Stubborn Love

Part 6

Part 6

I'm getting groceries with Anna and Clyde. Anna and I are trying to choose which fruit snacks is better.

"Eh, you choose, you almost know him better than I do," I tease.

Anna laughs as I slowly walk into the chip aisle. I browse for some simple kettle cook chips then someone bumps into me a little. I look over.

"I'm sorry..." My voice trailed off when I realized who it was. It was Garrett, Milo's fraternal twin brother.

"I saw you, I don't know why I thought that would be a good way to greet you," he laughs awkwardly. I just stare at him speechless. "Okay, maybe it wasn't best if I greeted you at all."

"I'm sorry! I just haven't seen you in a really long time," I laugh nervously.

"I know, I don't really see you around here anymore. Did you move or?"

"No, no, I stayed. Um, I guess ever since I had Clyde, and news broke out about Milo, I just wanted to be hidden."

"I could have helped you out, Hazel."

"No, I don't want you to be responsible for Milo."

"You know he's back, right?"

"Yes, I do," I try to smile.

"And you know he's staying with us?"

"I didn't know that. I haven't really had the time to talk to him about what he's doing. I might just do that when I see him today. Wait, and "us"?"

"Yeah," Garrett holds up his left hand as I see a gold band locking his ring finger.

"I forgot you got married," I laugh awkwardly.

"It's not as exciting as they make it in the movies and books."

"Thanks for the truth," I say.

"No problem. Alright," Garrett smiles. Garrett then pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket, "Do you have a pen or something I can write with?"

I look in my bag and hand him a pen as he scribbles something down. He hands the piece of paper to me and I realize it's his phone number.

"What's this for?" I ask.

"In case you need a babysitter. I'm free on the weekends, well if I'm not grading papers."

"Grading papers? You simply lived your dream of becoming a teacher?" I laugh a little.

"Yeah, first year at the school, kids are assholes nowadays," he laughs. I laugh along with him, leaning forward as Garrett pats my shoulder.

"It's really good to see you again. You really brought peace to Milo, and made our home nice for once."

"Pshh, I didn't do anything."

"You did," he smiles and looks at his watch, "well I better go. Don't be afraid to talk to me freely. I want to be involved more now that Milo is back."

Watching Garrett walk away brings back loads of memories, more than usual. I gulp and stare at the bag of kettle cook chips as my mind swirls back to time.

*Four years ago*

"Oh my god Haze, hurry up! This is why I hate shopping for food with you!" Cora groans.

"You know how I am when it comes to chips. It has to satisfy me."

Cora shakes her head, "Well I'm going to get some candy." Cora leaves me alone as I stare intently between regular potato chips and kettle cooked potato chips. I decide to take the kettle cook chips and step back and bump against someone. I stare up at a tall guy that I recognize at school, I'm pretty sure he's the TA for my math class.

"Sorry," I blush a little.

"That's okay," he smiles.

"Gosh! You again?" I see Milo come from his side. I roll my eyes and groan.

"You two know each other?" The tall guy asks.

"Yeah," Milo's voice scratches as he shoves his hands in his jet black, leather jacket.

"Unfortunately," I grumble.

"Well, we better get going, you know how mom doesn't like waiting in the car too long," the tall one says.

"Right," Milo says and sneers at me.

Unfortunately, they're brothers. I watch them walk off with some items in their hands. I do a quick thinking. Both of them are in the senior class. My eyes go wide as I quickly walk to the candy aisle. I spot Cora's blonde, bedhead hair and run up to her.

"Cora!" I say and grasp onto her shoulder.

"Gosh, Haze, chill."

I grab her hand and pull her towards the end of the aisle and peek over the shelves and face the cashiers and jerk my head to Milo and the tall guy.

"Okay, it's that asshole and his adorable brother, so what?"

"Aren't they in the same grade?" I whisper.

"Yeah, they're fraternal twins, Hazel. Use your brain," she pats the side of my head.

"Well, how am suppose to know that?"

Cora pulls me back, "Okay, that's enough stalking for today."

"What are you talking about? I wasn't stalking."

"Sure," Cora smirks and rolls her eyes. "Admit it, Haze, you like that little bad boy."

"I don't, and if I did he's mean anyway. I don't want some one who is always gonna be mean to me."

"Awe, Haze," Cora takes me in for a hug, "your little mind reminds me of how much I love you," she gives me a kiss on the forehead.

"Little? Cora we're the same age though."

"I know, but sadly, I've done a lot..." Cora's face pouts, and a sad silence comes through. She looks at the candy and randomly picks sour gummy worms.

"Let's go," she says as we walk over to the cashier. We were behind Milo and his brother, I'm pretty sure his name is Garrett. Milo stares at me as he's grabbing his items as I try to hide behind Cora.

"You know," Cora says loudly, "Hazel," she looks at me with a mischievous grin, "you should always go for the nicer brother."

Garrett turns his head as Cora steps aside showing me off. Garrett just smiles and gets his receipt.

"I'll see you both in third period tomorrow," he says with a scratch that resembles to Milo.

Garrett and I just stare at each other, I felt myself blush hard.

"Let's go, now," Milo says low and angry.

They both leave as Cora laughs, touching my cheek with the back of her hand.

"Calm down, Haze, it's all over," she winks.

I run my hand through my hair and take a deep breath as if I was in underwater. I don't even think I like Garrett like that.

**

I shake my head and quickly meet up with Anna and Clyde. I see Clyde smile at me as I push his wavy bangs back and give him a kiss on the forehead. I see Anna grabbing some snack bars.

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"How do you feel about having some free time on the weekend?"