Chapter 4

Paul and I made idle chit chat for a little while after that, before he said out of the blue, "I heard you tell Lisa, you like Hunter….." he trailed off.

I blinked shocked, "How did you hear us?" I asked confused, we had been whispering and we were quite a bit away.

"I have really good hearing," he said.

I gulped, "Well, um that's what Lisa thinks anyway," I said simply.

"What she thinks or what she knows?" he asked.

I sighed, Lisa would kill me if she found out Paul thought I liked someone else. "Thinks, Hunter and I are practically siblings, I'm allowing her to believe that to protect him," I told him.

Paul's face grew into a huge smile, and I wasn't shocked he was happy that my heart was so called 'available'. "Let me guess, she's playing him?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied before mumbling under my breath, "Bitch."

Paul started laughing loudly though. I blushed I must have said it louder than I thought. I blushed, "You weren't supposed to hear that," I grumbled.

"Good hearing, love," he joked grinning at me.

I just pouted, "So why is she playing him, when she knows it bothers you?" he asked me.

Honestly, I have no idea, "Because he's a boy and he thinks she's hot and she knows he thinks she's hot," I told him honestly.

Paul chuckled, "Probably so," he teased.

"Well, you should know," I told him not holding back. Lisa said to be myself which meant telling him how it is.

He shrugged, "I do, but unlike your so-called 'best friend' Lisa, if I knew it bothered my so-called 'best friend' I wouldn't go near them," he told me.

I gulped realizing he was right, he had never preyed on girl's that weren't willing to give him sex…well except now…with me. "She doesn't realize….." I started to defend her.

"Ali, there's nothing to defend, she's your best friend, I get it, I just don't think she treats you right," he shrugged as he pulled into the theater parking lot.

He got out of the car as I unbuckled and suddenly he was on the passenger side holding the door open for me and holding out his hand for me to take. I blushed once again, "Thanks," I said shyly allowing him to help me out of the car.

"So I understand this is based off your favorite book?" he asked me.

I nodded shyly watching as Lisa pulled into the parking spot next to us talking Hunter's ear off. For the first time ever, he actually looked annoyed to be in her presence.

He hurried out of the car at that and I then heard him tell Lisa something before he raced over to me and whispered in my ear. "She didn't mention you once," he whispered giving me a stern look.

I tried to hide my hurt. She even thought I liked him, yet she hadn't even mention it….. I just shrugged, but Hunter saw right through it and to cheer me up, "Cuz your friends, they look good, but you look better…." He sang whispering in my ear causing me to giggle and a tear to slip from my eye. Hunter quickly wiped it away.

"I got you," he joked in a high pitched George Lopez voice causing me to laugh harder.

"Hunter…you didn't open my door for me!" Lisa complained.

"Sorry, I had some um….urgent business to take care of," he said with a cheeky grin in my direction and a wink.

I grinned back at him. "How was your ride over? Make any pit stops?" Lisa giggled talking to Paul and I.

I was about to answer when Paul did for me, "It was wonderful, Ali here is a brilliant conversationalist, we discussed all sorts of important life issues, she also told me about how great of a friend you are to her," he said with a grin grabbing my hand and smiling at me.

Um okay? I gave him a bit of a confused smile back, before turning to Hunter who was grinning as if he understood. Lisa though was oblivious to whatever meaning behind his words, "I know, she's so lucky to have me as her best friend, little Ali, here is so shy….she can't even talk to people without getting all nervous…..I don't know what she'd do without me," Lisa gloated.

Paul and Hunter had almost identical looks on their faces at that….Hunter didn't think she was that great of a friend to me either….but just like I did with Paul, I always defended her.

"I really am," I smiled at her nevertheless.

She grinned, hooking her arm with mine before walking a bit ahead of the boys who were now whispering behind us…..and I heard my name….so I knew they were talking about me. "I talked to Hunter," she told me.

"Oh you did….." I trailed knowing for a fact she was lying through her teeth.

"He said he wanted me to tell you he thinks it would be best if you two were better off friends….. but between you and me… he's kind of an ass hole, he laughed when I told him you liked him…and told me that he didn't think you were pretty or that you had any personality…" she told me.

Obviously in other words, Hunter said something mean and she wanted to turn me against him as well. "Oh….okay," I said softly hurt that she would even say that period, especially since I knew it was coming from her and not him…..my best friend since first grade.

"I just want to protect you," she said eyes wide.

"I know," I told her softly.

"I'm going to break his heart for you," she giggled, "Just like your going to break Paul's for me!" she grinned.

"Mhmm….." I mumbled.

"We're so evil," she giggled.

"Yeah," I said softly.

"HEY ALI! PAUL LIKES SUPERMAN!" Hunter shouted at me happily.

I immediately lit up at the mention of Superman. "Ugly and no personality, and you're still going to be friends with him?" Lisa whispered.

"He lives at my house, what do you expect?" I asked her.

She huffed sending me a pissed off look that she mastered when she was seven. She then put a very fake smile on her face as the boys caught up to us as we reached the ticket window. Paul got there first, "Two," he said.

"Paul, I can pay for my….." I started.

"My treat," he said with a smile in my direction.

I sighed, digging in my purse to give Hunter money for Lisa and himself, but when Paul noticed me doing that, "Can I make that four?" he asked.

I dropped my wallet I was so shocked, "Paul…." I started to complain about how ridiculous that was.

"Aw, how sweet," Lisa cooed hugging Paul from behind. I saw him gently as possible wiggle out of her arms.

"I'm buying popcorn then, Ali, can I have my money?" Hunter asked.

I nodded understanding, Paul would be buying popcorn too if he realized that it was my money….I mean Hunter was my family's guest….. I handed him twenty dollars for a large popcorn and two large drinks. "I'll go get a seat with Paul and Ali, then," Lisa said ready to ditch Hunter.

"No you need to wait with him," I told her sternly not holding the snap back in my voice.

She huffed but walked with Hunter anyway. "Good job," Paul grinned at me as we walked into the theater.

I then turned to him, "I have my own bone to pick with you, that was totally unnecessary to buy all of our tickets, I feel awful," I told him. I seriously did…..it was just for some stupid bet for Lisa….and he knew it was just to make him jealous.

"Don't, I wanted to pay for you, and Hunter is a cool guy," he said.

"And you couldn't leave out Lisa?" I said with an eye roll.

"Basically," he chuckled.

Then he looked at me, "You know I heard what Lisa was telling you Hunter said about you, I hope you know none of that is true," he whispered to me softly.

I smiled at him, "Hunter and I are extremely close, he knows she thinks I have a crush on him, and he told me beforehand that she didn't say anything at all to him about me," I told him.

"I know, I kind of heard that too….." he trailed off.

"What do you have supersonic hearing or something?" I asked shocked.

He chuckled, "Sometimes I wonder," he told me with a shrug, then he turned serious, "I mean what she claimed he said, you know you're beautiful and have an amazing personality right?" he asked.

I blinked shocked at his words. I blushed bright red, "Um thanks," I replied shyly.

"I asked if you knew that?" he asked.

Luckily for me, Lisa and Hunter showed up at that moment. I hoped Hunter would sit by me, but instead Lisa cut in front of him and sat next to me. Hunter mouthed sorry at me and I just shrugged.

"You know, you not answering means that I'm going to take that as a no, and make it my ultimate goal to make sure you do know that," Paul leaned over and whispered in my ear. His breath was warm and I could feel in on my cheek making me blush and send shivers down my spine.

Paul Lahote was attractive everyone knew that, but I think that was the first time I REALIZED that.