Good Parts (ON HOLD)

II

TW for this chapter, there are descriptions of violence, read at your own risk! Violence starts on page 5 and ends on page 6 for those that can't read it! :)

Hazel stands in front of the diner for what seems like forever. The distant buzzing of the dim lights as they flicker fill the night air. No cars, no people, just Hazel and the lights. And Cyd, of course, who is still in the diner staring at their cup of coffee, recounting the events that led up to this.

Hazel begins walking back to campus, eyes focused on getting her way out of this pit. The constant need to please everyone and mediate every situation. This is the last time she told herself. She would fix this because she caused this. She doesn't know how. She just has to. And it's not because of the sour look on Cyd's face, but because she felt a pang of guilt even though she was playing the hand. Loud honking snaps Hazel out of her thoughts, and she trips backward as a car speeds by. Hazel pulls out her phone and sucks her teeth at the time.

12 am.

She speeds up her pace and eventually makes it to the on-campus housing apartments. The corporate feel of the building gives her chills as she scans her student ID to get in. Everything is so clean and controlled and safe. She wishes to be just like this. After, she fixes this.

The elevator dings, and Hazel finds herself shuffling on, subconsciously pressing the 17th floor, hoping she is still in her room.

Her hands are raw from knocking on the door for three full minutes. Worry finds its way onto Hazel's face.

She knocks four more times.

"It's me. Hazel." She knocks again, this time harder and more vigorous.

The door makes a sound, and a teary-eyed, tired looking Joni appears before Hazel. She sports a look of disgust,

"What do you need? For me to hurt someone else I love. Or was that just a one-time thing? Are you here to fuck me again?" Hazel bites her cheek, afraid of saying the wrong thing. She calms herself and puts her hand on the door, asking to come in. Joni nods and let's her into the messy apartment.

"You know... she's all messed up." Hazel manages to say as Joni faces the living room window. Joni chuckles and walks closer to the big window. The dark night lighting up with small hotspots of lights dabbled here and there. The freckled lights give night a whole different meaning. Joni turns towards Hazel.

"She's all messed up? What about me? You used me as leverage to get what you wanted. Unless, you didn't get what you wanted..."

Hazel sighs and steps closer to Joni, "I will get what I want. I will make sure of it. But what I want right now is for you to make up with that girl and make this whole thing go away. Because I can't stand to be hated and right now, she hates me. And quite frankly, I hate me right now. And to be clear, I didn't fuck you, you fucked me and yourself, this is your mess, fix it"

She whips around to face the front door and looks over her shoulder at Joni, "I thought busting your ass for having weed on campus would be enough to get me my job, that I deserve might I add, but it didn't work. Because you had to go make things difficult. You had to tell her to fuck off with no explanation right? Why. Why would that make anything better? You think she'll love you now? Ha. it's almost comical." Hazel saunters around the kitchen island running her hand along the countertop, feeling every dust particle, every spill, every memory resting there all at once. She rubs her pointer finger and thumb together, feeling the dust before her gaze shifts to Joni. "See. We had a deal. Not a bribe, not blackmail necessarily. I do something, and in return, you just happen to do something as well that should have benefited me. Should I...", Hazel makes her way back to Joni, slowly but surely. She rests her hand on her shoulder and bends down closer to match her height, "Should I tell her that you were just fucking your ex boyfriend a few hours ago?" Joni gasps and pushes Hazel away from her.