, what do you think?" She asks and I sigh in relief, I didn't want to look overdressed tonight.

"I love that one!" I say happily. She smiles as we quietly eat our dinner on the floor. After a few minutes, she stands. "I'm going to change, be ready In ten minutes!" She says excitedly as she bounces out of the room.

I get up to shut the door behind her as I take my clothes off, along with my bra, and climb into my new black dress. It looks even better with my hair and makeup done. I put on a tall pair of black heels that have a thin ankle strap, laughing as I wonder why the strap is necessary because it's so thin. I take one last look in the full-length mirror and smile back at myself. I feel confident and I'm excited to show Ashley my new outfit, maybe Hunter too. I giggle as I walk out of my room and down the hallway.

I pass the bathroom and suddenly I feel a large hand wrap around my arm, it makes me jump.

"You're going out in that?" His voice booms through the narrow hallway and his hand firmly yet gently hold me in place.

"Umm, is it bad?" I ask accusingly as I start to question my chosen attire. I frown a little as I look down at my dress.

He sighs as he drops my arm "Exact opposite," He says flatly. "Do you know how many guys I'm going to have to fight off tonight? They're going to all be staring at you." I roll my eyes, his voice is so serious. I guess this is his way of giving compliments.

"I highly doubt you'll have that problem, Hunter," I say through laughter but I since irritation behind his green eyes. Why does he care if guys stare at me? I don't even know him.

He looks me up and down one more time as he pulls in his bottom lip between his teeth, I once again grimace at the sight. He begins to walk away leaving me in thought. He turns towards me as he edges the end of the hall. "You look gorgeous, Esme." ??

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