I'll Reach For You
I’ll Reach for You
I started to write because it put my demons to rest and at some point, they never woke up.
I want to thank the ones who helped me with publishing this book.
Most of all, the one that believed in me, even when I didn’t.
Thank you
By Freya L. D. Hunter
Copyright © 2018 Freya L. D. Hunter
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
chapter 58
chapter 59
chapter 60
chapter 61
chapter 62
chapter 63
chapter 64
chapter 65
chapter 66
chapter 67
chapter 68
chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
chapter 73
chapter 74
Chapter 1
Nice to meet you Hunter
Ican't believe you guys are doing this." I’m so upset with my parents. Months ago, my dad came home telling us about a girl at his work he can’t find a home for. He works as a social worker and helps find foster homes for children.
Dad has been talking about this girl and looking for a place for her a while now. He told us that no one wants her because she’s too old.
She’s eighteen, only a year older than I am. He said she comes from a rough environment; he can't tell us the details.
Unexpectedly, my parents told me they’re taking her in. I didn’t agree with this, a random person who’ll share a house with us. The only thing I know is her name Hunter Bennett, the girl who will ruin my life.
I don’t know what she looks like, where she comes from, not one thing. She could’ve been a drug addict or something. Her parents may have abandoned her on the street. She can be so many things, it’s terrifying! And... she’ll live in the same house with me.
"You realize your father’s been looking for a home for that unfortunate thing for a long time, and it’s been hard on him." I roll my eyes at my mother. We sit on the couch waiting for dad and Hunter to arrive.
"A stranger, a complete stranger will live here with us. We don’t know her, but we’re aware she may be trouble." I say and my mom sighs. She looks irritated with my behavior, her brown eyes filled with fire. She’s playing with her long blond hair, keeping herself busy so she won't yell at me.
"Not everyone in foster care is a troubled child, Skylar. You need to calm down; this is a wonderful thing to do." Now she sounds upset. I shake my head, this is unbelievable.
It’s not only because she’ll live here. She’s going to the same school as me and will take the last year a second time because she missed so much school in the past years. It’s as if I’ll be her babysitter, my friends will think I’m insane.
The sound of a car outside makes my mother jump off the couch and run to the door.
"Come on." She says, irritated. I roll my eyes and step off the couch.
The door opens, and dad comes in with a bag over his shoulder. Behind him is Hunter Bennett. She steps in and looks around the room, curious as dad closes the door.
"Hunter, this is my wife Rachel and my daughter, Skylar." My mom reaches out her hand, Hunter looks at her and takes her hand in hers.
"Nice to meet you, Hunter," Hunter says the same to her. Her hand appears to tremble. She looks at me with a shy smile. Her blue eyes clear, but scared.
Hunter is very slim and small in comparison to me, three to four centimeters shorter. If we stood next to each other people will think I’m the oldest.
She’s wearing a black hoodie which it too big for her and her blue jeans are full of holes.
Her hair is long and brown with a nice hint of red. It’s up in a ponytail and makes me notice she has small ears; they’re adorable though.
Her blue eyes are drowning in tiredness. She appears so drained I can't believe she can stand on her own feet. Even though she looks as if she’ll fall apart, she’s pretty. But all of that can hide a goddamn demon!
"Let me show you around and take you to your room." Dad has a bright smile on his face. Hunter nods, she seems shy or quiet, I don’t know or care. I want her out that door and back to where she came from.
✽ ✽ ✽
"Dinner!" Mom yells from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm coming." I get off the couch and step into the dining room. The smell of chicken arises to my nose, one of my favorites. I sit at the table, not long after dad and Hunter walk in.
Dad sits next to mom and Hunter takes the chair next to me. I turn to her and she gives me the same shy smile. We fill our plates in the quiet, but Mom speaks.
"So, Hunter, are you looking forward to school tomorrow?" Mom asks. I turn to Hunter, she scratches her neck and seems unsure.
"I think so." She answers short, her voice sounds shaky.
I’m the one who has to take care of her at school, show her the places. Goddamnit, why? I sigh. Dad looks at me.
"Are you okay?" He asks, worried. I nod, and he continues to eat.
"The food is tasty, I can't remember..." Hunter stops as we turn to look at her. She looks down at her plate. I notice her red cheeks and sad blue eyes.
"Thank you, I'm glad you’re enjoying it." Mom takes away the awkwardness.
"Do you like your room?" She asks, keeping the silence away.
"Yeah, I do. Your house is incredible. The bedroom is almost as big as the apartment my parents had." She tells. Her hands are shaking, and her voice trembles. I glance at my mom who’s unsure of what to say to that.
I shrug to myself and keep on eating. It’s so quiet, the only thing I can hear is the chewing and breathing.
We sit around the table deep in ou
r own thoughts as if nothing is wrong or weird. My eyes drift to Hunter, and she turns with an unsure smile and sparkling blue eyes. The heart in my chest tingles and so does my stomach. I stare back at my food feeling the fire in my cheeks.
Chapter 2
Babysitter
Iwalk out the door in a hurry, finding Hunter standing next to my red car with her hands in her black jeans pockets. They’re full of holes exactly like the ones she wore yesterday, and she’s wearing another black hoodie, but this one is smaller. Standing with her head hung her unsure eyes look up at me. Her hair is loose today, and it shines in the sunlight making me see more of the red. The way she’s standing makes her appear sweet and innocent even though she might not be.
"Get in," I say, walking fast. We both get in and I drive. We sit in quiet and Hunter is looking out the window.
"Okay, here’s how it will be," I tell her, she turns around. She looks scared. It may have been my tone. I’m so upset about this whole thing.
"I won’t walk around with you like I am your babysitter or something. I’ll drive you to school, that's it. Okay?" I turn to her and it looks as if my words made her shrink. Good, she gets the point. After the ten-minute ride, we’re there.
"Stay out of trouble and don’t get in my way. Okay?" She nods. Not one word comes out of her.
✽ ✽ ✽
"Hey, Skylar." I turn around finding Brook with a bright smile on her face. Oh God, who did she screw now? She’s as blond as my hair.
"Hey," I say and put a fake smile on my face.
"Guess what?" She says. The locker next to me shuts making both of us jump. We turn and find Taylor rolling her eyes. Her brown hair is up in a ponytail ready for football practice. Thank God, she’s here. I can’t stand being alone with Brook.
"You slept with Brad." She says and moves next to us.
"How did you know?" Brook wonders. Taylor turns rolling her eyes and I chuckle.
"Well," She says and turns back to Brook.
"It's not like all the guys are talking about it." She rolls her eyes again.
"They are?" Brook looks shocked, but she’s the only person people are talking about here. The bell rings.
"Ready for practice?" Taylor asks me.
"Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to it." We grab our things.
"I can't believe you two enjoy football. It's so... dirty." Brook says, leaving us behind as she sees a guy checking her out. Taylor and I glance at each other.
"And we’re the dirty ones?" Taylor says, and I laugh. Ty’s the only one I can be around without feeling as if I want to choke them.
✽ ✽ ✽
Football practice was great. I got a few nice goals, impressing the coach. Walking towards the car, I see no Hunter in sight. I glance around, but nothing. You know what, I don't care. I get into the car and drive home. Ten minutes later I’m there, and I walk in the door. Mom and dad are sitting on the couch. Dad is watching TV while mom is reading.
"Hey, honey," Mom says, dad turns around.
"Where's Hunter?" He asks.
"I don't know." I shrug. His eyes widen, and he stands up from the couch.
"You left her at school, alone?" His voice rising and his eyes hardening. Mom lays down her book and looks at us concerned.
"You left Hunter alone? You left her... oh, my God, this can't be happening!" He places two fingers over the bridge of his nose.
"What? She’s eighteen, she can handle herself." Dad moves his hand from his nose and looks as if he wants to bite off my head. Oh, my God, she’s old enough and capable on her own.
"Yes, she might be eighteen, but she’s not at that stage yet."
"What stage?" I ask as my temper rises too. Dad sighs.
"She grew up in difficult conditions, there are things she hasn't learned most people have, and she can be a danger to herself." He pushes his brown hair back. We turn around to the sound of the door opening. Hunter comes in and I can hear dad sigh relieved. She stands in door frame frozen. It looks as if she’s not sure if she’ll say something or not.
"Are you okay, Hunter?" Dad speaks first.
"Yeah." Hunter nods. She closes the door and steps in.
"I'm sorry, I skipped the last hour." She shrinks as if she’ll be punished.
"And I walked back here." I turn to dad and walk past him.
"Yeah, she’s an idiot," I say sarcastically and walk up to my room.
"Oh my, God," I whisper to myself and lay in bed. I don’t understand why he’s so worried, she can manage things herself.
Chapter 3
Have you seen Hunter?
You know what I hate most about big family dinners? It’s that every time it happens, they ask the same goddamn questions. How is school? How are things going with you? Have you gotten a boyfriend yet? Every goddamn time, no matter how many times. It’s annoying.
It’s like they care, but really, they don't. The whole living room is full of uncles, aunts, and cousins on my mom's side. The kids are running around out in the garden in the sunlight playing hide and seek. There’s only one person in this room that doesn’t have a family member here, and she’s sitting on the couch. Hunter looks uncomfortable and out of place. Her jeans are full of holes as usual, and she’s wearing a thin navy-blue sweater.
"Skylar." I turn around to Aunt Kristen, my youngest Aunt who’s only five years older. She’s my favourite and the most annoying one.
"So, how’s football?" Yeah, that’s why I like her the best, she talks about things I enjoy.
"Great, the coach seems impressed." She smiles brightly.
"That's great, you’re good." I chuckle.
"So, does Hunter play football?" Kristen asks, and we both turn to her. She looks like she wants to run away.
"I don't know," I answer honestly.
"She seems lonely, I should go talk to her." I nod.
✽ ✽ ✽
After dinner, my aunts, and uncles came to me to talk. It’s as if they stood in line or something to ask boring questions. Now they’re talking to each other. Conversations about work, family, and the weather. I stand in the background, so I can disappear.
I go upstairs to the roof. Hunter’s leaning on the railing, looking out over the view. The sun is about to set, it looks beautiful as always. The sun shines on Hunter's hair. I walk over and stand next to her. She doesn’t turn, simply watches the sunset.
We stand there for a moment in quiet. The only sounds are the children having fun downstairs. They’re yelling and laughing, it's nice to hear and keeps the awkwardness between us away. I turn to watch her, and she moves to face me. Her eyes tell me she’s been crying, her skin looks sore and red. She has a smile on her face, but that can't hide the hurt in her eyes.
"You okay?" She smiles brightly and nods. Obviously, she’s lying. Hunter turns to the final view of the sun, and I do the same.
"It's beautiful here." She says, her eyes still on the pink sky. Yeah, it was, until you showed up. I sigh. She turns with a crooked smile and sparkling blue eyes, it makes my stomach tingle again. I can't remember anyone watching me like that before, it’s a weird feeling.
"Okay, I’m going back downstairs," I say uncomfortably and leave. It appears as if some of them have left. Mom talks with Kristen, and dad appears to be looking for someone. He walks over to me.
"Skylar, have you seen Hunter?"
"Yeah, she’s on the roof." His eyes widen.
"Alone?" I nod.
"Well, it's not like she’ll jump." I roll my eyes. His eyes wide and hard again.
"If you had to go through what she’s experienced, you would."
"Well, you haven’t told me anything, so I don’t know!" I yell a little too loud. He breathes out. I glance around finding people watching us. Dad looks behind me and I follow his gaze, finding Hunter. She stands there scratching her neck, looking uncertain. She walks back upstairs. I turn to dad; his face is blank.
"I should talk to her." He says more calmly. I nod, afraid to talk.
>
The crowd is getting smaller and smaller as the time has passed. All the children are gone along with their parents. I step out into the garden. There’s nothing nicer than the smell of a chilly night in May to wake you up. The sound of the door behind me makes me turn.
"You okay, honey?" Mom asks, putting on a jacket.
"Yeah," I answer. She moves beside me. We stand there in quiet for a while, enjoying the sound of the crickets singing. The noise of cars driving down the road, on their way home to their families or their late shifts at work.
Chapter 4
Let Me Go
"Taylor, over here!" I shout. She kicks the ball over and I run. I dribble, pass one and take a quick peek up to the goal. I run a few meters and kick the ball. I glance up and it goes in the corner of the net. I turn around and see Taylor coming, giving me high five.
"That was great,"
"Yeah, perfect pass, thanks," I say breathlessly. She gives me a thumbs-up.
"Okay, that's it for today!" The coach yells. As Taylor and I walk toward our bags, I look at the bleachers seeing Hunter sitting there. She’s skipping again. I grab my bag and say goodbye to Taylor as she runs along with another teammate, Lauren. I walk up to Hunter with the sun in my eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I ask harshly. Hunter opens her mouth but closes it again. She looks scared.
"Weren't you supposed to be in class?" I ask, and she shrinks.
"I-I" She stops and walks away from me.
"Hey!" I yell and follow her. God, she’s fast. I run and grab her bag to stop her. She turns around.
"Let me go." She says and pushes away, making my hand slip off her bag.
"You can't skip classes every time you feel like it," I say. Her gaze moves to the ground. She looks thoughtful and gone. Her eyes narrow, I can't see her blue eyes. Her jaw moves as if she’s chewing, but I’m sure she’s clenching her teeth. She looks up with the same expression.
"Don't tell, Luke." She begs. I sigh and push my hair away from my face.
"Dammit Hunter, you know I have to." She opens her mouth and breathes in and out her nose. She looks so guilty it almost hurts.
"Why did you skip?" I ask curiously.