**************HUNTER***********

Later that day, after we checked out all of the horror houses, we parted ways to go to each of our booths. Iris and Huntress went to help with the senior girl’s booth while Lee, Rui, Jed, Mave and I were at the horror house working on the controls.

“As fun as this might be inside?” Jed starts, “This is sure boring to work for.”

We snickered, as we watch each of our stations. We were supposed to press a button when a person steps into view.

“Man, their must be some other way to make this work better for us.” Mave says.

Lee turned and gave all of us a look, “Well, there is a way…” we exchanged looks then looked back at Lee who was grinning. Then he pushed back his chair and rolled toward his bag, he picked it up and stood up, walks toward the door, “Can you look after my screen for a sec?”

“Uhm,” Rui looked at the others, questioned, “Yeah sure.”

Then he ran out of the room.

“What is he doing?” I asked.

We all turned to the screen and saw Lee talk to the one in the entrance. We saw the boy nod and put up the close sign, and then talked to the people waiting in line. Then Lee ran through the entrance and started running around each room.

I reached for my keyboards and started zooming in, trying to see what he was doing.

“He’s putting up something in each room.” Jed says behind me.

“Man, please tell me that he is not messing up our house.” Rui says, zooming in on his screen as well.

We watched him work in every room of the house, all fourteen rooms for only ten minutes, and on his last room he ran back to our room and sat back down on his chair.

“What are you doing?” Mave asked.

“Playing.” He answered. Pressing a few command on his computer.

“Playing?!” Jed asked, “You’re a newbee for goodness sake! You have no right-“

He was still grinning and raised his hand, “Watch.”

We looked at the entrance and saw the one guarding the entrance check his watch and opened the house again. we saw the first group of students enter, Mave was about to press the button for the first room, “Don’t.” Lee says, “Just watch.”

We watched as the students were looking around they were already about to reach the end of the hall, “Nothing’s happening…” Mave says.

“Just wait.”

We all leaned forward, suddenly, our designs started popping out. Scaring off the students pushing them in the next room and as quickly as they came in the designs in the next room pop up, scaring them more.

Jed and Rui were laughing and giving Lee a slap on the back, “Man! You are a genius Lee.” Jed says.

“Well,” Lee says with a grin, “I do what I can to help.”

He glanced my way, I looked away and watched. Was this supposed to impress me? I thought, it takes more than sensors for you to get my sister, smartass.

Then I saw him stand up and walk toward the door. “Where do you think your going?” I asked.

“Well, I have other and far more important responsibilities to do other than pressing buttons.” He said, I glared at him and he just stared back. Then he grinned and left.

I shook my head and reached for the tip of my nose bridge and took a deep breath. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Jed.

“The kid do have a point their Hunter, he had done our work for us you know. We could go see how the girls are doing.”

I looked up at him, bewildered, “What? I’m just stating the obvious here you know.” he said walking toward where his bag was and picked it up. “Besides, I want to spend the remainder of this day with Guillenne, so if you’ll excuse me…” he ran out of the door.

We all stared at him, then I faced Mave and Rui, “You could go if you want to.”

“Well, Jed does have a point, we won’t be needed here anymore, and our shift is almost over.” Rui points out.

I nodded and got the point. “Go see Lei and Taea. They probably need some crowd control in their stand with them serving.”

Mave and Rui smiled and stood up. They picked up their bags and walked toward the door; I watched the monitors again and saw that Lee put on different sensors so that the designs would work in different time.

Then Mave stops before stepping out of the room, “You know, if you’re worried so much of Lee spending time with Huntress you probably should go and see Iris, they are running the same booth after all.” I looked up at him; then he shrugged, “It’s just a thought.”

I gave a nod, “Yeah, thanks… I’d think about it.”

He smiled, “We’ll see you later.”

Then he left. I looked back on the screens again as I watch group after group of students running around the house scared and out of breath, I laughed at some and watched more of it for at least twenty minutes, then I sighed and checked my watch then I stood up, picked up my bag and left as well.

I walked toward the senior girls’ booth, which was in the field near the lake, designed as a haunted castle. I stepped inside and was greeted by some of my classmates.

“Oh, Master Hunter, it’s nice of you to visit us.” A girl says, excitedly.

I smiled, “Well, my sister is here… and well, my girlfriend…” I felt my cheeks flush red; it was weird to address Iris as a girlfriend, especially in school.

“Your girlfriend?” a girl asked, with eyes wide.

“Yes…” I said, and I saw Iris serving one of her customers and saw me. She smiled and waved my way. I smiled, and then I gave the girls a nod, “Uhm, and I’ve found her… Please excuse me, ladies.”

I walked toward Iris. It is weird to say that she is my girlfriend, it isn’t official yet, but then again, it was like what Huntress said, we felt the same way how we felt in the past. Then I can’t find any reason why I can’t call her my girlfriend.

“Hey there you…” she greeted.

“Hey…” I gave her a kiss in the forehead and leaned in and whispered, “I missed you.”

She looked over her shoulder and put a finger on her lip, telling me to keep quiet. I snickered. And looked over her shoulder as well and saw the two boys staring at us, I leaned toward them “If you don’t mind, I’d want to borrow my girlfriend for a while?”

“Hunter…” she whispered, pulling me away, “I’m sorry, he’s just messing with you. Would you want anything with your cupcakes?”

The two boys grinned and shook their heads, “We’re fine Miss Iris, you should go… you’ve been in here since you got back from the tour of the horror houses.”

“Really?” I raised a brow.

“They’re just exaggerating-“

“No they’re not.” I turned and saw Huntress wearing a vampire costume.

“You’re working?” I asked.

“I’m blacklisted, I’m an SAT, I can do whatever I want and yet I’m still not exempted to work during these kinds of events.” Huntress sighed, “Right Iris?”

“That’s right.” Iris says, “Like I am not allowed to just walk out of here.” She glared at me.

“Don’t worry; I’ll take your shift.” I saw Lee standing behind Huntress wearing a bloody waiter’s costume.

“You’re helping out here?” I asked with a frown.

“Yeah, the girls needed some crowd control and there’s nothing to work on plus I still need to do my job.” He glanced over at Huntress who shrugged.

“The girls adored how he offered help so they gave him the costume.” She shook her head.

“Well, I’d like to help.” I said, Iris gave Huntress a look, while Huntress sighed, “Well, isn’t it just logical for me to be here? I mean my sister is here…” I looked at Lee, “and my girlfriend. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

“Hunter, not today please…” Huntress whispered.

“What?” I asked, “There’s no other perfect day.” I removed my coat and moved over to one of the waitresses, “Excuse me? I’d like to help out, where can I change?”

The girl, surprised, looked around, “Well, uhm, you can go to the kitchen and look for the one in charge their, her name’s Jane Dickinson.”

I smiled and tipped my head, “Thank you.” then I looked back at Huntress, Lee and Iris, “Excuse me, I’ll see you in while. I just have to get into my uniform.”

I turned and walked through the kitchen doors, and as expected, the girls were thrilled to get me into the same costume Lee was wearing. When I stepped out of the kitchen, the place was full of people, girls and boys. Then Iris walked up to me, handed me a pad of receipt and a pen.

“If you must know, this is entirely your fault.” She pointed out to the crowd, “Lee was keeping it quiet, and you just have to tell everyone. Now every girl in the academy wants you and Lee to serve them.”

“Well, it’s better me than you.” I teased.

“Really Hunter, now is not the time.” She snapped, “The boys’ number doubled as well seeing that Huntress and I are serving and knowing that you’ll be too busy to guard any of us. And speaking of Huntress?” she gave a sarcastic grin, “I won’t give you a hard time now, since she’ll be taking care of that for me.”

I looked over her and saw Huntress serving three tables at ones she was smiling, but I knew it was pretty  hard for her not to listen to those boys’ minds.. And they were all boys. I sighed and shook my head.

“Now start working.” Iris growled and shoved the pad and the pen to me. I took it and she walked away to fix another order.

I shrugged, cleared my head and looked around. Then I saw Lee happily serving and running around the place. I frowned and started to work.

A few hours later I saw the gang sitting on one of the table. Nayre called me over and I sighed and walked over.

“So the news is true.” Taea says, “You are serving people… not that you haven’t been doing that.” They snickered. I rolled my eyes.

“Good-“ I checked my watch, “Afternoon, I am Hunter your waiter, how can I serve you?”

“Man, you are worse than Huntress, at least Huntress smiles.” Nayre teased.

“I have been working for four straight hours,” I heard Huntress say from behind, then she turned and glared at me, “And I haven’t even started complaining about you.”

“So, what do you want?” I asked, it has been two hours since I started working. And my feet are killing me.

“Brat much?” Lei teased.

“C’mon guys. Iris is pissed, Huntress probably condemned me to hell, and Lee is utterly irritating for being so damn pleasant. So could you please work with me here?”

They all turned to look at Lee who was pleasantly talking to his customers. And when he turned around the girls he just served sighed and followed him with a look.

“I think his presence is enough for those girls.” Rui said.

“Well, Hunter isn’t actually behind the race you know.” Lei points out as a group of girls were staring at me.

“Bet that’s pissing Iris and Huntress off.” Mave says.

“Well, they’ve been getting quite an attention too you know.” I said, defensively, “I’ve been glaring at every guy who were staring at Huntress and Iris in a way that I didn’t like”

“And that meant everyone.” Nayre said. The gang laughed again.

“More work less talk!” Iris called over the two tables down.

“You heard her… make some orders or leave.” I said.

The gang smiled and started to order. Then a bell rang, I grinned. “Finally!” I said. It was time for the switch in the shift of waiters. “I’m sorry; please wait for your next server please.”

I turned around, loosened the buttons of the costume and sat down with the gang. “Man, I am never ever going to do that again.”

“A little too late for that isn’t it?” Huntress stood in front of me, glaring down at me.

“I just wanted to help.” I said.

“You were trying to be better than Lee!” she snapped. “Listen Hunter, I’m not expecting you to like him, either way we have no choice but to follow fate. Stop playing God, ok?” Then she turned around and left for the kitchen.

I closed my eyes again, reached for the bridge of my nose and did my breathing exercise.

“You really should stop doing that Hunter,” I heard Lei say, “your stalking and over protective thing I mean. Doing that would just push Huntress far from you.”

“I just can’t help it.” I said, “I’ve been doing it my whole life. It’s instinct.” I knew Lei was right. It wasn’t Lee who was putting a gap between us, it was me. I am pushing her away.

“Have you even tried just talking with Lee?” Taea asked, “He is a pretty nice guy.”

“Hunter…” Guillenne speaks up, I looked up at her, “my brother’s intentions to Huntress are good. He’s paying for the emotional damage that he had caused her. I hope you do give him a chance.”

I watched Guillenne, she was sincere, I know, but I can’t just let Huntress go like that.

I looked at the kitchen door and sighed, “I’ll just go change. Wait for me here.” I left the gang and went to the kitchen. I walked toward the room where I changed but Janet and a few of the other girls blocked my way.

“Master Hunter, thanks for the help. We really appreciate it.” Jane says, “And the customer doubled when you arrived too, it was the perfect advertisement for the Castle, the two newest couple and not to mention the prince and the princess serving...”

I smiled, “Yes, well, let’s not forget what you did. My sister is right, the pastries were amazing.” I stole a glance over at the room.

The girls giggled, “Thank You master Hunter, we’re really glad you liked it.” one of the girls said.

“Yes, anyway, listen… I’m really sorry to cut this conversation short. But, I need to see my sister before she leaves so if you could excuse me?”

“Oh, of course.” Jane says and they made way for me to the room.

“Thank you.” I walked toward the room, knocked and entered the room. “Huntress?” for a moment I thought she already left, but then I heard a sniff, “Huntress?”

“Go away!” she snapped.

“Huntress, princess…”

“I don’t want to talk to you, leave me alone.”

“Huntress, please listen…”

“No!” she stepped out behind the divider of the room, “I’m sick and tired of this Hunter. I’m trying to make things work. My life with the MBS and the Tigers, you guys surrounded by tigers, you, dad and Lee… stop making it harder.” I was looking at her face and noticed that she’s been crying.

“Huntress…”

“You’re my big brother, Hunter; you’re supposed to look after me. Not play who’s the better guardian with Lee.” she snapped, “Do you think it’s easy for me to see you with Iris? I have never shared anything with anyone my entire life. Much more someone who had always been by my side since I could remember, and seeing you with her makes me jealous like hell! But it doesn’t matter, because I can see that you are happy, and nothing is more important to me than that.”

I looked at her, frowning. I never thought how she felt about me and Iris. I have been spending time with Iris these pass few weeks, time that I use to spend with Huntress. And I didn’t even think what she was doing or who she was with. I really am the one who was pushing her away. Then I was surprised to feel her hand on my cheek.

“You are my big brother, and you’ll always be.” She said with a smile, “But we need to accept the fact that our fates are teaching us to let each other go. We’ve known this for a long time.”

I nodded, “And to think I thought I’d be ok with this since I was prepared for it, wasn’t I?” Huntress stifled a laugh and nodded. I grinned, “I’m sorry I made you feel like that. I… I just don’t like seeing you acting like you’re with me with other guys. It makes me feel like I’m not enough.”

“You are way than enough big brother, and you don’t need to worry about me when I’m with Lee,” she said, “He is a lot like you, actually. So it’s nothing loss, nothing gained thing.”

I laughed this time. “Ok, we’re cool then.”

She raised a brow, “We’re cool? Oh no… We’re not even close to being cool. You just made me wait for five hours straight and you think this would make everything cool? No way.”

I stifled a laugh, “Ok, what do you want?”

She gave a wide smile.

>>> posting til the end today... :)