Hazel taps quietly at the front door. I leave my food and walk over. When I open it her sad eyes light up. "Hey," she says quietly.
"Hey," I smile, "Come in." Hazel slides inside and waits by the door. I don't notice and walk over to my food. "What's up?" I ask. When I don't get a reply I look up. Hazel is still standing by the door. Rising slowly, I start walking back towards her. "Is everything okay?"
"I don't know. Is it?" Hazel looks up at me sadly.
"Are you talking about Monday?"
"Well, you weren't at school today, and I didn't see you around yesterday either. Are you avoiding Eleanor?" I don't say anything. If I tell Hazel I'm avoiding Eleanor she might tell her. I don't know what she'll do. Since Hazel ditched me I don't know whether or not to trust her. What if she's telling Eleanor all of my secrets? What if they've plotted something huge, and Hazel is here to convince me to go to school tomorrow? It sounds outrageous, but... What if?
"No," I finally say.
"Are you avoiding me?" I can't help but cringe. She hit the nail on the head. I didn't go to school today or Tuesday not because I was avoiding Eleanor, but because I was avoiding Hazel. Once Hazel starts talking I can't bring myself to leave. Part of me wants to forgive Hazel, but part of me won't trust her. I would have been there for her. But she laughed at me.
I turn away, "I think you should go. Don't worry about me, if that's why you're here."
"Eliza," Hazel says quietly. "Okay." There is a long moment of silence. I know Hazel is still standing there. She'll be waiting for me to say something. Or she'll be trying to think of something to say. Knowing her she won't just leave it at this. "What you did was great, by the way," she says.
"Thanks."
"It took a lot of courage. Heaps of people admire you know. Eleanor is so mad, but there are people who will defend you. I guess that's why she's most mad. People have stopped liking her, and started liking you. School won't be so bad anymore. No one refers to you as Egg, Red or ginger slut anymore. Even the teachers have started saying Eliza. I think they respect you now."
"Good. Now, could you please go? I have things to do. I'll see you at school." Hazel doesn't say anything after that. She leaves silently. I stay frozen until her car has disappeared and it's hum can no longer be heard. I let out a long breath. My ice cream is beginning to melt. Timmy appears at the bottom of the steps. He licks his lips, carefully selecting his words before speaking. "That was intense. She's right though; you're a legend at school. Other people have started standing up to Eleanor too," Timmy grins. "And I told Lucas he shouldn't hurt people just because Eleanor wants him to. I think he listened."
"Timmy," my eyes soften, "Did I do something good?"
"You did something amazing!" He goes silent for a while, grinning proudly. I grab my ice cream and shove it towards Timmy. He takes the ice cream and retreats up the stairs, leaving me alone. I feel like shit because of Hazel but I feel amazing because of Eleanor. What a strange turn of events.
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A/N
Teeny tiny chapter. I should have put this at the end of the last chapter, but nah. My book, my rules. OH YES.
Thanks for reading
Bad Noodle xx
