Chapter 1
If you asked Luz Noceda to explain her brother in four words she'd say he's a "bad but sad boy." She never said it with any ill meanings, that's just the truth. Hunter Noceda was a sad, and because of that, he eventually became bad. There was no hidden messages, that's just what he was. He avoided people, confrontation, interaction all of it. He felt he had too, for many years of his early life he was kept away from people. So now that he is around them he doesn't know how to exist, so he hides and avoids everyone, even his own sisters. He's convinced he isn't fit for this world, so after trying to get back on his feet and failing.... over, and over, he gave up.
. . .
"Hunter, wake up for school!" a sweet, accented voice called out.. Camila. Hunter Noceda adoptive mother.
'Id rather have my insides torn out.' The seventeen, almost eighteen year old thought, rolling over in his warm comforter. Why would he ever want to leave the security of his basemented room, his safe space. The place that held everything he owned, which.. wasn't really a lot. An older jacket that once belonged to his late father, his pack of cigarettes, and his small pile of clothes.. ah yes, and of course, the most important thing in the teens possession, Flapjack. His beautiful best friend, his only friend. The only one he needed.
Hunter rolled over sinking deeper into the covers as if he was trying to force himself into some magical world that was hidden under his blankets, just a bit more and he'd vanish-
"HUNTER, GET UP!" The basement door slammed open unannounced, causing Hunter to feel like he had been ripped right out of his escape. He peeked his head up from under the blankets, wanting to make sure the voice was real and he wasn't hallucinating.. again. Alas, it was all to real. Trudging down the stairs was his younger sister, Luz Noceda, in all her "Glory". Hah, she was far from glorious.
"Go away, I'm sleeping." He muttered already annoyed, trying to cover himself with the blanket. He wanted to think they'd keep him safe from the upcoming tantrum his sister was about to throw. But.. not that he was surprised by the sudden rush of cold air forming around him as his blankets were ripped from his body. He groaned loudly, resting his arm over his eyes trying to compose himself from calling his younger sister something he'd definitely get in trouble for.
"No way, Mister! we got school, S.C.H.O.O.L!" Luz chirped jumping around with his blankets in her arms. 'No one should ever be this excited for social interaction and unreasonable amounts of work.' The seventeen year old thought as he watched her dance around with his very nice comforter that was supposed to be keeping him warm from the uncomfortably cold basement air.
"Unfortunately, I've caught a cold." He spit, sitting up slowly his voice cracking so much it made him wince. He wasn't sick, not physically, maybe mentally. He ran a hand through his unruly bed head, only allowing himself to take notice of a few of his large scars that decorated his arm. After a moment of silence he could already tell Luz had an unamused look on her face, as he turned to face her he'd be proven right. The Sixteen year old girl stared at her older brother with the most unamused and unimpressed look on her face. He scoffed shaking his head. "Get out, I'll get dressed."
"WOOHOO!" Luz yelled running up the stairs, but not before roughly throwing Hunters comforter at his face. He grunted loudly, holding in many swear words that wanted to fall from his chapped lips. Standing up slowly he moved to stand in front of his full body mirror where he spent most of his time self-loathing his unsavory appearance. The Seventeen year old's body was covered in scars, one that he particularly hated the most was the large one that took up a good majority of his face and neck. He also deeply hated the chunk missing from his ear.
A look of disgust washed over his fetchers as he touched the discolored skin. He truly was hideous looking. He probably would have stood there, just staring with hateful eyes if it weren't for the chirps that filled his ears. Now he couldn't help but smile as his best friend landed on his shoulder, rubbing his feathery head against Hunters cheek. "Morning flap." Hunter chuckled rubbing under the red cardinals neck. His words were replied with several excited chirps from his companion.
Hunter was beyond content only having on friend, and he couldn't mind less that said friend wasn't even a human, but a bird he'd found outside his window badly hurt when he was thirteen. This friend he'd had for going on five years was more than enough for him. The talks the two had.. (well if you count hunters words and Flapjacks chirps as "talks"..) we're all hunter needed.
"I gotta get ready for school, Flap." he pet his buddies head and then set him on the table to get ready for the day. He wasn't usually one to hurry, but after about five minutes or so, he was being rushed by his sisters who apparently couldn't be late.
"Mashas gonna be upset if I'm late! we're supposed to stop at the library before class!" Vee all but yelled while pushing hunter out the door.
"YEAH! AND AMITY IS GOING TO PUNT YOU IF WE CAN MEET UP BEFORE HOMEROOM!" Luz added, also shoving hunter out the door. He only rolled his eyes at the words of his sisters, He couldn't care less if their partners were pissed at him for trying to take his time. It's not like he got along with them anyways.
Once the siblings were pilled into Hunters car Luz grabbed the aux and started playing the most obnoxious music Hunter had ever heard, he really wished he would have been sick for real now. Hunter did his best to focus on the road as Vee and Luz argued over the music. In the end hunter shut off the stereo and the car ride continued in silence for the rest of the drive, which wasn't actually that long, given the lived about fifteen minutes from the school. Hunter pulled into the parking lot and forced his sisters out of the car.
Once he was alone in his own silence, he pulled out his new pack of cigarettes, and instantly lit one. This morning had already been more than he could handle and school hadn't even started yet. He was so annoyed he could scream, but instead of letting out the shrill of emotions he laid his head on the steering wheel trying to clear his head before walking into hell itself. The silence grew more and more around him, and that's when he knew he NEEDED to go inside. He simply couldn't handle what he knew would come if he stayed in his car much longer. So with that, he threw the cigarette out and grabbed his bag, walking away from the silence that wanted to eat him alive.
People filled the halls, and he knew they'd be enough of an annoyance and distraction from his head full of uncomfortable thoughts and imaginary situations.
. . .
Willow Park hadn't thought she could feel more pathetic than she usually did, but right now was an exception. First she'd gotten up late, then fallen down AND up the the stairs. Missed the bus, and worst of all forgotten her backpack, could this get any worse? Apparently so. As the teen walked down the halls silently yelling at herself for being so dumb she walked head first into someone. Greatttt, and of all people it had to be Hunter Noceda, right? Right!
Running into her bestfriends older brother was not on Willows bucket list. She didn't exactly have a problem with hunter himself, just his lack of self-care and constant refusals of Luz's help... irritated her, a bit..(a lot.) but it wasn't exactly her place to step in. Her and hunter weren't close, but she did occasionally scold him for his antics, which is why she's almost 100% sure he hates her guts. Although, Willow sort of hoped that wasn't the case, she'd deny it if you asked, but when Willow met Hunter the first time when she was 14 she had the BIGGEST crush on him. She doesn't anymore!! (she does.)... anyways, the thought of him hating her made her stomach churn in uncomfortable motions.
"Oh.. heya Hunter." Willow tried to keep a Stern face like she was unhappy to see him, but truth be told she was happy.. Although she didn't exactly like his appearance right now.. Not that he is ugly, he absolutely IS NOT!! But, he currently looked like he'd just left from helping with one of Alador blights inventions.. Jeez Amitys pops was weird. Shaking her head willow tried to force herself away from judging his appearance.
"Hey." His voice cracked, as he spoke, his face was empty of any kind of emotion.. and well, willow thought his head seemed kind of empty. Willow shifted on her feet, unsure what to do or say. She smiled awkwardly and stepped back. "you can leave, I'm not forcing you to talk to me, Park." Hunter spoke dryly, this caused willow to swallow hard, its not like she wanted to run off.. BUT she kind of felt she should. Although, now that he said something, she wanted to stay even more.. but she decided to tease him a bit. "What? you want me gone that bad?" Willow fake pouted crossing her arms and turning on her heal. "i guess ill go then!" She began walking down the hall slowly sneaking peaks back to the Noceda boy who just seemed to watch her. Although, looking closely, she could make out the slight disappointment taking over his features. What was that all about?
. . .
Hunter watched as willow walked away, wow! There goes another attempt to socialize with someone he didn't mind being around. He sunk back into a row of lockers sighing roughly, why couldn't he be like Luz? Social, full of excitement, unafraid to show his true colors. Did he even know what his true colors were anymore? He really couldn't tell who he was supposed to be anymore, atleast with his uncle he had an idea. He was supposed to be the golden boy, the boy who couldn't make mistakes.. so why? Why did he keep making them? When he moved in with the Nocedas they told him he didn't have to follow through with what his uncle wanted anymore, that he could be whatever he wanted.
Back then he was so full of hope, he really believed what they said, he went to therapy, he took care of himself, he learned new things.. yet, he would never be able to learn one thing. Social interaction, fitting in. He didn't know where to start, he didn't fit in with Vee or Luzs' friends, he stuck out like a sore thumb, the kids at school would stare at his scars. Point them out, call him names. When highschool hit, girls would flirt with him, saying they liked the bad boy look.. It disgusted him, he hated it. While he'd given up already, if he had any hope left, that broke it. He didn't want to be seen as an "outcast" or a "bad boy" he just wanted to be normal. For once in his life, he wanted to be treated the same as everyone else.
That was probably when Hunter convinced himself he wasn't meant to exist in this world, that human interaction wasn't made for him. When he decided to move into the basement, when he stopped getting up for school, when he started taking his food downstairs. When he started smoking, when he decided to stay out late aimlessly walking instead of sleeping. That had to have been when Hunter Noceda went back to believing his uncle was right... That he was not supposed to exist at all.