The Girl In The Hoodie

Chapter 1 ~ Only The Beginning

Summer was leaving and school was coming back in.
"Ugh, why did summer have to go by so fast," I whined as my 10-year-old self would.

"Honestly Ivy, maybe going back to school won't be so bad."

I can't believe I just heard those words come out of my best friends mouth. "Are you kidding me Hazel, What happened to my awesome best friend?"  I stared and watched Hazel for a second then I rolled my eyes.

"Don't be stupid Ivy, I'm right here, like always and will be till the end of time by your side. I just think this school year might be different for us." Hazel responded, with her turn to give me her eye roll.

"trust me it won't be," I looked down at my hands trying to calm myself.

"I get the point that she's not doing so well?" Hazel grabbed my hands from my lap and started rubbing her thumb on the back of my hand's.

"No, she's getting weaker by the moment Hazel, I don't know what's going to happen. I can't handle it." I responded with my voice becoming above a whisper.

Hazel is my best friend in the world. She was always there for me when I needed her. It was finally time to go back to school, I really didn't want to because my mom hasn't really been feeling good all summer. We took her to the doctors and they told us she has cancer. Yeah. I haven't been enjoying summer because of my mother I worry about her so much.

Plus I'm the only child at home since my brother left for college during the fall. He doesn't really know what's happening with my mother.  He knows about the cancer part, and he does try his best to keep up with her. Still, it's not enough. All the pressure is on me. My mother has had cancer for as long as I could remember, 4 years.

It was the last day of summer break. The only day I actually had where I could relax. School was starting and that also meant that Hazel would be leaving by the time I started school.

Her parents are both in the Military so they move almost every four years. This year they would be moving to Germany. This is the last time where my best friend and I would be together, spending time together. So now Hazel and I were sitting on the comfiest beach chairs, trying to relax and enjoy the last moments together.

"I can't believe you're leaving. I wish you didn't have to go anywhere." I sighed.

"Come on Ivy, you know I'm going to come to visit for Christmas break and see you next summer," Hazel responded.

"I know but it won't be the same, we're both going to school without each other nearby, we're going to be so lonely. Or at least I am." I pretended to sniff then did puppy eyes on Hazel.

"Ivy shut up you're over exaggerating, just like you always do. Oh, I'm going to miss that about you." Hazel started to sniff. Then I noticed she was actually crying.

When I saw that one drop falls from Hazel's, literally Hazel eyes, I started crying too. So I did my best like I always did, I came next to her and gave her my biggest bear hug I could give. When I got next to her I felt her arms wrap around my back, and her head fell into my shoulder. As did mine onto her shoulder.

"uh, why do you always have to bring me to tears." Sniffed Hazel then gave me one of her fake smiles.

"Hazel, that's just who I am." I wiped away my tears.

"I know," Sniffed then laughed Hazel. "It really is going to be different this year, isn't it?" Hazel looked up at me.

"Yeah, it really is," I responded with my eyes staring at the floor.

I never thought that I could bring Hazel to tears, but I did, I made her realize that we're not going to be together this school year.

I made her realize that we are actually growing up, without each other.

"What are we going to do without each other Hazel?"  I hesitated to ask.

"We will be fine, we will always have time to Face Time." Hazel laughed, then paused to rethink the whole situation.

"Hey it's going to be okay, come on we still have this day to enjoy."  I looked into hazels eyes.

She looked back and laughed, "yeah we do!"  Hazel laughed.

One thing I do know is how to make my best friend happy, even though we think about the negative things, I still try to make the moment feel positive.
              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was finally time for us to go home from being at the beach almost the whole day.

We finally made it to Hazel's parent's beach house. Where her parents and I thought of doing something special for her.

I had an idea of throwing Hazel a going away party. So I told her parents and they thought it was a good idea. So all day today going to the beach was time for us to relax and enjoy our selves but it was also to give Hazel's parents and family, time to decorate.

Here we were about to enter through the back door of the beach house. All the lights in the house were off.

"What's going on?" Hazel asked with a worried expression.

"I have no idea. Come on let's go inside." I held in my laugh.

"Okay, but if we get kidnapped I'm never talking to you again. Ever!" Hazel shouted.

"Okay gees," I laughed. "Come On even if that were to happen we all know you would still talk to me." I stared into Hazel's eyes.

"Oh shut up." Hazel pushes my face back while laughing.

There we were outside of the door, my hand ready to turn the door handle. I finally pressed down on the door handle and when the door opened, Hazel stepped foot inside the house.

"Surprise!" Everyone yelled.

Hazel's whole family was there and a couple of her parent's friends.

"What is this?, What's going on?" Hazel said in shock.

"Oh, sweetheart, this was Ivy's idea. She wanted us to throw you a going away party," Hazel's mother said, giving a kiss on her cheek.

"Ivy! you didn't have to do this for me, you really are the best friend ever," Hazel runs towards me and gives me her biggest hug ever.

"Come on Hazel, of course, I had to. You are my best friend in the world," I laughed and smiled at her. Then once we pulled apart, my phone in my pocket started vibrating. "Hello?"

"Hazel! Where are you? Come back home now!" My dad was yelling through my phone.

"Okay, Okay, I'm on my way!" I yelled back

"Hazel I'm so sorry I have to go back home now! It's okay I will just go on my bike."

"Okay Ivy, You sure? I mean my parents and I could take you back,"

"No, it's fine. Thank you though," I gave Hazel one last hug then ran out the door to get on top of my bike. Once I got on my bike I felt my phone vibrating again. It was my dad again, I had a bad feeling about this.

"What's wrong dad!" I yelled once I answered

"Honey, come to the hospital instead, urgent!" was the last thing I heard from my dad and started peddling as fast as I could.

Authors note:
Hope you guys liked the first chapter so far, I will be starting the next chapter as soon as possible. Thank you for taking time reading. Make sure to comment on what you liked and how you felt about the first chapter. Sorry I know it was long, I just get so excited. ;P

Love ~ Liz💕