by Anne Eliot
Eew. This is going to take some serious getting used to.
UGH. Jenna has LOST her mind.
Charlie leveled Vere with his most serious stare. “Do you think Hunter will talk to you after what I did? And after what you said to him?”
Vere’s heart dropped to the center of the earth. She shook her head. “It’s probably too late to salvage anything for either of us, but I do want to tell him I’m sorry. I owe him that, at least. And so do you. We were his friends.”
“I was such an ass. He will hate me forever. He got some revenge by setting these dogs on me though,” Charlie said with a rueful smile. “Worse, Mom and Dad are going to give me the hellish ‘disappointed in you, son’ speech.” Charlie rolled his eyes. “God, how I hate that speech.”
Jenna put her arm around Charlie. “It’s not too late. Hunter was your good friend. He was also in love with Vere only a few hours ago. I’m sure he still is both. We just need to get them into the same room, minus any of this.” Jenna waved her arm to the mob scene outside the car.
“Any ideas?” Charlie asked.
Vere peered out, but could see nothing but camera lenses pressed into her window. She fished in her pocket, pulled out her trusty rubber bands and deftly shoved her hair into a bun. “I’ve got a plan, but it could brand me as an idiot forever.”
“Hello, as if that’s something new?” Charlie teased.
The police officer had made it through the throng and was just about to open their door.
“We have exactly twelve minutes until curfew. Who’s in for running?” Jenna piped in.
Charlie leaned forward. “Home sweet home, here we come. You two squeeze in behind me. I’ll use a full tackle if anyone gets in our way, not counting the police, of course,” he added.
The officer leaned down and knocked on their window as though to warn them to be ready.
“Guys. If we still have twelve minutes, then head for Hunter’s house. This is not something I want to sleep on. I mean to talk to him right now.”
The door swung wide, and they bolted toward Nan’s house.
43: introductions
HUNTER
Hunter had systematically read every email from Martin.
His agent had done a perfect job of painting his mom as a negligent, career-killing parent. If he’d been in his previous state of mind, when he was angry about everything—and pissed at her—he would have bought into Martin’s schemes.
He would have driven away with Martin and the guys without once looking back. Not at this town, not at his mom, and possibly not even looking back for Aunt Nan or Vere.
His heart clenched at that thought.
True to her word, his aunt had not let Martin, Royce or Adam enter the house. After much shouting, and Hunter refusing to appear, they’d left in the limo. He’d stood at the window, watching them depart.
He could still call Martin and have him come back. It would be very easy to request a truce between his agent and his mom.
If that is what I want.
But it isn’t.
He’d decided he still wanted to stay. Finish out the year. For better or for worse. If Vere didn’t want to be part of that, he’d understand. Hell, he deserved it. He never should have challenged her with that last kiss.
He surveyed the madness in the street below from a long crack in the curtain, while listening to the news droning out on the TV in his room.
It wouldn’t take long for this circus to get bored with his story. Especially once they realized he was here for the long haul. The town would get used to him, the high school kids would get over him, and then he could just get on with his homework and hanging out like before. Hopefully.
And minus the canvas wardrobe, the glasses and the stupid retainer. He wasn’t sure how things would turn out with Vere, but he just didn’t want to give up on her...on them.
Even if the girl only wants to be friends. It will be enough. It will have to be enough. I’ll take what I can get, without stepping over the line ever again. Even if it kills me.
And it will kill me. Oh, hell...it will.
He could not take his mind off their last kiss. It had blown him away. He also couldn’t take his mind off their first kiss...or the second...or the way she felt in his arms...or how badly he wanted hundreds more kisses.
Please. Please. Please. Let her be thinking the same thoughts.
Let her change her mind.
He’d stood at that window in his room for what seemed like hours, looking for a sign of her and smugly watching Charlie being pestered by the press. The local station had moved to running the story live without breaks as though he were some kind of criminal holed up in his home with hostages.
When he heard Kristen Hodjwick’s voice come on the air, he asked his mom, who’d come in to hang out with him, to turn it up. The annoying cheerleader started off with the typical lies, like how Kristen had known Hunter’s secret all along, and that they were great friends. She’d even had the nerve to mention that he’d asked for her phone number once!
Hunter smirked at that, remembering her cold snub on his first day when he'd spit-lisped all over her.
When the reporter asked Kristen questions about Vere, she remarked that, Vere most probably didn’t even like guys ‘in that way’ and that’s why she hadn’t noticed Hunter Kennedy was living next door.
The reporter had loved that one.
Laughing and agreeing with Kristen, because, “who wouldn’t notice a rock star living next door?”
Hunter’s surge of protectiveness for Vere had almost made him crack his teeth. When Kristen had smiled with mean delight into the camera, telling the reporter how Vere, “was sort of a freak in their whole town anyhow,” Hunter had wanted to kill her.
But then Kristen added: “Earlier, this very night, Vere Roth punched the school quarterback just because he’d tried to kiss her! So what does that tell you?”
Hunter’s heart soared.
“Did you hear that, Mom?” Hunter asked, his heart racing double time. “Did she say that Vere punched the football quarterback?” His lungs flooded with butterflies. “I didn’t make it up in my own head, did I? Tell me you heard that, too, please.”
“I think that’s what she said.” His mom swung her legs off the side of the bed and sat up.
Hunter had run from watching the video feed back to his window. He searched the crowd for a new sign of Vere.
“Who is this Vere Roth?”
“She’s my friend. Hell, she's my everything.”
“I thought you said you didn’t have any friends? So she’s your girlfriend?” His mom frowned, obviously confused.
“She used to be my friend. I’m hoping that now, she might be my girlfriend,” Hunter answered, searching desperately through every single face in the crowd as he continued, “She also has every right to hate my guts. So I’m not sure.”
“Okay. I won’t ask.” His mom frowned.
“It's complicated.” Hunter had not taken his eyes off the street from that point forward. His mom got tired of waiting for him to give up and went to her room to change for bed. He refused even to turn and say ‘good night’, just in case.
When he’d finally spotted Vere, waving up at his house, his heart almost exploded. The girl was just so adorable. He saw her look at all the girls next to her, and did not miss her moment of doubt. He could almost read her mind as her face had turned red with obvious embarrassment when she’d realized she was just one of many standing in line to get to him.
He wondered how she could not understand there was no girl in the world that compared to her? Had he not made that clear when he'd bared his soul to her after they'd kissed? He’d tell her again, and again until she believed it...after he’d apologized and kissed her, of course.
The press spotted Vere and Jenna, and created a tornado swarm around them. Charlie tried to fend them off, but it wasn’t working. He watched as Jenna, Charlie and Vere dove to safety into an open police car.
&n
bsp; He dashed out in to the hall. “Nan! Mom. I see Vere. I’m going out to get her.”
“Hunter. No. That’s not a good idea,” his mom called out.
He’d bolted down the stairs and out the front door without thinking of a proper plan. He’d only made it to the yellow taped line and now stood trapped on the inside of it. The press and ever growing crowd of GuardeRobe fans pushed in against him, screaming for photos and autographs.
He worked hard to maintain a straight face.
Why in the hell had I thought I could get through and rescue her from the squad car? So much for my knight-in-shining-armor act.
He couldn’t even see Vere or the squad car through the crowd!
“Young man. Mr. Kennedy!” an officer shouted. “You’re going to cause a riot. Get back in your house.”
“Sorry, sir. I can’t do that. Not yet,” he shouted back, scanning the faces in the crowd that were lit by the news van lights.
He saw her bun first, and then a burly policeman pushing Vere, Charlie and Jenna through the crowd.
His mom and aunt had run out behind him, both in their bathrobes. He tossed them a grateful smile, checking Nan’s hands to make sure the woman had kept her promise and left the baseball bat inside.
“Hunter, what are you doing?” his mom hissed.
“I don’t know. Following my heart I guess. And she’s out here. Don’t you see? I’ve got to get to her. Now.”
Hunter pushed his way forward, never taking his eye off Vere’s magnificent bun, and made it into the center of the throng.
“Hunter. Hunter. Over here! Smile this way,” a reporter shouted, right in his face.
“Ooooh. Hunter! Hunter Kennedy’s right there. I love you. HUNTER I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!” The sound of screaming girls flooded his ears.
Hunter’s head pounded as his fans swarmed even closer around him. This was just too much. Hunter wanted to deck the reporter and squelch the screamers with a fire hose or something, but he had nothing that would stop them.
His first urge was to punch everyone and anything that was keeping him separated from Vere, but he held back. He took a deep breath and calmed his temper.
The media and fans were here from another world.
They operated on other-world rules.
He had to remember that and play by them correctly or he would lose. He smiled when he realized he did have something he could use to stop it all. He had himself. He could use these rules to his benefit, but in order to do it well, he needed to get the press on his side—and fast.
He looked toward Vere and realized she, Jenna and Charlie were surrounded as well. He worried Jenna might overreact to the press’s barrage of questions. Or Vere might get really shy and do one of her babble attacks. Even worse, Charlie might pull something even stupider than Vere if he felt his sister was being threatened. And then all would be lost for Hunter, because Charlie would easily throw punches at anyone and get himself arrested.
Jenna looked as if she’d already started up! She seemed to be poking an officer over and over again in his chest as she yelled at him, and the paparazzi standing in the back had started to take some shots of Jenna’s obvious tantrum.
This was not good.
His friends had no idea how to play this game. Hell. He’d wanted this meeting with Vere to be much different than this, more private to be sure. But now that he had her in his sights he was not going to let her go again.
Game on. Time to roll the dice.
“Guys. Guys.” He spoke quickly and very loudly so the media zombies nearest to him would all focus and quiet down. “You’ve got to help me. My homecoming date is standing just over there.” He pointed toward Vere.
Some of the reporters turned their cameras around. “Where? Which one? Homecoming? Really?”
“The cute girl with the bun. She doesn’t know she’s my homecoming date because I haven’t asked her yet and that’s because I can’t get over to her. If you let me through, I promise to wait until you have all your equipment and cameras turned back on before I ask her out. What do you say? Help a guy get a date and move some of these fans back for me? If you do, the story is yours.”
The paparazzi nodded, jockeying for position. They quickly were able to create a long pathway in the direction of Vere.
Hunter pushed his way through them and glanced up just in time to see one of the officers hauling Jenna and Vere toward Mr. and Mrs. Roth, who’d come out to stand on their lawn. They were obviously waiting to collect their wayward children. A second officer had Charlie in what looked like a painful arm lock, and Hunter for the first time, was finally able to lock gazes with Vere.
When she saw him, she doubled her efforts to get away from the officer. “Hunter!” She squirmed desperately against the giant arm that held her. He was elated, watching her efforts to make it over to him.
Damn, but the girl does want to see me!
“Wait!” Hunter shouted as the opening widened more. He was able to break free and run forward. “Please! Let them stay.” The press closed in behind him and he caught up to Vere and Charlie just as they were being deposited over the police tape that blocked the crowd from the Roth’s front lawn. “Please. Let me talk to my friends. If that’s what they still are,” Hunter finished, tossing each of them a worried look.
Charlie flushed.
“Friends or not, we have to get this neighborhood back in order. Mr. Kennedy, return to your residence,” the officer shouted.
“Hunter, we’re so sorry about all of this,” Mrs. Roth called out. “Officer, can we please talk to him. Just for a moment?”
Vere, Charlie, and Jenna turned around. Hunter darted a grateful smile at Mrs. Roth. “If you’ll allow me, officers, I’ve got a few things to say. I promised these reporters not to shut them out. I kind of want all of you to hear what I have to say, anyway. Once they get this story, they will all head out.”
The officer took note of the rolling news cameras and shifted to the side, making sure he was going to be in the shot. Hunter almost had to laugh at that. “You have two minutes, Mr. Kennedy,” the man said, straightening his back and preening for the camera.
Hunter nodded his thanks and walked over to Vere and took one of her hands. The small smile she gave him flooded his heart with happiness. “Everybody ready and rolling?” he asked the press, waiting while a few swapped equipment and found a good position.
He was rewarded with a laugh and some smiles from the paparazzi as they got situated.
They were eating out of his hand, thank God.
Dustin was pleased to see his mom and Aunt Nan had made their way to the front of the crowd and would be able to hear what he was about to say.
He nodded once to his mom to show her he was okay, because she looked really worried and freaked out. She returned it with a tremulous smile and a small confused head shake, but did not move to intervene.
“First, to the entire Roth family. I want to publicly say thank you for helping complete my disguise, and show me the ropes around this town and school.”
Hunter pointed to each person and the press made sure they were all photographed. “This is Charlie, Vere, and Mr. and Mrs. Roth, and my friend Jenna. They sort of adopted me, and helped me hide out in this town as a kid named Dustin McHugh. I’ve never felt such love and acceptance from strangers before. This family is over the top. And don’t even get me started on the delicious food.” He winked at a glowing Mrs. Roth.
Hunter could not believe this was working so well.
The crowd had grown so silent he felt as though he were on a movie set.
He couldn’t believe all these people wanted to hear his story so badly that they would sit out here in the middle of the night and listen to this. He looked wildly at all of them and almost panicked but knew he had to go on. If they wanted to listen, he would talk. He shot his aunt a smile.
That’s what real men did, right? They talked.
He darted a glance at Vere’s giant, luminous eyes for courage, pull
ed in a deep breath and motioned to Vere, Charlie and Jenna again. “These three are my best friends here, and, if you must know, my only true friends. Anyone else who says differently has been lying.”
Hunter glanced to the back of the crowd and noted that most of the junior class that he could see wouldn’t meet his gaze.
Take that, Kristen Hodjwick, wherever you are.
Hunter turned back to the people in front of him. “I’m seriously hoping these three will still be my friends after you all leave town. Don’t blow it for me by pestering them so much they hate me, please?”
A few reporters had the good grace to laugh at his comment.
Jenna beamed, and Hunter locked gazes with Vere.
Her eyes had that larger-than-life-sparkle going on. He could sense she wanted to tell him something but she was pulling in breath after breath. Trying not to cry.
He winked and gave her hand a squeeze.
“Courage, beautiful,” he whispered, moving closer.
Charlie whispered, “Dude, I’m sorry. So sorry I blew your cover. I didn’t understand.”
“Please, no apologies. I think, after tonight we’re on even ground.” In a lower voice he continued, “you did me a favor, dude. Trust me, my agent had already blown my cover way worse. All these people are not here from the phone call you made to the local news. I’ll explain it all later.”
Charlie’s eyes widened with relief as Hunter went on, not wanting the press to get distracted. “I have more to say, if you all don’t mind. Mostly about my disguise. And why I was hiding out here using a different name. After that, I have a more serious question for my best friend, Vere.” He looked at Mr. and Mrs. Roth and then pointedly at Charlie before adding, “if I have your blessings.”
Charlie nodded, Mrs. Roth beamed, and Mr. Roth shot him a short, curt and not approving grimace.
Damn. I’ll work on Mr. Roth later.
Hunter turned and took Vere’s other hand.
The cameras went wild.
He could feel her trembling so he leaned in and whispered so only she could hear. “If you cry right now, I’m going to lose my nerve. You okay?”
