Chapter Text
Hunter ran down the hall as he tried to dig his schedule out of his bag, he stopped looking over his class numbers on the paper and at class numbers on the hallway signs, but the numbers on the signs were inconsistent and led him in circles. Finally arriving late and after a rather unpleasant interaction with his professor Hunter made a point to always get to his classes early and while the rest of the were not quite as humiliating, they were much the same. Come in, sit down, we have new student, Fucking introductions, repeat next period. A few of his teachers had even come up to him in an attempt of ‘reaching out’ as a ‘safe space’ though Hunter doubted their sincerity. The whole process became quickly exhausting and made it feel like there was a loud buzzing noise in his head leading up to lunch. As soon as he heard the bell rang Hunter was quick to leave his seat, nearly tripping over his feet to get out as soon as possible.
Stepping through the door he locked his gaze on a familiar set of green eyes as the round-faced girl from before came out of the classroom opposite to his. She seemed to be in better spirits smiling as she talked with what he assumed was her friend, a younger dark-skinned boy. She had a beautiful smile, a sort of warm, genuine kind that made her eyes practically disappear when she showed it to its full extent. Hunter could feel a warm fuzziness spread over his cheeks at her smile, he felt as though he should introduce himself since their last introduction was certainly less than ideal. That thought lasted only a moment when the girl caught his eye making her smile quickly disappear and a startled expression replacing it before she rushed down the hall and away from him. The reaction made a sort of empty embarrassment sink into his stomach before he swiftly started walking in the opposite direction when her friend gave him a strange side-eye. He should have known this was how it would all go, she was so… and he was just… Well he didn’t quite have the words for it but it felt so stupid, like setting your hand on a hot stove but telling yourself it wouldn’t burn. He knew this wouldn't work but he still told himself to try.
Lunch hadn’t made the day much bettter. Hexside had a McDonald’s in their cafeteria, Hunter liked Mcdonald's. He could remember a few times when he was little and Darius would take him to the one near his Uncle’s office during his lunch break. Unfortunately, Hunter didn’t have any money and he wasn’t about to ask Darius for anything after how much the man was already doing for him, so instead he settled on school lunch. After getting a suspicious look from one of the lunch ladies he searched for an unoccupied table and decided to follow a few students to the courtyard outside. Once there he found a nice secluded spot that looked almost like an ally between two of the school buildings. He sat down on the cold concrete placing the tray on his lap. As far as school lunch goes...let’s just say it’s not what Hunter had expected. His lasagna was a charred brick and his bread was somehow soggy. When he took a bite of his apple it tasted like sand and weirdly enough had the same texture. Hunter ended up pushing his ‘food ’to the side, taking out his phone and fiddling with his AirPods. He had never had a phone before Darius bought him one, his uncle had said they were 'unsafe’ and ‘bound to corrupt him’ so naturally he was a bit behind on technology. The only thing Hunter really knew how to use it for was how to call or text people and thankfully how to listen to music. Hunter loved music, his uncle had only ever let him listen to hymns but he greatly expanded his taste when he came to live with Darius. He opened Spotify pressing shuffle on a playlist he had been working on as he relaxed, resting his head on the brick wall while ‘People Watching’ rang through his ears. He hummed tapping his foot as he sang along to the music, going quiet whenever someone walked by his corner. Hunter had gotten maybe four songs in when he saw people beginning to throw away their trays and leave for class. Groaning, he got up and did the same.
His last class of the day was Chorus, it was one of the few classes he was really looking forward to. Hunter had been part of a chorus when he was still living in the castle, but since his uncle was against him interacting with other kids it was really more of a homeschooled chorus where you voice recorded your part and sent it in for the instructor to edit and piece together with the other kids. Walking into the choir room however, Hunter could tell this wasn’t going to be anything like a homeschool chorus. The room was large and open for good acoustics, instead of desks there were metal risers with chairs lined up on them, tucked in the corner by the door was a shiny black piano and a storage closet full of papers and writing utensils. Most of the students were already sitting or standing in clusters together talking with one another. Hunter looked around for the teacher to find a thin Tawny professor with Mint hair stapling papers. Hunter walked over to their desk in the far corner of the room. The professor stayed focused on their papers for a minute until Hunter cleared his throat.
“Professor Whispers?” Hunter said timidly, finally grabbing the teacher’s attention.
Professor Whispers whipped their head up in surprise before smiling warmly at Hunter.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t see you there” They said delightedly, pushing their round glasses up the bridge of their nose. Standing up, Professor Whispers held their hand out to shake. “You must be Hunter.”
Hunter’s heart gave a jolt as he hesitantly shook their hand.
“Y-yeah, you’ve heard of me?” Hunter said, trying not to let his fear carry through his voice.
“Darius and I were good friends back in grade school. He asked me to keep an eye on you.” They said with a wink.
“Oh.” Hunter said, biting back a shaky sigh. At first he was surprised, Hunter had never asked Darius why he had chosen Gravesfield of all places to move, he just assumed because it was a small town it would be perfect for them but what were the odds that someone Darius knew from school would teach at the one Hunter was enrolled in. Unless it wasn’t a coincident. In fact the whole situation made Hunter wonder how much he really knew about the man, they had talked and knew each other obviously but did Hunter really know anything about Darius or what his life was like before he worked for his uncle. Hunter pushed away his thoughts when they became too big to think about in the moment as he nervously pointed back at the risers to ask “Are there assigned seats?”
“Oh yes” Professor Whispers said, clamping their hands together as if they remembered something. Walking around their desk they held their index fingers out, pointing a handgun at Hunter “Don’t suppose you know what section you are?”
“Uhhh” Hunter had no idea what they were talking about and his response seemed to convey that to Professor Whispers.
“Oh well, no matter, for now we’ll just sit you next to…” Professor Whispers said, looking out into the risers for an empty seat. Their face suddenly lit up before answering. “Luz.”
Hunter followed their gaze to see a young girl with tan skin and dark curly hair cut into a long pixie. She was crouched over resting her elbow on her knees as she sat criss-cross on one of the bleacher chairs, she was playing with what looked like a yellow cat keychain. Looking up at the mention of her name she smiled brightly and gave an energetic wave. Professor Whispers gave Hunter a pat on the back before returning to their papers. Hunter swallowed hard and approached the girl, he wasn’t sure why but something about her made him nervous. Coming within arms length of her seat the girl stood up holding her hand out so her arm was completely straight.
“Hi! I’m Luz, Luz Noceda!” Her voice was as bubbly as she looked. Hunter slowly took her hand, flinching a little at the strength of her grip.
“Hunter.” He said through gritted teeth.
“Just Hunter, huh?” She said lightly as he took the seat next to her. Hunter gave a short nod for ‘yes’ to which she responded in an all knowing tone. “Ahh the mysterious angsty type, I see.”
Hunter didn’t know what she meant and didn’t care to ask, he was doing his best to ignore the girl although she wasn’t really getting the memo.
“So are you new to Hexside?”
“Uh-yeah”
“That’s cool, I was part of a student exchange program last year and decided to transfer over. I know just what it’s like being the new kid.”
“Hm.”
“Have you ever been a part of a choir before?”
“Sort of.”
“Oh you’re gonna love it, it’s a great community. Plus Professor Whispers is the best, they’re so nice. Did you know they also instruct the school band, and they help out with the school’s theater productions. Could you imagine doing all that at once.”
“Yeah.”
“So have you made any friends yet?”
She was really starting to sound like Darius now that Hunter thought about it.
“No.” Hunter said, remembering the look on the round-faced girl.
“Oh, well if you ever need anyone to tal-“
“Alright class, could I have your attention please” Professor Whispers announced and Hunter thanked god for the end of the conversation.
The rest of Chorus seemed fairly easy even a little fun, they did vocal warm ups as well as some stretches, walked to the beat of a few popular sings that students got to choose, filled out one of those “about-you” sheets that every class seemed to give you at the beginning of the year and discussed their plans for the upcoming chorus concert.
“And remember class” Professor Whispers said walking around between chairs handing out different printed packets of sheet music “If your parent or guardian has a problem with the after school rehearsals then they need to fill that information out on the permission form so we can plan accordingly for the future.”
Professor Whispers had walked back to the piano, setting the extra packets down on top of it. They had a sly smile etched on their lips as they turned back around to the class
“Aaand as a surprise I wanted to tell you in person we will be doing a Dear Evan Hansen Medley for the Fall Concert.” They said as an excited murmur buzzed through the choir, Hunter wasn't really sure who ‘Evan’ was but he must have been important based on the class's reaction. Professor Whispers waited for the excitement to die down before continuing.
“We will be needing two soloists for that, so keep your eyes peeled and you voices sharp for the upcoming auditions” Just as Professor Whispers finished the bell rang and students began shuffling out of their seats to the door.
Hunter was heading for the door just before Luz could rope him back into another conversation when he heard someone call his name. Turning around he could see Professor Whispers beckoning him to their desk.
Ohhhh shit. Shit. Shit. S h i t.
Did he do something wrong? Hunter didn’t think he’d made a mistake worthy of repercussion and yet as he made slow steps towards Professor Whispers’ desk he could feel a sense of dread and guilt all too familiar quickly sink into his stomach.
“Yes Professor” Hunter said, gripping the strap of his book bag so tightly his knuckles would be turning white if they were not hidden under his fingerless gloves.
“Here” Professor Whisper said lightly, handing Hunter a half sheet of paper with different scales on it.
Hunter took the sheet, looking at it curiously before Professor Whispers continued.
“If it’s alright with your guardian I’ll need you to send in a voice or video recording of you singing these notes so we can decide where to put you in the choir.”
“Oh, yeah” Hunter said, carefully tucking the paper in his book bag.
“And Hunter,” Professor Whispers said, lacing their fingers together to rest on the desk, they looked at him with a gentle, kind expression that reminded Hunter of one Darius gave him when he agreed to come live with him “If you ever need anything feel free to come by.”
They had said it like they meant it and Hunter, despite himself, believed them. Hunter smiled and bid the professor goodbye before heading out the door. He didn’t have a fourth period so instead he used the time as a free period to do homework. Hunter settled into one of the lounge chairs in a quiet secluded corner of the school’s library. Since it was the first day of the semester there wasn’t much homework from his class and the get-to-know-you sheets they’d asked him to fill out were easy, so they didn’t take long. Hunter eventually found himself sitting idling, twirling his pencil between his fingers as he waited for the school day to bleed into the club fair.
It wasn’t really a fair per se, more like a collection of booths displaying different clubs and activities with a few cheap carnival games scattered in between. Hunter walked around the booths and as he predicted didn’t find anything he was interested in joining, not that he suspected any of these clubs wanted him either. He could see it on their faces, how they were bright and welcoming but when they saw him and that damned scar they immediately became closed off avoiding eye contact as if they’d turn to stone if they looked at him. The Stamp Collectors club had been somewhat welcoming giving him a free pen and a small packet of stamps. Despite that however Hunter found himself walking back through the school to the office sooner than he expected, checking his phone as he waited for the hour to be up so Darius could take him home.
Home? Was he aloud to call it that?
On his way, he felt his throat become itchy and decided to stop at a water fountain. He set his phone down on the fountain before bedding down to drink.
“Hi!” he heard a voice next to him say.
Hunter jumped and definitely did not scream and if he did it was totally in a manly way causing him to choke on a mouth full of water. He doubled over coughing furiously as he struggled for air.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you!” the voice said as Hunter rested his palms on his knees trying to steady his breathing.
“No-*cough* m-*cough*-me I’m-*cough* *COUGH*” Hunter was finally able to gain control of his lungs when he straightened back up “I’m fi-*cough*-ne”
Finally looking at who he was talking to Hunter did a double take when he saw the round-faced girl smiling.
“Are you sure? I really didn't mean to scare you.” She said sounding concerned.
“Y-yeah, Yeah I’m good,” Hunter said standing a bit taller as he placed his hand to lean on the fountain nonchalantly until it slid on the wet surface causing him to stumble forward a bit.
The girl giggled before holding out her hand for him to shake.
“I’m Willow, Willow Park.”
Hunter wiped his now-wet hand off on his jeans before shaking hers.
“Hunter…” He said racking his brain to come up with a last name, it was only good manners to do so since she had told him hers and his uncle had made sure he knew his manners. Don’t say Whittebane, don’t say Whittebane! Should I use Darius’s last name? No that might get weird “...Just Hunter”
“Well Just-Hunter,” she said with a sweet smile “Are you new here, I don’t think I've seen you around?”
“Uh yeah, I just moved,” Hunter said scratching the back of his neck.
“Oh where from”
“Ummm” Hunter thought hard, Just say another state, any state, wait what other states are there, Australia? That’s a country you fool! You’ve been quiet for way too long, say something! “...Kentucky.”
“Really?” she asked
“Yep! That’s-uh that’s where I’m from” Hunter laughed nervously “Born and raised.”
“Well that’s nice,” She said before reaching into her bag “Actually I wanted to ask you something else?”
Hunter watched her with rapt attention as she handed him a colorful piece of paper.
“Some of my friends and I are trying to start a band and we could use another singer.” She said watching Hunter read the flier “We’re holding auditions tomorrow if you’re interested.”
“Uh…thanks but I'm not really a singer,” Hunter said politely while looking at the little musical instruments with lightning bolts shooting out on the flier.
“Of course, you are,” She said encouragingly before adding in a light tone “I heard you at lunch.”
Hunter's fingers clenched around the flier crinkling it. WHAT!
“You're really good and we could use a tenor.”
Hunter had no idea what a tenor was but he couldn’t help but feel a little light-headed from Willow’s compliments.
“Well u-um,” Darius’s words rang in his head Just give it a shot. “...Sure”
“Great!” Willow said brightly, clasping her hand together in excitement. “My number’s on the paper if you have any questions.”
“O-okay,” Hunter said turning red.
Willow lingered for a moment looking like she wanted to ask him something else. This only served to make Hunter more nervous until she took a step forward causing him to back up against the water fountain.
“Can I..” She said shyly pointing at his slung arm “Sign your cast?”
“Oh-um sure,” Hunter said pulling the sling back enough for her to have an open canvas.
Willow dug through her bag to pick out several colored markers before gingerly taking Hunter’s arm. Hunter could see she was using a green marker to trace her name in curly letters before framing it with little different colored flowers. He tried hard not to focus on how his fingers were brushed against her upper arm as she doodled sticking her tongue out slightly to concentrate. Her phone buzzed just as she was finishing up her last flower.
“Oh I gotta go, my friends are waiting.” She said checking her text as she packed up her markers and turned to walk down the hall. “I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I’ll see ya,” Hunter said breathlessly as she waved goodbye.
He looked down marveling at the little garden on his arm before his phone made a chiming noise. Hunter picked it up and saw a text from Darius
D: Ready when you are, little prince.
Hunter made his way outside to find Darius’s car parked by the cement walkway.
“Hi-ya champ, how was school?” Darius quoted from an old movie they had seen while Hunter collapsed into the passenger seat, clicking his seat belt.
“It was…” Hunter thought about his day while Darius began to drive past the entrance, smiling a bit when he thought about Willow “Good.”
“Well that’s good,” Drius said sounding a little relieved “Join any clubs?”
“Sort of,” Hunter said thinking about the colorful flier that was now carefully tucked away in his bag. “Oh, also I got you some stamps.”
“Thanks, kid,” Darius chuckled “Did you make any friends?”
“I…think so?” Hunter said as he glanced down at the little garden.
“Well that’s great, I’m proud of you kid,” Darius said, his words made Hunter beam as he looked out the window relaxed and happy for what felt like the first time in a while.
Darius pulled into the driveway as something colorful caught his eye making a smug grin spread across his face.
“Who’s Willow?” he said in a polished tone making Hunter's ears burn.
“Oh, she’s just..” He said looking down at the little flowers bordering her name.
A friend