Finding New Love

Chapter 1: Starting Over

I grabbed my car keys, hoodie and purse from the back then locked the place up. Today has been a long day, it's like this every Saturday, families are off of work and school and crave our food at our bakery. I don't get paid much but shit, at least it's something.

I was so exhausted, all I wanted to do was get home and spend some quality time with my boyfriend, Derek. We haven't been able to see each other much ever since I got a job, so seeing him right now after stressing all day was all I wanted.

We started dating in high school, when we were both 15 actually. I've loved every second with him since then. We moved in together at the age of 20, almost a year ago. It may seem like it's to early for all of that but I don't know, I like different.

I walked up to the front door, letting out an exhausted sigh.

"Home." I said with a faint smile across my face.

I grabbed my house keys to unlock the door. I put my purse on the couch, took off my hoodie and put my keys next to my purse.

It was awfully quiet in the house, usually Derek is either playing video games loud or just being loud in general.

"Derek?" I yelled a little loud. Silence.

"Where could he be?" I just figured he had headphones on so I grabbed a banana to eat then made my way to our bedroom.

I slowly opened the door in an attempt to creep up on him to scare him. That's when I noticed he wasn't alone in the bed. My heart stopped, I didn't know how to react. I couldn't even move a muscle, I was just so shocked. A blonde girl was on top of him only in a bra and panties.

Now I was feeling furious, angry at him and this hoe.

"What the fuck Derek?!" He jumped up suddenly while the girl looked at me wide-eyed.

"Hazel!" He said, shocked. Looking at him with another girl made me angry.

"Get the fuck out of my house you bitch!" I screamed. She grabbed her clothes and heels but not fast enough.

"NOW!" She ran past me out the door. I turned to Derek waiting for him to say something.

"Do you not know how much I've sacrificed to be here with you, in a house? Fuck Derek! The reason I have this job is to keep up with the rent while you're not doing shit, sitting on your ass all day playing games smoking weed in my fucking house and apparently fucking other chicks too!" I started tearing up, I was just so hurt in this moment and him not saying a word just made me feel worse, like he doesn't care. I know he doesn't care.

"I just don't understand what I did to deserve this, you made so many promises, now you're going back on all of them, I loved you, moved in with you even though my parents and friends begged me not to because they knew you weren't good enough for me, and you do this shit to me? Get the fuck out of my house."

He didn't say anything after, just got his suitcase then started packing up his things. While he packed, I hopped into the shower to cool down and think. After I was finished, so was Derek packing his things. Not saying a word, I opened the door to let him out. He turned back to me about to speak but I didn't let him.

"Don't." I said my voice cracked
"Just don't. "

He turned back around heading towards his cab, I slammed the door sliding down, then let the tears out. I have never been hurt like this before, that's probably because I've never loved someone as much as I loved him. At this point, I was convinced love did not exist, that we all just thought we were in love, but in reality, it was just wishful thinking. I finally made my way back to my bed, plopping onto it. What a shitty day this was. Soon I fell asleep, alone, for the first time in the longest time.

~

I woke up to my head throbbing, probably from my break down last night before falling asleep. I promised myself I wouldn't get this attached to anyone, especially a man but I failed at that epically.

I put my big girl pants on then jumped out of bed heading towards the shower.

"I feel like shit." I sigh to myself, honestly not ready to face today.

I turn the shower on, letting it get steamy hot. I strip away then let out a sigh as soon as the hot, relaxing water hit my skin. This is exactly what I need, at least for now.

I put my hair up into a towel then put my clothes on. I head towards the door to grab my keys and purse. I lock the door then head towards my 2010 Toyota Camry. This car has been everywhere with me even though I've only had it for 4 years.

~

After a 10 minute drive, I arrive at my work.

"Hey girl." I hear a feminine voice say behind the counter.

"Hey Sarah." I answer back, trying not to make it obvious I had the worst night of my life.

"Woah, you look like shit today. No offense." She admits as I make my way towards the counter. There was a couple already in the bakery seated, eating their food but she didn't say it loud enough to catch their attention.

She grabs my arm to pull me into the back to questions further.

"What exactly happened?"

I didn't even know how to respond to that question. Images of last night flashed in my head. I started feeling warmth rolling down my cheeks then realized I was tearing up, once again.

"Hazel?" She says concerned then embraces me trying to comfort me but that only made the water flow more. Fuck, because of my fucking ex I can't even work.

She slowly let's go then starts to speak again.

"Look Hazel, you cant work like this and I won't let you, I know you're kind of a workaholic but honey, you need a break and rest and I don't know, maybe socialize with other people?"

I let out a chuckle at her attempt to crack a joke about my lack of social skills. It's true, ever since I met Derek I never felt the need to interact with other people besides work. I guess that's going to have to change now.

"Thank you Sarah. I'll be back in next week then." I answer back. She gives me a sympathetic nod then I make my way back out the door.

I pause when I walk out and wonder, what the fuck do people do on their free time? My schedule always consisted of wake up, work, go back home to Derek and repeat. So I decided to just go back home.