Chapter 67

"How was your day, Jess?" Alan asked as they were driving.

"It was alright. I had an awkward lunch with Hunter. Anna was in her meeting and so I agreed to go with him. He started asking me if I was single…" she trailed off. She noticed Alan's grip had tightened on the steering wheel.

"And how did you respond?" He asked, keeping his voice even.

"I told him about you and how we've been dating for nearly two years…" she trailed off. "Do you think he was into me? Was he flirting with me? I didn't really notice any of it…" she mumbled. Alan kept his mouth shut trying to keep his jealousy under control. She noticed the change in atmosphere.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't…"

"Don't be sorry. We need to discuss this." Alan cut her off. He took a deep breath.

"Why would anyone want to flirt with me in the first place?" Jessie asked in a half-whisper, asking herself more than to Alan. Alan looked over at her in disbelief.

"What?" she questioned.

"You are amazing Jessie, that's why!" he stated strongly before continuing. Now it was her turn to be shocked. "You are extremely attractive – not only do you have an awesome personality, but you are incredibly beautiful. Stunning even! Any guy would be lucky to have you." Alan said. He parked the car. Jessie was flattered. She had never heard such a large string of compliments come flowing out of Alan's mouth. He was generally very conservative with words, rather displaying affection through actions.

"Well then, aren't you lucky to have got me?" she smiled, leaning over and kissing his cheek. Alan felt reassured. They got out of the car to walk into Jessie's apartment.

"I love you." Alan said.

"I love you too," she leant up and kissed him. "And don't you forget it," she added cheekily. They walked hand in hand up the stairs and into her home.

OoOoO

The following day, Jessie was at her family reunion in Brisbane. She had taken the day off work to be able to go. Hunter had asked Anna where she was. Anna had shrugged and said, "It's none of your business."

Jessie loved to play soccer. A family football match was tradition for the Mills.

Jessie went in for a tackle and won the ball. She quickly began dribbling it up the field, running towards the opposition's goal. As she was about to shoot, her cousin, Bruce, tackled her at an incredible pace. Somehow, his knee collided heavily with her face. She fell back dazed. Her head was throbbing. From blurry vision she noticed family members running towards her and crowding above her as she lay on the ground.

"Give her some space," she heard someone say.

Bruce was apologising profusely. He was a large boy, extremely tall with an enormously muscular build. He and Jessie had always been close – Bruce was only a few years younger.

"She has concussion," an uncle said. "It looks like she took it above the eye."

"I'm fine," she said weakly. She didn't convince anyone. Aunt Viv had gone and grabbed some ice. The ice was wrapped in a tea towel and then in a plastic bag. The immediate family knew Jessie's secret and knew not to spill the beans. Sheryl, Jessie's mother, was also a mermaid – she had transformed in her early twenties and had told her trustworthy family soon after. They were all surprised when her second child, a daughter, had inherited her mother's powers. Jessie's elder brother Luke had been born a human – just like Rikki's Fi.

There was a small cut above Jessie's right eyebrow. She felt dizzy as she was led to one of the marquees beside where they were playing. A small red bruise was beginning to form around her eye – it was going to be a shiner.

OoOoO

The following morning, Jessie got out of bed and made her way sleepily into her bathroom and began to run herself a bath. She looked in the mirror and sighed. Her eye looked bad. After she had finished her bath and returned to human form, Jessie used powder foundation to cover her eye. The worst of it was hidden but the bruise could still be seen underneath mainly from the puffiness, not so much the colour. She took some Panadol for her headache after breakfast.

Jessie wore sunglasses on the bus. Fortunately, it was a sunny day and a few others were doing the same. Jessie hated drawing attention to herself.

OoOoO

For the first part of the morning, Jessie didn't have to deal with Hunter and his drama. She first saw him for the day when she returned from her lunch break, with Anna. The two women entered the office and put their handbags down.

"How has your day been, Jessie?" Hunter asked. Anna rolled her eyes at the fact that he didn't bother to even acknowledge her presence.

"It's been alright," she replied blankly. She had a pounding headache. Hunter looked up again from his work. He wasn't used to Jessie being anything but positive and optimistic. Just at that moment, Jessie took off her sunglasses. The bruising was spreading to the bridge of her nose.

"Oh my God!" Hunter exclaimed, "What happened to you? Your face?"

"Gee thanks, Hunter. Thanks for telling me I look like a monster today," she said sarcastically.

"Your eye…"

Jessie reached into her purse and picked out a compact mirror.

"Darn it," she said under her breath. The foundation wasn't covering her eye as well as it was that morning and the bruise had indeed gotten larger.

"What happened Jess?" he asked.

"It's not a big deal," Jessie replied tiredly. She hadn't got a lot of sleep the night before and she had just been peppered with questions by Anna.

"Was it that Alan bloke?" he demanded. Jessie looked shocked.

"What? No! He would never…" she was interrupted as Hunter continued.

"Because if it was I'll go and teach him a lesson. He doesn't deserve you! Where does he work?" Where had this outburst come from?

"It wasn't him! I got an injury in a soccer match yesterday."

"I don't believe you."

"Why not? It's the truth," Hunter's expression was dangerous. Anna got up and stood between them.

"Calm down Hunter," Anna said. She looked worried – scared almost. "It's the truth – Alan has nothing to do with this,"

"I need some air," he stormed from the room.

"Well, that was uncalled for," Anna said to Jessie. Jessie was standing still in astonishment.

"Did Hunter just react out of a desire to protect me? That conceited twat?" she asked.

"Maybe there is more to him than we think," Anna said.

A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that I've captured it in the way I wanted it depicted. Thanks so much for the ongoing support. Without you guys reviewing and subscribing, I would probably have stopped writing a year ago :P This really is for you guys now.

Thanks so so much to the following for reviewing:Zikki 3: Thanks for the continuing support and feedback :)

HybridsRose: Thanks for the compliments and feedback. I'm definitely taking your advice into account. I hope to 'show' more in the future :P

JulietKnighly: Thanks! That means a lot!

Not as many as usual, but oh well. Any people who read and review my story are AMAZING!