Chapter 12

"No no, if I'd pick anyone, it'll be..." I trail off for the dramatic suspense, my eyes smiling at Sky "Golf."

His face scrunches up so fast in confusion, I almost burst out laughing. I'm loving this face of his every minute. "Golf?" He says the word like it's completely strange alien word that brought him pain.

I nod, enjoying every minute of this. Although I was being truthfully. "Yep, the good old Golf you know."

He narrows his eyes at me, "you're kidding again."

"I'm serious."

He stops walking and I do too waiting to hear it. "You can't fucking like golf over all other sport."

"Well, I do," I cross my arms over me defensively. "And why is golf so bad?"

"Because it's boring, like nothing goes on on it. It's just moving a ball with a stick which can be done in a much more exciting entertaining way, like hockey." He says matter of fact.

"That's not true, golf is exciting and entertaining. It's all about angling, perspective and you're just being shallow not getting that." I defend.

"I'm shallow?" Sky asks now amused.

I blush, "no but, I like golf and you're not getting it."

He throws his head back and laugh, "you're cute." I pout and he raises a hand up. "Fine, give me three reasons why you prefer golf?"

"Uh, it's tactical—"

"Every spot is tactical, more rugby even." Sky scoffs out.

"It involves smart moves using the brain and not just brawns," I eye Sky and he eyes me right back. "No violence involved—"

"I bet you'd love a little sprinkle of violence in your life." He cuts me off with a smirk.

"I would not... Now shut up," I glare at him when he attempts to speak, shutting him up. "It's classy and way above highschool."

Sky rolls his eyes, "so basically the fourth reason— which wasn't even needed after the third — why you like golf is because it's super expensive for snobby rich old people?"

"Not really but yes."

"Hmm."

"What?"

"Nothing, it's interesting." He strokes his chin, "tell me you watch it in television during your free time and I'll gag."

I laugh, slowing my steps as my house comes into view. "I do but only if I coincidentally meet it showing while browsing through channel." I see him face palm. "It's interesting okay? My grandpa played and even gave me one of his golf clubs as a birthday gift before retirement."

"Maybe one day we'll watch it and you'd entertain my shallow mind."

"Sorry for calling you shallow, I didn't mean that at all." I apologise and he waves it off.

"I'd watch your golf and you'd watch me play football one day, deal?" He holds my gaze daring, I pout but nod anyway.

"Not rugby?" I ask to be more clear.

"No, I don't play rugby, just enjoy watching it. I play football however."

"Fine, it is a deal."

He claps his hands together with a grin. "Amazing."

I roll my eyes, my feet coming to a stop. We haven't reached my driveway yet but I didn't want to risk anybody seeing Sky, at least not until I've told them about him. I didn't want unnecessary questions and it's better if they believed I spent all morning and afternoon with Darcy. Only Nessa won't believe that but she's at work.

"And there's my house..." I trail off, looking at the building in front that I've lived all my sixteen years in.

"Here comes the end of my day with you." Sky says his eyes on me. He had a different look now, like a touch of sadness, happiness and longing. Like he didn't want me leaving.

I didn't want that too and looking at my feet, I muttered uncontrollably, "Unfortunately."

When I look up he has a half smile, half smirk on. I prefer this look on him and I find myself smiling too. "Are we still strangers?"

I shyly look down at my feet, hands in my pocket as I shake my head, "No."

"Good, because I had so much fun with you Israel."

"Me too," I rock back on the heels of my feet. "Unlimited Sky Hunt doesn't sound so bad."

"Did it ever?" He asks and I shake my head at him in amusing disbelief.

"You're so cocky, I can't with you."

"My charm?"

"Ha."

He chuckles and comes closer to me. I look at him, his cat eyes on mine and it's like I'm daring him to do something neither of us are even aware of. I think he didn't expect me to hold his gaze so well and it's subtle but I see it— he gulps, takes the step back and hits my arm with his hand.

"See you around Israel."

He starts walking away and I just look at him go, keeping his walking steps to memory. He walks like a guy who knew he had the world beneath his feet, literally. As if sensing my eyes on him, he turns, catches me looking, smirks and waves. I blush red, thankful he's not close and wave back before practically running into my house.

Once the door is shut behind me and I see that there's no one in the living room, I relax into the door with a smile on my face. Today turned out okay, more than I thought it would be. I didn't know everything about Sky Hunt yet but I know for sure that he's more than what Darcy and Jamal say. So much more. I can't say for sure if what the rumors say is true or false but he's a good person and I'm not planning on staying away anytime soon.

We stayed sat on that tree, facing each other as we talked, laughed and ate. Time flew by and we had no idea until he went to take a piss and I checked my phone, seeing that it was evening already and if we stay there much longer, It'll be dark by the time I reach home. When he returned, we packed up and left. No matter how much I told him he didn't need to walk me home, he insisted and won over at last.

I know that he schooled in the city before his dad decided to move to this small town, his mum refusing. He has lived in two more places before here. I also know that he was homeschooled when he came here until sophomore year. He's a junior like I am but he's older and attending an online University program(mind blowing, I know). He's super smart and would love to go into architecture one day. He loves building stuff but was being modest about it, saying he just knew how to wield a saw and sandpaper. I know it's more than that. The forest or woods was his second home and once in the city he was among this group of protestants about cutting down trees and saving the forest life.

Sky Hunt was this bundle of impressing surprises and I wondered why the rumors never took all these. Knowing about him made me feel plain and useless. I've never done anything like joining a protesting crowd to save the forest, I've never done anything for the earth I live on. I'm an A's and B's student. More B's than A. I don't think I can apply for any University program talk more of being in one. I have no hobby except being in my room all day. I've never left town, I don't even know all the places in a town I've lived in all my life. I just found out we had a lake that once had fishes in it today. Today.

Sky doesn't believe I'm boring though, he keeps saying I'm more interesting than I think and knowing means a lot to him. It's truly flattering.

"How was your day?" Dad's voice come from the stairs, startling me. I didn't even hear his feet padding down.

"Uh– fine." I say, straightening myself up and walking away from the door.

Dad's enviable hazel eyes— that only Nessa got part of— look me up and down before he nods heading towards the kitchen. "You didn't take your car. You must have had a good walk."

"Yes, the weather out is nice and it was a means of exercise." I follow behind him.

"Uh-huh," he brought out a cold jug of orange juice. "We are preparing for evening Mass, you going?" He pushes a glass to me.

I nod, taking a gulp out the glass. "I'd love to rest a bit though."

"Sure, I'll convince your mum to let you come on your own. That'll be nice?"

"Sure."

He returned the jug to the fridge and starts walking out with two full glasses, one for Ma I'm guessing. "Just try not to be late."

I don't say anything to that as he's already gone and I just drink in the silence of the kitchen, wondering how I'd be if born in a different family. One like Sky's for example. If I had a different life, would I just live like this all over again or would things be different and what are these things that will be different?

------

"Can you imagine Diana?" Jamal asks flipping through a book in his hands. "She's threatening to take my position and she's just been in the team two weeks."

"What position?" I ask distractedly, looking around and at the same time switching my books.

"My position as the team leader in Mathlets!"

"Oh."

"Yeah, because she was best in a test and now she thinks just fucking ten marks determine who's better." Jamal grumbles, folding his hands and relaxing back on the locker with a frown.

I look at him and hide my smile, the situation and his face is funny. "Well, doesn't it?"

His glare makes me duck my head into my locker. "It doesn't! It's just one and she just got lucky, I got nine and a half!"

"Why did you fail half?" I cautiously ask, shutting my locker and slinging my bag over one shoulder.

He sighs, his shoulders hunching down. "I don't know. Maybe she is better after all."

I put my arm around his shoulder, "Never. I've not seen anyone as good as Jamal Cole and we're not seeing one now. Maybe you just need a little challenge."

"Right?" He raises his head, "I'mma hit the library like a crazy person—"

"That you absolutely are."

He grins, nudging me away. "Fuck you. Now what have you been looking around for like a hunting ostrich."

I blush a little, I didn't think he noticed. "Nothing."

"So you don't intend on making Sky your hunt?" He looks at me with glinting eyes and I get what he's saying. Innuendo.

I shove Jamal away, "shut up with hunt already."

He laughs, "but it's a little funny. You're hunting for Sky Hunt."

"Not hunting," I frown at him. "I was just checking if I'd see him around. Maybe say hi."

"Maybe say hi?" Jamal has a confused face on now. "Since when? What happened between you two?"

My eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights, "nothing. I just— it's nothing Jamal. Please drop it."

He eyes me for a moment before sighing (the sign that he has dropped the topic). "If he wants to say hi too, he'd come to your locker. Wouldn't he?"

"Yeah," I look around the student body once more before stepping into the class. "I guess."

As soon as I sit down though, I bring out my phone, typing something out to him.

Hi.

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