𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘, 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚊

𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚁𝚞𝚍𝚢, 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚋𝚘𝚜𝚜'𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚗.

𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚍𝚊𝚢.

𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚘𝚔𝚊𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

𝙷𝚎𝚢.

𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠.

𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕.

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞!

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝.

𝚂𝚎𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗.

𝙿.𝚂. 𝙷𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘, 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍.

I re-read the text I got from Rudy once again and groaned loudly at the fact that Hunter is still my mentor.

Last night, I went to sleep right after I replied Rudy so that I could get sufficient rest and didn't see the next message he had sent me. I was really hoping that Rudy or Ray would be my mentor instead of flipping Hunter who for some reason hates the fact that I work at his Uncle's store.

I find it absolutely ridiculous that he would think I'm stalking him. Just who does he think he is? I let out a scoff and cursed his idiotic narcissism.

Getting out of bed, I took a long and relaxing shower and then got ready for school. As I was walking down the stairs, I could smell the mouth-watering pancakes my mom was making.

Wait, what?

I almost tripped over my own foot, but I steadied myself by grabbing the staircase handrail. There was no way my mom—the person who hates mornings with passion—was cooking breakfast.

I quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a baseball bat along the way just in case it was an intruder who was stealing our food supplies and using our kitchen.

I finally got to the kitchen and what I saw shocked me to the core. My mom was doing a happy dance while she flipped the pancakes with a happy smile. I dropped the baseball bat on the floor causing a thunderous sound to echo around the kitchen which made my mom jump.

"Hera Heaven Hawkins, you scared the crap out of me! What is wrong with you? Why do you have the baseball bat with you?" Mom said while holding her chest.

"You-you're, you're cooking breakfast." I stuttered.

"Yes. Now come sit down and have some for yourself." She placing a plate filled with delicious pancakes on the counter.

"B-but you hate breakfast."

"No, I don't."

"Uh, yes, you do."

She glared at me. "I'm not going to argue with you. If you want to eat it, go ahead. If you don't want to, then, bye."

I shut my mouth and quickly sat on the high stool to begin eating. I'm going to intentionally refuse pancakes. No way in hell. I thought hard about my mom's sudden weird behavior, but nothing came to me. Then, I remembered something.

"Mom, I need to tell you something," I said feeling my hands starting to sweat.

"What is it?"

"I got a new job."

"Because they kicked you out from the previous one?"

The fork in my hand due slipped from my hold due to the jaw-dropping shock. "You knew?"

She smirked. "Of course, I know. I knew from the day you got the call. Did you forget that Julie is my friend?"

Julie is my previous boss's wife. Damn it, I'm so stupid. I totally forgot that Julie is such a blabbermouth. I grinned sheepishly at my mom. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"Honey, I have told you this a thousand times and I'll tell you again; you don't have to work. I know you think that I can't support the both of us without your help, but you're wrong. It's okay if you don't work. It's okay." She said looking right at me.

I looked away. "But then you won't have any free time and you'll be working non-stop. I want to help, mom. I don't want to be useless."

Mom sighed and placed a hand on my cheek making me look at her. "You're not a burden to me, Hera. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

I came really close to breaking down in front of my mom who has never seen me break down before. But I managed to maintain my composure and gave her a teasing smile. "Are you trying to make me cry?"

She smiled cheekily. "Is it working?"

I grinned. "Nope."

She laughed and shook her head while I got out of my seat, prepared to go to school. "I'll be going now. Don't miss me too much, okay?"

She scoffed. "You wish, young lady."

I was about to leave when a thought popped into my head. I gasped at that bizarre yet totally possible thought. Could it be?

"Are you dating someone? Is that why this whole thing happened?" I asked pointing at the stove where she was cooking.

My mom dropped the spatula the moment she heard my words and her cheeks turned bright red. "You're crazy to even think that." She laughed awkwardly.

"So you are dating. Well, if it gets serious, let the poor old daughter meet the guy, ya?" I said sounding like the parent and walked off giggling to myself.

Finally, my mom has a boyfriend who makes her happy.

"Hey, Ray," I said as I stood beside the cashier counter where Ray was.

"Oh, you're on time! That's great! Hunter is at the back of the store so, go to him after keeping your stuff in the break room. He'll tell you what to do, okay?" He said with a kind smile.

"Okay," I replied and placed my bag in the break room, and walked over to the back of the store.

I haven't seen Hunter in school or anywhere else for that matter after he dropped me off that day. He was really a hard person to spot. But then again, I didn't really want to see him either. I'll just be reminded of how he tortured me at work. Or how he basically called me his stalker.

Preparing myself for his wrath, I entered the opened stockroom and saw Hunter writing on a piece of paper that was attached to his clipboard. I cleared my throat to get his attention and it did as he turned around and gazed at me.

"You're late." He deadpanned.

I frowned as I took a peek at my wristwatch. "No, I'm right on time."

"On time is equivalent to late. Coming in at least five minutes earlier is equivalent to on time." He stated seriously.

"You do realize that whatever you just said doesn't make a single sense, right?"

"It makes complete sense. And as my mentee, you are required to listen to me. Not argue with me."

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. Why is he so hellbent on irritating the shit out of me? If only I could scream at his face. I sighed and bit my tongue as I nodded.

He smirked. "Good. Now see that trolley filled with books? Go stock all of them on the shelves. This is the map of the store." He said passing me a paper. "The books are shelved according to the genres and the author's last name. So, it's a very simple task. Don't screw it up."

I almost rolled my eyes but contained myself. I nodded and started moving the trolley out of the room and to the 'Mystery/Thriller' section of the store.

Before I could start the shelving, a piece of fabric was thrown on my face. I removed it from my face and saw that it was a bib apron. The same kind Hunter had on. I looked to my left and saw an amused Hunter.

"Why the hell did you throw it to my face? Couldn't you have politely handed it over to me?" I asked displeased.

"Where's the fun in that?" Hunter chuckled.

He actually laughed. With his dimples on full display. If I wasn't so irritated by him, I would have adored his cute dimples.

"Wear it at all times during working hours. It's a requirement." He said and looked at me waiting for me to wear it.

Knowing that he wasn't going to leave, I awkwardly put it on in front of him. Then, I realized that I had to tie a knot at the back of my waist. Damn it, I really suck at tying knots. Especially if it's behind my back. And now I have to tie an apron in front of Hunter? It's going to be so embarrassing.

I struggled with the knot for a while and Hunter was still standing there, watching me. It was glaringly obvious that he was having a fun time looking at me trying to tie a stupid apron.

"Turn around." He said finally deciding to help me.

I looked at him surprised but did as he told. Then, I heard his footsteps walking towards me until it stopped. I felt his body heat as he stood right behind me. For some reason, I felt my hands getting sweaty. Hunter then picked up the fabric, his hands grazing my waist in the process, giving me tingles throughout my body.

"You seriously don't know how to wear an apron?" He asked in a teasing tone while tying my apron.

I looked down at my feet. "I don't know how to tie a knot," I whispered.

He chuckled. "You're an idiot, Hera." He said and took a step back indicating that he was done.

"Hey! Don't need to rub it on my face," I said as I turned around. "But thank you for helping me."

"If you want to keep this job, you better learn how to tie an apron. Or else you'll be fired."

"Just because I can't put on an apron? That's ridiculous! That's not fair and definitely not funny!"

"It's not ridiculous. It is fair. And it is definitely funny." He said smirking.

Okay, that's it. I can't take this shit anymore.

"What the hell is your problem, huh? Why is it bothering you so much that I work here? What did I even do to you?"

"I don't like you." He deadpanned.

Ouch, that hurt. I looked away defeated. That explains his annoying behavior. I ignored him and started doing my job. That's what I was here for. To earn by working. Not to get Hunter to like me. I could feel his piercing gaze on me, but I didn't let him get to me. After a while, he sighed and left.

Working with Hunter Knight is going to be a huge pain in my ass.

A few hours had passed, and I was finally done with shelving everything from the trolley. I went back to the stockroom and returned the trolley. Then I looked at Hunter who was looking at me from the moment I entered the stockroom.

"What am I supposed to do now?" I asked since he was—unfortunately—still my mentor.

"It's almost closing time so you can rest for a bit." He said looking a little nervous.

I nodded and was about to leave the stockroom when he grabbed my wrist and stopped me. I looked at him in surprise.

"I lied earlier."

"About?"

"About not liking you."

"Why?"

He dropped my wrist gently and looked away. "Look, no one from school knows I work here and then you came, and I guess you caught me off guard. I just wasn't expecting anyone to-"

"-realize that you're a booknerd?" I finished for him, slightly amused.

"What?" He asked looking a little stupefied.

"Come on, it's okay to admit it. You're a total booknerd." I grinned.

He glared at me. "No, I'm not."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "You can deny all you want but you and I both know that you are a nerd," I said while walking out of the stockroom.

"Me? A nerd? I could never be a nerd even if I wanted to." He said following right behind me.

I scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"You're delusional if you think I'm a nerd. I-"

Hunter stopped talking when he almost bumped into me because of how I abruptly halted in my step. And that was because of what I saw in front of me. Or who to be specific.

"Nina? Newt? What are you guys doing here?" I asked with widened eyes.

Nina was in a mix of surprise and amusement while Newt was in a mix of shock and infuriation.

"We wanted to see how you were doing at your new job but seems like you're having fun." Nina grinned at me.

"How did you know I work here? I don't remember telling you guys."

I deliberately did not tell the twins about my new job because then they will somehow get to know about Hunter and that would mean trouble.

"You said you were working at a bookstore and this was the only one in town so we guessed it was here," Nina replied.

I wouldn't have told them that if it wasn't for Nina's immense amount of prying.

"He works here?" Newt asked me in disdain while he glared at Hunter who was now standing beside me.

"His uncle owns the store," I said feeling the tension between the boys.

I looked at Nina for help and she was right on it. "Hey, Newt? Let's wait outside for Hera, okay? She's going to end her shift soon so we don't want to be in her way now, do we?" Nina said pulling Newt's arm.

But Newt wouldn't budge. "We'll be right outside. Come straight to us after you end work, okay?" Newt looked at me with softened eyes and then gave a stern glare to Hunter right after.

Nina then pulled him outside and gave me a wink. I mouthed 'thank you' to her. I then looked at Hunter who had a stoic yet scary expression.

"Sorry about Newt," I said to him making him look at me.

"Tell your boyfriend to take a chill pill." He said and walked away.

Why does he keep assuming that Newt's my boyfriend? That will never happen in any lifetime. Newt is like my brother and I can't see him in any other way even if wanted to.

I went over to Ray and he told me that I could go. So, I took my things and left the store. Nina and Newt were right outside just like they said they be.

"Why didn't you tell us you were working with him?" Newt asked the moment I stepped outside.

"Because of this. Your reaction. You already don't like him, and I didn't want to create any unnecessary trouble." I said truthfully.

"Hera, wherever you are concerned, it's never trouble for me. So, please just tell me if he does anything to you, okay? You know we care about you, right?" Newt asked holding my hand.

I let go of his hand and ruffled his hair. "Yes, idiot. I know." I smiled.

He grinned and ruffled my hair back. "Good that you know. Now let's get out of here." He said and went over to the driver's seat of his car.

Before I could get inside, Nina grabbed my elbow and whispered in my ear. "Don't think I will forget how you were smiling like an idiot with Hunter earlier on so be prepared to tell me everything."

I was smiling like an idiot? I didn't even know that. I sighed knowing that Nina is never going to let this go.

I got inside Newt's car and closed the door. Looking out the window, I saw Hunter's piercing gaze on me through the see-through door of the bookstore.

How does Hunter Knight always manage to aggravate me yet unnerve me?