The Family Dinner

Hazel

Leaves fell onto the windshield of Hazel's car as she stared up the driveway to her parent's house, the heat filtering through the vents trying its best to provide comfort. The November air was biting, almost as frigid as some of the family she was going to encounter inside the brick two-story house ahead. She laid her head on the steering wheel and took several deep breaths to hopefully alleviate her rising anxiety.

Every year it was the same routine: eat dinner with her family, withstand hours of passive-aggressive comments on everything from her love life to her hair, drink way too much cheap wine from the local grocery store, and pass out in her childhood bedroom on the verge of tears. It frustrated her endlessly, but it was her family, and the obligation to see them this time of year was ingrained in her from the moment she moved away for college.

"You know, we don't have to do this," a husky voice said from the passenger seat.

Hazel opened one eye and peeked at her best friend through a curtain of wavy dark hair.

"Easy for you to say, Buck. You aren't gonna be the one who gets forty phone calls asking how I could be so inconsiderate for not showing up," Hazel mumbled. "This is going to suck so hard."

Bucky reached over and squeezed her knee, waking up the butterflies in Hazel's stomach. She first met him moving into her first apartment, the quiet neighbor who had overflowing bookshelves and the sweetest cat she'd ever met. Alpine was actually the reason they became friends at all. Hazel spent weeks thinking she was leaving food out for a stray when in reality the snowy fluffball was hustling the new girl. Bucky thought it was hilarious, invited her in for coffee, and they had been inseparable ever since.

"Well, lucky for you, your incredibly real boyfriend is coming with you to help dodge any unwanted questions or comments," he replied with a smirk, blue eyes more mischievous than she was used to. "So, shall we, sweetheart?"

Hazel couldn't help but give him a small smile. It was impossible not to like Bucky. He radiated something warm and comforting, something that she found herself daydreaming about more and more often. It's how she came up with their scheme to begin with. Her family can't harass her about being single if she has the perfect boyfriend at her side. It's selfish and indulgent, but she needed something to get her through. Fake dating your handsome best friend is definitely something she planned to leave out of her next therapy appointment.

"Okay, fine," she replied with a sigh, unbuckling her seatbelt. "But if anyone says I need to lose a little weight, I will throw that turkey in the fucking yard."

Bucky threw his head back against the headrest with a laugh. Her smile grew as she admired the scrunch of his nose and the crinkle around his eyes.

"I'll be right there to hike the turkey to ya on your mark." he voiced softly, a soft reassuring smile now on his face.

Hazel let out a chuckle and whispered a *thank you* before she watched him slip out of the passenger seat and round the car to her side. He opened the door for her and reached his hand out for hers, giving it a soft squeeze when their fingers locked together.

She touched his hand a few times but today when his skin touched hers it felt different.

Like a spark that ran through her body.

Bucky is your best friend

Hazel shook her thought as she climbed out of the car, her hand never leaving his grip until they stood on the stoop of the stairs of the house Hazel grew up in.

Hazel's gaze fell on the autumnal wreath hanging on the door, a DIY project no doubt. Twinkling lights, snaking through orange leaves and pine cones, blurring in her vision.