Unmaking Hunter Kennedy

by Anne Eliot

  Her cheeks were flushed. And she seemed to radiate pure light. Adding to the effect were small wisps of light-blonde curls, rioting like a sunburst around her face.

  His chest tightened at the sight of her. Dustin blinked, struck dumb. Something had changed with her, and inside of him. He felt light headed and hollow. Like he’d been pumped full of helium. Similar to the thing he’d felt yesterday.

  He also felt better. Way better. Like he’d finally landed on two feet in this upsidedown, sideways and backwards universe. Maybe it was because he was now calling himself Dustin inside his own head, and it felt perfect. It also was cool that everyone else was calling him Dustin too.

  Or, maybe the feeling had more to do with the smiling girl standing in front of him. A girl who found, peaches—and baby ducks—and now plain water—to be the best things in the whole world.

  Damn! Had she been this beautiful a few minutes ago?

  Maybe he felt this great because Vere obviously believed her new bestie, Dustin, would agree with her excitement about how everything ordinary was actually extraordinary.

  Was that why he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her glowing profile? Her smile? Or was it because he was happy the friends thing between them seemed to be working out.

  Just friends...just friends...but damn...

  I’m feeling way more than the just friends feeling.

  Maybe he should call Barry at Falconer to find out what in the hell was going on in his head right now. Barry would gush straight away, “Oh! You’re having a feeling. Finally, a real feeling!”

  But what feeling is this? Hell...not something I want to talk about with Barry, that’s for sure.

  He glanced at Vere again, and his heart froze, starting back up double time. She’d turned her smile on him and his heart almost stopped beating.

  Shit. Am I getting a crush on this girl? Is that what this is?

  He shook it off as impossible. He figured friendship with a girl must feel close to a crush. Since he'd never had a girl that was only a friend, he must be simply confused.

  The heart beating thing was gratitude to Vere.

  He owed this girl for the first taste of raw happiness he’d felt in years. His feelings, getting all sappy like this, must be his friendship shooting back at her. They would lose intensity once he got used to her—this place—and his new self.

  Charlie was watching him closely.

  Could the guy tell everything he’d just said about Vere—not being his type—had possibly morphed into a complete lie? That he had a brand new type? That all he wanted to do was kiss Vere Roth’s cute upper lip right now?

  Dustin shook his head to clear it.

  He might be the newly born, Dustin McHugh, but thankfully, he still had Hunter Kennedy’s press-mode-mask working for him. He couldn't forget he owned Hunter Kennedy’s twisted and jaded heart under this damn plaid shirt.

  It didn’t matter what he was feeling about Vere Roth.

  This girl liked someone else. He’d promised to be her friend.

  And that was all his heart and his mind had room to hold.

  Plus, she was way too innocent for a guy like him.

  She moved closer to him then. He could smell sunscreen mixed with lavender-sage coming off her warm skin. He felt extreme guilt for even thinking about her at all. Like he needed to go straight to a church and beg forgiveness. And right now.

  She peered at his face. “Dustin, you’re looking really flushed. You’re going to die from heat and we haven’t even started hiking yet. And I mean DIE.”

  “Everyone dies, Vere,” he evaded, crossing his arms in case he suddenly went nuts and tried to touch her.

  She moved closer. “Come on. You know what I’m talking about. Take off that long-sleeved shirt. Please, or I’m going to take it off for you.”

  She did not just say that. Shit. And double shit.

  He went on the defensive. “Don’t even come near me, you crazy pixie. Worry about your own shirt, if that’s what you call that giant, soggy nightgown you’re planning to hike in.”

  “Hey. This is my dad’s old college shirt, and it’s awesome.”

  “Your words, not mine.”

  Charlie laughed, heading off the porch steps. “He tagged it, Vere. You’ve got to stop wearing all of Dad’s Goodwill pile.”

  Vere’s gaze had never left his face.

  “I know you’re trying to change the subject, Dustin. Hand over the shirt. It’s a matter of personal safety. Honestly. Don’t be so stubborn.”

  He pushed away from her, grabbed his pack and headed down the trail, following Charlie. “The shirt stays on. Bury me in it. Is she always this bossy?” he asked Charlie.

  “You have no idea,” Charlie answered.

  Dustin's mind had gone wild with images of Vere’s delicate fingers working on his shirt buttons. Blood surged in every area it shouldn’t. Luckily, the heavy canvas of his shorts, and the fact they were walking single file, hid all of that.

  But how am I going to hide the fact that I think I've truly got a crush on this girl?

  Behind your dark glasses, dumbass. She’ll never know.

  How hard could it be? You’ll be gone in a few weeks.

  Live with the feeling. It’s cool, and it makes you feel alive.

  He put a hand over his racing heart.

  Does it? Because I kind of feel like I also might be suddenly dying right now.

  “Wait up!” Vere called after him. “Your legs are too long. If we walk this fast we can’t talk or search for cool rocks.”

  He slowed his pace even though he wanted to run as fast as possible in the other direction.

  When she caught up, half-gasping, he’d recovered his control. “Promise to not bust on my shirt?”

  She rolled her eyes, and softly punched him in the shoulder. “Promise. But let the record show, you’re being stupid.”

  He grimaced. “You’re still indirectly, busting on my shirt.”

  “Fine!” She fell into step beside him. “What should we talk about, then?”

  Hunter stared down at her and sighed. “According to Charlie, sometime today, we should talk about a kid called Curtis Wishford? Charlie thinks I can help you with him.”

  She flushed so immediately red, he felt kind of bad for bringing it up.

  “What? What?!” she gasped out, her eyes going wild. “Charlie—oh my God—I’m going to kill you!” she hollered ahead.

  Charlie disappeared around a bend in the trail, and Vere tossed Dustin another wild glance.

  “What did he say about me and Curtis? What lies did Charlie spew!!”

  Dustin shrugged. “Tons. But not enough.”

  Concentrating on his footing as the pathway became steadily steeper, he watched the dust settle into his hiking shoes. It made them not look so new. Like this wasn’t his first time out in the woods.

  She startled him when she cupped her hands to make a small megaphone. “Charlie...you suck! OHMYGOD-WHATDIDYOUTELLHIM?”

  There was no answer from Charlie. He waved as he hit one switchback above them.

  “Come on. How tough could it be to talk about this Curtis with your new bestie?” he cajoled.

  Vere made a strangled cough-choke sound, and her face flamed even brighter. “No! No! It’s not the appropriate time or place. We’re hiking.” She stopped walking then, blocking his path.

  “Ehem. We aren’t hiking now. Did you notice that?”

  “Why do you have to use that voice on me?” She crossed her arms and blinked at him accusingly.

  “I wasn’t using any voice. You’re going to have to get used to it, I guess. It comes with me everywhere I go.”

  He smiled and took off his glasses to wipe the sweat off the bridge of his nose, and cleaned the moisture off the lenses with his shirt. He paused, catching her gaze.

  When she didn’t move, he leaned closer, scanning her face for some response. She appeared to be trying hard to breathe. He remained still and acted as though her behavior s
eemed completely normal. He totally got how it sucked when you were simply trying to breathe and people refused to wait for it to happen.

  Is this what Charlie had meant about Vere having anxiety?

  Could I have set this off with a couple of simple questions?

  “Vere?” he asked softy.

  Her eyes widened all huge and round, just like the deer that had been caught in their car headlights last night. The girl was miles from him at this moment and showed no signs of coming back.

  Charlie wasn’t kidding.

  This had to be brutal if it happened to her in public, and it sure as hell would scare off any guys.

  Guys who were possible jerks, that is.

  Vere made the same strangled sound and blinked as though it were starting all over again. Her face hit licorice-red and her bun had slipped far to one side.

  Unlike all the other times, Vere’s hands remained uncharacteristically motionless by her sides while her expressions ranged from doubtful, to trusting, to completely freaked out.

  Damn. But she’s so adorable like this.

  Girl kills my heart.

  Dustin’s throat went dry. He had the sudden urge to hug her...fix the bun for her. Anything to help her out of this. But he wasn’t allowed. And after yesterday’s hand-holding moment—plus today’s secret-crush admission—he no longer trusted himself to go near her.

  He tried talking again, still pretending her lapse was perfectly normal. “So. We were on the topic of Curtis?” He said the guy’s name clearly, to remind himself of the guy she really liked. He went on,“Your crush. Can we please come up with some ways I can help?”

  With what looked like a huge effort, she finally moved, and started walking. Then running! Away!

  Hilarious.

  He thought she uttered, “Maybe-don’t-know-probably-maybe,” as she bolted further ahead.

  As she reached full speed, her voice grew clearer. That’s when she hollered back to him, “After I kill my brother. Maybe.”

  Charlie was now three switchbacks above Dustin. Probably running for his life. Kid must have known Vere was going to come after him and that’s why he took off in the first place!

  Dustin grinned.

  As Vere hit the higher switchback, she stopped to call ahead, “I HATE YOU CHARLIE ROTH. SO BADLY. REVENGE IS COMING. YOU SUCK.”

  Charlie shouted back from way above, “I love you, little sis. It’s for the best! Start by telling him THE INCIDENT.”

  She gasped. Freezing again.

  Dustin looked up at her as she’d stopped in the spot one switchback directly above him.

  He raised his brows. “The incident? Sounds so epic. Any idea what your mom packed for our lunch? Have I mentioned how much I appreciate your mom’s cooking?”

  “SHUT UP,” she gasp-yelled.

  Dustin wasn’t sure if she was talking to him or Charlie.

  She looked so freaked out and mad, he wasn’t going to ask. She glowered down at Dustin, then and added, “Please....put your glasses back on. You’ll—get—an eye—sunburn! God!”

  She was still fuming to herself as she stomped away.

  He heard something about his eyes looking like liquid-blue Gatorade again.

  Dustin replaced the glasses and pulled his cap low, watching as Vere’s skinny arms flailed into fists as she started running all over again when she made the next switchback turn.

  Charlie was long gone. Vere would never catch him.

  Dustin hit the second switchback, trying to catch his breath. An impossible feat, because the first switchback had been steep as hell.

  Besides, he was laughing too hard to move any farther.

  19: the incident revisited

  VERE

  Hike abandoned half way, they’d stopped to eat lunch on a sloping rock. Vere, taking pity on the overheated Dustin (and because she’d stupidly RUN up the trail) she’d sworn she was too tired, and too hungry to go any farther.

  Because it was true.

  Neither of the boys fought her on it.

  “Come on, Vere. Say you aren’t mad anymore,” Charlie pleaded, eating half of his turkey sandwich in three huge bites.

  “I’m not mad. I’m completely humiliated.” Vere glanced at Dustin, who was also eating his sandwich without chewing, but thankfully, minus the talking-with-his-mouth-full part.

  “Yeah, come on. Don’t be embarrassed. Take advantage of the situation. I understand your complete disdain for me and my career makes it easier for you to talk to me. So talk.”

  “That’s not true. I totally respect musicians. I simply hate GuardeRobe and—”

  “Easy—” Dustin wrinkled his nose. “You’ve never listened to one song. How can you hate such awesome music?”

  “Bragger.” Vere smiled, finally relaxing under his kind, warm gaze.

  Charlie spoke to Dustin. “Dude. It’s not about the music. She hates GuardeRobe simply because I like GuardeRobe. It’s a sibling thing. When one of us announces we like something, the other must then vow to hate it forever.”

  “Is this true?” Dustin frowned. “You guys do that? Is that normal in families?”

  “Yeah. Universal behavior.” Vere nodded. “I’ve refused to listen to GuardeRobe for two years. So blame Charlie for my disdain. His fault for discovering the band first.” Vere shook her head, somewhat ashamed at Dustin’s crushed look.

  “Damn, that’s so messed up. If I help you win this Curtis Wishford, then my payment is that you have to at least listen to one or two tracks. If you can’t stand the music, then read the lyrics. Deal?”

  Vere hid a smile. “That request crosses a line that was made years ago when Charlie chopped the hair off my dolls and dressed them in his GI Joe’s outfits. I don’t think I can agree,” she lied, vowing to listen to every song GuardeRobe ever wrote when she got home.

  “You did that? Hilarious.” He took an apple out of his lunch bag and held it up. “How did your mom know my favorite? The Granny Smith rules.” He took a huge bite. “I’ve always wanted to cut off doll hair. Too bad I never had a sister.” He grinned approvingly at Charlie.

  Vere glared. “Traitor! Me, listening to GuardeRobe, will not happen unless you and Charlie memorize my favorite Katy Perry songs. And word for word after that statement.”

  “Already done.” Dustin smiled. “I’m a huge fan.”

  Charlie nodded. “I’m in the KatyKat fan club, unlike you. Poser.” Charlie went on, “Back to the topic at hand. The Incident. Spill it, or I will. Don’t you want to be cured? This guy’s offering to help so stop blowing smokescreens.”

  Vere looked away from both of them as the tips of her ears caught on fire. “If I tell this story, you, Charlie Roth can never, ever tease me about it again.” She turned on Dustin. “And you, Dustin McHugh, can never start teasing me about it. Okay?”

  Charlie nodded solemnly. “I swear, from this day forward. No more teasing about Curtis or ‘the incident’. All other topics are still wide open though, right? If so, then I promise.”

  Dustin bit his bottom lip as though he wanted to laugh and answered, “I promise too.”

  Vere took a long shaky breath. “Fine. I’ve wanted to be with Curtis Wishford since I was old enough to know what girlfriend meant. Before that, I simply wanted to marry him in the Prince and Princess style.”

  Charlie rolled his eyes. “I hated living in the room across the hall those years. She sang the stupidest songs.”

  “Whatever. Your spit-shooting gun battles were worse.”

  Dustin laughed. “Back to Curtis, please.”

  Vere went on, “Before that, I wanted to play house with Curtis and hand him plastic cookies. Something I did often, because we always played ‘house’ together, long before things got really awkward.”

  “And playing house isn’t awkward?” Charlie snorted.

  Vere tossed him a glare. “You promised!”

  Charlie held up his hands and gasped out, “I know. I know. It’s just not easy.” He bent over and turned
away, shoulders shaking, until a full belly laugh escaped him.

  Dustin started laughing too.

  Vere stood and threw her apple at Charlie. She missed her mark and it bounced off Dustin’s head instead. Both guys jumped up to get out of her way, laughing uncontrollably.

  “P-p-pplastic cookies. She’s not kidding,” Charlie choked out, holding his stomach. “We played house all the time.”

  “Haa. Stop. No more details.” Dustin still laughing, pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

  “YOU both SUCK! Why did I even try? And, Dustin, if this is you, teaching me self-control after YEARS of acting classes, now we all know why you have not yet received an acting award! You’ve got work to do.”

  As though that insult didn’t even touch Dustin, he laughed louder.

  “He’s got two Mega-Music Awards. Isn’t that enough?” said Charlie.

  “You do?” Vere, blinked at Dustin, while she contemplated throwing rocks at Charlie.

  “I don’t have any awards. I’m just Dustin. Charlie, stop bringing all that shit up.” He met Vere’s gaze and laughed again.

  “Ugh. Stop laughing at me,” Vere cried.

  “No. No!” Dustin laughed louder. “I swear, I’m not laughing at you. I laughed at Charlie, because he was so funny trying not to laugh. I swear. The kid’s face cracks me up.”

  “And I only started laughing because I remembered the time Curtis actually ate one of those plastic cookies. Then I remembered, that cookie was the first time you’d sent Curtis to the emergency room.” Charlie made his eyes all big and round. “The incident was the second time!”

  “I’d forgotten about that.” Vere shook her head.

  “Vere, you’re like his fatal attraction!” Charlie doubled over, howling again.

  Even Vere had to crack up at that. “I’m glad you’ve been keeping track. Please don’t pass this information on to anyone outside the three of us, you ass. No need for people at school to know.”

  Vere met Dustin’s smiling eyes, and realized the plain, fleckless, burning blue color hardly shocked her at all any more.

  “Curtis used to eat everything. He ate rocks out of our front yard once,” she explained. “Some tree bark too, and every quarter he could find.” She giggled. “The kid was always heading to the hospital for stuff like that.