Wildflower Wildfire (Hazel Callahan x fem! oc)

Old Money

     Sunday evening crept in, bringing with it a chill that signaled the end of the weekend. Sophia was in her room, scrolling through her phone, when there was a knock on the door. Stella peeked in, her face wearing a practiced casualness that made Sophia wary.

     "Hey," Stella said, "just wanted to give you a heads-up—Mom's best friend and her daughter are coming over for dinner tonight."

     Sophia put her phone down, her stomach sinking a little. "Tonight? Do I really have to be there?" She wasn't in the mood for meeting new people, especially not when she had to sit at a formal dinner table, feeling like the newcomer all over again.

     "Yeah, you kinda do," Stella replied with a sympathetic smile. "Mom's big on the whole 'family bonding' thing, especially when we have guests over. But I promise it'll be fine. It's not going to be all stuffy or anything." She crossed the room and sat on the edge of Sophia's bed. "Actually, my mom's friend's daughter is cool. I think you'll like her."

     Sophia arched an eyebrow. "Really? You don't think I'll just feel... awkward?"

     "Nah," Stella said, shaking her head. "She's chill. We've hung out a few times before, and she's pretty down-to-earth. Trust me, it's not going to be some boring dinner where everyone talks about golf or whatever. Plus, if it gets awkward, I'll be there to rescue you."

     Sophia sighed, a reluctant acceptance settling over her. She didn't want to seem rude, especially since Stella was clearly trying to help. "Fine," she said. "I'll come downstairs. But if it's terrible, you owe me."

     Stella grinned and held up a hand, as if swearing an oath. "Deal. I promise, you'll survive this one."

     After Stella left, Sophia took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that came with meeting more people. She still wasn't used to these kinds of social obligations, where she felt like she had to be on her best behavior, smiling politely and answering the same questions about her move from New York. But she knew she didn't have much choice. With one last glance in the mirror, she headed downstairs, bracing herself for another night of introductions.

     As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could hear voices coming from the dining room—Stella's mom chatting animatedly with someone who had a warm, lilting voice. Sophia hesitated for a second before stepping into the room, mentally preparing herself for whatever awaited her at the dinner table.

     Sophia walked into the dining room, where Stella was setting the table with her usual energy, while Stella's mom chatted away with an elegant woman who must have been her best friend. As Sophia approached, Stella's mom glanced over and gave her a welcoming smile.

     "Sophia, sweetie, come meet our guests," she said warmly. "This is my friend, Lauren Callahan, and her daughter, Hazel."

     Sophia turned to greet the daughter, and the moment she laid eyes on Hazel, she froze. It was the same girl she had noticed at the fair—the one with the shaggy dark hair and the knowing smile. Hazel was leaning casually against the back of a chair, dressed in baggy jeans and a loose-fitting vintage band t-shirt. She had an easygoing posture, and her dark blue eyes, which sparkled with curiosity, met Sophia's with a flash of recognition.

     For a moment, Sophia wasn't sure if she was supposed to acknowledge that they'd seen each other before. But then Hazel gave her a friendly smile and said, "Hey. I think I saw you at the fair yesterday, right?" Her tone was light and unassuming, as if this was just another part of a normal conversation.

     "Yeah," Sophia replied, a little surprised that Hazel brought it up so casually. "I thought you looked familiar."

     "Well, I'm glad you recognized me, otherwise that would've been embarrassing," Hazel said with a playful grin, making Sophia laugh despite herself.