Part 4 (2/2)
His voice was as sweet as honey, yet mixed with caution, as if he was expecting me to cancel. I opened the door, ready to exit, but stopped in shock and confusion. Eli and Hunter were standing in front of me. Eli (standing a meter behind Hunter) was dressed in his guardian all black army-like uniform, arms crossed, looking unbelievably s.e.xy.
”They match your dress,” Hunter said as he handed me a bunch of deep red roses.
I took my eyes from Eli and placed them on Hunter.
”Thank you, they're beautiful. Sorry. Um, what's going on?”
”We need a guardian escort to town and the school provided us with your lovely ex-guardian angel,” Hunter explained, gesturing towards Eli.
Hunter's voice was polite and friendly but his face expressed the same awkward expression mine did. I couldn't help but wonder if the universe was playing a sick joke on me. It was going to be even harder to convince Eli that Hunter and I weren't together now.
”Now that I'm back, the school thinks it would be a good idea to start with small guardian tasks.”
”Oh. I forgot my handbag, excuse me,” I said, retreating back to the safety of my room.
”What's wrong?” Mila asked, as the door clicked behind me.
”Eli is escorting us to dinner.”
Mila's mouth dropped open. ”It's like a cheesy sitcom.”
”I don't know why they bother with escorts. The town is under a charm, anyway,” I stated, ignoring her comment.
”Yeah, but rogue G.o.ds, G.o.ddesses, guardian angels, or even humans could be working for vampires. Who knows what could happen? With rapidly decreasing numbers in both of our species, it's better to be safe than sorry.”
Her words sent chills down my spine. I thought of Tay and his secret obsession with becoming a vampire, becoming immortal. He kept it under wraps so well, who knows what the ulterior motives people have.
I found my red clutch lying on my bed. I grabbed it, and in its place, I left the roses.
”Aw, they're beautiful,” Mila cooed.
”Yeah ...” I was awed by the thought of Hunter giving me flowers but knowing that he might be keeping something terrible from me prevented me from enjoying their full beauty.
The car ride was as awkward. Eli drove whilst Hunter and I sat in the back, his hand upon my knee. No words were spoken until we reached the restaurant.
”We're here,” Eli announced.
Hunter climbed out of the car and extended his hand towards me, helping me out. The red neon lights that adorned the restaurant were pretty. My eyes followed them as they ran along the wall, curving into a rose beneath a sign that read 'La Hope.'
”You two have fun,” Eli said as he came around to the front of the SUV and leaned against it.
I peeled my eyes off him as Hunter guided us in through the front door of the restaurant. Inside it was dark and red. The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings and green plants. From the outside, you wouldn't think it was capable of five star quality.
Of course we had to get the table right by the wide front window, right by Eli. I glanced sideways toward the car, he was gone.
”For you,” Hunter said as he pulled my chair out.
”Such a gentlemen.” I smiled, sitting down on the comfortable dining chair. It was much better than the wooden ones in the dining hall that deaden your b.u.t.t muscles if you sit for too long.
A tall, skinny waiter around the age of fifteen brought us our menus. ”I'll be back soon to take your order.”
Hunter opened his menu. ”What do you feel like?”
I was too nervous to choose a big meal. The grilled chicken Caesar was probably the most alluring meal on the menu for someone in my shoes.
”The chicken salad,” I said.
Hunter shot me a sceptical look. ”Eighty precent of the school's food is healthy. The one night you can have anything you want, you choose a healthy option?”
”I'm not feeling very well. Something light on my stomach is probably what's best right now.”
”Aw, are you nervous being here with me?” Hunter raised his eyebrow as he spoke and flashed his usual devil may care smile.
”Something like that,” I replied.
The young waiter strode towards us, carrying a bottle of wine.
”Hunter, we -”
”You're eighteen... You can drink outside of school legally.”
”I know, but I don't want to.”
Hunter signalled for the waiter to go away. ”Is everything okay?”
There was no use in keeping it to myself any longer. The stress it was putting on me was poisoning my body, I could feel it.
”Hunter, we need to talk. Today-”
”Wait, at least until after dinner,” he suggested.
I wasn't happy about it. I just wanted to put everything out in the open.
Dinner conversation was quiet. I was having a hard time deciphering what he was thinking. His face didn't betray his emotions, it stayed hard and calculating. The silence was killing me, I couldn't hold it in.
”Did you file a report against Eli?” I asked abruptly, unable to keep the anger out of my tone.
I didn't realize how desperately I wanted it to not be true.
”Where did you hear that?”
”It doesn't matter.”
There was a long pause, Hunter thought about his next choice of words carefully before calling the waiter for a gla.s.s of wine.
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