Chapter Text
It was Tuesday morning and the routine for Hunter began. Hoodie on, hair neat, mask yourself perfect. Hunter exited his uncle’s house, he didn’t even know why his uncle was allowing him to go to school, then again he wasn’t complaining about that. He loves school, anywhere away from his uncle is a good place to be, Hunter scrolls through his playlist settling on a song he always plays while walking to school.
Hunter enters the school and preps himself for classes, he wasn’t as social as he used to be, three years of his uncle telling him that he was a good for nothing, calling him transphobic slurs and making him feel like he couldn’t function destroyed his confidence. Hunter just kept to himself too scared to even talk to anyone.
That was until he found someone that he never expected to see again.
It was third period, language arts. A project was assigned groups it was a project that involved one student interviewing the other student that was assigned. Hunter wasn’t paying attention until the teacher called his name.
”Hunter Witterbane, you’ll be partnered with……..Willow Park.”
Hunter froze his jaw dropped. Willow as in Willow Park!? His best friend from summer camp all those years ago. Then a sudden wave of fear filled him. So much must’ve changed since he had sent his last pen pal letter.
Willow gasped she had never expected that her best friend from summer camp was here. She’s excited ecstatic even. The last time they’ve pen palled each other was three years ago and they haven’t even seen each other in person since camp.
Hunter knew he couldn’t let Willow see him in the current state he was in physically and mentally, he at this point was shell of his former self. A shell of the out and proud little kid that he was, a shell of the boy Willow had met when he was 10 and she was 8.
When class let out Hunter made a beeline to the door determined to avoid Willow by all means necessary. He briefly turned around only to see Willow walking towards him, he panicked and started to run away from her. The last thing Hunter wanted to do was break her heart by telling her what he’s been through for the past three years. He’s getting overwhelmed again.
Willow started speed walking towards Hunter as he ran from her. She didn’t know why he was avoiding her. But still she’s willing to see him again for the first time in seven years.
Hunter felt tears pricking his eyes as he leaned against a lone tree atop a hill. Hunter started crying the overwhelming feelings of guilt and fear was just too much. Willow finally caught up with Hunter, once she saw the state he was in, she started getting deja vu, back to when they first met. Realizing that she ran back into the school knowing that Hunter left his backpack in the classroom. When she opened it she saw that pink frog plushie from back then so he kept it, she grabbed the plushie and ran back to where she saw Hunter.
When she got back she saw Hunter hitting himself in the stomach and knew she had to stop it somehow. So just like how they first met she offered the plush frog and Hunter hesitated before grabbing it and hugging it.
Twenty minutes had passed and Hunter calmed down, feeling the texture of his plushie, before Willow spoke.
“Hey.”
“Hello.”
“It’s been awhile hasn’t it?”
“Yeah it has.”
He didn’t make eye contact with her that was fine by Willow. Hunter continued to pet the plushie for a minute then spoke again.
“M’sorry I overreacted, that was pretty stupid of me.”
Willow was shocked, her eyes widened. The Hunter she knew back then wouldn’t say that, now one big question was dominating her thoughts. What could’ve happened after that last letter? She knew that he was going to stay with his uncle now that his mom and dad had died, but still there were some things still missing.
“Hunter it’s okay, I understand. Do you want to head to my place after school?”
Hunter stopped and thought about it he knew that he had to be home by 5 so this wouldn’t hurt.
“Yes.”
“Alrighty see you then.”
“See you then too.”
And with that the bell rang for fourth period.