(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 270

Chapter 270: Side story- 6 years ago Kellen and the Captain part 5

"Taylor, this is-" Kellen protested as he was dragged towards the tent in the distance. He didn’t think he would see anyone he knew like this, and he’d been so good at avoiding everyone so far, but Taylor?

She was never going to let him avoid her. He had just assumed that she was never going to arrive at the front lines.

Apparently he was wrong. He should have had his guard up more.

Kellen glanced around at the curious looks of the Espers in their Guild uniforms, and the Field Guides who were glaring at him hotly. He swallowed, turning his gaze towards the angry woman dragging him towards the tent.

"If you try to break my grip right now, the lord help me, I will knock you out." Taylor’s glowing green gaze turned to him and Kellen swallowed.

She meant it.

He held his tongue. The anger from the moment before forgotten in the face of Taylor’s own anger. He was never good with dealing with it, especially since Taylor used to get angry so rarely back in the day.

Taylor flipped open the tent flap, and Kellen found himself in a half emergency hospital, half regular tent. Taylor marched him into the tent before turning and shoving him down onto one of the several beds set up in the tent. Kellen bounced, his eyes wide as she placed both of her hands on his shoulders and stared into his eyes. _{ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm}

"Do your parents know?" She demanded and Kellen stared up at her in confusion.

"Do they know what?" He asked and she growled.

"The state that you’re in! Do. They. Know?" She demanded and Kellen swallowed thickly.

"I haven’t...spoken to them in about a year." Taylor’s grip tightened on his shoulders and he winced. Her eyes were so bright in her face he had to look away.

"Are you a fucking idiot? Are you stupid? Kellen, why the fuck would you do this to yourself when you don’t have to? Do you like being belittled? Is this some kind of new kink that you got as soon as you awoke as a Guide?" Kellen frowned at her words.

"I didn’t get any kinks when I awoke as a Guide. Does that happen when you awaken as an Esper?" He asked and she scoffed.

"No, of course not! You don’t unlock kinks just because you’re an Esper or a Guide! What the fuck did they teach you in Guide school?" She demanded, and when she stared down into Kellen’s face, she sighed, closing her eyes, and took several deep, calming breaths. "Fuck. I’m sorry. I got worked up because of what Esper Hill said to you, and seeing you in such poor condition." Taylor and Kellen sighed in unison.

"It’s alright. I’m sure you were surprised to see me." Taylor frowned.

"Of course I was. You basically cut all contact as soon as you graduated. Why? It wasn’t like I cared what you awoke as, Kellen. I’m not that shallow." That was true. Taylor was one of the few people who didn’t treat him any differently once he had awoken. She’d remained normal, maybe they even got closer because of it.

Gwen certainly liked her, and Gwen was usually a good judge of character. His sister was younger, and more social than him, so he tended to trust her judgement when it came to people.

"I know you aren’t that shallow, Taylor, but I’m not even talking to my parents. Did you think I would speak to others?" Kellen said, and watched as Taylor’s lips tightened. Her jaw clenched, and she exhaled slowly.

"I understand that, but that doesn’t explain why you cut contact before then, Kellen." She tried to speak calmly, and Kellen wondered why she was so upset. It wasn’t as if he was her only friend. Taylor had been far more popular than he had been in high school.

"Well, I just...I didn’t think you’d want to be associated with me." He told her and Kellen flinched as Taylor growled. Because he was touching her, he could sense the fluctuation of her powers, and worriedly, he put his backpack to the side. He placed his hand on top of hers. "Taylor." Kellen warned. Taylor sighed.

"Goddamnit Kellen. I could strangle you right now, and only regret it for a few minutes." Kellen felt the colour fade from his face and without much concern for himself, he began to pour guiding power into her.

Taylor jerked her hands away from him, stumbling back. She stared at him, almost as if she was betrayed.

"Don’t you dare guide me right now. I am so mad at you. You can’t even handle guiding anyone, let alone me! When was the last time you ate? When was the last time you had a shower? Kellen, you’re falling apart, and you think everything is fine? Your Father would weep if he saw you right now. I can’t even imagine what your Mother would do." If someone had sent Taylor to make him feel bad, they had sent the right person. Taylor was one of the few people who knew how to guilt trip Kellen easily.

If she started crying, Kellen was fucked.

"I eat when I’m hungry, and I don’t need a shower. I go bathe in the forest. There’s this nice little water hole that everyone uses. I’m doing okay, Taylor." Her eyes remained green as she looked him over, and Kellen found he was actually missing the blue hue they usually were.

"Shut the fuck up. I heard your damn stomach rumbling as you were doing your presentation. And you don’t smell, but you don’t look well. Fuck. You’ve lost weight. What are you eating?" Her voice was getting harsher and it sounded like it hurt to speak.

Kellen was no stranger to what it sounded like when someone was about to cry, and his body went on high alert.

"I’m really doing fine, Taylor. You don’t need to-"

"If you say you’re fine one more time, I’m straight up calling your Dad." She yelled and Kellen shut his mouth. She sniffed, wiping at her eyes as Kellen sat back down on the bed, tense as she stood over him. "I can’t fucking believe you. No word, no nothing. You just disappeared. If I didn’t keep contact with your family, I wouldn’t even know where you are. You are so lucky your parents aren’t helicopter parents, or else they would be following you around everywhere." Kellen, who couldn’t say that he didn’t have helicopter parents, coughed.

"Taylor...my Mom can turn invisible." Taylor froze, before her shoulders started shaking.

"Oh shit. I forgot about that. My god. Do you think she’s come to check on you?" Kellen’s face flushed and he sighed.

"I can’t say that she hasn’t, but I have...woken up a few times with new supplies nearby where only I would look." He muttered weakly, and Taylor really started laughing.

"Okay. That makes me feel a little bit better, but I’m not letting you turn me away right now." She fumbled with one of the pockets on her jacket, before she popped it open and pulled out a credit card. Kellen eyed it wearily while she smugly smiled at him. "I’ll have you know, I got an allowance to be here." Kellen rolled his eyes.