Her House, My Rules

Chapter 3

As I punched the alarm to death, the morning view flashed my lazy eyes with its golden light. The shower was waiting on my body to show up, my toothbrush was ready to rape my teeth with a minty flavor. It was a good morning. My mood agreed with the sun from afar. Last night, I was dreaming about the things I wanted to do to Hazel. I wanted to burn her wings with lies and cherish her skin with dirty imaginations.

As I got myself ready, I made my way downstairs. Voices were murmuring from a distance. Unfamiliar tones were questioning my mind. Breakfast was already served. The taste of my hunger was as sour as my temper. My stomach was kicking for food. I was really stressed and It was my first morning with strangers.

I was even embarrassed to show myself into the kitchen.

'Babe, pass me the syrup'

Hazel's request woke me up from my thoughts as she smiled at her prince charming, nervously. There he was, smiling and kissing Hazel. There she was, sitting on his lap to share her affection with him. I wasn't mad but seeing her parents agreeing to this mistake made me so uncomfortable. He was the second man in the house. I was nobody.
The way he carried himself was extraordinary. He acted like a gentleman around them. His voice was mature and organized as a keyboard. His respect for Hazel was strong and firm.

Hazel's smile bothered me. Someone else was making her cheeks hurt and It wasn't me.

"Good morning, everyone." I made my entrance. 

"Good morning, Hawk." Hazel's parents replied back with a smile playing on their face. "Please, take a seat." Mr. Dean stated. "Let me introduce you to Hazel's boyfriend, Max."

"Country Boy." Max made fun of me. "Hawk? Isn't it?" His tone reflected anger. "You're late for breakfast. A real gentleman is always on time. You know?" He was testing me the wrong way and I really didn't want to cause trouble or disrespect Mr. Dean and his wife by punching him straight in the face.

I ignored him.

"Babe? Do you need more pancakes?" Hazel asked, trying to change the subject and calm him down.

"No, baby. I'm good." He answered Hazel as he tried to light my fire even more. "Mr. Dean? With all due respect, Sir. You know, I love Hazel with all my heart and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her. I'm a little worried." He paused and glanced at me. "Strangers are dangerous and I can tell that you're not helping your daughter at all. You're letting an intruder sleep under the same roof as her." I pressed my teeth and squeezed my hands as I tried so hard not to lose it. "You need to be careful." He murdered me with his look.

Mr. Dean confronted him with good intentions but he wanted to add more to my fire.

"People can be dangerous around here." He kissed Hazel on the lips, purposely.

"Man!" I yelled. "What's your problem?!" I punched the table as I tried to control my anger.

"My problem?" He laughed. "What's your problem?" He reversed it back to me as he tried to play the innocent game.

"First off, you don't know me. Second, you're really not about to talk about me and act like I'm not even here. If you want to say something to me, say it and stop beating around the bush." I was so close to punching him.

He was getting me hot.

"Have some respect, man." He apologized to Hazel's parents and made me look dumb right in front of them. "I apologize too, Hazel." he played the victim.

Was he serious? Was he really playing the victim in the situation when he started the whole thing? I know I wasn't supposed to disrespect Hazel's parents this way but this guy deserved it. I was ready to shut him up. The fact that he made me look terrible in front of them made me uncomfortable in my own skin. I really didn't like him.
I had no other choice to apologize to Hazel's parents. They deserved my attention at least.