Hope I Wake

Part Three

Hazel feels embarrassed when she enters the classroom. Her cheeks are glowing and red. She shuffles uncomfortably between the tables. She hears the boys from before laughing. All of a sudden she gets mad. She breaths deeply. Hazel doesn't want to burst out in tears in front of everyone. The lesson has already continued. Nobody pays any attention to Hazel anymore. She still has the pen of the boy but she is scared to use it. What will he say or do then? He could have given her an empty pen. She would look so silly trying to get any pigment out of it. She opens her laptop and starts typing. Hazel types every word the teachers says. Her hands get tired but she doesn't stop. The whole class is whispering. Nobody is actually paying attention to the lesson. It doesn't seem to bother the teacher. He just continues his story like everyone is very interested. Time passes by very slow. Hazel can't wait to be home. 

It is finally time to return to her mother. She opens her locker and puts her books in her bag. She has a lot of homework already. They obviously don't care it is her first day. Hazel doesn't want to get behind this year. She needs her diploma. It is her last year in highschool. She checks on her phone which books to take home. All of a sudden her locker  gets slammed shut. 'Who-' She turnes around. The boy in the red jacket is walking past her. He turns around and yells: 'See you tomorrow newbie!' Hazel doesn't react. She opens her locker in stead and finishes what she was doing. 

When Hazel comes home she sees the flowers again. She forgot that they were there. She picks them up and takes them inside.

 'I knew it. Only her first day and already having boys fall for her.' Her mother gives her a hug. 

'Mom, I don't know who left those on our doorstep. Maybe they are from the neighbor. Maybe he's trying to be nice. It is clearly not from any of the boys at school.' 

She sighs. 'Sit down honey. What happened? Are they not nice?' Her mother hands her a cup of tea. 

Hazel thinks. 'Well, there was this boy.' 

'Ooh!' 

'No, he wasn't nice. He sent me to the broom closet as a joke. I was too late in my class. I was so embarrassed.' She takes a sip of her tea. Her mother laughs.

'What is so funny about that mom?' 

'Honey, it is normal. When you're new, people want to test your limits. That is just what happens. It doesn't mean they don't like you. They have to get used to you. Just like you have to get used to everyone else. Don't worry.' Her mother stands up and walks over to the kitchen. 'I made brownies. You want some?' 

Hazel is lying on her bed. She's been watching movies for the past two hours. It was her mothers idea. She said she had to focus on something else for the rest of today. Hazel had a busy day. It is a lot to take in. How hard she tries to focus on something else, her mind keeps thinking about that one guy though. Why was he constantly bothering her? She shouldn't like him, but something about him drew her attention. She feels she's blushing even thinking about him. It is a shame he isn't friendly. She  really needs a friend at the moment but that isn't going to be him. Tomorrow she will try to fit in with the girls. There must be one group that likes her. Even if it is one person. She just wants one person to have social contact with. She loved the environment around the school. There was a lot of green. She saw a little pond where she could sit when it is lunch break. She could also just take a book with her. Reading doesn't look lonely because you are busy. 'That's what I'm doing.' Hazel walks over to her bookcase. Eventually she picks a romantic novel. It is one of her favourites. She has already read it a million times but it makes her happy. The characters are so lovable. Hazel puts the book in her bag. The book makes her feel safe. It is her happy place, her favourite story with her favourite characters. This will make tomorrow a lot better.