Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

27

Hazel can not tear her eyes from the night sky. It's a velvet black and the stars are so bright they give the moon a run for its money. She has never seen the sky like this before. From her bedroom window in New York, the night sky is a rusty brown and she has only ever been able to just make out the glow of the stars in the distance, hidden by the pollution of the city.  But out here it looks like a painting. Bright, bold, and beautiful. This must be a rare sight, maybe it has something to do with the clarity she is suddenly feeling after Austin kissed her. He kissed her...fuck. It happened only minutes ago but it feels a little like a fever dream. She will need to make sure he kisses her again soon just to make sure she had not imagined it.

"Is this normal? The night sky?" she asks. Austin looks up quietly, he is seemingly mesmerized by it too for a moment. "It's normal. Out here in the country the air is clean...pure, and so are the sights," he says. "My mother died when Evelyn was three. Horse riding accedent...Zip was her horse. When Evelyn's mother left I was only eighteen - I knew nothing of babies and so like most things in life she taught me. When she passed my heart broke, both my father and I were lost.  Then one night I looked up and saw a star I had never seen before," he lifts his hand and points. Hazel follows his finger and sees a star that outshines the rest. It's so bright it lights up the night sky on its own. "I realized then that she had never left, not truly. Once this place has your heart you will never wander far. I don't know your pain, Hazel, but I am bettin' if you look hard enough you may just see your mother up there too."

Hazel keeps her head down, she can't bear to look up. She knows she will find her, she is up there somewhere looking down on her. But the shame Hazel feels right now at the truth she is keeping from Austin and the hole she is continuing to dig herself into will have her mother very disappointed in her. Her mother did not raise her to lie and sit in deceit - she could never look her mother in the eye right now. Hazel stays quiet, listening to the soft clopping the horses hoves make on the dusty ranch road - she feels like she is a million miles from the world, just her and Austin. She has never been so content. Eventually, the lights from the ranch house come into view and as they walk into the house yard she can see Mr. Post sitting on the kitchen steps near the truck. He stands when he sees them, picking up his coat and placing his Stetson on his head. "That daughter of yours is as hard-headed as you, Austin," he says with a chuckle as he climbs onto his horse. "She is sleeping in the truck still, refusing to let anyone take her out and to bed. Said you will do it," he says then tips his head at Hazel, "Miss," he greets her then trots off down the road.

"Your father does not stay in this house?" Hazel asks as Austin helps her down from Zip. "No. I built this house for Evelyn and me. He lives past those trees in the house he built for my mother," Austin explains. Hazel looks at the house and then back at him. Something tells her that he did not hire a contractor but is literal when he says he built the house. With his own two hands, she bets. Hamish appears from the stables and takes both Zip and Lightning's reins leading them in for the night. Then Hazel watches as Austin opens the back door to the truck and carefully lifts Evelyn out, she groans and then nuzzles into his chest as he smiles down at her softly. "Good night, Miss Hazel. I hope you sleep soundly," he whispers then carries Evelyn up the kitchen steps and disappears into the house.

Hazel looks up at the night sky, she avoids looking for her mother - she is not ready for that conversation. But she does look at Austin's mother, so bright and beautiful. "I...I wish I had known you. If the man you loved, the boy you raised, and the grandbaby you cherished are a reflection of you then you were a great woman. I don't know what I am doing here...I was always so sure of myself, but I feel a little lost and I would really appreciate a little help," she whispers then wipes her cheeks and turns, going into the house. She feels heavy as she tip-toes up the stairs and then into her bedroom. Christmas Dinner is asleep on her bed gobbling softly as he dreams of worms and seeds, no doubt. She drops to her knees and takes Cathy out from under her bed. "You were a very stupid woman. I hate you and you should know that they did not need you. The choice you made was selfish...but they did not need you and I will never speak to you again. I am glad I never got to know you."

She places Cathy in the back of her cupboard, wishing she would never have to see her again. Then she changes into Austin's shirt which is now most definitely her go-to night shirt and climbs into bed. Christmas Dinner wakes up and gives her an annoyed gobble as she makes the bed bounce a little. She wraps her arms around his fat body and cries into his feathers. "I am done talking to the dead, CD, done," she sobs feeling her heart ache at the thought of Austin's beautiful warm blue eyes turning cold and hard when she finally tells him the truth.

He will hate her...she deserves it.