The Prophecy

Dragons

                 Peyton got exactly one step before Hunter yanked her back lifting her off her feet spinning around taking her inside. She started shouting about Amethyst and her father how the dragon could get them, but Hunter just ignored her following Bethany down to the safe room under the school. Every city has at least one, that is fire proof on the outsides and the inside feels like ice the hotter it is outside to protect everyone inside. It’s also sturdy enough to handle any kind of force that a dragon can give so it won’t break or cave in on them its 100% safe for every time inside. Fells falls is lucky enough to have two, the 1st one is the best in the world, they built the hospital to be full proof, the entire building is unbreakable and fire proof to keep the patients safe, the other is the high school but it’s under the school with only one door to get in. The dragon police lead everyone to the closes safe house and the kids should be on ether way here, but Peyton doesn’t want to test it. What if the dragon is farther into town and close to Amethyst? What if the dragon flew in right above the preschool? She’s sure Hutch is leading the group of kids because he loves Amethyst and Keith. Still she can’t test it, she has to know that Amethyst is okay! No matter how hard she fought him Hunter didn’t budge. He told them to lock the door behind them and he dragged her back to their bunk. Every house has a designated area, their bunk is explained as close neighbors the students, but the school staff knows the truth. They also knew to put their bunk in the back for this exact reason, is she really the only person in school or town that would run into town for a loved one?

                 Peyton would risk facing a dragon for Amethyst safety, so of course she wants to run out and make absolutely positive. Every time the door opens up for anyone Peyton flinches trying to get up but Hunter’s grasp on her arm to way too strong. Hunter is only faster than she is when he’s “protecting” her. It feels like the entire town has come in which is impossible they have the smaller bunker here under the high school. This the place where the schools come and stay at home families come. The businesses and the people in houses on the other side of town go to the hospital so her dad and Nora are both going there. Not knowing if they are okay is making it even worse her dad could have gotten caught up when he was in the woods.

                 Finally, the door opened, and she saw only the tops a head over the crowd, as Peyton tried to stand to look better for her sister’s classmates or really for Amethyst Hunter pulled her arm down slamming her but back to the floor.

                 “You’re a monster you know. Your brother is in that class too let me get up and look for them they are in here already.”

                 “I trust the teachers like you should. They will find their way back here like always they know their way here.” He rolled his eyes away from her looking at Sean who was intensely looking at the kids spreading out to their house bunk.

                 His smile made her look over yanking her arm free as she saw the cute little blonde curls bouncing over to them, a smile on her face ear to ear. Strange emotion with dragons in town, but Peyton didn’t want to worry that she wasn’t worry, she was just happy to see her. All three of them rushed over to the kids, Hunter and Sean sandwiching Keith between the two of them. Peyton squeezed Amethyst so tight she had to push Peyton off. Peyton ran her hand over Amethyst’s soft curls looking at her face, still so happy not scared.

                 “Are you okay sweetheart, did anything happen out there?” She asked possibly a little too frantically, she tried to calm herself down a little.

                 “Of course, silly.” Amethyst laughed pushing Peyton off as Hunter picked her up, Peyton saw Sean and Keith playing on the bunk bed already, “It’s just a drill.” She dropped her hands from Hunter’s face looking at Peyton “Isn’t it?”

                 “Yes, of course.” Peyton replied quickly realizing that of course they can’t tell kids the truth or they wouldn’t go quietly ad calmly. “I was getting you ready for the real thing my cute little dragon sister. Did Hutch take you guys over too or just your teacher?”

                 “Um I didn’t see Hutch but a few men in funny outfits walked with us they weren’t fun like Hutch, so bossy.” She said not looking at them just at the boys playing.

                 Amethyst hopped out of Hunter’s arms running to the bunk bed to play with them, Hunter whispered the genius of the teacher’s idea before grabbing Sean’s shirt yanking him back. He whispered that it was important not to tell them what’s happening, as he started Peyton went to go get their bunk blankets. She froze looking at the person on in charge of the booth and felt a hand on her shoulder, Hunter shook his head saying he will talk to Bethany and get what they need.

                 Peyton had no clue what time it was but judging from the number of kids asleep at the TV, as well as the freezing old concrete wall behind her got even colder, she assumed it was late. Windows would be helpful, but she feels like it’s been forever, she has been distracting herself from the constant cartoons by reading feeling Hunter breathing down her neck. She slammed the book closed yanking his wrist pulling it over to her remembering he has a watch; her phone is in her locker with her bag inside. Oh, it’s defiantly way past bed time, Peyton got up to pick Amethyst chin checking Hunter with her shoulder as she stood up, realizing he might have thought she pulled him for something else. She walked over and picked Amethyst up off the floor where she fell asleep with Keith in front of the cartoons. They have a bunk bed “for the Nikos family” and a big bed for “the Quinn family.” Peyton laid down in the big bed putting Amethysts down not realizing Hunter was putting Keith on the same bed until she looked up, now she couldn’t really fit. She stood up seeing how close Hunter was to her, suddenly she remembered what was making him breath over her shoulder, the almost kiss she didn’t want at lunch. She wanted to duck and run so that they didn’t get put into a situation like that again, he’s just been Hunter not romantic or sexy to her, how can she tell him?

                 When she was younger, she thought about it sometimes because of all the time they spent together, before her mother died, and their parents joked about it. He was focused on Rebecca then, she didn’t even notice when his focused changed or that it was fixed on her now. Peyton went to step around him when her foot got caught up in a blanket and she slid just a little she caught herself in a second but so did he. Now with the look in his eyes and how he’s holding her back, so she doesn’t fall on the kids she sees it, so does Bethany. Luckily for Peyton she was saved by Amethyst whining in bed, making her quickly turn around to comfort her but she was already back asleep and rolled over. Peyton tuned around expecting to see Hunter waiting but he was gone, all the space in here it feels as though they have their own apartment and she didn’t want to look for him at all or they would have to start talking about before bed. With any luck he’s forgotten about her and is off in bed with another girl like always.

                 Peyton was regretting not grabbing her jacket at this moment, she gave her extra blanket that almost tripped her to Amethyst, all she had to stay warm was this cardigan and a sheet that she wouldn’t take off the bed because of how dreadfully itchy the bed sheet is. Peyton rolled over facing the wall ready to end this day finally. As she closed her eyes, she thought of the mystery guy, the thought shouldn’t have but it brought a smile to her face it was stupid but she started to fall asleep.

                 She smiled a little feeling someone crawl into her bed thinking Amethyst was crawling in with her. “What is it sweetie, anther nightmare?”

                 Peyton jumped a little hitting the wall seeing a man in her bed not her sister, it took a moment in this darkness to see it was Hunter laughing. “Oh, yes sweetheart I’m very scared, hold me?”

                 Form here Peyton couldn’t see anything accept the top bunk and Hunter, it was so low at least no one could see them either. He tossed a blanket over them both, he must have been taking Bethany into giving them another one. Hunter’s closes proximity and his smile made her a little uncomfortable. They have always been just friends, and now if they do anything, she will have to stay with him or she could lose her best friend, her only friend. There’s so much more on the line and she doesn’t even know exactly how she feels about it all. She has to decide soon, but no answer will make either party feel better, yet an answer has to be given most likely right now. Peyton just hates hurting anyone that she knows what she has to do, it’s just hard for her thinking one day it might hurt him if she can’t grow to feel the same way.

                 No, she can’t decide now, Peyton rolled over facing the wall again scooting in more, so he had more room since he wasn’t getting out of the bed. Hunter moved in closer his body feeling scolding hot in this cold dungeon. At least he wasn’t holding her, his back was against hers. Peyton fell onto her back looking up at the top bunk. The TV light was lighting the bars above her and she just let her mind wonder looking up at the moving lights thinking what could he be thinking about right now; did he think of her like she is him? Her thought took her away that she didn’t even notice Hunter roll over on his back too until he leaned over her blocking the bed above from her view, and the light.

                 “Everything okay?”

                 “Yes of course.” She whispered quickly gathering herself. “I’m just trying to get comfortable on this horrible bed. I’m not used to it, we haven’t had to spend a night in here since we were kids, dragons don’t normally last this long.”

                 He rolled back to his back as well sighing, she knew exactly why making her feel bad already. Before today they could lay in bed together without all the awkward tension. She was able to cuddle for warmth if she needed it and could say anything. Now she just nervous not wanting to move from where she’s at or say anything that might upset him.  If she moves closer, he will think she wants a relationship if she moves away, he could be heart broken. This was the worst day the dragon could come into town.

                 “You know I don’t expect anything.” He whispered turning his head towards her. “I know I dropped the bomb on you out of nowhere and I know how you get over analyzing everyone’s feeling. I don’t need an answer right now, or ever if your uncomfortable because I know you. I was just letting you know since you knew about everyone else, it felt like a good time to tell you.”

                 Although it sounded sincerer than he’s ever sounded his face said it all, that he did want one and a specific answer, he just knew her answer isn’t what he wants to hear, the TV light made his face go from hidden in darkness to lite up. Strange how she could tell even with that light, she knows him better than she knows herself, maybe he knows her the same way and he can see something in her she can’t yet see. He looked away from her, before turning he seemed so hurt, it hurt her to know she caused that. She would like to believe that’s true more than anyone, but she just can’t. Peyton knows she has to do something but all she could think of was sliding her hand into his since they were already touching anyway. His face was completely shocked when he whipped around to look at her again. Full of light and also confused, she was confused as well. Hunter just started at her for a moment making her want to just break the awkward silence.

                 “What are you thinking?” she asked not really wanting to hear the answer.

                 “I’m trying to read your face.” He said narrowing his eyes. “What about you?”

                 “I can’t give you an answer.” She said hating the fact that she couldn’t actually come up with a lie. His face made her regret it instantly as he started to loosen his grip on her hand. She held his tighter before he rolled over again “I want to give it you the answer that you want but I can’t right now. It makes sense though, because you and I are best friends but I can’t lose that so I don’t want to just jump in I can’t lose your friendship.”

                 “Being best friends is perfect, and maybe you wouldn’t lose me maybe it could be perfect. We would still be friends we would just do a little more than we do now.”

                 “But-”

                 “Don’t say ‘but we might not’ there’s always a chance.”

                 “The chances you want to take have two possibilities and we wouldn’t be friends if it ended you know that we wouldn’t be friends anymore.” She was surprised at how calm she kept her voice she was a little mad at him for a small moment for trying to be pushy

                 “But- “

                 “Don’t say ‘but it could work out.’ because there’s a chance it won’t, and I won’t risk that we have until I know for sure how I feel about you.”

                 “How would you ever know how you feel if you don’t try?” He asked the only question she had no quick reply to.

                 “Well that’s the flaw in my plan I suppose because I don’t know how just yet.” She sighed loosening her grip on his hands as she tried to roll over.

                 “I have an idea.” Hunter replied pulling her hand a little as he prevented her from rolling over, quickly leaning over her.

                 Before she even knows what, he was doing he already had his hands in her hair pulling her face onto his. He pulled her in somehow to get farther on top of her in the way only someone who’s done it a thousand times before knows how. It made her wonder how many girls had he kissed like this? This was her 1st kiss ever, for all she knew she was terrible at it, but he wasn’t. How can anyone tell from a kiss if they like someone? She didn’t feel anything different, Peyton was still just as confused as before. At least it was nice, but is she supposed to be doing anything? Peyton just slid her arms around his back, knowing that laying here flat like a board wouldn’t help at all.

                 All that did was making Hunter lift her somehow even closer getting deeper into the kiss, still she felt nothing. She didn’t even know what he was doing accept that somehow in the short time they have been kissing he’s managed to get completely on top of her. It let her mind wonder a little wondering if he’s done more than kissing? Even though she didn’t feel any extra feelings she knew this was a good kiss, he’s too good at this and it made her uncomfortable. Even though she shouldn’t have, by accident she thought of the guy in the bakery, just for a second thought of how it would be if it was him here. That thought made her stop pushing her head down away from Hunter feeling like a complete jerk. She had her best friends throwing himself at her feet and she can’t stop thinking of some stranger she will never see again. Still helped the kiss thinking of whoever he was.

                 “Sorry I got carried away.” Hunter smiled down at her running his hand through her hair, taking her out of her fantasy. “Was that- “

                 Peyton had no idea what question he was about to ask, but she was definitely glad the lights turning on stopped him. The loud speaker announced the dragon was far enough out of the town, to go home. Peyton pushed Hunter off rushing to Amethyst, she needed to see if her dad was okay, and his job is in an area where a dragon can get into town. Nora’s shop is in the center of town, so Hunter and Sean were running as well. Everyone in town was rushing to check on their loved ones, too many people have died in the past.

                 Keith and Amethyst were still dead asleep even with their heads bouncing on their shoulders. The light wasn’t on in the house and Peyton’s heart dropped the hospital is close to them their parents should have beaten them here. Hunter went in 1st as soon as he opened the door the light from the living room flooded through and she felt herself breath, rushing in. Her dad rushed over to them squeezing them so tight Amethyst woke up whining pushing him off.

                 “Thank god you two are alright.”

                 “Of course, we are dad considering it was just a test run for if a real dragon comes.” Peyton said hoping Amethyst wouldn’t catch the tone of her voice.

                 “Right well I’d better put this little princess to bed.” He smiled taking Amethyst as he kissed Peyton’s forehead. “You’d better get some sleep tomorrow will be a busy funeral day in this house.”

                 Peyton sighed, the news plays in most hospital rooms, that mean some of the dragon patrol men died today, they always have a big funeral day when someone important to town or a group of people die suddenly. Nora is always the chef of the day for the entire town so her dad is right shed better sleep they will be busy little helpers tomorrow after Peyton hunt.

                 She slid into her room pulling the cardigan looking down at is wondering if it is bad luck now, 1st at her mother’s funeral and now one is about to happen. She grabbed the bottom her shirt starting to slide it off when she felt hands touch hers. Peyton’s jumped grabbing the hands flipping him over her shoulder. Hunter’s body came down in a crash breaking one of Nora’s chairs that Peyton borrowed. She keeps hurting him.

                 “Sorry I didn’t hear the door open and-”

                 “No, I should have knocked or stopped you differently,” He managed to get out as she helped him up. “I came to check in with you.”

                 “Check in?”

                 “You seemed like maybe it was too much like I went too far I just wanted to make sure.” He said sounding pretty sad, she hated how much she hurt him.

                 “It wasn’t that it was-” She paused realizing she couldn’t tell him what really stopped her, she came up with a story as fast as she could. “It was how good you did it, just made me wonder.”

                 Not technically a lie she just didn’t finish the truth. Hunter laughed holding her hand and his back, still in pain clearly so they sat down on the bed. “Well it’s certainly wasn’t my 1st kiss just like it wasn’t yours.”

                 “Well.” She said looking away from him not wanting to admit that it was. “It was my 1st kiss.”

                 “What?” Hunter shouted making her shush him looking at her door for anyone coming to check, he started to whisper. “That was your first kiss EVER?”

                 “Kind of” she sighed getting off the bed holding the door open for him completely embarrassed “I know I sucked and I’m tired. I want to go to bed, you can leave now.”

                 Peyton has never been so embarrassed in her whole life he didn’t need to say anything she knew exactly how it was and didn’t need to talk about it. Hunter slid one hand down her arm and the other to lift her face towards his ridiculous smile at her. It’s not funny and sort of wanted punched him right there. “It’s cute that I was your first and maybe I will be your last.” Peyton almost responded when he beat her to it “I know you don’t know yet but there’s no harm in maybe.”

                 He started to lean in again when her dad came near walking to his room, Hunter back up to the other side of the door frame as her dad looked at them up both, he knows she can see he knows, great. “Get some rest you two it’s been a long day.”

                 At least that was all he said as well as a funny look at Hunter when he walked past them to get to the stairs, she watched him stair Hunter down like a hawk eyeing its prey. The he looked at her making her jump a little before she told him goodnight closing the door behind her.

                 As soon as she laid down, she thought about what he said last and knew full well that when it comes to love there is more harm in the word maybe than Hunter realizes. She just hopes that’s he won’t be the one to show him just how much harm can be in one little word.

                 Graham volunteered to be the Prophets guard as they set up a protection spell form the dragon and Seaton before returning underground until he’s gone. Hopefully he won’t sense the spell. As worried as Graham should be about the dragon and Seaton’s arrival coming soon all he could think of was is she okay? Did that girl t the bakery avoid the dragon? Not knowing was killing him.