The park was deserted, the only witnesses to their parting the relentless downpour. Rain lashed down, plastering Hazel's hair to her forehead as Smith spoke, his voice surprisingly steady amidst the storm. "Hazel," he said, the sound barely audible above the drumming rain, "don't waste your love on someone like me. Someone who can't understand you, can't love you back the way you deserve." He paused, a beat of silence broken only by the insistent rain. "What we had...it was just infatuation, Hazel. Not love." Hazel could only nod, tears streaming down her face, indistinguishable from the rain washing over her.The echoing sounds of splashing water filled the indoor swimming pool gallery. Hazel, her eyes red and swollen, leaned heavily on Addison's shoulder. Below them, the inter-school swimming competition practice was in full swing. Evan, water droplets clinging to his 5'8 frame and the curls of his hair, emerged from the pool. Sapphire eyes flickered towards Hazel, a towel slung around his neck, but then lingered on Addison. He approached them, intending to offer comfort. "Haze," he began, "maybe it's for the best. I always thought he wasn't right for you. Even when you two started dating, it felt off. You said he was the first to confess his feelings, and maybe you thought that meant something, but look what happened." Addison cut him off, her voice sharp. "Evan, she's already hurting. You're making it worse. What kind of friend are you?" She softened her tone slightly. "Okay, we know you never liked Smith, but can you please put that aside and just be there for Hazel? Don't be rude." Evan looked at Addison, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, and fell silent.
Hazel sat on her balcony swing, gazing up at the moon, lost in thought. Her phone buzzed. It was Evan. "Haze, are you home? I'm coming over, need your help."
"My help? Evan, you got into another fight, didn't you?" she sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "What is wrong with you? Can't you stay out of trouble? You know the competition is just around the corner; if this goes to the principal, he won't let you participate."
"Hazel, I know, but he started it, okay? I'll explain when I get there."
Soon, Evan arrived, and they settled onto the balcony swing. Hazel gently dabbed at a bruise on his cheek, then moved to his lip, which was split and bleeding. An unexpected intimacy hung in the air as their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Hazel felt a strange flutter in her chest. Distracted, she pressed the cotton ball a little too hard. "Ahhh!" Evan winced.
"Who was it this time?" Hazel asked, her voice sharper now. Evan looked away, avoiding her gaze. Then, realization dawned on Hazel. "It was Smith, wasn't it?" she asked, her voice tight. He nodded. "Was it about me?" Another nod.Hazel's anger flared. She scolded him, her voice rising slightly. "Evan, you can't keep doing this!"
"Hazel, it's not what you think," Evan protested. "Smith started it. I just...lost it."
She looked at him, her anger slowly melting into concern. She finished bandaging his wounds in silence. A cool breeze drifted across the balcony as they both looked up at the moon.
Isn't the moon beautiful?" Hazel murmured, her voice soft. "See how its imperfections are so visible? Unlike the sun, which shines so brightly it can hurt your eyes. The moon shines, showing all its flaws, and it's still beautiful."
Evan, however, was thinking about Addison. A small smile touched his lips, and his sapphire eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight.
Weeks passed, and Hazel gradually healed. Today was the inter-school swimming competition. She went to the locker room to wish Evan luck. "Evan, all the best!" she said, giving him a quick hug. But his eyes were scanning the room. "Addison? Where is she?" he asked.
Hazel shrugged. "Don't know, haven't seen her today. Anyway, I gotta go grab a seat in the front row before the Evan Hughes fan club takes over!" They both laughed.
The gunshot echoed, signaling the start of the race. Evan, as expected, won. After receiving his medal, he ran towards Hazel, a wide grin on his face. He hugged her tightly and then took the medal, placing it around her neck. A sudden rush went through Hazel, a feeling she couldn't quite name, but she quickly masked it behind her usual composure.
Later that night, alone in her room, Hazel found herself replaying the moment in the locker room and Evan placing the medal around her neck. A realization dawned on her: she was in love with him. But a familiar hesitation crept in. She knew Evan liked Addison.
The next day, Hazel started to subtly avoid Evan, afraid her feelings would become obvious. Evan noticed. He pulled her aside in the empty locker room. "Haze," he asked, his voice concerned, "did I do something wrong? Why are you avoiding me?"
Hazel couldn't meet his gaze. She tried to walk away, but he gently took her arm, stopping her. The scent of lavender, always clinging to her, filled his senses. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, captivated. Their eyes finally met, a charged silence hanging between them.
She broke the connection, pushing him away slightly. "You like Addison, right?" she blurted out, trying to deflect.
Evan frowned, confused. "Haze, you were upset about this? Now I get it."
Hazel just wanted to change the subject before he realized the truth. She nodded, though reluctantly. "So," she said, forcing a casual tone, "when are you planning to confess? Huh?"
Evan blushed, running a hand through his hair. "Tomorrow, actually. There's a movie releasing, 'The Holiday.' I was thinking of telling her after. What do you think?"
Hazel's eyes welled up, but she blinked quickly, plastering a bright, albeit fake, smile on her face. "Sounds...perfect."The next day, Hazel and Evan arrived at the theatre. Just as they were about to go in, Hazel's phone rang. It was Addison. After a moment of strained silence on the call, Evan asked, "Where's Addison?" Hazel's face fell. "She can't make it today. She's not feeling well. Maybe we should just leave," she suggested, though a part of her was relieved. Evan looked disappointed but agreed to watch the movie with Hazel.
They settled into their seats, sharing a popcorn. Throughout the movie, Hazel fought to keep her feelings hidden. Their hands brushed as they both reached for popcorn, and their eyes met. Evan murmured, almost to himself, "Haze, were your eyes always this beautiful? So big and round..." Hazel blushed and quickly looked back at the screen, her heart pounding.
Later that night, sleep was elusive for Hazel. She kept replaying the moments in the theatre, Evan's words echoing in her mind. The next day, she decided she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up any longer. They met in the hallway. Hazel, clutching a small box, slipped it into Evan's locker unnoticed. Just then, Evan rushed towards her, a nervous excitement in his eyes. "Today's the day," he said. "I'm going to tell Addison how I feel after class." Hazel's forced smile faltered, and she turned and ran. She found herself in the school park, tears streaming down her face.
That evening, Evan, holding a single rose, walked towards Addison's usual spot after class. But his heart plummeted at the sight before him. Addison was there, but she wasn't alone. She was kissing Smith, her arms wrapped around him. Evan stood frozen, the rose slipping from his grasp. Just then, Hazel came to the classroom to retrieve a forgotten book and stopped dead in her tracks, equally shocked.
"Addison! What the... you're with my ex?" Hazel shouted, her voice raw with betrayal. "How could you?" Addison, flustered and anxious, tried to explain, but Hazel turned and fled, Evan following close behind.
That night, neither Hazel nor Evan could sleep. Hazel's trust was shattered by her best friend, and Evan's budding love was brutally crushed.
Weeks turned into months. Evan, scarred by Addison's betrayal, now spoke of love with cynicism. One evening, as Hazel and Evan sat on her balcony, she gently broached the subject. "Evan," she asked, "why do you hate love so much? Is it just because of Addison?" They looked at each other, the easy camaraderie they'd rebuilt amongst their friends still somewhat fragile.
Evan sighed, staring out at the city lights. "Haze, you know something? Love is ephemeral and... wynorrific."
"Wynorrific?" Hazel questioned, tilting her head.
"Yeah," he said, a wry smile touching his lips. "Something that is both beautiful and horrific at the same time. That's love."
Hazel's eyes welled up, a wave of despair washing over her. It seemed her chance to confess her feelings had vanished. Just then, a sudden clap of thunder startled Hazel, and she instinctively hugged Evan. In that intimate moment, the frantic rhythm of their heartbeats seemed to sync, creating a melody only they could hear. Evan felt a tear that had escaped Hazel's eye trace a path down her cheek and onto her lips.
Hazel tried to pull away, flustered, but Evan gently held her closer. The rain started abruptly, soaking Evan's thin white shirt, making it almost transparent against his skin. He cupped Hazel's face in his hands, their eyes locked, and then he kissed her.
Hazel was taken aback, initially resisting, but then she melted into the kiss. He lifted her into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist, and they kissed passionately, the rain pouring down around them. After a breathless moment, they stumbled inside, shivering.
Before Hazel could say anything, Evan's face hardened with regret. "Hazel, I... I'm so sorry," he stammered, pulling away. "I acted impulsively. Sorry. I'm really sorry. You're my best friend, and I know I messed up." Tears streamed down Hazel's face as Evan turned and left.
Days turned into a strained silence. Both Hazel and Evan avoided each other. Finally, Hazel couldn't bear the weight of her unspoken feelings any longer. She decided to confess, regardless of the potential rejection.The next day, Evan did his best to avoid Hazel, a knot of guilt and confusion tightening in his stomach. He, too, had been forced to acknowledge the growing feelings he had for her, but the memory of his impulsive kiss and subsequent apology weighed heavily on him.
Hazel, however, was determined. She found him near his locker and pulled him into the empty room, her face flushed a vibrant red. Her voice trembled, thick with unshed tears. "Evan," she began, her voice cracking, "I used to believe that the price of loving someone deeply was never being able to love again. But I was wrong. I love you." She took a shaky breath. "I know you probably only see me as a friend, and I tried so hard to hide this, but I can't anymore. My heart won't forgive me if I don't say it." With that, she turned and fled, tears streaming down her face.
Evan stood rooted to the spot, Hazel's words echoing in the silence. His blue eyes, usually bright and full of life, now shimmered with unshed tears, resembling a stormy blue ocean. He sank to his knees, the weight of her confession and his own conflicted emotions crashing down on him, and wept silently.
Days bled into each other. Suitcases packed, Hazel sat on a bench, the metallic tang of the train tracks heavy in the air. A silent plea echoed in her heart – just one last glimpse of Evan. Addison arrived, her expression a mix of sadness and something else Hazel couldn't decipher. They hugged, a long, tight embrace. "Haze," Addison said softly, pulling back slightly, "someone's waiting for you... near the bridge. Please, go see. Your train's delayed, you have time."
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Hazel's face. She walked slowly towards the small bridge overlooking the tracks. A familiar figure stood there, silhouetted against the fading light – a black shirt, blue jeans. He held a bouquet of tulips, the same flowers from a dream she'd once had about a proposal. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.
When he turned, it was Evan. He walked towards her, his steps hesitant. He offered her the tulips, his gaze steady. "Have a safe journey, Hazel." The simple words felt like a stone dropping into her chest. She’d allowed herself a sliver of hope that he'd come to confess.
"Thank you," she managed, her voice barely a whisper, and turned to leave.
"Hazel," Evan said, his voice a little rough. "Were your eyes always this beautiful? So big and round?"
She stopped. He took the small box from his pocket – the one she'd left in his locker. He opened her hand and placed it there, his fingers brushing against hers, sending a jolt through her.
Then, he gently pulled her closer, his hands settling on her waist. Her hands instinctively went to his chest, the fabric of his shirt soft beneath her fingers.
Evan leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Haze," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, "I wish I was one of your tears... so I could be born in your eyes, run down your cheeks, and die on your lips."
They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in a tight embrace, the unspoken words hanging in the air between them.
