I'll Be The One

Chapter 12:

=Normal POV=
[Monday, 12/3/2018-4:00 pm]
[Archipelago; Arc Isle]
[Dreki Apartments]

"Hunter! Hunter, over here!"

"Just a few quick words!"

"God damn it, not again…" Hunter groaned as he adjusted his backpack and tried to make an escape from the newspaper and news crews trying to get a statement from him. Hunter tried his trick from last time, but it didn't work as they were closing in fast while he had already reached the apartment complex. Hunter was beginning to panic a little as he fumbled through getting his key card and scanning to get into the building.

"There he goes!" someone shouted as Hunter worked to get inside, but his backpack was grabbed.

"Let go," Hunter demanded. No sooner than he said it; Cody and Andrew broke through to push back the crowd and get Hunter released.

"Go, Hunter!" Andrew said quickly. Hunter took a few deep breaths as he nodded, silently thanking them as he hurried to get to his apartment. Hunter scanned his card, and went to open the door, but it wouldn't.

"What?" Hunter asked, trying again and getting the same result. Hunter tried once more before he began knocking. "Flynn! Flynn, open the door, please!" Hunter desperately tried while looking back to see Cody and Andrew struggling by themselves to hold the reporters and journalists back. Hunter could tell Cody was trying to call for back up. Hunter knew he needed to disappear, and his apartment would have been ideal, but Flynn had the door locked from the inside and obviously couldn't hear the knocking. Hunter peered around the hallway, looking for another option and by the Gods; he found it. There was door, open at the end of the hallway on the right side. Hunter booked it down the hall, and quickly got inside, closing the door behind him while panting. Hunter's eyes closed, laying his forehead on the door. "Such is my life…" he sighed.

"Hunter?" came a familiar voice as Hunter whipped around to see Tallon standing behind him, also surprised.

"Tallon?" Hunter asked, looking around and seeing the letter and number on the door as A10. "Oh, my Gods! I'm so sorry! I thought this was a utility closet!"

"Hey, it's cool. Calm down. I'm not mad…Is…Everything okay?" Tallon inquired.

"I…Needed a place to hide and this was the only door I saw open…" Hunter admitted.

"Paparazzi?" Tallon questioned and Hunter nodded to him. The man smiled with a half laugh. "Can't be easy being you, huh?"

"Unfortunately, no," Hunter replied.

"Well, I don't mind if you hide out here," Tallon said. "I didn't even realize my door was still open. I thought I closed it when I came in ten minutes ago,"

"All the doors should close automatically," Hunter informed. "Your metal piece up there must be broken because your door was partially open by three or so inches…" he added.

"I'll have to get that fixed and make sure I drag the door closed when I come in or leave," Tallon chuckled a bit. "Come on, you don't have to stand there and guard the door. Have a seat, relax a little," he invited towards the living room. Hunter noticed that Tallon's apartment had a different layout than Flynn's as he got off the door and glanced around. From the entry door revealed the kitchen and living room, off to the right was a small desk area and then across from that was a hallway, which likely led to the bathroom and bedroom. Hunter got away from the door, following Tallon's inviting hand towards the living room.

"I owe you for this," Hunter said, a small smile on his lips.

"Don't worry about it; friends help one another out," Tallon said, moving into the kitchen more and opening the fridge. "Can I get you something to drink? I have beer, water, juice, soda,"

"Uh…Water is fine, thank you," Hunter replied. Tallon got him a water bottle and walked if over to the couch where Hunter was sitting.

"Did you card not work on the door to your apartment?" Tallon wondered.

"Flynn has it locked from the inside, and didn't hear me knocking," Hunter replied softly.

"I think he has Harper over," Tallon stated "I think it's their anniversary…Or it's sometime this week, but this is the only time they have that is free until Saturday or Sunday. Or they just wanted some alone time while Drew is working," he shrugged. "How are you feeling from Friday night?"

"Not entirely sure still, hence the water," Hunter took a few sips from the bottle. "My body is weird like that when it comes to being sick. One day I could be like I was Friday, and then there's days like today where I feel okay, but not wanting to take the risk of assuming I'm fine and not. I was born two months early, so my immune system, for lack of a better word, sucks,"

"Yeah, you looked pretty miserable on Friday," Tallon nodded. "You knocked out in the chair, so we all left,"

"You guys didn't have to leave on my account; I could have woken up and moved to my room," Hunter smiled.

"It wasn't a big deal, don't worry," Tallon chuckled. "If you do end up feeling sick again; the bathroom is down that hall across from the desk and first door on your right,"

"Appreciated," Hunter nodded. "And this too, letting me hideout for a bit,"

"No problem," Tallon smiled to him. "Guess it worked out that I live in the same hallway as you," he added.

"Yeah, lucky for that," Hunter replied. "And that your door is apparently broken," he laughed a little.

"I'll have to get that fixed," Tallon wrote it on the notepad that was on the center table. "Can't be having the door not close behind me on the way in or out," he laughed. "But if you ever need a place to hideout; I'm usually always here," he smiled. "And I don't mind,"

"Thanks," Hunter smiled some.

"How long until you think it's safe to go back out there?" Tallon asked.

"Pfft, Odin only knows…Cody and Andrew were calling for backup to push them back; hard to say," Hunter shrugged. "We're talking about a group of people who literally take shifts camping out at the school to catch me…So they're pretty dedicated," he added.

"Sounds it," Tallon chuckled a little. "Well, like I said; I don't mind ya being here. I'm sure it won't be all night,"

"Gods, I would hope not," Hunter mumbled with a sigh. "I suppose I should do my homework; I have all this free time now while not working,"

"Do you miss it? Working?" Tallon asked.

"A little bit. I only quit to be able to spend more time with Cassandra, but that's over, so…Yeah. I went from having no time to…Not a ton, but more than before," Hunter informed.

"I'd like to think it was a win/win for you, Hunter," Tallon stated. "You got more free time, and you got to see before proposing a second time to her, that she was cheating and very willing to be unfaithful to you. Now, you're single, able to focus more on school and made some friends too. I'd like to think you made out good from that situation," Tallon smiled.

"I suppose so; I gave that some thought, but pushed it off because thinking about her bothers me," Hunter mentioned. "Gave five years of my life to her, and for what? Nothing now. Seems wasted, and sadly…I don't like my time wasted as it's pretty scarce,"

"I understand," Tallon nodded. "Even with you not working now; your time is limited?"

"Yeah. In the sense of doing homework and events with dad. Honestly, things have slowed down now that he's been re-elected. But before; it was events, work, school, trying to hang with all of you…And as it is; I can't go out in public without being harassed…This is the second time I've been almost caught leaving school," Hunter stated.

"You're the president's son, Hunter; you're a person of everyone's interest," Tallon said. "I remember last time, you came in the window," he chuckled.

"I hate doing stuff like that…Thank God we're on the first floor," Hunter breathed a sigh of relief. "I know my life isn't normal, but I like to pretend sometimes…Not that I know what normal is. My dad has had my life, well…Our life in the spotlight before I was born," Hunter said.

"Come on; you've had to have some freedom," Tallon asked.

"Yeah…In the bedroom," Hunter mumbled. "Mine and Cassandra's dates were done IN the house. Dad would send someone out to get us what we wanted for dinner, and set up a table for two in my bedroom. Movies, on my bed with blanket draped down and a projector…" Hunter explained.

"My Gods, you poor…Deprived boy," Tallon gasped, but he was smiling.

"I think the only time I get to myself for fun is when I slip my guards to hang out with you and the others," Hunter laughed a little.

"We need to fix this," Tallon said.

"Yeah? If you can manage it; I'm down," Hunter informed.

"Is that a challenge?" Tallon arched a brow.

"As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, it is," Hunter grinned.

"Oh, you're on," Tallon stood up. "You wanna get out of here?"

"I'd love to. I'm starving and could use a change of scenery from apartment and school," Hunter said with a hopeful look in his eyes.

"Gimme a second," Tallon moved down the hall. Hunter stood there, waiting and wondering what Tallon had planned. Five minutes later, Tallon returned and tossed Hunter a pair of jeans, shirt, and a sweater. "Put these on,"

"What is wrong with my clothes?" Hunter stared.

"You look like the president's son; you need to not," Tallon laughed. "Go on, it's an old set of stuff that doesn't fit me anymore, but you're about my size, little shorter, so it'll fit you," Tallon said. Hunter could argue with the logic, so he went to the bathroom and changed quickly. Now; he wore faded black jeans that were a little loose on his legs, a baggy long-sleeve green shirt with a slight V-cut at the top, black sneakers, and a brown, zip up hoodie sweater. "Eh…" Tallon waved his hand a little in a so-so fashion. "Needs some work still," Hunter mumbled a bit.

"Okay, mister perfect," Hunter said sarcastically.

Tallon moved towards Hunter, fixing a few things. Tallon unzipped the sweater a bit; opening it up to be hanging off Hunter's shoulders. Tallon ruffled up Hunter's hair a little and then put up the hood and slid on a pair of sunglasses. "There. Hardly recognize you," Tallon chuckled, flipping on the bathroom light and showing Hunter.

"Wow," Hunter blinked a few times. "Okay, what now?"

"Follow my lead," Tallon winked as Hunter smiled, feeling something like a flutter in his stomach as he followed Tallon to the door. The man peered outside the apartment, the halls were still crowded with several guards trying to keep paparazzi out; other tenants wanted to know what was happening. Hunter could smell Tallon's scent on the sweater and it made him smile a little.

Gods…What is wrong with me?... Hunter thought. Why do I feel this way around him?

"Ready?" Tallon asked. Hunter nodded as Tallon opened the door. Together they walked out as Tallon put up his hood and they reached the exit where everything was happening. "Alright! Break it up!" he yelled out. "This is private property!"

"We saw Hunter Haddock go in here!"

"Yeah, okay. As if the president's son is here; he dorms at Archia Island University," Hunter remarked in a lower tone.

"Now, move out!" Tallon said firmly.

"You can't make us," someone huffed.

"Would you like to bet on that?" Tallon stated.

"Unless you are a cop-," another began. In that instant, which surprised Hunter a bit; Tallon flipped his badge into sight.

"As a matter of fact, I am a cop. Officer Fury of the APD," Tallon said in a stern tone. "I can also assure you that with one phone call I can have five other officers who live in this building join me. Now…Last warning, clear out," slowly, sure surely; they began to stop shoving one another and fighting the bodyguards to get access to the building. The reporters and journalists reluctantly left and moseyed outside of the building, and some returned to the school.

"Thank you, for your help, Officer Fury," Cody bowed his head.

"No problem," Tallon replied calmly.

"We need to find where Hunter went…I never saw him get inside his apartment," said Harry.

"Perhaps I can be of some more assistance then; Hunter is in my apartment at the end of the hall," Tallon said as Hunter blinked a bit, wondering why Tallon was lying to them. "His roommate is otherwise engaged in…Private activities and accidentally locked Hunter out, so he came to my place in A10, just down here. I'm going out with my roommate to the bar for a bit. I told Hunter he could stay as long as he wanted and needed, so don't worry. I think he was doing his homework," he informed with a smile.

"Oh, thank you," Andrew said next.

"You're welcome. Hunter is one of my friends; I'd do anything for him," Hunter's eyes widened a little. "Or my other friends," Tallon added as Hunter smiled a bit, blushing; thank the Gods he was wearing sunglasses and the hood hid his face. "Come on, dude," Tallon urged Hunter to come along with him. Hunter walked beside Tallon until they were out, past the few paparazzi waiting there for hope of seeing Hunter, who was cleverly hid and protected by Officer Fury, or Tallon to Hunter. Once they were far enough away, Hunter looked right at Tallon as they moved together down the street on the sidewalk.

"That was goddamn brilliant," Hunter said.

"Why thank you," Tallon chuckled. "I take it I won the challenge then?" he asked.

"Not yet…You promised me fun…And food," Hunter smiled.

"I did, didn't I?" Tallon said as Hunter nodded. "Alright, come on. I'll take you to my favorite spot," he offered.

"I anxiously await to see what you have in store for me," Hunter replied as the two laughed a bit.

"Come on, Hunter," Tallon said as he grabbed Hunter's wrist and pulled him along as they headed in a jog for wherever Tallon had in mind to take them. Hunter was genuinely curious about where Tallon was taking him; it was mysterious, adventurous, and fun. Hunter still didn't understand the feeling he got when he was with Tallon, but right now; he just wanted to spend time with him and have fun.

. . .

[5:00 pm]
[Dragon's Nest Bar]

"Wow, you were not kidding about going to the bar," Hunter blinked.

"Hunter, I'm a man of my word," Tallon smiled. "Come on; it's fine. This is a quite place, only ten minutes from the complex. We're fine, and we're not gonna get smashed. Just a couple drinks and some food," he said.

"Alright," Hunter shrugged; he could trust Tallon. What was there to worry about? They were close to home and Hunter could call his guards any time for help. However, Hunter figured that with Officer Fury present; he would be fine regardless. The two entered the bar, grabbing a smaller booth in the back. A waitress came over, smiling, and setting down two napkins in front of them.

"Hi, boys. I'm Nicole or Nikki. How are we this evening?" the woman, Nicole, smiled.

"Fine, thanks," Tallon responded.

"What can I get for you?" Nicole beamed.

"Can you give us just a few minutes?" Tallon asked.

"Sure," Nicole replied with a nod and walking off.

"Am I safe to take off the glasses and hood?" Hunter wondered.

"Oh, the glasses are part of the costume, silly. They are the transition lenses; they look like regular glasses now. Don't worry; they won't harm your eyes and yes, you can take the hood off," Tallon chuckled. Hunter removed the hood, but kept the glasses in place as Tallon fixed up Hunter's hair a little. "There. No one will recognize you in here, it too down-low for anyone to care about a celebrity being present,"

"I suppose that's comforting," Hunter smiled as Tallon opened the bar menu.

"So, what are you in the mood for? Burger? Fries? Nachos? Wings?" Tallon asked.

"No idea," Hunter admitted.

"Want to just get an app sampler? It's got a little of everything on it that we can pick at?" Tallon suggested.

"Yeah, that sounds good," Hunter nodded to him.

"Feel like drinking, or no?" Tallon inquired.

"I suppose one wouldn't hurt and see how that goes before deciding to have another," Hunter shrugged. "I feel okay right now, have since after lunch today, which I kept down," he added.

"We'll do something light then," Tallon smiled.

"Sounds good. I'm, uh, gonna hit the bathroom before we start," Hunter stated as he slid out of the seat.

"No problem. I can order for us; you have a preference on drink?" Tallon wondered.

"Nah, surprise me," Hunter said as he headed for the bathroom. Tallon pulled out his phone and checked his messages, finding only one that really mattered.

Dad's Cell, 4:55 pm
Is he safe? Where is he?

Tallon typed his reply, sending it off quickly.

5:05 pm
Yes, and I got him with me.

Nicole returned with her pad out and a smile on her face. "Have we decided?" she asked.

"Yes. We'll take one appetizer sampler and two rum and coke's, please?" Tallon ordered gently.

"No problem; I'll have that right to you," Nicole walked away again. Tallon sat back, relaxing. This would be nice; Tallon figured Hunter could use a little relaxation after the madness earlier, and the guy never got any time to have fun unless he was hiding. Tallon ensured that Hunter could be safe and be in public while having fun, so that was all that mattered right now; keeping Hunter happy and safe. Hunter returned and slid into his spot.

"Just ordered," Tallon informed.

"Awesome. I can't wait; I'm starving," Hunter smiled.

"Should be out in a few minutes. Also got us rum and coke's," Tallon stated.

"Easy going drink, nice choice," Hunter complimented.

"That's what you said you wanted," Tallon chuckled.

"True," Hunter nodded. "This is fun…I'm glad we did this,"

"Me too," Tallon replied as they relaxed, enjoying the atmosphere and beginning to chat at little about life.