Dolphin Tale 4

Chapter [14]

The newspaper was held loosely in her hands as she stared at the picture that had burnt a hole in the.heart. At the picture that had caused all of the trouble. At the picture that had torn them apart.

Hazel and Sawyer.

It was never supposed to have ended like it had. Everyone had expected them to be diatomic and stick together for life. Nobody had predicted this outcome because nobody had expected it to happen.

But it had happened.

It had happened, and it had hit everyone like a meteorite hitting the earth. The aftershocks were like that of an earthquake's, and everyone felt it.

This wasn't just something that only affected certain; no, this affected everyone. This was like that earthquake that triggered a tsunami that caused the destruction of the Fukashima nuclear plant.

She stroked the face of Sawyer with the tip of her finger. His face, frozen in time.

Hazel sighed and moved her eyes over to the title of the article, her lips moving, quietly speaking each word.

"Lacie Armstrong and Sawyer Nelson: the next it couple."

The words caused more pain than Hazel had ever felt. It caused even more pain than the time her mother had passed. Her already shattered heart did something that she hadn't thought possible: it shattered again.

Even though she had written that their story hadn't ended in her letter addressed to Sawyer, Hazel had the strangest feeling that it had. She had a feeling that this was the end of their fairytale.

This was the end.

Hazel looked up as someone knocked on her bedroom door.

"May I come in?"

Hazel sighed. "Yes, you can come in, Dad."

Her bedroom door was pushed open and a weary looking Dr. Clay entered. He sighed when he saw Hazel. "It happened, didn't it?"

Hazel frowned. "What happened? What do you mean?"

Dr. Clay sighed. "Sawyer moved on, didn't he?"

Hazel sighed and closed her eyes. Slowly, she nodded. "Yeah, Sawyer moved on."

"I'm sorry."

Hazel opened her eyes and shook her head sadly. "It's fine, Dad. Really, it's fine. I'm happy for him, and I'll always be. It's just..."

Dr. Clay sat down beside Hazel and put an arm around her. "But, is it fine? You seem to be reluctant about something. What is it?"

Hazel sighed. "I just wish we had more time together, you know? I just wish that I could have spent so much more time with him. I love him, Dad. I love Sawyer, I really do. But... I don't know why I just can't forgive him. I love him, and he just won't get out of my head."

Dr. Clay sighed. "I'm not great at this sort of stuff, but I'll try for you. I think you're confused. You're confused as to whether he really likes you, or that other girl, Lacie Armstrong. You're also sad that he cheated on you, I guess. You're upset. You're a mix of emotions, right now, and I guess that anger and sadness is dominating those emotions. Forgiveness has not yet come out, but it will, eventually. Just give yourself some time to think things through. I'm sure you two will work things out in the end."

Hazel turned her head to face her father. She smiled gratefully. "Thanks so much, Dad. I appreciate it so much, I love you so much."

Dr. Clay stood up and smiled. "I love you too, Hazel. I love you so much. Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts, then."

Hazel nodded. "Thanks, Dad."

***

Sawyer sat on his bed, his head in his hands. He had been doing that a lot, lately, putting his head in his hands. The news article that had caused so much trouble was lying on his bed. He picked it up and stared at the photograph. Thankfully, there had been nothing on the news about the photograph, or word would have gotten around the world.

The photograph brought back so many memories. He thought back to the night when the kiss had happened. It had been a long one, and one could say that it had been passionate, too.

Sawyer sighed and placed the newspaper article back down onto his bed. He stood and walked to the window, thinking all the while. Thinking about Hazel. Thinking about Lacie.

He stood at the window and watched the world go by. He watched the cars passing, and the people riding by on their bicycles. He wished that he could just have a normal life, one without confusion and love-relatied issues. But he knew that, deep down, everyone had their love-related issues, He knew that behind their walls of happiness, everyone had some sort of regret.

Sawyer's regret was that he had kissed Lacie. Or rather, that she had kissed him.

But what has been done, has been done, and nothing can possibly change that. The past cannot be changed, but you have some sort of control over your future. Sawyer wanted to mend his relationship with Hazel. He wanted to be back with her. He wanted to have a healthy relationship with her.

But she hadn't forgiven him. Not yet, at least.

Over the past few days, one person had kept on popping up in his head. He just couldn't get her out of his head. It was like she was a tattoo, always there for him to see no matter what.

Lacie.

She was always there, lurking at the back of his mind within the shadows. She was always there, no matter how hard he tried to get of her. She was always there.

Sawyer sighed and turned away from the window. He walked over to his desk and picked up his phone. That night, when Sawyer had gone over to Lacie's house, she had given him her number in case he would ever need it. Back then, he hadn't planned on ever using it. Now, however, was different.

He unlocked his phone and went to his contacts list. The name Lace Armstrong stared up at him. He sighed before pressing on her name and choosing the call option.

With his heart beating fast, he waited for her to pick up.