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“What’s going-” Seth starts, but I ignore him as I storm up the stairs back to my room.
This whole trip was a mistake. It was supposed to be fun. I was supposed to be skiing, drinking beer while watching the fire, fucking Rachel and enjoying some relaxing time before the new semester, but no. Rachel just had to go and be so fucking annoying. My shoulder this, are you okay that.
Can’t she just leave me alone?
I throw upon the door to my room and rummage through my things, finding my pills and quickly popping open the bottle. My shoulder hasn’t been aggravating me all that much today, but I just want to numb the pain. Any pain.
I down a pill and shove the rest in my backpack, determined not to take anymore until tomorrow.
Until I find someone who can get me more.
“Hunter, please talk to me,” I hear Rachel say from behind. “What’s going on? You’re not acting yourself.”
I scoff, glancing over my shoulder, seeing her dripping wet in the threshold wearing a long t-shirt ending mid thigh. “And how exactly do you know that?” I say, prowling towards her. “You barely know me, Rachel.”
“I know you’re sweet and you’re kind.”
I laugh bitterly. “Oh, really? It wasn’t all that long ago Rachel that you hated us. That you hated me.”
“I don’t hate you, Hunter. I care about you. A lot.”
I press a hand against the doorframe, towering over her. She’s so small compared to me, yet she’s standing with her chin jutting out, her eyes filled with fire. She’s so freaking hot. My body is completely attuned to her and all I want to do is throw her over my shoulder, slam her down on the bed, and fuck her until she’s screaming my name, begging for release.
“Why are you still taking painkillers?” she asks, her question taking me by surprise.
I blink, not knowing how to answer.
“I thought you said you were going to stop. I thought you were going to see the physical therapist instead.”
I was going to, I think. But then… things got in the way. And the painkillers make everything so easy.
“That’s none of your business,” I say instead.
“It is my business.” She stabs a finger into my chest. “Hunter, I’m so worried about you. You were a complete mess last night and you look unwell. Something must have happened. Please, just-”
“Leave me alone!” I shout, pressing my hands against my ears and whirling around, striding as far away from her as possible. “I told you already, everything’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Then take a hint. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t!” I shout, slamming my hands down on the windowsill, scowling outside at the beautiful snow-covered mountains in the distance. “Not everything has to be about you, or include you, Rachel. You’re not my girlfriend. You don’t just get to bark orders at me and insist I do everything at your beck and call.”
There is silence behind me, followed by several sniffs. I toss my head back, groaning, knowing she’s crying. A part of me wants to turn around, apologize for being a jerk, but the other part of me just wants to be alone.
“Okay,” I hear her say, a slight tremble in her voice. “I understand.”
I hear footsteps walking away, going down the stairs. I hear some muffled voices, most likely coming from Seth and Lucas, probably talking about what an ass I am. I don’t care. I’m too exhausted. I return to my bed, throwing the blankets over me and willing myself back to sleep, this time happy when the shadows finally grant me my wish.
***
I pack my things, stuffing everything into my backpack, not bothering to fold anything. I try not to think while I do, which is easy since it’s six in the morning. After sleeping most of the day away yesterday, I spent my next waking hours searching for a way out of this hellhole, finding a bus about a fifteen-minute walk away, probably more like thirty in all this snow and ice, which would take me to the outskirts of Aurora University. Then I could walk the rest of the way home.
I should’ve probably discussed this with the bros and Rachel. It probably looks like I’m running away, and I suppose I am, but I don’t want to be fighting this whole trip. I don’t want to deal with Rachel worrying about me all the time, pestering me with questions.
I think it’s just for the best that we resume all this after we’ve all had a break from each other. Especially me and Rachel.
