Page 31 of Hunters and Prey

Who The Hell Are You?

"How does it feel to be defeated by the Queen?" I cheered, rollerblading around Aaron, who was still packing up his stuff.

"You're never going to let this go, are you?" Aaron questioned, his voice full of disappointment.

"Don't sound so sad. You knew what you were getting into challenging me. To answer your question, nope. I'm not letting this go, especially when someone owes me a kiss." I came to stop next to the rock I'd been sitting on, reaching for my bag to put it over my head and rest along my body.

"Daisy! Let's go home!" I called out.

“Your Mom is going to kill you for missing dinner.” Aaron noted.

“I texted her that I was in a heated battle that was life and death. She’ll understand.” I brushed it off. Mom knew whenever I said it was life and death, it meant I’d cry for weeks over losing and she didn’t want to be the victim of my torment.

She also didn’t have enough wine left in the fridge for my nagging. No wine means death by Alice’s whining.

"Woof?" Daisy called back. I waited for her to come back, but she continued to bark. Pouting my lip, I moved farther up the path.

"Where are you going?" Aaron asked.

"Getting Daisy. You know how she loves relaxing in the second clearing up ahead. The open space one," I noted.

"Hmm." Aaron hummed, looking a little concerned.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, putting my hands on my hips as I turned around to look at him.

"It's just late. That's all," he defended. "I'll walk with you."

"You're so overprotective." I sighed. "Guess it's a good thing."

He put his backpack on and reached my side before we both walked to the second clearing. Daisy was sitting in the middle of the clearing, the rays of the full moon above glistening down on her.

"She's moonbathing." I left Aaron’s side to skate right to Daisy, who stood up in excitement.

"Woof!" Daisy began to run around me, the action making me giggle. "After all the running around you did, you're still energetic."

Aaron walked over to where I stood, glancing up at the moon above us. "Moonbathing, huh," he mumbled. Daisy began running around the two of us, but I placed my attention on Aaron.

He looked even more majestic under the moonlight; the sheer image made my heart skip a beat as my body seemed to grow warm.

Why can't I tell him how I feel? Why can't I tell him I like him?

Aaron met my gaze, the two of us staring at one another in the peaceful silence that surrounded us. "What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Nothing." I blushed, looking away. "You still owe me a kiss."

Aaron didn't say anything. I looked back at him, noticing how red his face was.

"Holy crap, your face is like a tomato."

"Don't tease me. Jeez," he grumbled.

"Haven't you kissed a girl before?" I smirked, trying to hide my own embarrassment by teasing him.

"O-of course I have!" he stuttered. "She just doesn't remember."

"Eh? What girl doesn't remember when a guy kisses her?" I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a look. "Did you brainwash her with your charm?"

"I did not and I have no charm. I'm the ugly nerd, remember?" He sighed. "And she doesn't remember."

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