Alright! And we are back with Huntlow again friends! This chapter picks up right where Chapter 11 left off. I decided to split this chapter to keep it from being WAY too epically long. Plus, I figured it would be nice to get a quick update in before I go off on vacation in a few days. Hope you all enjoy! :)

(Hunter's POV)

I… I have no idea what's happening.

When I got downstairs in my practice gear to meet up with Willow outside, I don't know?

We've been walking in silence for almost 5 minutes since we flew to the edge of the woods outside town and we've barely even talked at all.

And even though I want to say something, it's like I didn't even know what to say.

Because WHAT could I possibly say after everything that happened last night?! She kissed me and we both basically kind of admitted how we felt last night, so… what now?

We kept walking and it felt like my eyes kept getting pulled down, looking at her free hand and biting my lip slightly as I kept thinking about what I really wanted to do right now.

Agh! SERIOUSLY! What is wrong with me?!

We kissed last night for Titan's sake! So WHY am I making such a big deal about just holding her hand right now?! I mean… it shouldn't be, right?

So then… why does it feel like it still is?

Ugh… this is pathetic.

Again, I know it sounds stupid, but ever since our hands accidentally touched while we were walking together back in the Human Realm… I've really wanted to hold hands with her more than anything.

Honestly, I thought about holding hands with Willow more than kissing her.

I mean, yeah I also thought about kissing her and stuff with her too if I'm actually being honest with myself since I felt like most of the time all I did was think about her whether she was around or not.

Even before I fully figured out I had a crush on her, all I wanted to do was think about her and her with me when I did realize how I felt about her and… I don't know?

Sure it was because I liked her, but I just liked thinking about her since she is one of the only people or even 'things' period that makes me feel 'safe' and just 'calm'.

Ironic since she also makes me so nervous that I feel like my stomach is converging in on itself sometimes even now, but… Willow has weirdly always made me feel like I had no reason to feel 'unsafe' whenever I'm around her.

Not that I still don't have trouble sleeping sometimes, but I remembered when I was trying to fall asleep in the Human Realm and all I saw were 'nightmares' pretty much every time I shut my eyes at night… all I had to do was just think about her and it was like this wave just 'washing over me', even if just a little bit.

And not 'think about her' like that. Well, you know, at least not thinking like that about her all the time… despite that time I 'fell on her' when I knocked her off her staff playing Flyer Derby in the clearing also really didn't help with those 'thoughts' either.

Anyway, most of the time I'd honestly just think about her.

Her smile, the way I notice her eyes 'scrunch up' whenever she laughs, and as weird as it sounds… I've always liked the way she smells.

I mean, not like that, but since she's always doing plant magic or being out in the woods, Willow just smells like 'outside'... in a good way!

I almost didn't know how to describe it until I went outside the morning after we experienced our first thunderstorm in the Human Realm and the outside smelled 'earthy' and damp yet 'fresh' from the surrounding foliage outside the house.

All I thought of when I first smelled it was Willow and… I actually 'smiled' without really even knowing what I was smiling about at the time.

At this point, I was almost chewing off my bottom lip now as I kept looking at her hand closest to me.

Eventually, I grit my teeth and reached over and grabbed her hand before I gave myself any more time to hesitate and back out.

Hey, if Willow was brave enough to kiss me last night after I did nothing but make a total idiot of myself in front of her for the millionth time, then I can be brave enough to hold her hand right now!

Even though right after I did it, I realized that maybe I grabbed her hand a bit too aggressively since her hand tensed up a little and made my stomach seize in dread on reflex.

UGH, WHY?!

WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO MESS EVERYTHING UP?!

But, right as I felt like I was close to ripping off both my face and my hand that was still awkwardly gripping hers if I was able to, my eyes went wide and I felt everything in me come to a halt when I felt her hand relax.

Huh?

Then my face felt like it was on fire again when I felt her shift her hand around until her fingers 'interlocked' with mine. This time my entire hand went stiff along with my entire body as I stopped dead in my tracks.

I craned my neck to look down, still feeling like I was in total disbelief seeing our hands 'like this' after the many times I thought about doing this with her in my head.

Actually, for a split second, I thought I was having some sort of 'delusional fantasy' since I didn't believe that 'this' was even happening… at least until I felt and saw her right thumb lightly smoothing over the back of the thumb on my left hand.

Slowly, I looked up at her. Her cheeks were a little red, but she was giving me her usual 'warm' and just calm smile as she looked back at me.

We kept looking at each other until I slowly smiled back and eventually closed my fingers down around her hand, even deciding to take the 'bravery' I had now to also smooth my thumb up and down the side of her index finger.

Partly because it really did feel great to finally do this with her officially now, but also because I was just trying to 'take it in'.

The way her fingers felt between mine, how warm and soft her hand felt, and just how nice it felt to do this with her. And even though I felt kinda embarrassed since my hand felt sweaty and I really hope it wasn't ruining this for her, I was feeling something that I don't think I ever felt in my life.

And even though all I was doing was holding her hand right now, it felt… right.

Like nothing felt 'wrong' or 'weird' about it as we kept holding hands, causing me to squeeze her hand a little on some bizarre 'instinct' or something and she actually squeezed my hand back.

My head jerked back up to look at her to see her still smiling at me, making me smile back at her again before we kept walking.

I was weirdly waiting for her to 'let go', but… neither of us did.

Even though we were still walking in silence like before, it felt more comfortable now as we kept holding hands.

We got to this cleared-out area where we usually practice and train with the rest of the team when the field is being taken by the grudgby team.

I was about to say something until I felt Willow squeeze my hand again as she started, "Uh, Hunter? There was another reason I just wanted it to be just 'us' out here. And not just for Flyer Derby."

My eyes went wide as she let go of my hand, making me feel 'off' after getting used to what it felt like.

I kept watching her until she had a seat under this wrinkling oak that was nearby, still having no idea what was happening or what she was even talking about.

She pulled her knees to her chest and smiled until she pat this spot next to her with one of her hands, knowing she was asking me to sit with her.

Even though I was a little unsure, I walked over and sat next to her.

But, right as I settled and leaned to rest my back against the tree trunk, I heard her say, sounding a little nervous, "Uh, Hunter… I think we need to talk."

(Willow's POV)

Alright, Willow, you got this far, just keep going.

I mean, I guess I really don't have any other options except to do anything but that right now. Especially considering I've trying to think of a way to talk to him alone without anyone else around after 'everything that happened' yesterday.

So, I thought trying to get out for a morning practice just us would probably be the easiest without looking suspicious to anyone.

Because who would question Hunter and I going out to play Flyer Derby, including Hunter?

I mean, not that I'd really care if anyone knew if I was with Hunter, but talking to him right now? I kinda just it to be just 'me and him' right now.

Especially since I saw him looking at me wide-eyed and looking unsure and even nervous right now, I knew I should probably start saying something right now before I give him a panic attack.

I bit my lip a little and was about to do something until I was shocked to hear him start, considering he's barely said anything this whole time, "Capt… I mean, Willow, I-I know it's different now and I know I said a lot at Grom and I know a lot happened, but…"

He kept almost nervously rambling at this point as he kept turning toward me until I turned toward him and put my hands on the sides of his face without even thinking twice about it as I tried to cut in as calmly as possible, "Hunter."

It wasn't until I realized how 'close' we were right now since both of us were sitting back on our heels from kneeling and barely a few inches apart from each other. My cheeks felt like they were burning and Hunter's ears and whole face were really red and felt very warm under my hands that were still on either side of his face.

We stayed that way and kept looking at each other for a few more seconds until I decided to try and 'get my head together' and moved my hands to his shoulders and took a breath as I started, "Hunter, there's nothing 'wrong' or 'weird' about anything right now because of you, okay? And, actually… you're right. You did say a lot yesterday, but… that's what got me thinking last night. I realized I really didn't say enough and… I want to make sure you know where I'm at with everything. But, before I say anything else, I want to just make sure you understand this. Nothing is wrong and nothing has changed. No matter what you're still my friend first and that won't change no matter what you say to me or what you feel. All I want is for you to 'talk to me', okay?"

At first, I didn't know if anything I said actually helped until I calmed down as soon as I saw Hunter slowly relax and give me a nod in understanding before saying in confirmation, and also relief, "Okay."

Well, even though I still feel nervous and still don't 'entirely' know what I'm doing… this is honestly going better than I thought!

I decided to just keep going as I sat back a little and took my hands off his shoulders before resting my hands on my thighs, drumming my fingers a little as I tried to think of 'where to start'.

Eventually, I looked up at him and started, just deciding to go for it since I've been curious about this for a while, "Um, before I start, can I ask you something?"

His face was a little red and he still looked a little nervous but nowhere near as much as before as he gave me a nod in permission.

Okay, you can do this, Willow. Be brave!

I swallowed hard and bit my lip a little before just asking, "Hunter, I think I know the answer to this, but… how long have you felt like this about me?"

I mean, ever since that time we fell on each other in the clearing I kinda knew there was 'something' going on with both of us even before I fully knew several days later how I felt. But… I don't know? I was just kind of curious.

At first, I felt kind of bad that I 'put him on the spot' since his face and ears went completely red again as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. Feeling guilty, I backtracked and put my hands up as I continued, "Sorry! I didn't mean to…"

But, before I could say anything else, I was surprised when he grabbed my hands and countered, "No, don't! I-I mean… it's okay."

He was still holding onto my hands until we both lowered them between us. I couldn't stop myself as I looked down at our hands, reminding me of when we were standing under the bleachers in the gym last night at Grom.

"Oh, uh… is this, okay? I can stop if…" I knew he was talking about holding my hands like this and I immediately spoke up and even squeezed his hands as I assured, "No! It's okay."

Actually, to me it was WAY more than 'okay' doing this with him.

I know I don't have a lot of 'experience' (honestly I have more 'experience' than Hunter which to me sounds like almost a joke since I've never had anything with anyone beyond being friends), but even I have to admit that it felt nice holding hands with him.

Even just us holding hands as we walked here was nice too. A little awkward, but still… It felt nice too.

Eventually, we got back on track as Hunter looked off to the side before finally admitting, "Honestly… I probably 'felt' like this longer than I knew. But, if I were to take a guess when then probably… a little before the Day of Unity was when I first really started to notice, I think. Why? What about you?"

Right after I heard that, I felt everything inside me tighten for a moment as my face heated up a little again as I 'processed'.

Wait… he 'felt like that' about me before we even GOT to the Human Realm? AND I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE?!

How much did I miss?!

I tried to relax and get my head back into the situation, now feeling caught off guard for a different reason when I realized he asked me the same question.

And the obvious answer when I 'first' noticed how I felt was when we fell on each other during our pick-up game. But, the 'real' answer of when I really knew happened 5 days later and is actually kinda… embarrassing.

7 months ago; Human Realm

Ever since we got here and Camila got us some 'human clothes' to wear to help us blend in and Luz was off from her Human school for her 'Summer Break', Luz started taking us around and showing us what she liked doing for fun here in the Human Realm.

And I was actually looking forward to where we were going today again!

The Comic Store.

Yeah, we have books and comics back in the Demon Realm too, but… Human comics are interesting.

A lot of them are about these beings that have these abilities called 'Super Powers' and the characters are called 'Superheroes'. Their stories are usually about them go on adventures in colorful outfits to protect their 'secret identities' and fight equally powerful bad guys called 'Super Villains'.

I actually really liked reading those a lot as 'silly' and 'weird' as the stories were.

Because a lot of the heroes outside their 'hero stuff', usually weren't as powerful as their 'alter ego' presented them to be.

Actually, a lot of the heroes were usually people that others would see as nerds or outcasts that worked normal jobs and had pretty relatable problems with their personal lives as they tried to keep their 'hero identity' a secret.

And… I actually weirdly related to that side of it.

Well, not that I had a 'double life' or anything, but I know what it's like to have this thing to become this 'other side' of yourself where you feel like a more confident version of yourself.

After all, that's usually what Flyer Derby does for me. Because as much as I do feel a lot more confident in myself than I used to be, there's something about putting on my face paint and derby gear that makes me feel like nothing can stop me. Even Gus really liked reading them with me, but I would always laugh whenever he'd point out 'plot holes' or question why none of the other characters can see that it's just 'that person with a mask on'.

Even I laughed about that and agreed as I just kept reading them.

Part of the reason why we came in was that I asked Luz if we could go back and look for some more from the series I liked since I read all the comics I got before and wanted to see if I could find some more.

Luckily everyone seemed like they wanted to get out of the house and even Amity wanted to go, so it was pretty easy to make the walk down there while Camila was at work.

I was wasting NO time as I started looking through for the next comic issues in the series I liked reading until I heard behind me, "Hey, looking for anything?"

At first I didn't really pay attention until I heard Hunter also say behind me, "Huh? Uh, no, I'm okay. Thanks."

I looked over my shoulder and saw this girl around our age if not near the same age as Hunter since she looked a year or maybe two years older than me as she kept standing next to Hunter.

She looked 'weirdly' familiar' until I actually recognized her from a couple other times we came in.

Actually, I think she worked here since she was usually always behind the counter with this middle-aged man who ran the store.

She had shoulder-length auburn hair tucked under a gray wool cap, almond-shaped brown eyes that had very dark eyeliner around them, and she had ripped up jeans and a back t-shirt with some kind of 'comic character' from these fantasy series I've seen Luz and Amity read.

Honestly, she looked cool and was actually kind of… pretty.

But, I really wasn't giving myself any more time to think about it as she kept standing next to Hunter and smiling at him. Even though there was something about the way I was seeing her look and smile at Hunter that wasn't 'sitting right' with me for some reason.

I almost didn't even care about looking at comics anymore, but I didn't want to look like I was 'watching them' or anything as I just turned to the rack of comics behind me and pretended to browse as I kept watching them out of the corner of my eye.

Hunter looked like he didn't even notice she was still there or even still looking at him as he kept looking through the comics in front of him.

Well, until she seemed like she was 'reminding him' she was there as she commented, "Oh, that's a good series. 'Drakmus: The Demon Slayer' it's totally worth the read if you're looking for something with fantasy and action."

Hunter looked over at her again, seeming like he was confused about why she was even still talking to him, but just decided to respond, "Uh, cool."

He looked like she was about to keep looking until this girl just leaned on the rack next to them and started, "I've seen you come in here with your friends a couple times before. You're 'Hunter', right? I heard that kid with that cool earring that looks like a magnifying glass call you that before."

I immediately knew she was talking about Gus.

Actually, where is Gus?

I looked behind me in the opposite direct and Luz, Amity and Gus all seemed distracted by this new display on the other side of the store to notice anything going on where me and Hunter were.

But, I was pulled right back as I heard Hunter respond, "Yeah."

My head whipped back over when I saw the girl keep smiling and almost 'eyeing him' in a way that was making my chest tighten a little for some reason as she crossed her arms and said, "Nice, I'm Amber. This is my dad's store, but I usually only work here during the summer or after school. Pay's okay, but, hey, better than working some crappy fast food job, right?"

Hunter just kept looking at her more and more in confusion. One, probably because he had no idea what she was talking about and two, was probably also trying to figure out why she kept trying to talk to him?

And honestly… I was trying to figure that out too.

I could tell Hunter really didn't know how to respond to that as he just said, "Uh, sure, whatever you say."

He looked like he kept trying to look though comics again when Amber said, "Cool scar, by the way. Scars are hot."

My eyes went wide as I 'took in' what she just said to Hunter until it all hit me like a Transport Worm at top speed.

Wait, is she… 'flirting' with Hunter?

I could feel my chest and stomach tighten as I pursed my lips as she kept looking at Hunter, feeling something I never really 'felt' before. It felt like anger, but I wasn't 'angry' or anything. More uncomfortable maybe, but not an 'uncomfortable' that I was familiar with?

But, I tried to get myself together when I saw this plant near me growing toward me in my 'current state' and I panicked as I tried to 'tame it back' to what it looked like before, getting frustrated that I 'lost control' of my magic for a second because of my feelings.

By the time I looked back, Amber was giving Hunter a weird look as he stopped and touched the scar on his right cheek. He looked 'thoughtful' until he looked back at Amber and answered, partially confused and part matter-of-fact, "No… I'd say it's about the same temperature as the rest of my skin."

For a split second, I smiled and had to fight back from laughing a little, remembering how much I really knew Hunter and what he was really like.

Particularly remembering trying to teach him 'slang' and 'abbreviations' when we were first messaging on Penstagram.

My thoughts were cut short when I realized I wasn't the only one amused by Hunter's response when Amber laughed a little before looking back at Hunter as she said, "Heh! You are hilarious. But, for real, maybe you can tell me about how you got that scar sometime, ya know? Here."

Hunter was looking at her now with the same confused look that I had when Amber reached into this short waist apron she had on and pulled out a pen and a pad of paper.

She started writing 'something' until she ripped off the piece of paper and 'smiled' at him again in that way that made my chest tighten as she held it out to him before saying, "My dad usually lets me go after 7, so maybe we can do something sometime?"

Amber slipped the paper into his hand closest to her before she walked off and grabbed a box. She put the box under her arm and looked like she was walking off to this back room area, but not before she gave Hunter one last 'smile' and 'look' that made my stomach clench again.

Hunter just kept looking at her with his head tilted in total confusion.

Amber eventually disappeared into the back as Hunter looked down at the piece of paper she gave him. I had no idea what she handed to him either and that made me want to try and see 'what it was' even more.

But, before I could try to get closer to get a look at it, Hunter looked over to the opposite end of the store and immediately walked over. I tried to make it look like I wasn't watching again before I followed him, realizing he was walking toward Luz, who was still looking at the new display with Amity and Gus.

Hunter walked right up to her and started, "Luz, what is this? That girl who works here just gave me a piece of paper with a bunch of numbers on it. Is it some kind of Human 'code' for something I don't know? What does it mean?"

I managed to get there just in time to stand next to Amity as I saw what was written on the paper. It looked like Amber wrote her name and this series of ten numbers on it.

Honestly… me, Amity, and even Gus also didn't entirely know what it was either?

Well, until we saw Luz's face almost light up before she gave Hunter this teasing and slightly 'sly' look before saying, "Dang Hunter, didn't know you were that much of a 'smooth operator' to get a number."

"Number?" All four of us questioned, making Luz realize none of us had any idea what she was talking about.

Eventually, Luz just smiled and shrugged before giving the paper back to Hunter and saying, pulling out her cell phone to help her explain, "Oh, that's just a phone number. It's like how you guys use the Ravens back on the Isles to call each other. When someone gives you their number here, it usually means they're interested in you. And if you're interested too then you can call them to talk or ask them out. I've seen it a lot in movies."

I froze up again as both my stomach and chest started tightening again, almost to the point that it was making me feel a little nauseous when I realized that Amber was 'showing interest' in Hunter.

But, then it was like all the 'tension' was released when Hunter looked up at Luz with a quirked-up eyebrow and asked, almost neutral yet bluntly honest at the same time, "Uh, what if I'm not 'interested'? Is there a 'protocol' for that? Do I call her and tell her I'm not 'interested'? Or do I just give her the number back to let her know that I don't want to?"

As everyone else looked at Hunter wide-eyed at his 'blunt response', all I felt was… 'relief'?

Wait, why am I 'relieved' by something like this?

Luz tilted her head before rubbing the back of her neck and saying, "Well, I know it doesn't make sense and it's kind of mean, but… if you're not interested then you just don't call them and throw out the number. In our world, it's usually considered REALLY rude if you do what you just said. Even though I'd much rather have someone be honest about it and it doesn't make any sense to me either now that I think about it. Man, this stuff really is complicated."

Eventually we kind of realized things could get awkward since we all started to realize Amber could come back out into the shop at any second.

So, we all decided to get out as fast as possible.

But, once we got out, we started to go back home for lunch. I saw Hunter take the paper that was in his hand and crumple it up before throwing it into one of the communal trash cans that lined the town streets.

Present Day; Demon Realm

Either way, that was when I actually realized how I for sure felt about Hunter… and I'm also sure that was the first time in my life that I felt 'jealous' about anything when I saw someone else trying to show interest in him.

Which is NOT who I even am!

And I have nothing against Amber either! There was nothing wrong with her or what she was doing with Hunter. I had no reason to feel like that, really!

I mean, it's not like we were dating or something and… I don't know?

I just really didn't like that 'feeling'.

After that Hunter never went with us to the comic store again and always said he was 'fine staying back' whenever we did go, even though I missed looking through comics with both Hunter and Gus at the store.

Even if it still didn't stop Amber from asking us the next time we went there 'Where Hunter went?'.

And I had no idea why, but Amber asking about Hunter made my stomach clench again and it took a couple more times going back to the store and seeing her to make that 'jealous feeling' stop.

I still had no idea what was going on with me anymore and luckily Luz cut in and made up an excuse that Hunter was just 'visiting from out of town' and he probably wasn't going to come back anytime soon and that seemed to be good enough for Amber since she stopped asking us about him.

Honestly, even just thinking about it again now and that was how I actually figured out that I liked Hunter as 'more than a friend'... I just feel embarrassed.

It was so dumb!

All it took was seeing someone else who didn't even do anything wrong trying to 'flirt' with him to make me 'jealous' and even 'lose control' of my magic for a second.

Oh Titan, I can't…

"Willow?" I whipped my head back up to see Hunter just 'looking at me' in confused concern, probably because I haven't said anything this whole time.

But, what do I even say to him?

Okay, I REALLY hope you all ended up liking the scene that I wrote with Hunter having someone 'show interest' in him because I was (again) living out another one of my dream headcanons that we will probably never get to see happen in the actual show due to the shortened series finale. DX But, really I do hope you guys enjoyed it because I just wanted to showcase one of my favorite things about Hunter… and that is how socially awkward, clueless, and literal he is. Hunter takes what people say WAY too literally and even though he has gotten better due to having more socialization with other people his age, he does still have those traits 'glimmer' every now and then still. And I REALLY wanted to showcase Hunter being 'Mr. Literal' in this chapter like there was NO tomorrow! I mean, I know we kind of got a similar situation in the show with Masha and Vee with the whole 'number thing', but... I just NEEDED a situation like that with Hunter. After all, I think we all remember when Willow complimented Hunter's flying by saying he had 'sick sky skills' and he took it literally by feeling his forehead and saying 'he didn't feel sick'. Lol. XD So, I decided to add another adventure with the Hex Squad in here where they went to a comic book store and Hunter got flirted with and had no idea what was going on the entire time and had no concept of what to do when someone flirts with him. Plus, I thought maybe it would be a good opportunity to show more of Willow's perspective on 'figuring out her feelings' for Hunter... and even seeing a bit of a rare bit of jealousy on Willow's end. Anyway, I'm going on vacation soon, but I hope you all enjoyed part one and will enjoy part two when I update in a couple of weeks after my vacation is done. Because I have WAY more plans in mind for where I want to go with this story! :D Anyway, thank you all so much as always for reading, and constructive feedback is always VERY much appreciated.

Stay classy and well everyone!

Dexter1995