After ending things with Archie-who insisted that Finn was merely overreacting-Finn dove into a confusing whirlwind of self-doubt. He convinced himself that perhaps his attraction to Archie had been a phase, a youthful mistake born from desperation...
Hazel follows Finn into the room, plopping down next to him on the bed. She takes one look at Finn's puffy, tear-stained face and can't help but crack a teasing smile.
"Whoa, someone's been having a rough day," she says, nudging Finn playfully.
Finn glares at Hazel, not amused by her light-hearted comment. "Thanks for the observation," he mutters sarcastically.
Hazel chuckles, her smile growing wider. "Oh, come on. Lighten up a little. You've got a classic case of 'I-just-had-a-good-crying-session' face."
She glances at Finn's dazed expression.
Ethan... He has a pretty name.
Finn's inner voice starts to bombard him with questions and doubts.
What is this feeling? You're not supposed to be attracted to guys anymore, you said you'd try liking girls ,remember?
Maybe it's just a fluke. I don't like guys anymore.
What if this means I'm not over Archie yet? What if I'm just replacing him with Ethan?
Finn's thoughts continue to swirl in his mind, his confusion deepening. He thinks to himself,
This is crazy. I can't be developing feelings for Ethan right now , not after everything with Archie. I hardly even know the guy. Ughhh I don't know.
His emotions are a jumble of uncertainty and confusion as he makes a weird face without realising.
Hazel slaps him on the shoulder, breaking him out of his thoughts. "Hey, snap out of it. We're supposed to be at Kayla's match, remember?"
Finn rubs his shoulder, still sulking. "Yeah, I know," he mutters.
Hazel stands up and starts to rifle through Finn's drawers, searching for some clean clothes for him to wear. "Then get your butt moving. We don't have all day."
Hazel continues to gather some suitable clothes for Finn to wear, carefully selecting a few items and laying them out on the bed. As she does this, she keeps stealing glances at Finn's downtrodden expression, her heart heavy with worry.
Hazel knows that Finn is upset about his recent breakup, but she also knows that sometimes actions speak louder than words. So, she busies herself with straightening out Finn's clothes, ironing out the wrinkles, and ensuring everything looks just right.
As Hazel works, she tries to keep the mood light by chatting a little about Kayla's upcoming match.
"Man, Kayla's gonna kick some serious butt at this match," she says, trying to draw Finn into the conversation. "I heard she's been training extra hard lately."
Finn's response is distant, his mind clearly somewhere else. "Mhm, training. That's nice." He's practically mumbling, his thoughts miles away.
***
Hazel rolls her eyes at Finn's fussing. "Alright, pretty boy, can we go now?"
Finn shoots Hazel a glare, offended by her comment. "I'm not a pretty boy," he mutters, pouting slightly.He gives his mirror a quick check, smoothing down his clothes and running a hand through his hair.
Hazel just laughs, grabbing her keys off the counter. "Sure, keep telling yourself that. But hurry up, we're already late."
***
The gymnasium is filled with a palpable excitement as fans pour in, eagerly taking their seats in the stands. The atmosphere is electric, the fans' enthusiasm and anticipation for the upcoming match adding to the energy in the air.
The teams warm up on the court, getting acclimated to the surroundings while the crowd is still settling in, their conversations and cheers creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
As they watched Kayla warm up on the court, Hazel and Finn sat together, chatting and laughing.
"You think Kayla's nervous?" Finn asked, his eyes on the court.
Hazel shook her head. "Nah, Kayla's a pro. She loves the thrill of the game. She's probably more excited than anything."
The arena was packed, the sound of cheering and pounding music filling the air.
Hazel leaned over to Finn. "Oh,I'm so hyped," she said, bouncing in her seat. "Kayla's gonna kill it out there, I just know it."
Finn laughed. "You're almost as excited as Kayla is. I've never seen someone so passionate about basketball."
As they watched Kayla score another basket, Finn's thoughts drifted back to his Archie. He couldn't help but compare her to Kayla - Kayla's determination and drive far outshone his ex's.
Hazel ,seeing Finn's mood, nudged him. "Oi, you good?"
Finn snapped out of his thoughts and smiled. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... thinking about something..."
Hazel raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar look on Finn's face.
"Thinking about your ex again?" she asked.
Finn sighed. "Yeah, I guess. I can't help it sometimes. But seeing Kayla out there, doing so well... it makes me realize just how one-sided my past relationship was."
"Aye, I know you'll score someone far better than that asshole "
Finn cracks a huffing smile at Hazel's comment.
As the teams begin their preparations for the match, the atmosphere in the gymnasium is electric with the crowd roars with approval and excitement. The crowd is buzzing with anticipation, their cheers and chattering filling the air.
The scoreboard lights up, displaying the names of the players as the teams take their positions on the court.
"Ohhh It's about to start, Lezzgoo!!" Hazel Jumps.
Hazel's heart is in her throat as she watches Kayla take her position on the court, her fierce determination radiating from every pore.
The referee blows the first whistle, signaling the start of the game. The audience erupts with cheers and applause, the excitement reaching a crescendo as the ball is tossed into the air for the jump ball.
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***
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