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Hazel is a medical student. Bachelor in science, who is constantly juggling between the demands for these studies and pressures for clinical rotations, she has learned to keep her head down and eyes for...
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Waking up with a smile on my face has been a very popular option for my brain lately.
Today is the day Chace and I are flying to Seattle for Christmas and New Year. The thought of cozying up in Chace's family home, surrounded by holiday lights and that unmistakable crisp winter air, was something I'd been looking forward to this past week.
Chace has told me his father had a new case in LA and wouldn't be back until Christmas Eve. But that was fine—it meant a quieter house and some time to unwind before the holiday rush hit.
Felix and Emma Appleight. Mr. Appleight is a very popular lawyer, and Mrs. Appleight is a preschool teacher. Chace has an older sister, Martha, who has a little daughter, Page.
Okay, I think I remember everything.
I stretched in bed, imagining the snow falling and the smell of fresh pine and cinnamon filling the house. It was going to be the perfect escape.
But before I could fully enjoy the thought, my phone rang, the sound cutting through the peaceful moment. I frowned, reaching for it on the nightstand, my heart sinking when I saw the caller ID:
My Father.
My chest tightened. I hadn't expected him to call, especially not today.
"Why are you calling again?" I asked, my voice tighter than I intended.
"Hazel," my father's voice came through, as firm and cold as always. "We need to talk as soon as possible."
I gripped the phone tighter, the frustration bubbling up before he even got past those first few words. We need to meet like I had to obey him.
"No," I said firmly, cutting him off before he could continue. "We don't have to."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, but I didn't wait for him to respond. I hung up, the sound of the call ending giving me a strange sense of satisfaction.
I stared at the phone for a second, my pulse still racing.
He called again, and I ignored it.
Today was supposed to be about Seattle and Christmas with Chace's family. I wasn't going to let my father ruin that.
I Turned around just to find Chace leaning on my bedroom doorframe, his sky blues brightening the room immediately. He was wearing a gray sweater and a beanie combo that somehow made him look warm and cozy but a little bit overdressed for LA.
"Hey, friend," he said with a teasing smile. "Ready to head out?"
I nodded, managing a smile, grateful for his timing. "Yeah, almost. Just had a bit of a... morning."
Chace raised an eyebrow but didn't push, sensing that I wasn't ready to talk about it. Instead, he glanced at my half-packed suitcase and chuckled.
"We're going to miss the plane if you keep staring at your phone. Grab your stuff—The plane isn't waiting."
