Chapter 11: Chapter 11
Once I'm freshly showered and dressed, I head downstairs for some breakfast before heading off to school. Ted is standing in the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Would you like one Hunter?" He asked cheerily, whistling a tune as he stirred his own. I nodded, giving him a small smile.
"Yeah, that would be great." I responded before yawning.
I pulled out a seat at the dining table and sat down, pulling my hair up into a ponytail and securing it with a hair tie. It was beginning to grow long, way past my shoulders if I left it down.
"You're going to need it after this morning's training." He smiled, placing the mug down in front of me. I glanced up at him —
"Did we wake you?" I asked apologetically and he shook his head, taking a seat beside me.
"I can detect all movement in the house, you kids barely made any noise. Don't worry about it."
"Do you miss it? Working with the FBI?" I asked quietly, tracing the rim of the mug with my finger. Ted paused for a moment before responding --
"No, not one little bit."
His answer surprised me. I looked up, wanting to know more information.
"You don't miss the excitement, the danger?" I question, the surprise evident in my voice. Ted notices and chuckles quietly, taking a long drink of his coffee.
"Before I met Margaret, I adored my job." He said carefully, reaching for the biscuit tin. He held it out to me and I swiped three chocolate ones.
"So what changed?" I asked eagerly, wanting to know more about him and his wife.
I'd never met anyone working in the field who didn't enjoy their line of work. Eventually, the hurt from being recruited wore off and you don't feel as betrayed anymore. Thoughts drift back to that night years ago, when I was drugged and dragged away but I quickly push them to the back of my mind.
"I fell in love." Ted smiled, his eyes lighting up. I blinked and then blinked again, unable to understand. This earned another chuckle from him and he placed his mug down, ready to explain.
"I began to fear for my life. I was scared because if something happened to me, I'd leave Margaret on her own. I couldn't do that, I couldn't abandon her so carelessly. The thought of something happening to her also drove me crazy. You fall in love Hunter and if the love is strong enough, you never wish any kind of pain upon the other. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, not the FBI."
Moments of silence fell upon us as I registered his words. An emotion stirred inside me that I couldn't quite make out, maybe it was jealousy. Jealous that I didn't know what that felt like.
Fearing for your own life so that you wouldn't leave the person you love behind.
"I don't love anyone," I muttered, blinking back the emotions.
There wasn't a single person in my life who I feared dying for. That thought alone, saddened me on an entirely different level. I didn't have anyone I felt so deeply about. Am I becoming too detached from my feelings and emotions because of the nature of my work?
"You're still young Hunter. The work excites you but don't forget who you really are. Always stay true to yourself, you're so much more than just an FBI Agent." Ted said quietly, placing a hand over mine.
I wasn't expecting the contact and I flinched, my hand twitching under his. When I glanced up at him, I knew that he also saw the surprise in my eyes. Sadness filled his own and I felt a stone lodge itself inside my throat.
I was scared to admit that the real me may have already disappeared.
I jumped off my chair, grabbing my backpack before heading towards the door.
"Bye Ted," I murmured, not waiting for a reply before disappearing and slamming the door shut behind me.
*****
I push open the doors to the corridor and step inside, glancing down at my watch. Im already late. Only a few students are scattered down the long corridor, some of them intentionally bunking class. I pull my backpack up my shoulders and breathe in sharply because I can't seem to shake Ted's words. They affected me more than I want to admit.
I don't realise how much of a daze I'm in until a hand grips onto my shoulder, dragging me into a dark room. My first instinct is to lash out and I kick from behind, earning a low groan from my attacker. The door to the empty classroom slams shut and I blink, walking backwards until my eyes can adjust to the dark.
I make out the outline of his broad shoulders and dark hair but when he speaks, a shiver runs down my back.
"Hunter."
It's Calvin Black.
I curse myself for not being more on guard.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I snap at him, smoothing down my clothes from where he grabbed them. My eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and when he glances up to look at me, his eyes knock me back slightly.
"Shut up and sit down." He commands bluntly, leaning against the locked door. I breathe in sharply, my heart beginning to pick up pace inside my chest. I nod grimly, dropping my bag to the floor and hoisting myself up onto an old school desk. Calvin remains in the exact same spot, his arms crossed over his chest. He's wearing his signature leather jacket with jeans but it's too dark to make out his facial features.
"What do you want? I'm going to be late for class. You and Zack really need to stop kidnapping me." I mumble under my breath. Has Calvin figured out who I am? I hold in a breath as I wait for him to respond but he doesn't. All I can hear is his shallow breathing.
"Calvin? You're scaring me." I say quietly, the pounding of my heart beginning to intensify. To my surprise, Calvin scoffs and pushes himself off the door. He begins to slowly walk towards me and I clench my fists by my side, just incase. As soon as he's near, his scent slaps me hard in the face and I blink, trying to clear the fog inside my mind.
"You're still scaring me." I say, firmer this time. He continues to grow closer, placing his hands on either side of me on the desk. When I look up, I can now make out the shine in his green eyes, so dark and dangerous. He lowers his face, his minty breath inches away from my lips.
"Something tells me you don't scare easily Hunter." He whispers, his voice cold.
It sends an icy shiver travelling through me and I squeeze my eyes shut, real fear settling inside my stomach. I can't fail this mission, I don't ever fail a mission.
"What am I doing here?" I ask shakily, trying to keep my voice under control. I open my eyes to find Calvin even closer than before, his eyes searching my entire face intently. From the outside, our close proximity made it appear like we were kissing. The thought runs through my head and I can't help but drop my eyes to his full lips. His tongue flicks out, pushing on his bottom one and he lets out a low rumble of a chuckle --
"You're really full of surprises, you know that Hunter?"
He almost spits my name and I'm almost certain he's figured out who I really am. The fact that he hasn't killed me or hurt me in any way makes me doubt it ever so slightly.
"I don't know what I've done." I whisper, a hundred thoughts running through my mind. I force myself to remain calm but Calvin being so close to me is making it difficult.
"You're really close to me Calvin," I whisper, my words trembling. I can feel his green eyes piercing straight through mine, searching my entire face.
"Isn't this what you want?" He questions, his voice dropping to a low rumble. When I sneak a glance at him, I notice his eyes drop to my lips for a brief second.
I decide to suck it up because if I don't, I fear that I'm going to blow everyone's cover.
"Yeah, it is." I respond before reaching up, gripping onto the back of his head. I pull it down and close the distance between us, slamming my lips against his. I thought he'd be taken by surprise but by the way he kisses me back just as fiercely, he's confident. His hand grips onto my legs, parting them so he can get closer to me. A million butterflies explode in my stomach and everywhere his hand touches, my body ignites with flames. I don't know what I'm doing but it seems to be working because he moans inside my mouth, the sound of it causing me to shiver under him.
I deepen the kiss, savouring the minty taste of him. One of Calvin's hand wraps around my waist, pulling me further into him. He presses me tightly against his body and when I accidentally feel it, I jump back away from him.
"Holy shit!" I yell out, losing my balance.
I instantly tumble backwards off the table, slamming down into a group of chairs behind me. The silence in the room is filled with my pained groan. When I open my eyes, Calvin is standing over me, holding out his hand for me to take. I search his expression first and find his eyes a lighter green than usual, a small smirk playing on his lips.
I blow out a breath of relief because even though he stole my first kiss, I didn't blow my cover. A small voice in the back of my head is screaming out that I also enjoyed it but I ignore it and reach up, placing my hand in his. His hands are soft and warm and I let out another groan as he pulls me to my feet.
"You took quite a fall there Hunter," he smirks, acting completely casual. Despite the fact we were making out in an abandoned classroom a second ago, you'd never be able to tell from his expression. My cheeks were burning bright red and the butterflies in my stomach weren't cooling off either.
"You need to control that thing inside your pants, Black." I mutter, dusting myself off.
He laughs heartedly, his lips stretching out into a smile and it's the first time I notice the small dimple in his right cheek. It softens his entire face and he doesn't look so murderous anymore.
"What? My lethal weapon?" He jokes around, his green eyes twinkling in my direction.
I've never seen him look like this before and I simply stare at him in return. His words finally register inside my mind and I burst out laughing --
"Your lethal weapon? God, that's so embarrassing."
He gives me a massive eye roll in response before clearing his throat. The smile on his lips falls until his expression is almost neutral. The bright shade of green in his eyes are captivating and I have to force myself to look away so I won't keep staring at him.
"Did you bring me in here just to kiss me?" I mumble, biting down on my lower lip nervously.
Calvin pauses and shakes his head, his dark hair falling over into his eyes.
"From what I remember, you kissed me but that's not it. I need your help."
The icy tone to his voice is back and I frown because I've never met anyone so unpredictable like him. I can't figure out his next move or what he's feeling.
"My help with what?"
He blows out a deep breath, pondering over his decision on whether he should open up to me or not. I give him the space he needs and patiently wait in silence. Eventually, he speaks.
"Zack is missing, I need you to help me find him.”