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~ Day Dreams ~
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~ Chapter Forty Two ~
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~ New Beginnings ~
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~ Twenty-Two-Years-Old ~
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~ Four-Years-Later ~
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~ July-Thirteenth ~
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~ Hazel's POV ~
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Sitting underneath the old willow tree as fairy lights twinkle from above. Sounds of the ocean waves catch upon the shoreline as a breeze let loose through my apricot hair, full of waves, in a half up half down hairstyle down the length of my back.

Countless amounts of stars paint the night sky, like diamonds underneath a spell of the moonlight. Wearing a long-sleeve turtleneck crop top, high-waisted light blue skirt, long knee-high socks, and Converse shoes I still manage to shiver.

Glancing over my shoulder, Jake removes his sweater and passes it to me as I continue to shiver, fearing my teeth may fall out from the chattering. "Thanks, Jay," I said smiling and pulling on the sweater and cocoon myself and its warmth, smelling Jake's cologne radiating from the sweater.

"That's okay, I thought your teeth may come loose," Jake said hugging and pulling me closer towards him in order to keep me warm from the weather.

"Yeah, me too," I said still shivering.

"So, you enjoying your birthday?" Jake asks, his ocean blue eyes gazing into my emerald blue eyes.

"Of course, I am. I'm here with you," I smile and stare up at the clear night sky. "We've sat underneath the stars so many times when we were kids. So, it feels like how it used to be."

"Those were good times but we were kids back then and now we're not anymore and we need to think about the future you know..." Jake trails off rubbing the back of his neck. "What I'm trying to say is, Hazel..." Jake embraces his warm hands into my small one's and he guides me to stand up with him, our hands still holding one another. "...Hazel Anne Summers, will you marry me?" Jake leans on one knee and pulls out an engagement ring from the pocket of his jeans.

"Oh my God. Yes, yes, yes," I said as tears form in the corners of my eyes and I hug Jake as we spin around underneath the moonlight and stars.

Jake puts me down and reaches for my left hand and slides the thin band onto my slender finger as I admire the metal. A thin silver band sits on my finger perfectly with a rose quartz rock in the middle of the ring.

"I love it, Jay. Thank you," I said and cannot seem to wipe the big fat smile off my face. "I love you."

"I love you, Carrots," Jake said planting a kiss on my forehead.

Jake stares into my eyes and I cannot seem to tear mine from his. His diamond eyes shimmer underneath the starlight and cause butterflies to flutter in my stomach. Jake leans in, his lips near mine and his mint breath fanning my face. I rise onto my tiptoes and close my eyes as I feel his lips crash onto mine.

I wrap my arms around Jake's broad back and his fingers entangle within my hair and pull me closer to him. Our hearts beat in rhythm with each other as my knees buckle every time he gently kisses me. My back hits the trunk of the tree as Jake presses his body closer to mine, igniting my senses as fireworks explode all over.

This boy has a spell over me. When I look at Jake he is the colors in my black and white world and I see him all at once. Lighting up my world like a Christmas tree. Ever since the first time we met, I knew he was special. Before I met Jake, my life was survival of the fittest and I no longer drown in the dark ocean alone.

With the college chapter of my life over and adulthood around the corner, we no longer dwell on the past and live in the moment. However, Jake's mother continues to be in our way of happiness and will disapprove of the engagement. On the bright side, Chanel apologized to Honey and me for the destruction she caused. However, I can say Honey, Jordan, Brooklyn, Chanel, and I are friends and have looked over all of the faults in our stars. Jake, Ash, Weston, and Ethan continue to be friends.

Honey and Ethan are traveling the world, Chanel and Weston are on their honeymoon. Brooklyn and Ash have just moved in together. Jordan is a fashion sensation and works the 'Runway', making a name for himself and breaking hearts.

As for Emma and Gus, they both adopted me and we became a real family. However, since the tragic passing of Emma's brother, Gus, Emma now lives with Forest since I could not live with the fact that Emma was living alone. After College, Jake and I moved into his childhood house in the meadow and made it ours. I will also be seeing lots of Anne since I will be studying as a teacher at Seaside Florida, State College.

I continue to visit Fiona once every couple of months. It is still hard to come to terms with the fact Fiona is a different person and I am still fighting a battle with myself from the past. But I can forgive but I can never forget...

I still need to fight my fears of nightmares and PTSD. Jake continues to give me swimming lessons to help me overcome the trauma. The nightmares still come and go but not as much as a burden but they still haunt me in my daydreams. In reality, pain takes time to heal and grow...

The lesson I learned from my journey was that it is okay to be different and knowing that I am worthy of love.

Love yourself because you're loved.

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~ Please ~
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~ Vote ~ Comment ~ Share ~
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~ Cheers ~
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Please, tell me in the comments what you thought about Chapter Forty Two? 🙈 I'll be greatly appreciated, thank you, you very kind soul!
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~ Chapter Forty Two ~
~ Dedications ~
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HeliiBoh
DebMorey
PeterPetruzzella
CaitlinWoodward9
DaniJones_14
ChloeMayerhofer
savvvy1998
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You guys should totally check out PeterPetruzzella short story! Lighthouse. It's amazing!
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You guys should totally check out ChloeMayerhofer story! Fallen! It's awesome!
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C.Morey 🥕 xoxo
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