Chapter 3: Public Humiliation!

Hunter, unfortunately, seemed to have other plans.

I was trying to concentrate on the worksheet in front of me when he leaned over and glanced at my answers.

"Seriously?" he whispered.

I ignored him.

"Is that actually your answer?"

I gripped my pen tighter. "Can you leave me alone for five minutes?"

"Everyone, I think we have a genius sitting among us."

My head snapped up.

Hunter was looking around the classroom with a ridiculous grin on his face.

"Apparently, the answer to question three is completely wrong."

A few students turned towards us.

My stomach dropped.

"Shut up, Hunter," I muttered.

"What? I'm just helping." He reached for my worksheet before I could stop him. "Sir, I think you should see this."

He held it up.

My worksheet.

In front of the entire class.

I felt my cheeks burn as people began turning in their seats to look. Someone at the back snickered.

"Give it back!" I demanded, reaching for it.

Hunter lifted it higher.

"Come on, don't be shy. Explain your answer to everyone."

The classroom filled with quiet laughter.

For a moment, I couldn't move.

I hated being the centre of attention. I hated people staring at me. And I hated that Hunter knew exactly how to get under my skin.

But then something inside me snapped.

I stood up so quickly that my chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"ARE YOU DONE?"

The laughter stopped.

Even Hunter looked surprised.

I held out my hand.

"Give. Me. My. Work."

He blinked before slowly lowering the paper.

I snatched it from his hand and placed it on my desk.

"And since you're apparently so interested in my answers, why don't you show everyone yours?"

A couple of people exchanged looks.

Hunter's smirk returned, although it wasn't quite as confident as before.

"What's the matter, sunshine? Can't take a joke?"

"No, Hunter. I can take a joke. What I can't stand is someone who thinks embarrassing other people makes him interesting."

The classroom went completely silent.

I continued before he could interrupt.

"You spend so much time trying to make everyone laugh at other people that you probably don't even know how to have a normal conversation. Do you ever get tired of acting like this, or is being annoying your entire personality?"

Someone at the back whispered, "Ouch."

Hunter's jaw tightened.

For once, he had absolutely nothing to say.

And honestly?

It felt amazing.

"That's enough," our teacher said, turning away from the board. "Hunter, sit properly and stop disturbing your classmate. And you—please sit down so we can continue."

I sat, my heart pounding against my ribs.

I couldn't believe I'd actually said all that.

I stared determinedly at my worksheet, pretending my hands weren't shaking slightly beneath the desk.

A few seconds passed.

Then Hunter leaned towards me.

"You done with your little speech?"

I didn't look at him.

"Don't talk to me."

"Gladly."

"Perfect."

"Brilliant."

"Wonderful."

"Fantastic."

I turned to glare at him.

He was already looking at me.

For a split second, our eyes met, and I noticed something strange in his expression. His usual smug grin was gone. He looked almost… thoughtful.

Then he shook his head and faced the front.

I told myself I didn't care.

I didn't care what he thought of me. I didn't care if he was angry. And I certainly didn't care if I'd finally managed to shut him up.

Except my heart was still racing.

And I had a horrible feeling the entire class would be talking about what had just happened by lunchtime.

When the bell finally rang, I shoved my books into my bag and hurried towards the door.

I just wanted to get away from everyone.

"Hey."

I recognised the voice immediately.

I kept walking.

"Hey, sunshine!"

I walked faster.

Hunter caught up with me near the lockers.

"Are you seriously ignoring me?"

I stopped and turned around.

"What gave it away?"

He folded his arms.

"You embarrassed me in there."

I stared at him.

I actually stared at him.

"You embarrassed YOURSELF. I just stopped letting you embarrass me."

His expression changed.

For a moment, I thought he might actually apologise.

Instead, he let out a short laugh.

"You've got quite a temper."

"And you've got quite an ego."

Everything felt awkward.

I looked away.

Hunter tilted his head, studying me.

"You always this brave when you're angry?"

I stepped closer, refusing to let him intimidate me.

"You have no idea."

Something flickered across his face.

Then the corner of his mouth lifted.

"Interesting."

"What's interesting?"

"Nothing."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you're trying to figure me out."

He slipped his hands into his pockets. Still staring at my soft pink lips.

"Maybe I am."

I didn't have an answer for that.

And I hated that I didn't.

Before I could think of something clever to say, he walked backwards down the corridor.

"See you in class, sunshine."

"Unfortunately," I called after him.

He laughed and disappeared around the corner.

I stood beside the lockers, trying to understand why that conversation had felt so different from our usual arguments.

Then I shook my head.

Nope.

Absolutely not.

Hunter was still arrogant, irritating and completely unbearable.

And I was not going to waste another second thinking about him.

Not even one.

I turned towards the stairs, determined to find my friends and forget the entire morning.

But as I walked away, one thought refused to leave my mind.

For the first time since I'd met Hunter, I'd seen him lose.

And somehow, I had a feeling he wasn't going to let me forget it.