Lies I Never Told You

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HUNTER

Blair and Elliot seemed to get along well. As much as I would like that, I can’t help but notice how Elliot looked at Blair. He is genuinely interested in Blair. He really wanted to know her better – not to prove the truth about the rumor, but to really become her friend. And I can feel he wants something more than friendship with her. I can’t risk having conflict with him because of Blair.

“Dude, it’s time for warm-up. I’ll just show them their seats,” I told Elliot, thankful for the interruption. I need to think of a way to tell him about Blair and me.

“Hunter!” My heart almost stopped upon hearing her voice. I turned to see Kiera. For a moment there, I was hopeful that she was here to support me for the first time. But seeing Brian standing next to her, I felt my heart sink. Why did she need to show up now?

Kiera got closer to us. “I heard you have a game today. I figured I should come watch and give you some inspiration.”

Yeah, right. Inspiration my a*s. I would’ve believed her if she had come alone. But with Brian at her tail? I’m too much of a fool if I’d fall for that. “Inspiration? I have it here even if you don’t come.” I held Blair’s hand and she squeezed it. Knowing that Blair and her friends are here to genuinely support me, it was enough inspiration for me to do my best. I showed Blair their seats in the front row. There were only three vacant seats there. But I don’t care. I’m sure Kiera and Brain can find seats on their own. “I’ll see you later, guys!” I waved at Blair, Shan and Ty, and they waved back. I went back to the dugout and warmed up. I’ll think about how to tell Elliot about my deal with Blair later after the game.

We finished the game without any over time. I went to Blair’s seat after the game. “Can you wait here? We still have to meet with Coach Roger,” I told her. I had to speak very close to her ear so she could hear me over the bustling of the crowd heading to the gym exit.

She reached for me, so I leaned closer to her. “Sure. It’s still early. We have lots of time.”

I mouthed a “Thank you” before heading back to the dugout. Elliot was waiting for me at the dugout entrance.

“You two seemed too close. Is there something I should know?” There was a tinge of jealousy in his voice.

My heart got caught in my throat. That was straight to the point. “Actually, there is. I’ll tell you about it later.” I joined the rest of the team. Elliot’s energy suddenly changed. From excited from the adrenaline from the game, he suddenly looked unhappy. It bothered me so much that I couldn’t focus on what Coach was saying.

“Congratulations!” Our teammates cheered for us. Giving fist bumps to each other. Others took my hand for a shake. Others tap my back. Apparently, Elliot and I were chosen for the team line-up for the league. Elliot left the dugout first. I thanked the team for their congratulations before following Elliot.

I saw him talking to Kiera. It doesn’t appear like a friendly chat. He is still mad at her for dumping me. Maybe he’s a lot madder now that he thinks I’m moving on with the girl he’s interested in. I heaved a deep breath, preparing to pretend to be unaffected by Elliot’s sudden mood change and pretend to be mad at Kiera for being here. “Let’s go?” I said, looking at Blair, then pretending that Kiera just caught my attention. “What are you still doing here?” I don’t want her here. I don’t know how long I can pretend that I no longer love her.

Blair touched my shoulder. “Actually, Kiera and Brian want to come with us. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” she said. Great! How can I tell Elliot the plan if Kiera and Brian were with us? Before I could react, she motioned for me to lean down so she could whisper in my ear. “It’s a perfect opportunity for our plan to work.” I looked her in the eye and she nodded, assuring me that the plan would really work. I hope it will work.

“Okay,” I said, looking at Kiera and Brian. “Let’s go?” I offered my arm to Blair, which she took and we walked out of the gymnasium.

Tyrone was walking ahead of us going to the parking lot. Behind us were Elliot with Shannon and Brian, who seemed to be catching up. Walking alone behind them was Kiera, who looked close to throwing a tantrum.

Blair’s hand slid from my arm to my hand. She had her fingers intertwined with mine. I looked at her and she looked back at me with the sweetest smile I’ve seen of her.

Elliot walked past us and tapped Tyrone on the shoulder. “You get first dibs on the shotgun seat,” he said when we were closer to the car. It was a 6-passenger capacity car that Elliot borrowed from Tito Allen. He got in the driver’s seat and unlocked the doors. We waited for Kiera to get in first. She sat in the middle row behind Elliot. Shannon sat beside her, and then Brian sat next to her. Blair and I sat in the back seat. Elliot drove to the Rainforest Park in silence. None of the others had the energy to talk either.

Elliot parked the car near the events grounds inside the park. Fortunately, we weren’t late for the show, so we were able to secure seats closer to the stage. Brian and Kiera had to buy their tickets at a booth outside the venue first, so we went inside without them. It was my chance to talk to Elliot.

“What happened with Elliot?” Blair asked. “He’s been quiet since we left the gym. Did you two fight?”

“No.” I don’t want to explain to her why Elliot has been acting like that. It was not my place to tell her what Elliot feels for her. “I think I have to tell him about our deal.”

“You still haven’t?” she asked, surprised. “I thought he already knew.”

“I don’t want to tell him without telling you first,” I said.

She looked at me like I was crazy. “I told Shan and Ty without telling you, so you can do it as well,” she said. “Well, I mean, you can tell only to those you trust your life with.”

I called Elliot who was getting some drinks from the beverage booth. “We need to tell you something,” I started. I looked around to make sure Kiera and Brian were still outside. The four of us surrounded him.

“I don’t think there’s anything else to tell. You’re too obvious,” he said.

“What?” Blair asked, wide-eyed. Shannon and Tyrone gasped. “What’s obvious?” Blair asked again.

Elliot’s shoulder slumped. “That you two are together,” he said, looking at me and Blair. “I thought you were just hanging out with them. I didn’t know you’re already a couple.” He sighed and looked at Blair. “You know I like you. I wanted to get to know you better. But yeah. Can’t do that to my cousin’s girlfriend now.”

Collectively, Shannon, Tyrone, Blair and I sighed in relief. A big smile was plastered on our faces. “So, it worked,” Blair said, raising her hand in a high five.

“Yeah!” I said.

The look of confusion on Elliot’s face had us laughing even more. “What’s happening here? What’s so funny? What worked?”

Blair looked at me, nudging me to answer. I looked around. Thankfully, there’s still no sign of Kiera and Brian around. The queue at the ticket booth outside worked to our advantage. “It was our plan to make Kiera jealous. We were just pretending to be dating,” I said.

He looked at me in disbelief. “You had me there!” he punched Hunter’s shoulder. “I really thought you two were together!”

“Well, can I say, that’s my specialty? Do you believe the rumors now?” Blair asked. “But for the record, I’m still not his girlfriend. We’re in the courting stage yet.”

Elliot shook his head. “Still not,” he answered. “I see it as a good deed to help my pathetic love-stricken cousin,” he added.