Shattered

Hazel (e)

Hazel
22.
I waited until Mr. Wright's office door slammed shut before I hastily began to pack up my things for the day. With my mind still reeling from our conversation, I wasn't sure I had it in me to face him. Or anyone for that matter.

With all of the knowing, scrutinizing stares that I did my best to avoid, I resisted the urge to snap some rude comment or glare.

In this moment, I couldn't help but to wonder if this was how Mr. Wright felt.

Finally, I stepped outside.

But when I did, I caught a glimpse of a sleek black car at just the same time that I waited for a cab to pull up to the curb. My heart leapt in my chest when I realized that it was Mr. Wright, the exact person I was trying not to run in to.

Still, when he pulled beside me to wait for the traffic, I let my gaze linger over him through the window.

Words formed on my tongue, but ones I couldn't bring myself to speak out loud. A part of me wanting to apologize for something I didn't even do. With only a single, lingering look in my direction, Mr. Wright pulled away.

My heart wouldn't stop pounding the whole fifteen minutes it took to get back to my apartment complex, our conversation replaying over and over in my mind.

Even more so when I stepped inside the lobby to find Chase speaking to the receptionist.

To my dismay, I didn't make it to the elevators in time before Chase saw me, and his eyes were quick to light up with glee.

He came jogging over to me, opening his mouth to say something, but was immediately beaten by Kevin.

"Chase, I'm not done with you!" He stood to his feet.

"Just give me another week and I'll have your money." Chase groaned, clearly annoyed.

When he turned toward Kevin, I took that as my cue to continue to the elevators.

"That's what you've said the last two times. I've given you plenty of time to come up with the money."

The sound of the elevator caught Chase's attention, and his eyes narrowed when he looked in my direction. I hurried on.

"Hazel, wait!"

Chase came after me, but his steps faltered when Kevin blocked his path. The elevator doors closed shut, and relief filled me.

Back in the confines of my apartment, I was thankful that Chase didn't try to follow me. Instead, I did my best to push him to the back of my mind as I called Jules. It had been weeks since we last talked, and on second thought, I wondered if she was still angry. The last time I called, it was because of Chase. And because of Mr. Wright.

But Jules was my only hope.

With that thought, I did my best to push the second, stronger ones to the back of my mind, praying that maybe Jules might forget to be angry and we could go back to whatever normal we had.

Although, there was a part of me that doubted it. Not only was it Chase and Mr. Wright, but with the last phone call I made to Jules, I suddenly remembered the voices in the background. And with that realization, the unease began to fill me.