Page 14

Hazel

I sat cross-legged on my bed, the glow of my laptop casting a pale light across the room. My essay on Pride and Prejudice might as well have been blank for all the attention I was giving it. Across the room, Nevaeh paced back and forth, her energy filling every corner of the small dorm.

“Hazel, he is so perfect.” Nevaeh said as she threw herself onto Maisie’s bed with a dramatic flop.

My fingers froze mid-typing. My eyes stayed on the screen, but my heartbeat quickened.

“Who?”

“Campbell, obviously.” She said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

The name hit like a stone, sinking into the water, sending ripples of guilt through my chest. I forced a smile and focused on my screen.

“Oh.”

“Oh?” Nevaeh asked, sitting upright. “Hazel, come on. Have you seen him?”

I glanced up. Nevaeh’s eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Her enthusiasm made my stomach twist.

“I mean, he’s fine.”

“ Fine? ” Nevaeh gasped. “He’s gorgeous. Like, there’s no way he can be real gorgeous. His jawline. His eyes. And don’t even get me started on his hockey skills. I mean, he’s the captain .”

I chuckled, though I forced the sound.

“I guess so.”

Nevaeh groaned and fell back onto the bed.

“He’s been hanging around me more lately, too.” She said, her tone wistful.

My fingers clenched the blanket in my lap, my throat tightening.

“That’s nice.”

Nevaeh twisted a strand of her hair around her finger.

“It might just be casual, but I think he might have a thing for me.”

Her words hung in the air. I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with emotions I couldn’t name.

“Maybe.” I said, but it felt like the words scraped my throat as they came out.

She sighed, flopping to face me.

“Can you imagine it? How iconic would me and Campbell Atwood be?”

I forced a laugh and ducked my head, letting my hair fall over my face to hide my expression. Nevaeh’s reaction should have made me happy. But now it made me feel hollow. My mind betrayed me, conjuring up images of Campbell’s teasing smirk, how his voice dipped when he spoke my name, and how his hand lingered on mine during our last tutoring session. But I wasn’t supposed to feel these things.

“Hazel, are you even listening to me?”

“Yes,” I said, my cheeks burning. I forced a smile. “Sorry, I’m distracted. This essay is due tomorrow.”

Nevaeh waved her hand.

“You have plenty of time. Anyway, do you think I should ask him out?”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I nodded.

“If you like him, go for it.”

She grinned, her excitement contagious, and started rambling about date ideas. I nodded along, but my chest felt like it was caving in. When she turned her attention to her phone, I exhaled, my hands trembling as I returned to work. I stared at the screen, my thoughts racing. This was nothing. A fleeting crush. Guys like Campbell Atwood don’t date girls like me.

**

I sat across from Maisie in the cafeteria, poking at my salad as she scrolled through her phone. The late lunch rush left the room quieter, the hum of conversation mingling with the clatter of silverware. I took a deep breath, relishing the moment of calm before Maisie’s voice broke through.

“Nevaeh’s been texting non-stop about that Beta party tomorrow. Any chance you’ll show up this time?” Maisie asked, glancing up with a teasing smirk.

I shook my head, stabbing a cherry tomato with my fork.

“I’d prefer not to.”

Maisie grinned.

“Campbell would want to see you there. I’ve noticed him flirting with you.”

Before I could protest, the cafeteria doors slammed open, the sound ricocheting off the walls. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Nevaeh. The sheer force of her entrance turned heads across the room. Nevaeh’s energy was like a hurricane—unpredictable, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore.

“Oh boy,” Maisie muttered, sitting back with a knowing grin. “Brace yourself.”

Nevaeh sprinted across the room, her curls bouncing as she weaved through the tables. She reached us in record time, dropping her bag onto the floor and sliding into the seat beside me with dramatic flair.

“Hazel!” Nevaeh exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement, her cheeks flushed.

She gripped my arm like she was about to deliver the most life-changing news in history.

“What’s going on?” I asked, already sensing trouble.

Nevaeh took a deep breath, containing her excitement.

“I asked Campbell out.” She said, her voice loud enough to draw attention from nearby tables.

I froze, my fork hovering mid-air.

“You what?”

“And he said yes!” Nevaeh squealed, clapping her hands together.

Her smile was so wide it could have lit up the entire room. My stomach twisted, but I forced a tight smile.

“That’s great.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Maisie scoffed into her drink. I could tell she was holding her words back.

“There’s just one little thing,” Nevaeh continued, leaning in. “His childhood friend is visiting him this week, and he didn’t want to bail on him.”

I frowned.

“So?”

“So, I told him it could be a double date!” Nevaeh said, as if she’d just solved world hunger.

I blinked, the words not registering.

“A double date?”

“Yes! Isn’t it genius?” Nevaeh said, bouncing in her seat. “I told him you’d come with me. You’ll be his friend’s date.”

My eyes widened.

“Wait, you told him I’d what? Nevaeh, no—”

“Hazel, come on,” Nevaeh interrupted, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. Her expression turned pleading, her big eyes shining with desperation. “Please? You’re my best friend. I need you. What if it’s awkward? What if I embarrass myself? You’d never leave me hanging, right?” I opened my mouth to protest, but Nevaeh steamrolled on. “Think of it this way—you’re helping me break the ice. His friend might even be nice! And you wouldn’t want me to face this alone, would you?”

My shoulders slumped; the guilt settled heavily in my chest. Nevaeh’s face radiated optimism; a beacon of hope impossible to ignore. I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment before nodding.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

Nevaeh squealed and threw her arms around me, knocking me off my seat.

“You’re the best! I owe you big time.”

Maisie chuckled, shaking her head.

“This has disaster written all over it.”

I shot Maisie a glare but couldn’t disagree. My stomach churned as I pushed my salad away, losing my appetite. What had I just gotten myself into?