"This one looks perfect," Evelyn said, holding the full-arm A-Line maxi dress in blue colour with a cute bow tied around the waist. Hera liked it, but she was hesitating to try it on. They were dress shopping in one of the boutiques in the King's Road in Chelsea.
Evelyn, Samantha and Bianca bought so many things from dress to accessories to footwear that Hera felt conscious in their presence. They all came from money, and she couldn't help but feel inferior among them. It felt awkward when Evelyn suggested they buy the dress for her birthday. Hera didn't want to accept, but she didn't know how to decline politely either.
Thrusting the dress in her hands, Evelyn pushed her into the trial room, and Hera stood before the full-length mirror staring at her reflection. The soft material clung to her form, fitting so neatly that Hera actually considered buying it. A soft knock and she heard Evelyn ordering her to show herself out. Hesitatingly, Hera stepped out and let out a nervous chuckle when her friend held thumbs up in approval.
"We're buying it," She declared, but Hera was quick to decline.. "Thanks, Evie, but it's too expensive, and I can't afford the price," Hera said timidly. Evelyn, the kindhearted sweetheart that she was, understood the reason for Hera's hesitation and granted her the kindest smile.
"I'm so sorry, Hera if I made you uncomfortable. I should've told you before, but I forgot. My bad," she said, pinching Hera's rosy cheeks before shoving the shiny black card on her Hera's face. Startled, Hera moved her face away, and Evelyn grinned in response. "Ace said this is unlimited, and you can buy whatever you wish with this," she revealed and wiggled her eyebrows.
Grinning, Hera rolled her eyes when Evelyn winked at her suggestively. "I'm guessing you don't mind spending your boyfriend's money? Hmm, boyfriends are there to pamper girlfriends after all. It's how they should show their love anyway," she said and dragged Hera to try on other dresses without giving her a chance to say no. Not that Hera minded spending Hunter's money anyway.
It wasn't the first time he bought her a dress. "What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine," he had said the first time he bought her a gift. Honestly, Hera never felt awkward or uncomfortable using Hunter's money.
'It will be mine someday in future, right? He's mine, and so is everything he owns.'
Whether its fate or her blind belief, it didn't matter. Hera believed they belonged to each other ever since the moment they laid eyes on each other. Hunter said they owned copyright over everything belonging to each other.
"Hera, look at this one, you'll look like a princess in this," Evelyn's cheery voice rang in Hera's ears, and she nodded in agreement. The strapless, straight neck, fit and flare long dress in lavender colour looked gorgeous. "Isn't this your favourite shade of purple colour?" Evelyn asked rhetorically. Hera liked the dress, but she wanted a white dress.
It's for her birthday, and she never wore anything other than white on her birthday. So with her lips pursed, Hera shook her head apologetically. Evelyn sighed, putting aside the dress as if parting with it made her sad. Samantha and Bianca joined them, and Hera's eyes went wide by seeing the shopping bags in their hands.
'Were they shopping for their wedding or what?'
Hera thought sneeringly.
"Aren't you done yet?" Samantha asked in a bored tone. Evelyn just waved her hand in dismissal and pulled Hera's hand, guiding her to another section of rows. Hera saw Bianca offering a pack of cookies to Samantha as she took a seat beside her on the couch. Evelyn burst the bubble gum bubble in her mouth, seizing Hera's attention back to her.
"Take your time, darling. No one's in a hurry, okay," Evelyn said while Hera smiled in gratitude.
After scrutinising a few more rows, finally, Hera found a dress that she liked. It was a sleeveless fit and flare dress with a halter neckline. The length of the dress reached the ankles from behind and rested below the knees in the front. It had waist-tied bowknot in the side.
But there was only one problem. The dress was in blood-red colour. Hera asked the shop assistant if she could get the dress in white.
Hera couldn't hide her smile when the female assistant brought her the dress in pure white, and it had an added lacework designed around the neck and the flares. Hera rushed to the trial room, and her smile stretched into a wide grin as soon as she saw her reflection.
'I hope you like me in this dress, Mr Hunter.'
The fitting was perfect too, and Hera thought the dress made her look beautiful.
Evelyn clapped in approval when Hera showed herself out. "You look so pretty, Hera," she said, nodding. Bianca looked up from her phone and gave Hera a once over before ignoring her altogether. She promptly went back to whatever she was watching on her phone.
Hera bit her lip when she met eyes with Samantha. She looked unimpressed if not disgusted and the mocking sneer felt like a sharp needle pricking.
"Girl, that's a bridesmaid dress. Whose wedding are you attending?" Samantha asked sarcastically.
'Mine, and you don't have the privilege of being my bridesmaid.'
Hera wanted to say that out loud but bit back the words swirling on her tongue. Bianca elbowed her best friend, and her eyes held a silent warning. All three of them knew why Hera wanted a white dress and Samantha couldn't curb her jealousy.
"You need one more dress, Hera. Buy something you feel comfortable in because we're going out tonight," Evelyn said. Hera looked at her with her curious eyes, a frown of confusion visible on her face. "We all are going to the street bike racing, and Ace wants you to be there with him. So you're coming with us," she provided helpfully.
THE GRAND CHEROKEE JEEP in brilliant black crystal pearl colour, skidded to a halt as Hunter hit the brakes. They waited for a few minutes at the back gate of their school, waiting for someone.
Hunter stepped down and stood leaning his hip against the bonnet of his jeep. Danny joined standing next to him with a lit cigarette shimmering between his fingers, calm and collected, as usual. Meanwhile, Eric ever the observant let his eyes wander and took a glance at their surroundings. He noticed right on time when Jack, their friend, jumped over the gate.
Jack muttered apologies for being late once he reached them. He shook hands with Hunter and his friends and bumped fists in their typical boys' greeting style.
"Are you sure, Jake, I don't want to face disappointment later," Hunter said, pulling himself off the bonnet of his jeep. Michael climbed behind the wheel, eager to reach their destination. Jake had promised Hunter to bring his prey to the given destination, and he was there to confirm the same.
As soon as Jake entered the jeep, Danny took a long drag of his cigarette and huffed out the smoke hurriedly before passing it to Hunter. He too did the same before crushing the residue cigarette on the floor with his shoe clad foot.
According to Jake, it was an easy task. "All I had to do was pass a verbal invite. What teenager would miss free booze and ignore the entry pass to their seniors' party?" He asked rhetorically, and Michael sniggered. "The bastard had his time to enjoy that booze I hope," Danny spat.
It was the fake party invite, but their prey bought it anyway. They'd hired the perfect spot with a few strangers, some adults and some teenagers losing their minds over the intoxicating drugs and free liquor. Hunter would finish his job and leave after that. "It's almost time, he should've reached by now," Eric said, checking his wristwatch.
A few minutes later, Michael smirked as his foot pressed hard against the brake pedal. Startled, the three boys in T-shirts and faded jeans faltered on their steps as they heard the tires screeching to a halt. They stepped back and moved to the side of the empty road to avoid getting themselves killed in an accident.
The door opened, and Hunter revealed himself, stepping down from his jeep and smiled wide as Andrew's mouth fell open in a terrified gasp. He watched with his horror-filled eyes as Hunter's hand reached down under the seat, and out he pulled a baseball bat.
Andrew gulped in fear while Danny took a seat on the bonnet, he had a baseball bat in his hand too, waiting for his chance to break Andrew's bones. Michael jumped out of the jeep and bending down he pulled out the dagger from his boot. Twirling the blade between his fingers, he joined Hunter, maniacal laughter leaving his mouth.
Meanwhile, Eric and Jake warned the other two boys, giving them a chance to escape. They were smart enough to take up on that offer.
Swinging the bat, Hunter walked to the frightened boy. Andrew didn't have the chance to run as Danny, Michael, and Jake surrounded him. Hunter's smile disappeared as he neared, his jaw clenched, eyes burning with fury. He appeared no less than a hungry predator ready to rip his prey into shreds. "Told you, boy, to count your days, didn't I?" He asked.
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