Page 6

Hazel

I sat cross-legged on my bed, a notebook on my lap, while Maisie typed away on her laptop. The soft hum of the heater filled the room, lulling us into a peaceful rhythm of quiet productivity. The peace, however, shattered when Nevaeh burst through the door, her hair disheveled and her cheeks flushed with excitement.

“You will never guess what happened last night.” She said, her grin was so wide it looked like her face might split.

Maisie looked up from her laptop, her fingers clacking on the keyboard.

“You studied?”

Nevaeh rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be a killjoy.” She scoffed. “I hooked up with Campbell Atwood. Again. ”

She looked between us, as if waiting for the inevitable shock and awe. Maisie paused, leaned back into her chair, and gave an unimpressed look.

“That’s nice. I had a bagel for breakfast.”

Nevaeh groaned in frustration.

“I’m serious! This is a big deal. Everyone knows Campbell never hooks up with the same girl twice. But he did it with me. That means something .”

I tried to focus on the words I was scribbling in my notebook, but I paused mid-sentence. My stomach twisted, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. It wasn’t like I wanted Campbell for myself. He was cocky and infuriating, and nothing like the person I wrote about. But the thought of Nevaeh getting hurt settled like a weight on my chest. Campbell wasn’t one to settle down and Nevaeh’s excitement could only end one way.

“I’m happy for you, Neh,” I said, settling my notebook aside. “But are you sure you’re not reading into things too much? Campbell doesn’t have a reputation for sticking around.”

Her grin faltered before she recovered, her hands planted on her hips.

“This is different, Hazel. I can feel it. You wouldn’t understand.”

I frowned, my concern flaring.

“I’m just looking out for you. Campbell doesn’t commit.”

“I’m not looking for commitment.” Nevaeh snapped, her tone defensive. “We’re having fun.”

Maisie sighed, having had enough of Nevaeh’s rambling, and swiveled her chair to face us.

“Nevaeh, Hazel is giving you good advice. Even I can tell you that Campbell is one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen, but he’s also a walking red flag.”

Nevaeh glared at us, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“You’re both buzzkills.” She scoffed, standing up. “It’s my fault for thinking my friends would care about me.”

I watched as she stormed out; the door slamming shut behind her. I sighed, always hating feeling like the bad guy, but I hated the idea of my best friend getting her heart broken even more.

**

I tugged at the hem of the dress Nevaeh insisted I wore, feeling out of my element. The fabric clung to my figure in ways I wasn’t used to, the neckline lower than anything I’d ever dared to wear before. I felt like an imposter, trying to blend into a scene where I didn’t belong. Nevaeh, however, looked at ease, strutting in her glittering outfit as she led me toward another frat party.

The music thumped in my chest as we stepped inside. The warm glow of string lights did little to soften the chaotic energy of the packed room. I wrapped my arms around myself, wishing I’d made plans with Maisie instead.

“There they are!” Nevaeh exclaimed, spotting Campbell and his friends near the back of the room.

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed my wrist and weaved her way through the crowd.

“Great.” I said under my breath, letting myself be dragged.

My gaze darted to Campbell, who was in the center, his trademark smirk in place as he leaned against the wall. I rolled my eyes and looked away. As we reached the group, I hung back, blending into the background while Nevaeh inserted herself into the conversation. Most of the guys barely acknowledged her presence, their expressions ranging from indifferent to amused. I hugged my arms tighter, wishing I could melt into the floor. But then Kendall’s eyes found mine, my face lighting up with a friendly smile.

“Hazel! Come join us.” He said, motioning for me to step closer.

I hesitated, but moved forward, my nerves easing under his kind gaze.

“Hi.”

Kendall didn’t seem to mind my awkward greeting. He introduced me to the group. To my surprise, they greeted me kindly, their earlier aloofness replaced with genuine interest. I felt a pang of guilt for having judged them based on their association with Campbell. Nevaeh’s glare burned a hole through me, but I ignored it, focusing on Kendall as he gestured toward me.

“Did you guys know Hazel is a writer?”

My cheeks heated, and I opened my mouth to protest, but Nevaeh beat me to it.

“She lets no one read her work, though, because she’s very insecure about it.” She said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

The comment stung more than I expected, and I stared at the ground, wishing I could disappear. But Kendall stepped in, his voice firm yet gentle.

“She doesn’t have to if she doesn’t want to. But I bet you’re amazing, Hazel.”

I glanced at him, my blush deepening.

“Thank you.” I said, unsure how else to respond.

“Anyone want drinks?” Campbell’s voice cut through the moment like a knife.

He stepped forward, his presence commanding the group’s attention. I watched the dynamic shift, everyone turning their focus to him. Of course. As the others debated their drink choices, I stayed close to Kendall, who made me feel at ease. I refused to let Nevaeh’s icy stare bother me. For once, someone wanted to hang out with me and not her. I would not feel guilty about that.