Behind Shaded Eyes

Chapter 7: Of Accidents & Attention Spans

Hazel

I wasn't the type of person to walk around and think about everything.

Usually I started with drinking a cup of tea while blasting music from my phone on the loudest volume possible. This helped me channel out the world so it was just me and my thoughts.

But this time, I went around town and explored the city, absorbing every little wonder I saw. It was refreshing and my head was cleared after a good hour and a half.

I was about thirty minutes away from my house when my phone started ringing. James was calling about who knows what, but I decided not to answer because I was having me time. Boys could wait until I got home.

Keep in mind, I was walking about that whole time and my feet were getting tired, so obviously boys were the last thing on my mind at that moment.

It was about 6:30 PM when I was fifteen minutes away. I stopped for a cup of coffee from the nearby Starbucks then went on my merry way.

I was at the crosswalk when I finished my coffee. I got the signal to cross and made sure no cars were coming my way.

Then everything went black.

Christian

It was about 8:08 PM when I got a call from a frantic sounding Brayden and Bella.

Elliot and I drove over and picked them up, then booked it to the hospital where Hazel was staying at.

God only knows what I'd do when I heard what had happened.

"Hazel got ran over," Mrs. Marks stated. "She's going through surgery at the moment."

Those were the words that broke my heart. No one knew whether my best friend was gonna be okay or not, but Hazel was a strong girl. I knew she would somehow be okay.

A couple hours later, they placed her in the ICU and James and Vanessa were there as soon as they heard about Hazel.

"What happened?" asked a panicked James Kallaway.

"Hazel was coming from a walk when she got hit," Riley stated sniffling. "She's in very critical condition though. The doctor said she needs all the rest she can get."

James gulped. "Then I'll be here, as long as it takes for her to wake up."

"You don't need to be here." I didn't realize I'd said that out loud for everyone to hear until Vanessa and Bella gasped.

"Christian!" Elliot scolded loudly.

"Sorry." I clenched my jaw from saying anything else.

And so we all waited outside of Hazel's room for God knows how long. Every hour, every minute was killing me inside. The guilt from everything that happened before hand was eating me inside,

Everyone got to go in one by one by 12 AM.

Hazel wasn't awake yet, but it was worth the wait to go see her. Brayden and I were the last ones to go see our best friend practically laying on her deathbed.

I took a seat by her bed and took a moment to just look at her. She still had the porcelain glow, it looked as if she didn't even get hurt. Of course, there were a couple scratches and bruises here and there, but she was still as beautiful as ever. Only in my eyes at least.

I gulped. "Hi, Hazel Joy." I greeted softly. Brayden placed his hand on my shoulder for comfort.

"Whatever punk did this," I continued, "Bray and I are gonna find him and they're gonna get what they deserve, okay?" No questions asked."

It was silent for the next few minutes, just the sound of the monitors beeping in the background kept me hopeful that my Hazel Joy would wake up soon.

Tears came from my eyes before I knew they were coming out. I grabbed Hazel's hand and held it tight it enough that blood still flowed through both of our hands.

"If this is what it took to get my attention, you have it Hazel." I cried. "I'm here now and you have my attention."

I kissed the top of her hand and held it a little longer before I let go.

"Please wake up, Hazel Joy. We all need you to."