BLACKWOOD

When the Party's Over

Hazel didn't watch Ava leave. She didn't need the pain of remembering how it felt of someone leaving. Instead she allowed herself to trace the spine of the book she had been gifted. The book in the latest trilogy she had been reading the past few days.

Thick combat boots made her put the book down. Jayden's hands took the book from her, thick fingers turning the thin pages. "This is a much better gift than last year." Hazel snatched the book back "Shut up, she was trying her best." Jayden rolled his eyes grabbing an oiled rag and tool box before walking to a red Toyoda. The hood of the car creaked open and Jayden began rummaging with the tools. "Because giving someone a 520,00 dollar bottle of perfume is a great way of spending money." Jayden's muffled head responded from inside the car.

Hazel ignored the sarcastic voice, trying to fit the book gently into her stuffed backpack. "I mean at least she went the extra mile and got it signed for you" "What?!" Jayden looked up, his eyes reflecting off the red hood. "Yeah, didn't you see? first few pages." Hazel yanked the book out from its carefully constructed spot she had made. The book held the delicate had written name of the author in black ink. Jayden laughed at Hazel's gaped expression, "Considering that the book came out ages ago and by now the author has moved on...I mean you must have a lot of money to talk to these people." Hazel kept staring at the autograph, the way the ink bled on the points where pressure had been applied, how the last letter seemed to run off the page.

"Hey, when you're done, can you come help me fix this car?"
"..."
"Hazel?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm coming."

The bus ride gave Hazel the chance to get her mind together. Her mind always fell apart when she saw Ava. The Bittersweet morning left Hazel missing what she had lost. The sweetness of Ava and the acknowledgment of friendships could leave Hazel daydreaming for hours. But it didn't take long until the bitter reality set back in. That Ava only came by once a year because Emily asked her to and probably if not told, Ava would have never come. Not even on Hazel's birthday.

Even 4 year after the incident Hazel still bore the effects. It was pathetic, Both Emily and Ava had moved on. New friends real or fake and new lives ahead bad or good. And Hazel still sat on this bus with no real motive in life ahead of her. She could argue that she had Jayden as a form of a friend but Jaydan was friends with everybody so nothing magical about that.

Hazel was the first one in her class, she had a good ten minutes before the first bell rang. Pulling out the book Hazel ran her finger on the print before diving in. As much as Hazel wanted to read she found her mind drifting away. The crowded hallways echoed morning conversations of the weekends and summer break. A loud laugh rang ever once a while followed by lockers closing. Hazel's eyes rain up the walls watching dust slowly float in the bright sunlit classroom. She wondered what it would feel like to be in those morning conversations, talking about weekends and summer jobs.

She remembered the summer days filled with Ava's short texts about an idea what the day would hold for them. Emily's consent sarcasm with the ability to hide complements in her words. She missed the times when they could laugh until they cried instead of crying about the pain they felt during the trials the last summer they spent together.

She ignored the people filling the classroom but when she heard the voice her eyes targeted Emily, who just walked in. Her long black hair reflecting the pale yellow light and her deep bronze colored skin almost glittering. She was beautiful.

God sometimes she hated Emily.

Her view of her was cut off when the rest of the gang sat down. Black jackets and creased shoes surrounded Emily as she sat in her seat. The group let out laughter littered with curses with Emily, in the center. Hazel had no idea why Emily's sister still kept these people around her, she was too smart for all of them. So instead Hazel became invisible for Emily.