The last class that Archer had before it was his lunch break was chemistry, where he resented every moment that he was stuffed into this stiff chair, his stomach uncomfortably pressed on by the edge of the hard table. He nearly regretted not taking his parents offer on a plate of pancakes that might have even kept him stuffed through his entire lunch hour, but then he figured that he could devour the peanut butter sandwich and banana that hed packed away the night before in just a few minutes, so he ignored his gurgling stomach, which had gotten him many dirty looks from the handful of kids that took up the tables around him. As soon as the bell rang, Archer picked up his books and slid them into his bag, which he hung over the crease of his elbow. He didnt see how every other kid could have done this for the past ten years of their lives. Archer had been hauling this bag around for a few hours and his shoulders were already throbbing.

Checking his phone for any messages, specifically ones from his cousin, who he hadnt spoken to since that morning, he sighed when he realized that if he didnt immediately see Dillon in what he assumed would be a packed lunchroom, he might have to eat on his own. He heaved himself out of his chair, following the line of students who were hurrying out of the room. With his head lowered as he tried to send a text to Dillon, asking him if he could meet him somewhere, he almost bumped into something very hard, which sent him stumbling backwards until a pair of hands came to his back, steadying him. "Careful." A teasing voice said, the hands lowering from his back as soon as he was on his feet. "For a dancer, youre quite clumsy."

Archer raised his head to Hunter, who was wearing that sly smirk, as if he had just done something bad and had sneakily avoided getting caught. Raising a brow at him, Archer turned his head either way, checking for anyone else that Hunter might have been going to lunch with. Startled when he realized that the science classroom had cleared out of students, and that everyone else was rushing by them so they could get to the front of the line for food, he looked back up at Hunter, who was still smiling in that funny way of his. He flushed a deep color when he realized that, like for every other place that he had to go to, Hunter always appeared at the doorway, waiting to collect him so he could walk him there. "Um... Hunter, you dont have to take me to every room that I go into. I think I know the layout of the hallways now." Putting distance between himself and Hunter, Archer gave him a polite smile, "I appreciate your help, but Ill be okay on my own."

Cocking his head to the side, Hunter reached down for Archers wrist and caught it, holding him in place so he couldnt slip away. "Wait... do you mind if I eat with you?" Archer was shocked that there was nothing mocking about that question, as if he was going to offer it, and then take it away as soon as Archer agreed. Glancing back at Hunters solemn face, Archer searched him for any signs of humor, the slightest twitch of his lips, a crease at the corner of his eye, but there was nothing but a stern expression.

Archer blinked at the man, who seemed to be changing into something else entirely right before his eyes, "You want to... eat with me? Are you sure... your friends wont mind?"

Hunter shrugged his shoulders, saying seriously, "I dont have many of those." His long fingers wrapped around Archers wrist once more, and Archer felt himself be pulled unceremoniously behind this unusual man, who had, for some reason, been nicer to him than any other person in this building, including his cousin. "Ill show you whats edible and whats not... and where the best seats are." Throwing back a playful smile at Archer, he muttered, "Dont worry... Ill help you figure out the ins and outs of how to get through this place."

Grabbing onto Hunters wrist, Archer helplessly laughed, "It doesnt seem too bad so far, Hunter." Archer had Hunter stop by his locker, which hed only been to once, so he had Hunter figure out how to dial in his combination, since he was still confused on which way to turn the lock for each number. After he set his bag inside and switched out his books for his next classes, he looked through everything else he had put in there, even stretching on his toes to get a glimpse at the top shelf. An exasperated noise exhaled from his lips when he realized that he must have left his lunch bag at home, since he wasnt used to the way kids who couldnt just go upstairs and grab a snack did things. "Im sorry, Hunter. Please... go eat, anyway. I wouldnt want to keep you from your lunch just because I dont have mine. I might take the hour to get started on homework, instead."

Hunter frowned at him, placing his hand on Archers lower back as if he was trying to keep him from moving, "But you must be hungry." Suddenly, Hunter raised the paper bag that was clutched in his hand, and he opened it, digging through packages that crinkled and squished. "I want you to have some of mine. Its nothing great... I just packed some of the leftover soup I ate for dinner last night, and half of a sandwich." When Archer shook his head, drawing away from Hunter, the grip on the back of his shirt tightened, "Archer, I insist. I wont have you going off of an empty stomach for the next three hours. Please... eat with me."

Archer stared at the bag in Hunters hand, feeling his mouth water at the offer of the soup and sandwich, "You wont mind? I am a little hungry. All I had for breakfast was an apple." A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth as he nodded, his warm hand nudging Archer down the hallway. "Thats very nice of you. But I will you owe you for this, wont I?"

"Exactly." Hunter put in, revealing his motives for being so generous to Archer. Even though he rolled his eyes, Archer still smiled, thinking that anything was worth not having to be glared at by every student in each class he had for the rest of the day because his stomach was moaning, almost as loudly as they did about having to be in that class. "But Ill let you decide what you want to do for me... because, right now, what I want is something that I swore to never take unwillingly from you again."

Squeezing Hunters arm tighter, Archer kept up with his lengthy strides, three of his steps matching up with one of Hunters. Down a hallway that he hadnt been in before was a bustle of noise and commotion that whacked Archers ears with the force of a hammer. They went into a room that was filled from wall to wall with people, all of them hyped up by the thought of filling their empty stomachs. Those in line jumped all over each other, shouting about what was being offered that day, while the kids who had already found tables were flinging food at each other. As if he had felt Archer tense up, Hunter chuckled, pulling him through a narrow pathway between two groups of kids. "Come on... lets get out of here, Archer."

Archer gladly trailed after Hunter, who brought him over to a set of doors that were fogged over from the beads of water that trickled over them. Archer laughed when Hunter turned around, grabbing his hood and pulling it over his dark curls, and he brushed his hair out of his face. He followed Hunter outside, racing after him as he pounded through the clear puddles that reflected the blacktop beneath them. "Hunter! Im getting soaked!" He screeched, huffing with laughter as he was yanked away from the only shelter he could see for miles, until Hunter reached a small overhang that jutted out above a set of stairs that led to the basement of the building. Hunter slid to a halt under the thin covering, snatching up Archer and pulling him under its protection, his strong arms encasing him against a thrumming chest. Holding onto Hunters shoulders as he caught his breath, Archer felt himself break into a fit of chuckles, which Hunter joined him in, his heaving body pressing Archer onto a thin ledge, his back pinned against the wall, and his front to Hunter.

Blowing out heavily, Archer watched his breath turn into a white mist that hovered in the air until a strong breeze carried it away. He balled up a fistful of his sweatshirt, squeezing out as much of the freezing water that he could, and he heard Hunter laugh at the sound of the stream of water gushing against the concrete. "Youre insane." He said, pushing his hood off of his head and swiping his drenched curls off of his forehead.

"I never said that I wasnt." Hunter relented, lowering beside of Archer and holding out the bag to him. "I think the food is safe. I wrapped it up tightly. Take what you want... I dont mind."

Archer gave Hunter a cheeky smile, taking the bag from his cold fingers and greedily opening it. "Watch your mouth, Hunter. Someone might mistake you for a gentleman."

"Only when Im around you." Hunter said softly, placing one hand on Archers knee. His thumb rubbed a slow circle into his skin, making his entire leg buzz with heat, even though the rest of his body was shaking from the chill. "When will you return the favor, Archer?"

"And now youre being selfish again." Archer giggled, gasping softly when Hunter scooted closer to him, his dark head lowering to his shoulder. Looking down at the side of his face, he hesitantly smiled, using the hand that wasnt holding part of the sandwich to touch Hunters dripping hair. Suddenly, a droplet of whitish water rolled over his fingertip, making Archer frown as he kept fingering through the short spikes. He touched the roots of Hunters hair, which were a deep brown, a harsh contrast to the blondish tips. "Hunter... you have to want something besides a kiss. You were kind to me in a way that no one else was... Id be willing to offer you anything."

Hunter raised his brows at that, tilting his face up to Archers. "Anything?" He whispered, one of his hands lifting from his lap. He hesitated before he touched Archers face, then kept going toward it when Archer didnt recoil from him. "Could I... touch your face?"

Archer had gotten used to not understanding Hunter, so he simply smiled, "An odd request... but, yes... you can touch my face."

Raising his head from Archers shoulder, Hunter held up both of his hands, laying his trembling fingers on Archers jaw. Archer jumped at how hot the rough fingers were on his icy skin, painting fire across the white canvas that was already splattered with black splotches. Hunter traced the round curve of his jaw down to his chin, smiling at the way it moved under his hands as Archer parted his lips. He dragged his fingers up to the small dip under his mouth, and then brought his fingers to Archers red, thin lips, feeling the softness to them, how damp they were from the rain. While he used one hand to touch the tip of Archers tiny nose, he curled his other into a loose fist, his knuckles brushing over the chubbiness to Archers cheek. Archer helplessly closed his eyes, pressing into the tender touch that was nothing like hed ever felt before.

His breath stuttered in his chest, and he croaked out a low noise, turning his flushed face into Hunters calloused palm, "How can your hands be so warm?" At those words, Hunter didnt reply, but let out a ragged noise as he raised his free hand to Archers eyes, his fingernails scraping over his thin eyelids. Archers thick lashes fluttered against his fingertips, drawing another pained sound out of Hunter, who lifted his hand to Archers hair and shoved his fingers through the mess of curls. Hunter bent so close to him that there was no space between them, their legs and sides pressing against each other, while he buried his face in Archers soaked, tangled curls. When Hunter hooked his hand around one of Archers legs, swinging it over his own so Archer was half sitting on top of him, Archer inhaled sharply, clinging to his sopping shirt with all of his might. Through the wet shirt, he felt the intense heat burning off of his muscles, which were glued to the bones underneath them. "Hunter... I cant-"

Hunter nodded his head against Archers cheek, which was all he could reach since Archer turned his head. "Archer... tell me what you look like. Tell me your hair color... tell me how big your eyes are. Tell me if youre as pale as the moon."

Archer hated the way his fingers slid through Hunters hair, holding his face against his as Hunter nuzzled into his cheek, his nose bumping Archers tightly shut lids. "I-I have blue eyes..." When Hunter forcefully turned his face so their lips were only centimeters apart, he quietly peeped, only to be hushed by Hunters grunt for him to be more specific. "D-Dark blue eyes. And I have... f-freckles. My l-lips are red... a-and thin. I have black hair." Crying out at the feeling of Hunters powerful hands sliding under his bottom, Archer powerlessly let himself be boosted into the air and then dropped onto Hunters lap, his arms looping around his thick neck and squeezing tightly. "Hunter... p-please..."

He didnt know what he was begging Hunter for, but whatever it was, he wanted it badly. His entire body was aching, either from the force which Hunter was touching him with, or from some internal pain, which had engulfed his entire stomach, tying it in knots and twisting those around and around. Suddenly, the pressure of those crushing arms lifted off of him, and he was unceremoniously deposited onto the spot that hed been sitting before. When he blinked his slightly fuzzy eyes, he saw Hunter standing several feet from him, an unreadable expression on his face. "Hunter?" Archer asked softly, making a move to stand. Hunter raised one of his hands, a silent motion for him to stay still. "What is it? Did I upset you?"

Hunters voice was as sharp as a knife, "If you come any closer to me, I wont be able to keep my promise. Ive only broken one promise before, and it still kills me to this day... I dont intend to do it again. I told you to not let me ever get you alone. Ive built up my self-control, kitten, but Im still a man. And youre someone who, for some reason, makes me question myself."

Archer blinked at Hunter, feeling his eyes swell as he turned his back on him, leaving him behind in that cold, damp place. "Shit." He whispered, rubbing a tear from the corner of his eye, because he was tired of crying over this man. He told himself he wouldnt let Hunter get to him, but that was exactly what hed done. No matter how much space he gave himself from him, a hunters gun could always close the distance. And Hunter might have been able to shoot holes through every other body part, but Archer would make sure that his heart wouldnt be hurt by this man, even if it killed him.