The One in the Middle

Chapter 7- Let's Start a Brand New Story

Robin and I went over to drop off my stuff at my relative's house and, quite honestly, I don't know how they're related to me but it doesn't really matter... 

We both head over to his house where Mo and Barry are also staying, and I am guessing they're staying together. Oh my god, I'll see Maurice too. I wonder how much he's grown up too. My stomach starts to get butterflies at the thought of that. 

It's strange, everyone thought that Robin and I were just friends, but we looked at each other a little too long to be "just friends". 

"What are you thinking about, Hazel?" he asks, keeping his eyes glued to the road. 

My face flushes because, well I was thinking about him and Mo. "I was thinking about you and Maurice..." I whisper so quietly that he can hardly hear me. 

"If I weren't driving, I would totally try to get you to say that again, louder." He smirks and laughs. 

All I do is giggle uncontrollably and throw my head back. 

After some banter back-and-forth throughout the whole car ride, we arrive at the house, and, unexpectedly after he turns off the car, he pulls me into a hug and rests his chin on my head. 

"What's this for?" I ask with a grin. 

"Are you questioning a hug from yours truly?" Robin answers back confidently. 

God, he's always like this but it's part of his charm. Perks of having feelings for your best friend, I guess. 

"No... Just curious." I soak in the hug and feel his arms wrapped around me. 

"If you must know, I want you to myself for a moment longer before Mo and Barry hog you from me." I see a hint of pride in himself and I don't question it for a moment, because I've always loved his hugs. 

Reluctantly, we both let go of each other and get out of the car. The light breeze blows my hair behind me, and it does the same for Robin. His fingers lightly brush against mine for a moment as if he's teasing me because he doesn't actually take my hand. I wonder why...

The door flies open a moment before he can open it, and there stands Maurice. His mouth hangs open practically to the ground. I'm guessing he didn't expect me to be here. But here's my question: if Robin knew, why didn't Mo?

"Hazel...? I- What are you doing here?" he gasps, a smile stretching across his face. 

Without another word, he engulfs me in a hug and squeezes me tightly. "I've missed you so much, love." 

The way he called me 'love' sent a shiver down my spine and I could sense Robin staring at us from behind me, and not in a good way either. I was caught between them both and they both had the same affectionate look in their eyes that seemed to convey the same thing: they wanted me for themselves. How long until this gets too complicated and stops being fun?

"I hate to break this moment up but... Hazel and I really have to be going." Maurice and I pull away from each other and I see this look in his eyes that I can tell is ice cold. Jealousy. He's jealous right now... 

"Where are you going? I'd like to come! We can all catch up together," Maurice suggests with a wide grin and a subtle wink in my direction. 

Oh, he doesn't realize that this is a date between Robin and me. But when you look in his eyes, you can see pure joy and that he wants to be spending time with me too. You can't deny him this now... I'm sure Robin wouldn't do that, no matter how much he would like to. 

"Oh, um, we don't know yet. But if you had any ideas..." Robin's voice trails off and his eyes meet him, and they seem to say "I'm sorry". Sorry that it couldn't just be us. Alone...

"We can go to the mall!" I exclaim with a smile. 

"Ahh... The mall." Mo's face drops a little and I frown. 

"You don't like the mall, Maurice?" I ask quietly, looking deep into his eyes and he seems to be fidgety as I look into his eyes. 

"Well, not really but I would go for you," he comes back and smiles reluctantly. 

*** 

(At the mall) 

We enter the mall and a crowd of people walks along the walkway, and Robin and Maurice are on either side of me. Without any hesitation, I take both of their hands in mine with a smile and swing my arms. 

"Tell me about your day..." Robin says, looking at me from the corner of my eye. 

How do I say that my days are all the same, and they all start and end with the thought of him and Maurice? My heart begins to pound out of my chest and I look away for a moment. I breathe in sharply and come up with a sort of decoy answer. 

"Oh, well, it's good. Better now that I'm here with you guys..." I answer, blushing like mad. 

Maurice kisses the top of my hand with a smile and says, "I'm glad. I've been waiting to see you again, but I never thought it would be today." 

He's changed so much from the shy kid I knew back two years ago. And that wasn't even that long ago! I'm not complaining, but it seems like with Maurice being this way Robin will have some rough competition now. 

My stomach suddenly growls in the middle of the mall. 

"Hungry?" Robin asks me, looking in my eyes for a moment. 

I nod silently without saying anything. 

"I think I know a place you'll like..." He smiles mischievously and practically drags Mo and me because I'm still holding both of their hands. His facial expression right now reminds me of a boyish kind of smile. 

Then I see a McDonalds and without another word, he and Maurice order some food for themselves and me. 

I quickly get distracted and stare at the walls and I get brought back into the real world when I feel a quick kiss on my cheek and I see Mo standing beside me, and Robin near him with an envious look on his face. Oh Robin, jealously isn't a good look on you...

We set our food in front of us and I sit in between them on a bar stool. 

"I hope you like it because I picked it out for you!" Robin exclaims with a wink. 

"We," Maurice adds. "We picked it out for you." 

I felt a sudden burst of a different kind of feeling from them and they both looked at each other coldly. I just eat my food to avoid getting caught in the middle of whatever feud they have going on. Well, it may be too late for that. 

Then I feel Robin putting a hand on my knee underneath the table and leans in, whispering, "I promise we'll get some alone time after this." 

Those words stayed with me and it got me wondering what he had in mind, and they replayed over and over again. 

"I'll be right back, I need to throw this away." Robin gets up and heads to the trash can. 

Suddenly Mo looks over at me with a knowing look. "I never got a proper kiss hello..." There I saw the familiar shy look I've always known with a sheepish grin to complete it. 

Quickly, I lean over and kiss him, lasting for about a few seconds before I pull away and hear Robin behind me, hugging me from behind, and he rests his chin on my shoulder. 

It was in that moment when I truly felt in the middle of a love triangle...