Dolphin Tale 4

Chapter [26]

Hazel sat on the platform, stroking both Winter and Hope. She sighed, tired out after completing her chores and sessions. Normally, Sawyer would have been around to help her out, but he was gone, and Hazel had told him to stay away.

Winter whistled, ending it on a higher pitch as though shevwas asking a question. Where's Sawyer?

Hazel sighed once more and continued to stroke the two dolphins. "Sawyer won't be coming back, Winter. He's gone, and I think it's for the best."

Winter whistled sadly, bobbing her head up and down as though she had understood every single word.

"He's gone," Hazel repeated. "Gone." She closed her eyes, wondering what life would be like if Lacie hadn't interrupted; what it would be like if she hadn't kissed Sawyer.

A few minutes of complete and utter silence passed, but then Winter started becoming restless. She pushed her nose into Hazel's stomach and squealed loudly. It didn't help that Hope was copying Winter, either. 

Hazel sighed, her eyes still closed. She didn't know why Winter and Hope were so restless all of a sudden, and there wasn't much she could do about it. She could only wait until their energy wore off.

Winter suddenly let out a shrill whistle, imitating Tweedy Bird. A few seconds later, she whistled yet again.

Hazel opened her eyes and attempted to calm Winter down. "Winter, it's okay. I know you miss Sawyer, but he's not here. He won't be coming back anytime soon, okay? I'm so sorry, girl." She sighed as Winter whistled yet again. "Winter, Sawyer's not here. He isn't here to answer your call."

But then she heard a whistle from behind her. It was a whistle that Hazel had grown to know, and one that Winter knew so well. 

Winter began whistling again, and the call was answered. She slid off the platform and began swimming around the pool, leaping out of the water at random intervals. Hope stayed by Hazel's side but increased the amount of noise made, squealing and clicking. The whistle came again, issuing from behind Hazel, and Winter answered it, clearly overjoyed.

Hazel shook her head. There was only one person who could whistle like that and make Winter so excited, and Hazel had never anticipated to see him again. He had, after all, been requested to stay away from Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Sawyer Nelson.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away."

Sawyer paused a few feet away from Hazel, careful to keep a reasonable distance between the two of them. He opened his mouth, hesitated slightly, but said, "I know, and I'm sorry. I have a reason for coming, though."

Hazel stared at the ripples in the water, biting her lip. She sighed. "What is this reason for coming back?"

"You—"

"Me?"

"—and Winter."

Hazel nodded. "Right. Well, you've seen Winter. What do you want with me?"

Sawyer bit his lip and sighed. "I wanted to talk to you about some things. I also wanted to ask you something."

Hazel sighed. "Please be quick. I have to go home, soon, or my father will begin to wonder about where I've gotten to. Just give me a simplified version."

"Hazel, can you at least look at me?" Sawyer clenched his teeth and swallowed hard. "I know that we're not on the best of terms, right now, but you could at least have the decency to look at me."

Hazel turned her head slightly and caught sight of Sawyer out of the corner of her eyes. "Better?"

Sawyer sighed. "Can you just turn around fully and look at me?"

Hazel spun around to face Sawyer. She looked up at him, a blank expression on her face. "What did you want to say?"

"I wanted to tell you something. I—"

"What do you want to tell me? I don't have all day, you know."

Sawyer nodded. "Right. There's a chance that I'll be leaving Florida...forever."

Hazel nodded. "Yes...and?"

"Hazel, if I do go, there's a chance that I won't ever come back."

"Why are you going in the first place? Why aren't you staying in Florida? Don't you like it here?"

Sawyer sighed heavily. "I do like it here, Hazel, it's just that my dad wants me to go with him. He wants my mother and I go to and live with him in Washington. If I do go, I don't think that I'll be coming back. I just wanted to let you know."

"Why should I care, though? It's not like we're, you know, together anymore. And it's your decision whether you want to go or not. It's not like anything I do or say will affect your final choice. If you want to go, just go. If you don't want to go, don't go—it's as simple as that."

"Just because we're not together anymore doesn't mean we can't be friends, Hazel." He sighed. "So you don't actually care if I go or not?"

Hazel sighed. "Like I said, Sawyer, it's up to you whether you want to go or not. It's your life, therefore it's your choice. You should make your own choices. Don't let other people influence you."

"Oh, I just wanted to know your opinion, that's all. If you don't really care, then I guess I'll just leave now. I guess I'll just leave you in peace." He sighed. "Bye, Winter, I'll miss you. Bye, Hazel, I guess I'll miss you as well.."

Hazel watched as Sawyer turned and walked away. "Bye, Sawyer. I'll miss you too." She sighed. Perhaps she should have said something to persuade Sawyer to stay in Florida, but then again, it really was his choice and Hazel didn't want to influence him in any way.

***

Sawyer stood in the carpark, surveying the building that he had grown to know so well. He sighed, wondering if this was going to be the last time he would ever see Clearwater Marine Aquarium. He wondered if this was going to be his last time in Florida.