The Other Side of Silence

The Abduction

"Hello and welcome to your doom." My ears perk up at the words. Confused, I look at Zander in shock at the weight of his words.

"Huh?" I look at Wyatt over my shoulder, whose jaw is clenched. His grip on my waist tightens possessively.

What's going on?

"He meant, welcome to The Bloom. That's the name of the field." Hazel explained, elbowing Zander in the process as he grinned in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, yeah sure, that's what I meant, The Bloom. Yeah..." He trailed off suspiciously, before grabbing hold of Hazel's hand and leading her somewhere, leaving us both behind.

Meanwhile, Wyatt is here growling profanities under his breath like his life depends on it.

"Oh my apologies, follow me." Zander spoke, when he realized we weren't directly behind him. Looking over his shoulder at us, with a sly smirk directed to Wyatt, earning a growl from him in response.

Zander just chuckled and turned around, facing a now seated Hazel whose brushing off the wrinkles on her dress that I'm now noticing.

She wore an orange ombre floral dress with white, pink and purple tulip prints all over the dress. It really went well with the whole vibe of the place.

We are at an open field covered with grass and flowers.

Her blonde hair curled slightly at the end, resting effortlessly beautiful a little below her shoulders. Her ocean blue eyes glimmering in the light. She looked... Breathtaking.

I quickly shook my head to get rid of whatever thoughts were being formulated by that sly brain of mine.

She patted the place next to her on the huge table cloth we're all supposed to be sitting on while we enjoy this little picnic date of ours.

I sat next to her as she began opening up the picnic basket and removing its contents then place them on the table cloth. I gave her the little assistance I could by taking the disposable plates and placing them down.

Slowly and carefully, she placed the skewers of fruit on some, turkey sandwiches, ham sandwiches, PB and J's, mini quiches, salted chips and guac, some lemonade and finally to seal the deal with a huge bottles of wine I've never seen in my life.

I wanted to ask if they were alcoholic, since y'know, I'm underage, but I decided not to, after all, they wouldn't give me alcohol.

Would they?

Nah.

The wines were Lambrusco, Vin Santo and Barolo Chinato.

I honestly haven't heard any of these words before in my life. At least all but the name Santo.

We're 20 minutes into the picnic date and Zander hasn't been able to finish his narration on how him and Hazel met.

It was cute at first, but then his descriptions started getting a bit gory. From how he found her in an alley way, cornered by who he described as a homeless dude.

I slightly observed Hazel's facial features to see her reaction to his words. Normally, if it was me in her place I'd either feel emotional about the incident because as he's describing it I'm not only remembering the incident, but I'm also reliving it. Or, I'd get angry at him for describing my time of shame and weakness to other people.

But nothing like that flashed her face. She just held a bored expression, like even if he held a megaphone and preached her experience to all nations it wouldn't affect her whatsoever.

I tuned back into the conversation Zander was supposed to be having with me. Right now, he was describing how the guy physically had his hand inside a Hazel who was thrashing around and screaming for help, how he watched from the corner how the guy was slowing undoing his zipper and pulling down his pants.