Guess who has two thumbs and finished this chapter WAY earlier than expected *gestures to self*, THIS LADY! Lol. XD Anyway, here we are FINALLY on the final part of Grom everyone! As always I would like to thank all of you for commenting! The feedback is always helpful no matter how much or little it is just to let me know how everyone feels about my writing so I really do appreciate it. :) So, how about I stop blabbering and we get on with the story, shall we? Haha. This chapter continues immediately after the previous one. Hope you all enjoy it! :)

(Hunter's POV)

After Luz and I tried banging on the gym door and using glyphs to try to open it for a few minutes, we realized the door was already magically sealed from the inside (probably by Principal Bump).

Even Amity and Willow tried until we realized we were not getting back in there any time soon.

So, nothing else to do, but to walk outside and wait like Darius told us… even if none of us still wanted to do that right now.

We kept walking down the halls until I felt a hand on my shoulder, causing me to reflexively tense, assuming it was Willow. Well, until I heard Luz start, "Hey, are you okay after what happened back there?"

I looked over and saw Luz looking at me in concern and me knowing exactly why since she technically knows even more about me than Gus and Willow… as much as I wish she didn't.

Honestly, I wish I still never found out the truth about myself.

Like I'd rather be 'blissfully ignorant' in a delusion of grandeur that I wasn't some copy of Philip Wittebane's older brother and fellow witch hunter who he killed personally hundreds of years ago…. And then proceeded to dispose of every Grimwalker before me that either knew too much and/or betrayed him?

Yeah, now that Luz and I do know everything after doing research, I wish no one did… including myself.

I even glanced behind her and saw Luz and Amity also looking at me concerned. But, I didn't want to make a big deal about it as I responded honestly, "I'm okay... I've been through worse."

At first, I thought they weren't going to take that answer, but I think after thinking over everything we've been through together… they knew I wasn't lying as we all eventually made it out front. All the other students and teachers were standing outside like Darius said, mostly standing in groups and rapidly talking about 'what happened'.

But, I wasn't really interested in anyone else right now except for…

"Hold still, okay? I got this."

Viney.

I glanced over and saw Mattholomule sitting on the ground with his knees clutched to his chest with his arms and glaring at the ground as Viney held her hand over his forehead and cast a healing spell over the gash.

Gus was sitting next to Mattholomule, who kept glaring at the ground. I saw Gus giving him a look before he said, "C'mon man, don't beat yourself up. It could've happened to any of us if we were you in there." Mattholomule just rolled his eyes and scoffed as he said out loud, "Yeah, sure. Easy for you to say. All I did was prove everyone on that 'dumb bet' right that I couldn't do it."

The cut on Mattholomule's head healed up as Gus kept giving him an almost steady look. A 'look' I remembered very well from whenever Gus was suspicious of me from day one if I was lying or not.

But, after Viney was done healing him, she put her hand on Mattholomule's shoulder and said, "Hey, Gus is right. You shouldn't put yourself down like that. You were doing awesome down there! Things happen."

After that Viney stood up and offered a hand out to him, which he took after a second and stood up too.

Mattholomule looked at the ground while putting his hands in his pockets, still seeming pretty 'down on himself' before he glanced up at Viney again and said, "Hey… thanks for 'this'."

He was pointing to his head as Viney smiled and patted him on the shoulder and replied, "Not a problem. Any time."

It was at this point that Gus finally stood up and looked like he was about to say something to Mattholomule again… at least until he saw me.

Well… might as well rip off the bandage, right?

After all, I already yelled at one of my best friends and told my other best friend I have a crush on her so… why stop now?!

Besides, I don't want to be on bad terms with Gus. He may be my best friend, but he's also like a brother to me, you know?

I slowly walked up to him and rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly before starting, "Uh, sorry for…" "It's cool, Hunter. Don't worry about it." Gus immediately cut in as I whipped my head up and looked at him wide-eyed in shock.

Huh? He's… not mad?

Before I could even say anything he continued, "Look, I get why you said what you did in there. You were just looking out for me and I shouldn't have yelled back at you either, so… wanna call it even?"

Gus smirked a little at me and held out his hand before I eventually smirked back as we clapped hands and pulled each other in before clapping each other on the back like we usually do.

Well… at least that's one thing down that I need to worry about tonight.

Right then I saw Willow run in and hug Gus as she called out simultaneously, "Gus! I'm so glad you're okay!" Gus hugged her back as he said, smiling over her shoulder, "Hey, it's alright, Willow. I'm good! Seriously!"

Willow was doing the same now as she smiled over his shoulder and said, sounding slightly joking, "Hey, I know that. But, can't you just let me act a little relieved for a second that you're okay?"

They both laughed as they hugged, making me smile slightly too.

Right then the doors of the school opened as Darius, Lilith, and Principal Bump walked out on the front steps.

Darius raised his hand as he called out loudly over the crowd, reminding me of when I'd see him interacting with the new coven recruits, "SILENCE! Please listen!"

The whole crowd went dead as Lilith stepped forward and announced, "Everyone, Grom has been dealt with and has retreated under the school once again. It is now safe to return inside to continue the event. Please listen to your principal and follow his instructions for a safe and proper return inside."

As much as Lilith and I clashed like Darius and I used to (if not even more so since we worked closely in the same coven together), there is one thing I always had to give Lilith credit for even now.

She's a very good, clear, and concise public speaker.

After that Principal Bump started directing people back into the gym and I saw Darius making his way toward me through the small crowd of my classmates. I had no idea what was happening until he stood right in front of me and he said, putting a hand on my shoulder, "Are you alright?"

As much as I was getting tired of people asking me if I was 'alright' or 'okay' right now, I responded honestly since I really never got hurt in there anyway.

I mean, I'm still very confused, but otherwise… I just shrugged and nodded at him as I responded as sure as I could to stop this conversation, "Yeah, I'm good, Darius. But, I think I'm gonna go back to the house. I'm tired. Also, I think I just need a walk to clear my head right now."

And I wasn't lying on that one.

I mean, after everything that happened tonight… I feel like what I really need to do is just walk to sort things out.

And I don't just mean 'what happened with Grom' either.

He gave me a look for a moment before saying, sighing a little, "Very well. You go on. Just lock up behind you when you get back. I still need to be here for a few more hours to chaperone the dance."

I gave him a nod of understanding before I looked back to everyone as I said, "Night guys, I'll see you later at school." They all kept looking at me in 'concern' still until they eventually just waved and said 'good night' back.

As I started walking and was about to go out the school gate, I heard, "Hey, Hunter! Wait up!"

I froze and turned back around only to go wide-eyed to see Willow briskly walking toward me before she continued, "Actually, I'm kinda tired too. That and I want to make sure my new fly trap is still content and not close to destroying the yard again. Can I walk back with you since my house is on the way? If that's okay?"

I just looked at her in shock for a second, considering this was the first time she really said anything to me since I 'told her everything' under the bleachers earlier.

But, I mean, she's still talking to me so… that's good!

Right?...

I didn't want to make any of it weird (considering all I've done until now is make things weird) as I stuttered slightly, "Y-yeah, sure! That's okay."

We kept walking back until I for whatever reason decided to glance toward her and start, mainly trying to ease the awkward silence with 'words' or something, "What about you? Are you doing okay after all that back there?"

Hey, I was still just glad she was talking to me right now! And regardless of anything she may feel about me now… I still care about her and if she's okay. She looked over at me and said, straightening out her glasses and smiling slightly, "Oh yeah! I'm fine. I mean, my new dress got a little 'eh' during the fight in there, but I'm good!"

Her dress did have some dust and smudges on it from the fight, but… she still looked nice. At least I thought she still looked really nice, anyway…

I internally shook my head to clear it as I gave her a nod.

Eventually, we got to the front of Willow's house and just… stopped.

We both just stood there in painfully awkward silence just looking at each other, the only thing we could hear was muffled patron noise from a tavern down the street and a transport worm slithering by. We kept standing there until I looked down, feeling my face heat up again, until I got out, "Uh, good night, Willow."

But right as I was about to turn and walk away to avoid any and all chances of making a total idiot of myself in front of her again… I felt my hand get grabbed as I heard, "Hunter?"

My whole body froze in place when I looked back and saw her holding onto my hand.

After getting over the shock; eventually, I got myself together enough to turn back around slowly and look at her again as she kept holding onto my hand.

It was quiet for a second until I heard her say, sounding nothing short of 'straight out', "Hunter, can I ask you something? And be honest."

I had no idea what to even expect right now and her expression had almost nothing in it to give me anything to go off of. Eventually, I straightened up and said, trying to keep myself from panicking but not doing very well at it from my perspective since I felt like an absolute crumbling disaster right now, "Y-Yes! Of course!"

"Hunter, I'm going to ask you something, okay? And I really want you to be honest with me right now." She started, sounding nothing short of dead set on what she was trying to tell me.

This is it.

She's probably going to be nice and 'let me down easy', isn't she? Heh... Well, at least I'll finally know where things stand with us.

I gave her a nod since my throat felt closed off to the point that I couldn't speak as she asked, "Look, I'm going to ask you this one more time… Do you trust me?"

Huh?

My head shot up as I tilted my head at her in confusion. But, as confused as I was, I gave her my honest answer again as I tried to be brave and look her in the eye, "Yes, Captain! I-I mean, yes, Willow! I do! But I…"

I felt like I was talking out of my butt again as that sense of internal panic kept creeping back in on me. Honestly, it almost felt like I was drowning again as I kept idiotically 'sputtering' right now and just wanted this to end as the verbal grave I was digging for myself just kept getting deeper and deeper.

As I kept feeling like I was spiraling, I simultaneously also felt like I was turned to stone from a petrification (and also thinking about this other human myth I read about where this woman with snakes for hair turned people who looked at her to stone) when her hand went on the side of my face again like earlier.

My face immediately started burning as I heard her say, and me still having NO idea what was going through her head, "Hunter… I really think you need to start trusting me more than you're saying."

Before I could even say anything or even look at her in confusion over what she just said, my eyes felt like they were going to fall out of my head again when I saw her lean closer to me and close her eyes as she pressed her lips against mine.

Right then I simultaneously felt like I couldn't breathe and my heart stopped for a second in shock as I was attempting to 'process' what was actually happening right now.

As much as I'm still confused and only had anything close to this happen in my head… this was happening right now.

Willow just kissed me… AND SHE STILL IS?!

Okay, relax. Just relax, Hunter.

The girl you've been crushing on hard for MONTHS is kissing you right now. AND FOR THE LOVE OF TITAN, DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID TO RUIN THIS!

I just kept standing there since I had no idea what I was even supposed to do right now since this was my first kiss… ever!

As pathetic as it sounds, this was the first kiss I'd ever gotten.

And I'm just saying in general! Lips, cheek… anything!

So the fact that Willow was kissing me on the lips right now was kinda overwhelming me right now. Not in a bad way or anything!

Ugh, really NOT in a bad way.

Honestly and even though this was the only time I've ever been kissed and I didn't really know how to 'react' or what to 'expect', I don't know.

The only thing I did know was that it felt nice… ugh, REALLY nice.

Her lips felt soft and warm against mine just like her hand felt that was still resting on my cheek. Eventually, I closed my eyes too, and leaned into her as we kept kissing.

Neither of us really moved as we just held the same kiss for a few more seconds until I felt her pull back, which made me lean toward her a little almost on instinct. Almost like I was still just subconsciously 'following' that feeling with her that I wasn't ready to let go just yet.

Slowly I opened my eyes and instantly forgot about whatever just happened as I just saw her light green eyes looking right at me and that cute smile on her face, her cheeks were a little red as we kept looking at each other.

I mean, she wasn't alone since my face felt like it was about to spontaneously combust at this point, but… I couldn't resist smiling a little back at her.

Well, until I snapped out of it as she grabbed my hand again before saying, sounding like she was playfully messing around with me a little, "Hey, from now on if you have something to tell to me, maybe just 'ask me' instead of 'doubting me', okay?"

We both couldn't help but let out a laugh at that and for me just letting out a release of nerves through the laugh too before she just looked back up at me, making my eyes go wide again when I felt her kiss me on the cheek.

It was quick and short compared to when she kissed me on the lips, but that didn't mean I wasn't back to being frozen where I stood in shock as she said quietly, "Night Hunter."

All I did was follow her in my line of sight as she walked toward her front door until she turned back and gave me a small smile and slight wave before going inside her house and closing the door behind her.

There was a solid moment I just stood there staring at the door, just 'processing' again.

Until I slowly and almost mindlessly put my hand over the spot on my cheek where she kissed me until a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as my chest almost started swelling with 'something'.

AND there we have it folks! Looks like Hunter had nothing to worry about it all along it seems. And Willow seems to be better at 'playing it cool' than Hunter is. Lol. XD I do hope you enjoyed the build-up to the 'Huntlow' aftermath here as Hunter realized that the feeling was 'mutual' on both sides. But, I know what some of you might be asking. 'Somethings' still feel like they're missing here, right? After all, what about Willow? What about Darius and Lilith back at Hexside as they continue having their little 'reunion' while chaperoning? What about the rest of the Hex Squad? Well, no spoilers, but… let's just say we'll be getting a 'fresh perspective' in the next chapter. So, make your guesses and place your bets on who it will be everyone! ;) Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and constructive feedback is always VERY much appreciated as always.

Stay classy and have a great weekend!

Dexter1995