Stuck

Gone

Hazel woke up with all kinds of insects crawling around her. At first she didn't realize that she had fallen asleep behind the bush and when she did she got up immediately and began to brush off all the insects and dead leaves that had been on her the whole night. And then she remembered what had happened last night, and she prepared herself.

Hazel walked back to her house to see her a jeep standing in front it. She didn't know whose it was, so she entered her house. She didn't care what excuse she'll use to get away with not being at home the whole night, and she wasn't bothered. However, she was surprised to see who it was.

In front of her stood her dad and his family, and his 'daughter'.

"Hi. I was just going back to my room but I'll come back later-"

"Hazel, I-" her dad was cut off by Hazel's mom and she was thankful that she had just done that.

"These are all the things that you needed for the divorce. I think our work here is done. And yes I'm sorry I couldn't make your family feel at home, I'm not particularly good at doing it. So now if you can please find your way out of this house and our lives we'd appreciate that." Hazel's mom said as she turned away, heading to the kitchen and casually preparing a cup of coffee.

"Jennifer I-"

"Dad- I'm sorry... Mr. Davies can you please go. We have nothing more to talk about."

Hazel interrupted, not being sarcastic, but actually not wanting him to be there. She didn't want to care about her parents anymore and no matter how rude she sounded or how terrible she felt about it, she was happy that they weren't together anymore. He left with his family without a single word, and drove away. She was done with them, and she decided she needed a break.

"Here, drink your coffee Hazel."

"No thanks. I don't need it."

"And yeah, you have to go and live at Foster's residence after two weeks. I'm going away for a trip."

"Cant I just go to Grandpa's? Why is it always Foster's?!"

Hazel raised her voice but her mother didn't care. She continued ignoring Hazel and said,

"You are gonna end up being frustrated, you know how they are. So I'm not talking about this anymore. Go upstairs and do whatever you want."

"I'm going to the lake."

"Whatever you wish."

Hazel went upstairs and looked at her window. She saw the golden gleam of the sun and sighed heavily. She didn't cry. She didn't feel anything although, she was surprised her mom didn't care where she had been last night. She took another deep breath and she started to freshen up.

She left her house about 5 minutes later, and she reached the lake in another 5.

Hazel sat on one of the rocks by the shore of the lake and took a deep breath in. The air was cool and fresh and she could smell the soothing and natural fragrance of the forest. The water looked so calm and blue, and she resisted the feeling to swim in it. The waves were smooth and gentle and the water was eerily still, and she noticed it too. She looked up at the sky to see the dark clouds forming but she didn't move. She stayed there, waiting for the rain, when she was interrupted.

"I see you have returned yet again."

Hazel turned around to find Ethan, who was carrying his backpack, as if he was heading somewhere.

"Don't you have a life or something? Why do you always end up in the same place as me?! Are you following me or something?!"

"You know I can ask you same question. I always see you here, and you always seem to end up at the same place as me! "

Hazel tried to find a comeback because he had a valid point.

"Well... I have been coming to this place since I was 10; that's 8 years now. Plus, I have no interest in following you because you are following me, so I think we're even."

Hazel gave him a sly, sarcastic smile while Ethan just mocked her by giving her 'Are you done yet?' face. He sighed heavily and said,

"So, it's been two days now since our holidays started, what are you planning to do?"

Ethan asked Hazel as he took a seat next to her on the rock. Without realizing, Hazel had now completely forgotten about what had happened in the past 12 hours and it was all because of Ethan. She trusted him so she told him what she wanted to do.

"I want to go home, pack by bag and just go away from this place. I want a break. I want to go somewhere alone and not bother about anything else."

Ethan, who was staring at the water, now turned to face Hazel, completely taken back by what she said. He never thought she would be the kind of girl to 'want a break' or 'be alone' because she seemed to have everything. He thought she'd be the kind to solve the whole Maths book for the next grade during summer and be in her room, reading 'intelligent'​ stuff.

"Okay."

"Okay?! That's all you say?! At least tell me where I should head to or how can I convince my mom!"

"Sure. Just go with me."

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