Page 3

Hazel

Campbell Atwood is a jerk. I tossed my bag to the side and collapsed on my bed, groaning as I stared at the pale dorm ceiling. My thoughts spiraled back to the party–the smirking, infuriating Campbell Atwood and the smug way he flirted like the world owed him attention. I heard his confident tone and saw the playful glint in his blue eyes; he knew how to get to me. He was a jerk, and I hated myself for being surprised by it.

This wasn’t Campbell’s fault. I’d built him up into something he wasn’t. I’d let my imagination, my ridiculous, romanticized version of him, cloud my judgment. I spent months weaving a fictional version of Campbell in my head. A Campbell that was charming but kind, confident but respectful. A man with substance, not a self-centered, shallow frat boy. The real Campbell Atwood was a bitter disappointment. It stung more than I’d like to admit. I poured so much of myself into my book. Into him. It was difficult to separate fiction from reality. However, a small part of me had hoped that the real Campbell would have measured up to the one I’d created.

**

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long golden shadows across the campus as I walked out of my last class of the day. My mind wandered, counting down the hours until I could collapse into bed. I’d barely made it halfway across the courtyard when my phone buzzed in my bag. I fished it out and unlocked the screen to see a text from Nevaeh.

Where are you?

I sighed, my thumb hovering over the screen before typing back.

Just finished class. Heading to the dorms.

Her reply was almost instant.

Good. We need to talk.

I groaned, shoving my phone back into my bag with more force than necessary. Her topic lacked urgency; however, I responded. I adjusted the strap on my shoulder and trudged to the dorms, my feet dragging with every step.

When I reached my room, I braced myself for whatever Nevaeh wanted to unload. I opened the door and found Nevaeh lounging on my bed like she owned it, scrolling through her phone with a self-satisfied smirk.

Maisie was at her desk, her focus glued to typing out her essay. She glanced as I walked in, offering a small, knowing smile before turning back to her work.

“Finally,” Nevaeh said, sitting up and tucking her legs underneath her. “I thought you were going to take forever.”

I dropped my bag at her feet with a tired sigh.

“What was so important?”

Nevaeh leaned forward, her expression shifting to determination.

“The bonfire. You better be there tonight.”

Why did I walk through the door? The bonfire was infamous here. The kickoff party for the start of the hockey season. Hockey was this school’s entire personality. Campbell commanded center stage, basking in the spotlight as usual.Captain of the hockey team. Campus royalty. I could already picture it: Campbell grinning that confident grin, basking in the cheers and admiration of everyone around him. He winked; the crowd adored it. Yet, it was pointless to refuse Nevaeh. She would badger me until I gave in.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

Nevaeh clapped her hands together in triumph.

“Perfect! You won’t regret it. It’s going to be amazing.”

Maisie smirked from her desk, shooting me a look that said, You’re a pushover, Hazel Ellis.

I just sighed again, leaning against the wall. What was worse? Spending the night with strangers or witnessing Campbell basking in the spotlight once more? Either way, it was going to be a long night.

**

The bonfire was already in full swing by the time we arrived at the open field on the edge of campus, as the golden glow of the massive bonfire crackled in the center, casting flickering shadows over the crowd of students milling around. The warm scent of wood smoke mingled with the crisp October air and the faint tang of spilled beer. Laughter and music filled the night, giving the gathering an electric energy that I could feel humming in my chest. I shoved my hand into my jacket pockets. Regretting letting Nevaeh drag me here. Maisie scanned the crowd for familiar faces. Nevaeh was vibrating with excitement.

“This is what I needed tonight.”

I hummed, my attention drawn to the bonfire as a rowdy group tossed another log onto the flames, sending sparks into the night.

“I’ll see you later.” Maisie announced, breaking me from my thoughts.

She never enjoyed being around Nevaeh for too long, and unlike me, Maisie had more than a pair of friends. She waved to friends, then disappeared into the crowd before I could beg her to stay.

“Thanks a lot.” I said, under my breath and tightened my jacket around myself.

I was going to ask Nevaeh about her plans, but she’d vanished. She was a few feet ahead, craning her neck and scanning the crowd. I didn’t need to ask what, or who, she was looking for.

“Oh, I think I see him!” She exclaimed, weaving through the crowd.

I sighed and followed, though my steps slowed as I realized where this was heading. Nevaeh would drag me to a party, only to ditch me for anyone else she met. The fire roared behind me, its heat prickling the back of my neck as I scanned the crowd for anyone I might know. But let’s be real, social interaction was my kryptonite. So, here I was, standing at the party’s edge, hoping that someone would take me out of my misery.

**

I sat frozen on the party’s outskirts, half-watching the flickering glow of the bonfire in the distance as an attractive guy walked in my direction. His hair, a tousled mess of chestnut brown, fell across his forehead. His face bore high cheekbones. The fabric of his shirt clung to his lean frame, emphasizing the toned lines of his shoulders and chest.The last thing I ever expected him to do was sit beside me. I got a closer look at his eyes, their color dancing somewhere between green and hazel. He was one of Campbell’s friends.

“Seems like I’m not the only one that hates parties.”

“They’re the worst.”

He chuckled a deep, simple sound that made me feel more at ease.

“Same here. Don’t get me wrong, I love hockey. But the parties? They’re more of a chore than anything else. Mandatory team bonding and all that.”

“It’s refreshing to know I’m not the only one.” I said, fiddling with the hem of my sweater.

He leaned back on the bench beside me.

“I’m Kendall, by the way.”

“Hazel.”

I felt comfortable. Kendall wasn’t anything like I pictured guys at these parties to be like. He wasn’t trying to impress me or flirt with me and one of the first things he brought up was his girlfriend who attended another college. We chatted, getting acquainted, and I learned more about Claire, the love of his life. I let myself enjoy the moment, the party’s noise fading into the background. But the reprieve was short-lived.

“Hazel, there you are!” Nevaeh said. I looked up to see her approaching, dragging Campbell behind her. My stomach twisted at the sight of him. His messy hair, and the confident swagger in his step. It angered me how he seemed put together. “Hey, Kendall!”

Nevaeh stumbled toward us; her cheeks flushed from whatever she’d been drinking. She enveloped Kendall in a friendly hug, causing me to cringe. Kendall’s smile tightened as he patted her back, unsure how to respond.

“Uh, hey, Nevaeh.”

I stood and pulled her away from Kendall.

“Let him breathe, Nevaeh.”

Campbell cut me off before I could apologize to Kendall.

“Having fun, Kendall?” Campbell asked, his voice casual but sharp as his eyes darted between me and his friend.

Kendall gave him a polite nod.

“Yeah, just talking to Hazel here. Did you know she’s a writer?”

Campbell’s brows shot up, and my stomach sank. I could see the glint of mischief in his eyes as he smirked.

“A writer, huh? That’s interesting.”

Nevaeh scoffed, waving a dismissive hand.

“Oh, it’s just her hobby. Hazel’s always scribbling in her little notebooks. It’s not a big deal.”

My cheeks burned, my fists clenching at my sides. Before I could defend myself, Kendall jumped in.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Kendall said, his voice steady. “It takes guts to put your ideas out there.”

The warmth in his tone made my chest tighten, but Campbell’s laugh ruined the moment.

“Guts, huh? Didn’t know scribbling in notebooks was so brave.”

My glare shot at him, but Kendall wasn’t backing down.

“Don’t be a jerk, bro.”

Campbell’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he crossed his arms.

“Guess we all have our talents. Even if some make little sense.”

I had enough. I grabbed Nevaeh’s arm and pulled her toward the firelight, not looking back. Kendall called out, “It was nice talking to you, Hazel. Keep writing.”

I smiled but didn’t turn around, my mind swirling. Why was Campbell such a jerk? His words infuriated me every time he spoke. He’s not your Campbell, Hazel.