My Undercover Life

Episode 29

You’re a f—–g liar Lily, and I will expose you.
My breath quickened, feeling the sudden bloom of heat across my face. Hearing the pounding of my heart, I felt my chest tightening up making it harder and harder to breath. Taking deep shallow breaths, my vision started to blur, as the world around me started to spin.
Feeling the cold metal on my bare hands, my back touched the cool surface, leaning against it for support.
Seeing the movement of a shadow in the corner of my eye, my breath hitched before I saw Skylar’s face. Visibly relaxing at the sight of him, his eyes shone with worry, glancing at me with concern.
“Are you okay?” he spoke softly.
“H-he-message-again,” I spluttered, while pointing at my phone. It didn’t take long for understanding to cross his face, before he took my phone from my grasp. His eyes soon mirrored mine, as they flashed with fear before they suddenly turned into anger.
“It’s definitely Hunter,” Skylar said looking dead at me. “I saw him taking his phone out just a second ago before he left.”
“But I have Hunter’s number,” I said confidently this time. I wasn’t sure why I was defending Hunter, but I was positive it wasn’t him. No one can fake that amount of sincerity.
“It’s a burner phone. Even if you have his number, it’ll show up as unknown.”
“Even so, that’s totally unlike him—”
“—Remember how he acted when you first met him?” Skylar pointed out, shutting me up. “Maybe he’s been acting all along?”
“I-I-I don’t know what to say to that. . .” I was completely torn. Skylar was right. The way he acted when we first met was completely different from the way he’s acting now. But then again . . . he did say he was having a bad day. Was he lying about that too?
“You don’t have to say anything. We’ll find out for sure on Monday,” he reassured me, the corner of his eyes crinkling. “Until then, let’s just hope he doesn’t go through with his plan.”
“What if he does?” I asked nervously. “What if he expose me? I’ll have to leave if he does . . .”
“At this point, it’s okay if you leave. We already have DNA and fingerprint samples from both Bradlee and Ian. We just need the results,” Skylar said, patting my back. “We just have to keep you safe until then.”
“But what if the results comes back negative for Bradlee and Ian? We still need evidence that it’s Hunter.”
“Don’t worry, Avery.” He smiled. “When the time comes we’ll figure that out. But until then you need to get back to class before Megan starts freaking out.”

The corners of my mouth lifted up into a smile, as I pictured Megan screaming bloody murder in the hallway. “Yeah, you’re right.” I nodded. “And you better go back to mopping floors before someone see you talking to me,” I said jokingly.
“Oh don’t worry about me.” He chuckled. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine now.” I gave him a closed-mouth smile. “Thanks cousin of mine.”
His lips stretched out into a full-blown smile. “You finally admitted we’re related.”
“I admitted it a long time ago, just never out loud.” I laughed. “Anyways, we should go before the bell rings.”
He agreed, tagging along. Keeping a safe distance behind me, he kept his head down, while watching me carefully. As I headed back to Mr. Meyer’s classroom, students started piling out one by one before I saw Kasey eyeing me.
I gulped, seeing his green eyes livid staring directly at me. “You know, I don’t understand why you defended him like that.”
“You know,” I copied his tone. “I don’t understand why you had to be a jerk about it,” I shot back, crossing my arms across my chest.
“Me?” He pointed to himself. “I was just stating the truth.”
“Rumors,” I corrected.
“Rumors?” He laughed. “Avery.” I shook violently hearing my name coming out of his mouth. The way he said my name wasn’t right; it almost sent a chill up my spine. “You’d been here for what? Two weeks? You know nothing about him,” he spat his last sentence out.
“And like I said before, I know more about him than you do.” I sneered at him. “I doubt you even had a decent conversation with him, let alone speak to him.”
“Yeah, that’s because he’s mute!” His voice bounced off the walls, drawing the attention to the surrounding students around us. “He doesn’t talk to anyone!”
“Maybe if you try to—”
“Try?” He laughed darkly. “Why would I do that?”
“Because, you’ll see he’s not the bad guy here!”

“Then tell me why my little brother was in the hospital because of him!” he shouted suddenly stopping me dead in my tracks. His chest heaved up and down as his eyes clouded up with vexation. Staring at me with dark, cold eyes, I couldn’t help notice the way the students were looking at him. Pity.
“W-what?”
“My brother,” he said through gritted teeth. “The person he beat up was my brother.” My eyes widened, as the world around me stopped. It couldn’t be. There’s no way. Why would Bradlee beat up anyone? Let alone some poor kid?
“I-It can’t be,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head. “H-he’s not like that—”
“—He is,” he snapped, walking towards me. I s—-d in a breath, biting my tongue. “And if you don’t believe me,” he said, bumping shoulders with me. “Ask him yourself. Maybe then you’ll see the monster he truly is.”

“Hey,” I heard Megan’s voice said, as the chair in front of me squeaked loudly. I looked up slowly, seeing her tray stacked with piles and piles of chips. I eyed her weirdly before she shrugged her shoulders at me, like it was nothing. “What? I was craving some chips.”
“Megan, you practically brought the entire place out.”
“No. Just half.” I rolled my eyes. Like that was any better.
“So, you feeling any better?” she asked, popping open a bag of Doritos-her most favorite snack.
“Do I look like I’m feeling any better?” Since that whole Kasey incident this morning, the whole freaking school was gossiping about it. The rumor went as far as Bradlee showing up and punching the living daylights out of Kasey. How it went that far? I have no freaking clue.
“No,” she said immediately. “You looked beyond pissed.”
“I am pissed.” Because of that stupid rumor, Bradlee was no where to be seen. Even Hunter couldn’t find him. It was like he disappeared into thin air.
“Maybe snacking on some chips will help you?” She smiled, waving a piece of Doritos in front of me.
“Megan.” I sighed, breathing through my nose. “I don’t think snacking on chips will fix this.”

Her smile dropped. “Why not? Chips always—”
“What’s up, ladies,” Ian exclaimed cheerfully, jumping in front of us. Megan and I glanced at him, as he leaned his body forward against the edge of the table. “How are my two lovely ladies doing today?”
“Well, I’m great,” Megan replied equally as cheerful. “But Avery over here, isn’t feeling so hot.”
Ian’s smile dimmed a bit, focusing his attention on me. “Aw,” he cooed, skipping his way over towards me. “How come?” he asked, scooting into the chair next to me. “Do you need me to cheer you up?”
I laughed. “No, it’s okay Ian.”
He pouted. “You sure? You know you can always come to me if you need help cheering up!” He ended his sentence with a tap to his chest.
“I know.”
“Yay!” Ian threw his arms in the air, pulling me into his chest. “I’m so glad you think that way,” he said excitedly, jumping up from his seat. “Now, let’s have some delicious lunch before we starve to death!”

“That’s okay Ian,” I said backing out of his hold. “I’m not that hungry.”
His eyes widened dramatically. “What? Not hungry?! H-how is that even possible?”
“Um . . . because I ate earlier today, and-”
“So?” he interrupted, slamming his hands on the table. I jumped up in surprised before looking up at Ian. “You need to eat every meal. Otherwise you’ll never be as happy as I am!”
I bit my lip, knowing he wasn’t as happy as he let others to believe. Quite the opposite actually. Seems to me being happy at school was his only escape. I just wish I knew what was happening inside that house of his.
“Alright.” I laughed, coming out of my thoughts. “I’ll get food.”
“Yay!” Ian pumped his fist into the air, before grasping my hand in his. “Come on Avery, let’s—”
“—Avery!” I whipped my head towards the direction of the voice, before seeing Hunter, rushing towards me with the biggest smile on his face. “Avery! I finally found you!”
My eyebrows dipped down in bewilderment. “You were looking for me?”
“Yes, to show you this!” He pulled out a piece of paper from his back pocket, shoving it at me. Glancing down at it, I stared at the folded up little square in my hand in confusion.
“Ah, what is this?”
“It’s my Biology quiz,” Hunter explained, before he unfolded it for me. “Mr. Meyer decided to give out a surprise pop quiz today, and I got a B!” he shouted, before I was suddenly lifted up into the air.
My eyes widened in shock as Hunter’s arms tightened against my waist, bringing me closer towards his body. I was literally pressed up against his chest, my arms spread out like a helicopter in flight. Feeling the heat spreading up to my cheeks, I could feel the million pairs of eyes on me as Hunter spun me around.
“You’re literally the best tutor ever!” he praised me, even though I haven’t exactly tutored him that much lately. Either he was an extremely lucky guesser or he’s actually paying attention in class now.

“Hunter,” I whispered, grasping his shoulders. “As much as I love being the center of attention, please put me down.”
He blinked his eyes, pausing. Turning his head a bit, his mouth formed an oval shape when realization dawned on him. Seeing his cheeks turning a few shades of red, I couldn’t help but giggle softly, before he lowered me down to eye level, carrying me in one hand.

“Sorry,” he apologized, dipping his head in embarrassment.
“Dang, Hunter!” Ian gushed in amazement, glancing up at him. “You’re super strong!”
“Ah, not really,” he said scratching the back of his head, acting all shy. “Avery here is just really light.”
“Then she must be super light!”
“Ah, guys.” I tapped Hunter’s forearm, catching his attention. “Before you continue your little chit-chat, can you let me down first?”
His eyes enlarged before he let out a string of curses, letting me down. “Sorry Avery.”
I shook my head, straightening up my clothes. “It’s fine.” I laughed, waving my hand at him. “You just got excited, that’s all.”
“Sorry,” I heard him repeat once more, dismissing my words.
“Hunter,” I said, stressing his name out. He lifted his head slowly, eyeing me cautiously. “Seriously, it’s no big deal.”
When the reassuring smile didn’t disappear from my face, he smiled back. Seeing the smile back on his face, I couldn’t help but smile wider in delight. Even though I knew Skylar was near by watching, I couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe the killer isn’t who we think it is.