Behind Shaded Eyes

Chapter 2: Lost Battles

You'd think a 3 year relationship would mean something to a person you love.

Boy, I could have never been more wrong about anything else.

There I was waiting for Tate to come pick me up after a late study session, not knowing he was really messing around with Jessica for the past few hours instead.

I could already tell something was up the minute I got in to his car.

"It smells like perfume in here," I announced once I got settled in.

"Are you sure it's not yours?" Tate had asked, masking his surprise.

I hadn't thought of it at the time- that he may have been fooling around with someone else. then again, I was foolishly in love with the guy, not smart enough to realize his actions until it was too late

It was that same day, January 9th, that I had found out about Tate's infidelity with Jessica.

The drive to his house was short like normal, but something was odd. We arrived at his house when I noticed a familiar piece of pink fabric hidden under one of Tate's San Diego State hats sitting in the back of the car.

"What's that?" I questioned as I kept my eyes trained on what I was looking at.

"What?" Tate answered before his eyes landed on what I had my eyes trained on. "My hat?"

"No, what's that under your hat?"

"I don't see anything." He was trying to play dumb.

I turned around, grabbed the hate and retrieved what was under it to see a pair of pink Victoria's Secret panties. My eyes met with a frantic eyed Tate when I said, "Who's are these?"

"I don't-"

"Don't play dumb with me," I calmly stated, but Tate stood quiet.

I bit my tongue before I said anything stupid, got out of the car and headed toward the front door of the house he shared with Dustin. The doorknob turned before I could touch it and out came none other than my cousin, Jessica Kent.

"Hazel!" She claimed in surprise. Dustin appeared shortly after.

"Hello Jessica," I greeted. "Dustin."

I was oddly calm at that moment, but nothing could compare to the hurt I was feeling inside.

"Uh- why don't we all go inside and explain everything to Hazel?" Dustin finally said.

We filed inside and went into the living room, Dustin and I sitting on one couch, Tate and Jessica on the other.

"I've been seeing Jessica behind your back," Tate announced.

"I'm not an idiot, Tate." I responded. "It was obvious once I got into the car."

I knew the perfume scent I wore, and it definitely was not the same one I smelled in the car. Jessica wore Pink Chiffon while I wore Sweet Pea. Tate even knew that.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Jessica asked this time.

"Your perfume is different from mine," I answered, livid. "And you obviously are the worst at hiding your underwear." I threw the pink fabric on the table, disgusted at the sight.

"You don't seem surprised," Dustin chimed in.

I turned to him and said, "You don't either."

He gulped. "Hazel, I-"

I sighed. "Just give it up and tell me that you knew about them."

"I wanted to tell you, but-"

"You were just trying to be a good friend to Tate, right?" Dustin gave me a defeated look.

All three had guilt written all over their faces and I was sitting there disgusted.

I didn't want tot know how long it was going on, but the thought just flew out of my mouth before I could think to stop myself: "How long?"

"Six months," Tate answered.

My eyes closed and I let all the information sink in.

"You guys disgust me," I let out and stood up.

"Where are you going, Hazel?" Tate stood up as did everyone else.

I looked at him straight in the eyes. "It doesn't matter, you're not my boyfriend anymore."

"Hazel, I didn't mean for-"

"Goodbye Tate, Dustin." I looked over to Jessica. "Homehopping isn't cool. I'm glad you didn't get to Christian."

I made my way toward the door, but stopped and turned to Tate.

"I spent three whole years loving you, but you spent half a year wasting your time with my cousin." Tate gulped at my statement. "When in those six months did you ever stop and think that cheating on with anyone was okay?" That was all I said before I left that house and the memories that seemed to mean nothing to everyone else but me, behind.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called the only person I could count on at the moment: Elliot Duran.

"Hello?" Elliot answered.

"Hi, uh, do you mind picking me up at the park near Tate's house?" I pushed away the fact that my throat was closing. "Out in Oakridge."

"I'm actually here right now. What's going on?"

"I'm on the way there, I just need a ride home."

Once I got to the park, Elliot and I spotted each other immediately. He jogged over to his car, helped me get settled, then drove me home.

The drive was quiet, but that was okay. Once we got to my house, Elliot walked me to the front door.

"Elliot," I started, "can you do me a favor?"

"What's going on, Hazel?" He'd asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Just, uh, just don't tell Christian about this, okay?"

Elliot nodded curtly and left.

Once I got inside my house, I closed the door behind me and let my back slide down the door.