As Hunter pulled the slightly crinkled school shirt over his toned torso, he stood with his back to the bed, exposing his taunt, toned back where the muscles contracted every time he moved.
Sam had only just started to awake as he stirred, his eyelids fluttering open to be greeted with the sight of a half-naked Hunter. His cheeks burnt red as he buried his flushed face into his quilt and nuzzled his nose deep into the covers. He inhaled softly as he mentally prepared himself to avoid Hunter.
Sam was not the type to avoid people—he wasn’t petty like that. However, Hunter’s words carved their way into his heart and so if Hunter wanted Sam to stay away then Sam would do just that.
Deciding to stop being so patronised about getting undressed in front of the ab God, Sam slid down from his bunk, his pyjamas all scuffled and too large for his small frame (unlike Hunter who almost burst the seams of his tight white v neck). Hunter did not turn around upon hearing Sam getting up. Once hearing the ruffle of clothing being removed he felt the restraints in his mind begin to loosen and he was dying to turn around and see a part of Sam no one else had seen. Sam was glad Hunter never turned around otherwise he would never of have the courage to undress into his uniform. The whole time he clutched his shirt against his torso and constantly checked to see if Hunter was looking. Hunter finished doing up his tie, which lay loose and low, before he brushed past Sam without a glance and headed out the door. Sam stared at the floor, only looking up when Hunter had left, sadly staring out at the door that Hunter walked through, reminding Sam of how Hunter had left him.
He couldn’t understand why he felt so betrayed, Hunter didn’t need to look out for him, why was it his job? But Sam felt betrayed and it hurt.
As Sam walked out the door he was greeted by Happy and Kay. The two were leaning up against the wall, Kay was bickering about how he really did fight off the country’s deadliest gang and Happy was teasing him with his hands shoved deep in his pockets as usual.
“Hey, bro. You good” Happy grinned as Sam nodded. The trio began walking as Kay walked backwards, still trying to convince the two. Sam laughed and noticed that secretly, Kay seemed to have warmed up to him.
As the trio made their way to class they noticed everyone was walking out the door. Kay stopped a small boy with messy hair and different sized eyes who moodily whispered “There’s an announcement.”
“Fantastic.” Kay groaned as they turned around and he began to walk with his arms behind his head.
“Announcement? What do you think it’s about?” Sam asked innocently as he tried to keep up with Happy’s large strides.
Happy turned to Sam and shrugged but gave his usual sweet smile. “Dunno, Kid. Well have to wait and see—though it’s probably bout graffiti in the toilets again.” He shrugged. The trio spotted Charlie and Bear and walked over to them, they exchanged murmurs before the teacher in the middle of the group of delinquents cleared his throat.
“We have recently been told that we are not physically active enough after a previous inspection, blah blah blah. Unfortunately, that means that to make up for lost efforts we are to hold a sports day. You will all be required to participate I don’t care if your tummy hurts of you’re on your period. You. Are. Doing. It. No. Excuses.” The teacher barked before he rolled his eyes and pointed towards the changing room. “Now go get changed.”
Sam’s heart shattered as he watched all the students walk towards the changing rooms where there was no private stall to hide in.
Happy pulled Sam out of his thoughts when he clapped him on his back.
“Come on, Kid. Let’s go before Mr Suld loses his shit.”
Kay whistled as they walked in and Sam was instantly greeted with the sight of nude students all carelessly changing, sometimes making the odd comment. Sam would not have minded had he not been so different. All the bodies were large, burly, broad, muscular, chubby, tanned… then there was Sam. Small, slim and pale. Not only was Sam a little different but his skin was actually so flawless it almost glowed. Just by glancing at the pale skin you could see how odd little mole here and there.
As Sam squished his way through the sweaty towering bodies he went to change in the corner, his face burning red instantly when Happy and Kay, Bear and Charlie, all followed him. Happy was already taking off his shirt and Kay was hopping about with his trousers off as he told Happy about another story. Happy chuckled as he listened, and Sam noticed that Happy never seemed to get angry or annoyed at Kay for lying when everyone, including Kay himself, knew he was talking out of his ass. Sam turned his back as he began to nimbly unbutton his shirt only to see a shadow hovering over him as he craned his neck back to look back.
A tall guy stood near Sam as Happy gave him a dirty look. “Hey, man. Back off.” Happy scoffed
“Yeah—you never hear of personal spaaaa—” Kay yelped when the guy looked towards him and cowered behind Happy who glared through the tall guy.
The tall guy smirked as he chuckled. “I just wanted to see if it’s real.”
“If what’s real?” Sam whispered as the guy smirked wider and bent down to be eye level with Sam.
“There’s rumours goin’ round that you’re actually a girl. S’why you’re skin’s so pale, s’why you’re so small and fragile. Lemme see then” He laughed throatily.
“Hey! Back off ass wipe!” Happy snapped as he looked up at the taller guy.
Sam felt horrible. His whole skin took on a flushed tone as he felt hot and sick. He felt like running away but before he could the tall guy was holding up his hands in defence as everyone fell silent.
Hunter, who was only in basketball shorts, walked over and stood in front of Sam, their backs almost touching, with crossed arms as he glared those forest green eyes into the tall guy who didn’t dare to continue provoking Sam.
Hunter held back from hitting the guy. He looked around with a mean glare that made everyone hurry back to their own business and not dare to even look over at Sam. Sam quickly dressed, thankful for Hunter guarding him but confused and angry that he was doing this when he “didn’t care”. Whether someone had approached Sam or not Hunter still would have come over and guarded him. It wasn’t only Sam who felt sick when the teacher told everyone to get changed, but Hunter also looked across to Sam from the other side of the crowd as he thought about how his baby was going to be exposed to everyone. He didn’t want anyone’s eyes seeing what only he should.
Sam tapped Hunter’s shoulder to say he was done. He opened his mouth to speak but Hunter walked away with that brooding look the minute Sam was done. Sam deflated as he looked around and caught Happy’s confused glances. Sam could not explain to Happy because even he did not know what was going on.
***
As the group circled around the large hall Sam couldn’t help but feel like a sore thumb. He watched as big, burly guys did push ups, pull ups, lifting weights… he really hated sports day as he was not athletic in the slightest. However, he was not the type to refuse to at least try and so even though it was not to his liking he decided he would try. Perhaps it could be fun?
“I can do a thousand pull ups in only to minutes you know.” Kay whistled as Happy chuckled softly under his breath. Sam laughed as Kay flickered his onyx eyes over to him. “I can!”
“There’s a bar. Why don’t you show us.” Bear said as he pointed to an empty bar. Kay stuttered as he nervously scratched the back of his neck before stretching his leg out as he rubbed the back of his calf.
“Ah—I’d love too but I’ve been getting really bad cramps in the back of my leg and I would hate to show you guys up” Kay shrugged.
Sam smiled as he turned to Bear. “How many pull ups can you do, Bear?”
Bear shrugged before reaching up and wrapping his meaty fingers around the bar! Ihe moment Bear went to pull himself up there was a clicking, snapping sound and soon Bear was standing with his arms raised above his head, holding the bar in his two large palms, that had snapped off the walls that supported it. Bear looked at the bar before letting it drop with a clang as a boy nearby looked horrified at Bear who shrugged it off. Charlie raised his arm and Bear nodded as the two walked over to a rowing machine.
“Chartie doesn’t talk much.” Sam noted as Happy watched Kay hit the broken bar off the floor to see if it breaks easily. Once seeing it didn’t break easily at all, Kay whistled lowly—impressed, and slightly scared of Beat’s strength. “Yeah, e’s not much of a talker. But it don’t matter much, Bear understands ‘im.” Happy said with a smile. Sam nodded as he watched Bear and Charlie who seemed very close. He turned around, circling himself as he observed everyone in the hall. His eyes fell over to Hunter who Sam was expecting to just be brooding somewhere in a corner but Hunter was actually doing pub ups before standing up, clapping some guy on the back as the guy did the same and Hunter talked so easily with this guy.
same and then Hunter would drop back down and do more. Sam watched as He turned his attention towards them as his breath caught in his throat a little. “Are they friends? Why is Hunter so relaxed and friendly around him… Because he hates you..? The little voice in Sam’s head came back, the one that constantly reminded him of how Hunter didn’t care, how Hunter had left him to get beat up by Dale without even thinking twice about it. Sam grew annoyed and irritated with himself once realising how much he thinks and gets upset over Hunter. Hunter didn’t care about him so why couldn’t he just go and forget Hunter like Hunter had him? Sam broke out of his trail of thoughts once hearing laughter echo around him.
He turned around to see Kay flushed red as he struggled to do one pull up on the bar and to see Happy laughing sweetly. “A thousand huh?” Happy chuckled when Kay let go and fell down.
Kay stood up, brushing himself off and glaring at Happy who chuckled, reaching up and ruffling Kay’s hair. Kay blushed as he mumbled under his breath and shoved Happy’s hand off.
Sam smiled warmly before he glanced back over to where Hunter was, only to see Hunter was having a genuine conversation with this rather handsome, tall guy. Sam chewed the inside of his gum as he looked away, unable to look anymore. Hunter had begun to get sweaty. His biceps were straining against his tight, black, v-neck. His black basketball shorts with two white stripes either side were hanging low on his taunt, toned hip bones and the beads of sweat trickled below the waistband of his Calvin Klein’s. Sam watched enviously from the corner of his eyes as the tall, handsome guy beside Hunter laughed, shoving Hunter’s chest as he reached over and moved a strand of black hair from Hunter’s eye. Sam huffed as he turned away and sadly walked over to Happy and Kay. Hunter pulled himself up from the last push up as he panted for breath, the beads of sweat trickling down himself.
Carter clapped Hunter’s back as he wiped his own forehead, also trying to catch his breath.
“Nice one man. I haven’t done this many push ups in ages.” Carter chuckled.
“You’re getting old.” Hunter jibed. Although he didn’t laugh or smile or have any lace of humour in his empty tone, Carter knew he was joking and so Carter playfully pushed his chest as he laughed. Hunter grabbed his water bottle as he wiped his forehead with his arm. Carter frowned as he leaned forward.
“Oh—dude. Your hairs in your eye, one sec just—got it.” Carter grinned as he brushed aside Hunter’s hair.
Hunter nodded his head. “Thanks.”
Carter nodded as he also turned and looked out at everyone else like Hunter seemed to be doing. He noticed Hunter seemed to be looking for something or someone. Hunter squinted as he glanced around before his eyes finally landed on Sam. He watched as Sam jumped to try and reach the bar to pull himself up, but his fingers skimmed it every time. Instead of getting mad or embarrassed, Sam would laugh along with Happy and Kay as he almost fell with laughing too hard. Hunter let out the tiniest of smiles, only the corner of his lips raising but Carter caught it. Carter raised his brows as he chuckled his lips curving into a teasing grin as he uttered out, “Who would have thought, the Lion cares for the rabbit.”.
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