Behind Shaded Eyes

Chapter 4: Low Blows

Hazel

It was another day of torture at schools, but I still had to go.

The feel was different that day. There was no more Christian Duran in my life so the people I had left were Elliot and Brayden.

Elliot was off to college with Tate and Dustin, but it's not like they hung out. Tate and Dustin did not like Elliot one bit, and vice versa. I was worried that any one if them would start a dumb fight though, but Tate honestly wasn't worth the energy to fight with anymore.

I was a little sour that day, and by sour, I mean from the fallout Christian and I had. At school, I had Brayden, but even he had trouble with this whole situation. Trying to choose who to hang out with at a particular time made it hard for us to hang out because our trio was broken up.

Whenever I wanted go hang out with Brayden, Christian always took the chance to call him over and take him away. Of course Brayden was trying to be at two places at once, but we all knew that couldn't happen. So I let him go, even with the guilty expression he'd give me.

With that, I settled for eating by the library instead if the cafeteria where I could be alone and have some peace and quiet.

One time I even tried calling my foster sister, Riley, who was attending a different school with a couple old friends of mine.

The line rang and rang until it went to voicemail. I called one more time and it went straight to voicemail after a single ring.

Tears started to well up, but I knew I was stronger than that.

After a while that became my knew routine.

Being along was so addicting once I noticed how peaceful it was.

A few weeks passed after that. Riley and I were getting back from a sister day at the Baskin Robins nearby. She and I were cracking up, reminiscing about something that happened earlier that day.

I saw a familiar figure at the bridge nearby once we drove passed it. I stopped laughing once I realized what was happening on the other side of the window.

"Stop the car!" I commanded, making my sister stomp on the brakes immediately.

"Why, what's going on Hazel?" Riley asked as she looked at my with her wide brown eyes.

I pointed in the direction I was looking and her eyes followed suit, making my sister say, "Is that-"

"Christian!" I called as I ran out of the vehicle to the ledge where he stood.

My heart was pounding at the sight of seeing him standing up there. I heard his muffled sniffles even thought he didn't look back.

"Chris," I croaked. "Chris, what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, Hazel," he pleaded. "I'm so sorry for everything."

"Christian, you can't do this!" Riley announced.

"Tell her to go, Hazel." Chris demanded. "Or I'll jump."

I hesitated. "Go, Riley! I got this under control," I told her in a low voice

Riley nodded hesitantly and drove away.

"Okay," I sighed. "She's gone."

Christian looked wobbly, falling backwards into my arms, making me fall to my knees in the process. I saw the dry tear stains on his face.

I cradled and caressed his pale face. "It's okay now, Chris." I said. "I'm gonna take you to the hospital and you're gonna be okay."

Christian's car was around the corner. I put him in the back seat so he was laying down. Him being tall made it difficult, but I eventually got in and drove him to the hospital anyway.

The nurses placed Christian in his assigned room while I called Brayden and Elliot.

The boys came as fast as they could, making sure both Chris and I were alright when they got to us.

"Family for Christian Duran!" The doctor announced.

"That's us, Doctor." Elliot answered, making all of us stand up.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Blakely." He and Elliot shook hands. "Christian is doing fine now. He's suffered from sleep deprivation and consumed an alarming amount of alcohol.

Our shoulders all dropped at the news. "Can we go and see him?"

"Yes, briefly through. Christian needs all the rest he can get."

We all nodded, bidding our farewells and thank-you's to Dr. Blakely.

I was hesitant to go and see Christian. The fallout we had a few weeks beforehand had taken a crazy toll on us and it honestly wasn't worth our fight if I knew thus would have happened.

Elliot and Brayden were brief with their visits which left me to tend to Chris alone.

"Are you gonna need a lift home, Haze?" Elliot asked me.

I shook my head. "I drove Chris' car down here. I figured I'd take it back later tonight." I'd answered.

"Alright, let me know when you get home, okay?"

I nodded and Elliot and Brayden both gave me a quick hug before walking out.

I sighed and grabbed a chair to sit in.

My eyes averted to a still pale Christian. His breathing was steady and his skin was beginning to show some color againS

I gulped at the sight of the bandaged cuts on his left wrist. My heart tore in two knowing that he clearly started cutting.

My eyes went misty at that point knowing this was all my fault. Had my mind been more stable, Christian and I could have actually talked our problems out. I did this to one of my best friends and I couldn't bare the fact that he lay hurt and unstable on he bed in front of me.

My left hand grabbed Christian's while my right went to touch the necklace around my neck.

"HJ" stood for Hazel Joy because my favorite candy to have was Almond Joy.

"I'm sorry, Chris." I said softly, letting a tear rush down cheek. "I'm sorry I was the reason for you doing this."

I kissed the top of his hand and let go.

"Ma'am, someone else is here to see Mr. Duran before visiting hours are over." The nurse announced.

I wipe my tears away. "May I ask who?" I questioned lightly.

"You don't need to know who," a familiar voice drowned my mood instantly.

Maya Sanders.

"I thought I said to leave my boyfriend alone," she stated unmerciful of her words.

"Don't worry," I announced bitterly to her. "It's like you never knew I was here."

"I won't warn you again, Hazel. Stay away from Christian."

"Promise." And with that, I left.