A/N: People have complained lately that they don’t get notified about new updates so I’ll be tagging a few of you who read and comment in the first comment of this chapter. I probably wouldn’t know that you read if you only vote, sorry!

Good idea or bad? Should I do it again?

*****

Nathaniel’s POV

As I walked into our house, I was still shaking my head at the reaction I had towards Hunter’s parting words.

I might just let you?

What was wrong with me?

Something must’ve been wrong; I would never give such a retort, not even in my own head.

“Nathaniel, is that you, sweetie?”

Mom’s voice came from the living room. It almost sounded sincerely speculative; almost. She had obviously decided to pretend she’d never been spying on us through the kitchen window and I silently agreed to play along; it would be easier that way than to confront her.

“Yes, mom, it’s me,” I replied, taking off my jacket and hanging it above the shopping bags.

“Would you come here for a moment?”

I was already walking her way when she asked that; I knew that she would.

She sat on the couch, legs crossed, and with an opened magazine in one of her hands. If I didn’t know her better, I’d think that she’d spent at least the last ten minutes reading it and only stopped when she heard me come in.

“Sit down, sweetie,” she patted the empty spot right beside her, but I sat down at the other end of the couch. “I heard a commotion outside. Was something going on at our neighbors?” She slid my way barely allowing any distance between us.

“There were two policemen at the Harris’s. They thought Hunter robbed a nearby store, but they were wrong,” I gave her the basics quickly, before she could interrupt. Her blue eyes rounded not from surprise, but from excitement. I’d only finished my second sentence and the questions rained down on me:

“Why did they think it was Hunter Harris? Did they have a witness? Do you think he has a record – oh, I wouldn’t be surprised; I think he has tattoos – so he must have one. Do you know if he does? When did it happen? And why did they decide that it wasn’t him? Or did they go away because of the lack of evidence; policemen can be so sloppy! Even from the window, I could see…”

She slapped her hands over her mouth, realizing she’d given herself away. My mother was fast to recover though; only a moment later, she leaned back in the couch, crossed her legs one over the other and opened the magazine.

“Well?” She asked after a minute or so of silence. “Aren’t you going to reply?”

“Erm… I don’t know why they thought it could be Hunter; maybe they had a witness,” I began, attempting to remember everything she’d asked, but ‘forgetting’ to reply to the part about his record. Mom loved a good turning a new page story as long as the people involved lived far, far away from her and there was no chance of her ever meeting them. Besides, did Hunter really turn a new page or was he stuck at the end of the same one? “And they left because he has an alibi.”

“Really?” Her voice sounded calculatingly disinterested.

“Yes.” I was postponing the inevitable with that one-word reply. She would ask. There was no way she wouldn’t ask about Hunter’s alibi.

“And who was his alibi?”

“Me.”

My mother’s hand froze just as she was about to turn the page; not a metaphorical one, but that of her reading mater. From the position she held it, I could see the cover; it was one of those fancy home décor magazines. Mother turned her head towards me, slowly, as if she was afraid her neck would cramp.

“Y-you?” Her voice shook. “Why would you be his alibi?”

“Because… I was with him the night it happened. We were watching a movie,” I shot out the last part and hurried to add: “Pan’s Labyrinth. Hunter had never seen it and it’s a masterpiece so I thought I should… You know… Educate him.”

“Oh, honey, that’s so sweet of you,” she remarked, closing the magazine and placing it on the coffee table before us, then turning to me. “But you should be careful who you help, Nathaniel. Just think of the neighbors: what would they say if they’d seen you around the policemen? Who knows what rumors they could come up with! Now,” she placed one hand over her chest, the other on my knee, “you know I’m not one to gossip – such an ugly habit – but others do, so I don’t want you to get mixed up in matters that involve the police. Alright, sweetie?”

“Yes,” I replied, furrowing my eyebrows. I’d barely noticed her getting up and patting me on the head, exclaiming ‘That’s my perfect boy’ before she headed towards the door. My mind was occupied by something else; a thought was slowly forming in it and the more I contemplated on it, the more the warm sensation in my chest grew. Mom had told me not to get involved with the police because of gossip and that was her way of protecting me… Had Hunter’s silent order been his way of doing the same?

Not to shield me from gossip, but from the policemen?

Had he been protecting me too?

Even though that put him at a risk?

A smile was slowly spreading over my face at the thought of Hunter standing up for me. The blush followed along with a giddy feeling; I tried to shake it off, but I had the sudden urge to squeal. I’d never understood why children and teenage girls did that, but in this moment, I could hardly manage to avoid it myself. I got up and headed for my room, my peripheral vision spotting my mom buttoning her long coat.

“Nathaniel, what are you smiling about?” She asked, displaying the surprise she’d tried to imitate when I came home today.

“You look lovely,” I automatically replied without a stutter. Betty had been right; I was getting good at this. I would usually find that thought disturbing, but there were few things that could dim the lightheaded sensation I was experiencing and apparently that was not one of them.

“Oh, thank you!” She resumed her job with the buttons and then reached for her hat. “I’m going out to buy presents for the party.”

I’d already turned my back to her and had taken a step towards the staircase when she’d said that, but I paused and faced her again, a crease surely forming n my forehead.

“What party?”

“The one the Johnsons are organizing. Didn’t I tell you?” She put one of her black gloves on. “They do it every year you see, on the Saturday around December 20. It’s something like an early Christmas and New Year party at once. Since those are often celebrated away from home, the Johnsons invite the neighbors for a get-together before we are off to celebrate with other friends and family. I heard it was a fun event, with games for the kids, lots of food and decorations, and punch, and also a secret Santa. Each family draws the name of another family from a hat and gets them something. We got the Andrews,” mom frowned as she rearranged her hat in the square mirror by the coat hanger. “You know Mrs. Andrews, the one that always wants to be the center of attention. She married well and how she flaunts her husband’s money around. I’ll have to buy them something expensive; it would be embarrassing, if I don’t…”

“Are all the neighbors going to the party?” I interrupted.

“I believe so.” One last tilt of the hat and she turned to me. “Why?”

“Just asking,” I shrugged. I couldn’t tell her I hoped to see Hunter there, especially after what had happened today. It would be somewhat scary though; what if he flirted with me in front of all those people?

What if they saw me blush?

What if my parents saw?

“Come shopping with me, sweetie; you’re already dressed,” mom proposed with a smile.

“But I just got back from shopping,” I pointed out. I didn’t want to go out again; I didn’t particularly enjoy that activity. Besides, I had something better to do: go into my room and then go over the moment when Hunter tried to protect me. I realized that remembering that would only make my feelings of attachment or whatever it was stronger, but I wanted to go through that giddy happiness one more time before I ordered myself to do my best to forget it.

“Did you get everything?”

“Almost.” I regretted the word while I was still uttering it. I tried not to cringe – I knew it would displease her – as my mother grinned widely.

“See? You need to go shopping again,” she concluded. “It will be such a fun, bonding mother-son experience. I feel like I don’t see you much lately. Who do you have left?”

“Erm… V-Val-Vallery.”

So much for becoming a better liar! Then again, that was perhaps a consoling thought. You became good through practice and I didn’t want to have to practice this craft.

To my surprise my mother wasn’t angry even though she knew I wasn’t telling the truth. She tried to look stern, but she could barely suppress a smile as she clucked her tongue at me.

“A mother can always tell when her child is lying, Nathaniel.”

Not lately, you can’t, I thought, but of course, I did not say out loud; I just kept wondering why she didn’t get upset over it. Her next words gave away the reason behind her reaction:

“The present you have left to buy is for me, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I did my best to sound firm and she clasped her hands, the sound muffled by the thick fabric of the gloves.

“I knew it, I just knew it!” He face was glowing with content. “Sometimes it’s hardest to pick gifts for the people we care about the most.”

As much as I hated to admit it, my mother could very well be right.

*****

A/N: Short chapter, I know, but it had everything I wanted it to. And for the next one? GET READY TO PARTEEEEYYYYYYYYYY! I’m planning something interesting. Obviously, Hunter is going to the Johnsons as well… >:)

What are YOUR favorite Christmas and New Year games/activities and traditions?

Also, like where Nat’s thoughts/feelings are headed? Too soon or was it high time?

I’d love to hear back from you. <3

Please support the chapter with a vote and have a great time wattpading! :)

PS about updates: Saturday, Feb 14 – You are the Answer; Sunday, Feb 15 – Hunt Me Down