Understanding Caitlyn -Chapter 12-

"Hello Hunter," Caitlyn said as she opened Hunter's apartment door. Kyle, Hunter and she were going to watch movies that night. It was three days after meeting with Michael. She still couldn't bring herself to think of him as a dad.  He had called the last night asking her to dinner, but she said no though, saying it was too early. And plus, she had wanted to talk to Hunter about something.1

"What’s goin' on Cait?" Hunter had laughed when Caitlyn told him not to call her that anymore, it agitated her, but she got use to it.2

"Nothing, but I wanted to talk to you and Kyle." She took a deep breath. "It's about my brother."3

Hunter looked surprised, and Kyle looked at her curiously. "What is it?" Hunter asked quickly. 4

"I want to find him," She says and smiles up at them, hoping to see their faces light up at the idea. "I want to talk to him. 5

To make a family again."6

"Why?" Hunter asked, raising his eyebrow.7

"Oh come on Hunter! You should want to find him too! You haven't seen him in ages, and, I really miss him." She said the last part quietly.8

"I don't think it's a good idea." Hunter said shortly and turned the television up.9

“Why isn’t it a good idea?" Kyle said, always behind Caitlyn.10

"There’s TONS of reasons of why not!" He said, angrily, standing up from his sitting position.11

"What reasons?" both Kyle and Caitlyn say. Caitlyn's face is full of anger and confusion.12

"There are tons, but I don't need to explain myself." He said stubbornly.13

"I think you do need to explain yourself”14

“It doesn’t matter what you think.” He threw at her, his eyes intense.15

“I don't need your help anyway!" She snapped at him. 16

"I wasn't going to help you in the FIRST place, Cait."17

"You know what Hunter, FUCK you, go back to Utah."18

"You don't mean that . . . " Hunter said quietly, he walked to Caitlyn and grabbed her arms. "You know you don't mean that. 19

And I'm not going to help you find him." He hugged her stiff body then went into the kitchen.20

"I can't understand why she wants to see her brother always," Hunter said to Kyle a few days later. The fight had ruined the rest of that night, Caitlyn and Kyle leaving an hour or so of silence later. Hunter looks at Kyle when he doesn’t respond. 21

They were strewn on both sides of the couch flipping through the channels. "Or don't answer." He said stubbornly.22

"I want to help her find her brother, but I'm not going to get in this with you, so, shut up."23

“Can I tell you something?” Hunter said after a while of the silence.24

“If it’s about Caitlyn and how she's looking for her brother."25

"It is, but you need to hear it.” He said, interrupting. “It’s about Willy. I’ve been talking with him since I moved to Utah. 26

But when I moved here he said if I saw Caitlyn, not to tell her I knew where he was.”27

“What? We have to tell Caitlyn.  This will make her so happy!” Kyle jumped up, but Hunter got up at the same time and grabbed him.28

“We CAN’T tell her!” he shook him hard.29

“But.... I mean . . .  I have to tell her!” Kyle shouted. “She’s my girlfriend. I can’t lie to her.”30

“I told you because I need you to help me stop her from looking for him!” Hunter shouted.31

“That’s stupid Hunt, why would I stop her?”32

“Because, he doesn’t want her seeing him.”33

“That’s stupid, she needs to see him, I’m going to tell her.” Kyle shoved Hunter and walked toward the door, but flew forward, hitting the wall. He whirled around. “What the fuck, Hunter?” He yelled.34

“You can’t tell her!” He screamed back, getting in Kyle’s face.35

“I’m going to unless you give me a damn good reason not to.”  Kyle said, glaring into Hunter’s eyes. He put his hands on Hunter’s hands which pushed him against the wall and shoved him off.36

“He’s in bad shape Kyle, in really bad shape.”37

“So is Caitlyn.” He pointed out.38

“No, it’s really bad.”39

“Then what the fuck is it?” He said, still angry.40

“He’s just messed up Kyle, but I don’t know how to explain it.”41

“That’s not a good answer Hunter. I love Caitlyn, I can’t keep this from her if she doesn’t need to be kept from it.”42

“He’s like her father was, Kyle.” He said softly, looking down.43

Kyle snorted. “Whatever man, your exaggerating.”44

“Will told me not to tell her that he’s in deep, can’t get out. He just wants her to forget about it. I told you because I thought you’d be behind me. I don’t want Caitlyn to get upset over him.”45

“I’m sure he’s not as messed up as you think he is.”46

“Please don’t tell her,”47

“I don’t know. That's hard to do. You don't even know for sure if he is fucked up."48

"He is! I saw him Kyle, I saw him. He looks exactly like his fucking father did when I lived next door to them."49

"She's not going to forget about him. He's her life, she LIVES for him Hunter. If you don't think I'd want to change that, then you've got me wrong. But she won't forget, not for you, not for me."50