--
Dustin looked over at Hunter as they sat eating breakfast in his room early Monday morning. Hunter had been rather distant since he talked to Shane the other night, like there was something serious on his mind, but he wouldn't say what. Dustin sighed. "Hunter, what's wrong?"
Hunter shrugged. "Nothing."
Dustin rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Come on, you know better. Is it about Shane? What did he say?"
Hunter paused. "I can't tell you, I'm sorry."
He blinked in surprise. "Why not?"
"Not just you," he said quickly. "Shane told me something he didn't mean to, and I don't really know what to do about it."
"Is everything okay?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah," Hunter said. "It's nothing like that."
"Okay," he said. Then he paused. "You know, I'm surprised you think you owe it to him to be quiet about it."
He shrugged. "I just have to figure things out first."
Dustin nodded. "So how'd things go with him, anyway? You never really said."
"Not much to tell," he said, sighing. "Plenty of shouting, that's about it." Dustin could almost see the conflicting thoughts running across his face. "I don't know, I want to talk to him again but I don't think it would do any good. Maybe we're just too far gone."
"I'm starting to think the same thing," he said, shaking his head. "But I just can't quite convince myself of it."
"I know," Hunter said. He smiled. "That's one of the things I love about you."
Dustin found himself smiling back. He reached over and took Hunter's hand. "I can't believe you have to leave already."
"Me neither," he said. "But I'll be back soon. We'll have a good Thanksgiving." He paused. "Different, but good."
"Can Blake make it?" Dustin asked, hoping he'd get to see him again.
He nodded. "Yeah, he says he'll come." He smirked. "He'd better. I've yet to spend a Thanksgiving without him, and I don't want to start this of all years."
"That's for sure," Dustin said. "You gonna invite that teacher friend of yours?"
Hunter looked surprised. "Kara? You want me to?"
"Yeah," he said easily. "Why not? I wanna meet her."
"Maybe I'll do that then," he said.
"We should just get whoever wants to come," Dustin said. "Which probably won't be much, but it'll still be all right."
"Ask Marah," he suggested. "And her sister, they might like to come."
Dustin looked at him. "You wouldn't mind?"
"Absolutely not," he said. "You can bring whoever you want."
"Awesome," he said, smiling.
Hunter laughed. "Am I that bad?"
"Of course not," he answered. "Just didn't think you'd be okay with that." He paused. "Too bad Shane and Tori won't be there."
"No, can't see that happening," Hunter said. Then he stood. "Well, I'd better get going. I have to go and say goodbye to Cam."
"Okay," Dustin said, standing up. "I'll wait here."
Hunter nodded. "I'll see you soon." He leaned forward, kissing Dustin on the lips, then smiled and left the room.
--
Shane entered the office quietly, knocking on the already-open door. "Sensei?"
Cam appeared from the other room and came over to him. "He's not here. What do you need?"
Shane paused, then reluctantly handed Cam the papers he held. "Can you see that he gets these?"
He looked at them. "What are they?"
"My resignation papers," he said, watching Cam's reaction. He looked surprised, but not as relieved as Shane had expected. "I'll stay on as long as I'm needed." Shane added. "But I'd like to leave as soon as possible."
"Why are you doing this?" Cam asked.
He paused. "This isn't right for me, I guess. Just let him know, okay."
Cam nodded, but he looked confused. "Sure."
"Thanks." Shane nodded. "I'll see you later." He turned and left the room, passing Hunter outside. Shane didn't meet his eyes, didn't even look his way, but he could tell Hunter was watching him. Shane went past him quickly and left the building.
That hadn't been easy. But at least it was over with.
--
Cam stared at the papers in his hand silently, lost in thought until a voice startled him out of them. "Cam, you okay?"
He looked up to see Hunter standing in the doorway, looking concerned. Cam found himself staring at him a moment, then blinked and looked away. "Yeah," he said. "I'm all right." He lifted the papers. "Shane's resignation."
"What?" Hunter asked, coming over to him. "He's leaving the Academy?"
Cam nodded. "Yeah. I don't know why. He seemed pretty set on being the one to stay before, always said Dustin should leave instead."
He could see the anger flash in Hunter's eyes. "Well, maybe it's better this way."
"It should be," he said slowly. "But . . . something isn't right."
Hunter paused. "Yeah. He has some shit going on."
He frowned. "Enough to make him quit?"
"I guess so," he said quietly. Then he took a breath. "Well, I came to say good-bye, I have to get back."
Cam nodded, fighting the disappointment he felt. "Okay. Well, I hope you can come back soon, it was good having you around."
"Sorry we didn't get to see each other much," Hunter said. "It's just with everything going on . . . there wasn't much time."
"I understand," he said quietly. He shrugged a little. "It's fine, really."
Hunter looked at him closely. "Cam, are you okay?"
Cam looked into his eyes and paused, then nodded. "Yeah, I just . . ." he trailed off, shrugging. "Nothing. Never mind."
Hunter frowned, folding his arms. "Cam, you know you can tell me. You've sure listened to all our problems lately."
Cam shook hi head. "No, it's really nothing. Just thinking, you know?"
He nodded, but didn't look convinced. Luckily he seemed to know Cam well enough to know he wouldn't get it out of him. "Okay then," he said. "But call or something, if you wanna talk."
"Sure," he said. "I'll talk to you later."
Hunter slapped his shoulder. "Take care."
"I will." He stared at him, wishing so bad that— "Bye," he said, wishing Hunter would just leave and yet wanting him to stay so bad.
Hunter nodded and turned, leaving the room, and Cam watched him go quietly. Then he sat down at his desk, putting Shane's papers aside for his father. He turned on the computer screen and tried to get his mind off Hunter.
It didn't work.
--
Hunter left the building and went back to Dustin's room, ignoring Tori's as he passed it. He'd had enough of her. The only reason he wanted things to work out with her anymore was for Blake's sake. Hunter sighed to himself. He still hadn't called Blake, he didn't really know what to say. It was Tori who should call him really, it just seemed wrong for Hunter to, but he doubted she would. She'd probably be perfectly happy to pretend everything was all right.
He'd have to talk to him once he got back to the Academy, maybe after evening classes that night. That would give him a little more time to think of what he was going to say.
He couldn't stop thinking about what Shane had told him, he had no idea what to do about it. It seemed wrong not to tell Dustin, but at the same time . . . he couldn't betray Shane like that. Even if Shane had done far worse to both of them. He just couldn't.
Hunter entered Dustin's room and found him sitting on the sofa watching TV, dressed in his teacher's robes now and not looking very happy. Hunter smiled a little. "Hey, you all right?"
Dustin looked up. "Yeah, I'm fine." He stood. "All set?"
He nodded. "Yeah." He grabbed his bag from beside the couch and put an arm around Dustin. "Only a month, right?"
Dustin nodded, smiling a little. "Yeah."
Hunter smiled and kissed Dustin's lips firmly, making the last moments count. He pulled away slowly and smiled. "I'll see you soon."
He grinned, and this time it traveled to his eyes. "Yeah. Bye, Hunter."
"Bye." Hunter left the room and went outside, taking a breath. He was going to miss this place again. He left the grounds and found his rental car where he had left it, tossing his bags in and sitting down. As he started down the road he started feeling better about returning. And he'd be back soon.
By the time he reached his destination he was much more at ease with coming back. He got out of the car and approached the hidden entrance, entering and looking around as he took a deep breath. Back to work.
--