No Time Like Goodbye

Chapter 3- Hazel

"Hey guys! What took you so long?" Ryan grinned, leaning back in his chair. His hair was blessedly tousled, just the way Fahari liked it. I smiled and shoved him playfully as I passed him, sitting across from him at our usual booth. Dylan sat next to me, like he always did, but this time it felt different for some reason. Fahari slid into the seat next to Ryan, kissing his cheek softly.

Ryan and Fahari. What was there even to say? They were a match made in heaven. Both stubborn and kind, always seeming to be talking to one another. They may have only been together for a year and a half at this point, but it felt like a lot longer. They were perfect.

"Remind me why they give us menus anymore?" Dylan laughed, setting the menu aside immediately. The four of us had been to that diner probably 200 times over the course of the past four years, and by now we knew exactly what we wanted, and so did the cook. We didn't even have to order anymore. We simply walked in, sat, and waited.

"So, we're graduates now, huh? Seems pretty weird. I mean, a week ago we were sitting at this exact table, seniors who were stressing over finals. Now, we're finally free." Ryan laughs, grinning at all of us.

"I guess you're right," I said quietly. "We are free now, in a way."

We were free from school and classes, but in a lot of ways it felt like I was only more limited. With the new independence came a whole new set of limitations as well.

I don't remember much of what happened at that dinner, my mind preoccupied with a dozen different things. Topics were discussed, disagreements- mainly between Dylan and Ryan- were settled, and stories were told. I stopped paying attention at some point, picking at my BLT on wheat, suddenly not hungry.

"Hazel? You okay?" Fahari was watching me, a small frown touching her face. I nodded and blinked away the thoughts running through my head.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Why do you ask?" I smiled, nodding. She tilted her head to the side just a bit, studying me.

"No reason. You just seemed a bit, preoccupied." She shrugged and turned back to the conversation, something about ducks. I still didn't listen, yawning a bit.

Dylan glanced at me every so often, not seeming entirely engrossed in the conversation either. But he still engaged in it, unlike myself. I was more than content with listening and watching, rather than talking.

"Well, I've got to go, or my mother is never going to let me out of the house again," Dylan said after a few hours, checking his watch. "You want a ride home, Haze?"

I lived three houses away from Dylan, and, considering I didn't have my own car, he was always willing to give me a ride.

I smiled gratefully and nodded, standing with him. We waved to Ryan and Fahari, practically running out the door.

"So, are you going to Brittany's party tomorrow night?" He asked as he started the car, driving down the road just a bit too fast. I laughed.

"Me? Go to a party? You're kidding, right?" I rolled my eyes and laughed again. "Or don't go to parties. Especially Brittany's parties."

Dylan laughed as well, the sound light and melodic, almost symphonic. "I'm kidding with you, Haze. I don't think anyone but horny football players are going to be at that party." He smiled, glancing at me as he spoke. "No, I was wondering if you were going to go to only the hottest party of the year."

"And which one would that be?" I raised an eyebrow.

"The one going on at Dylan Nightly's house! Didn't you hear? Only the coolest of the cool are invited. And you, Mrs. Rivers, are on the top of the list."

I couldn't help but laugh. The thought of me, Hazel Jean Rivers, being cool was laughable. I was the exact opposite. I was a nobody. A shadow in the back of the classroom.

"Definitely." I grinned at him. He laughed and nodded, pulling into my driveway.

"Perfect. I'll pick you up at 7."