~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Day Dreams ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Chapter Twenty ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~The Calm After The Storm~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Eighteen-Years-Old ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Hazel's POV ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

This throb in my head kills every time there is a loud noise on the other side of the arena doors. I shake my head and straighten my legs, as I amble aimlessly towards my belongings on the metal bench. As soon as I rise to my feet the room spins in different directions and causes my path to become hazy. I slowly dress into my sky blue, skirt overalls and slide my shoes and socks onto my feet. Spinning on my heels, the sports hall door handles rattle and Jake emerges through the doors with a draining expression. It must have been a big argument.

"Sorry about that. How much did you hear?" Jake said walking towards me with no shirt on as the doors close behind him.

This is not awkward at all. Do not stare at his muscles, Hazel! Do not stare!

"Don't be sorry, it's my fault. I'm the one who caused the fight between you both," I said in a hoarse tone of voice, "And I only heard parts of it, but I didn't hear much because of this throbbing headache I'm enduring."

"You definitely have a concussion if you think it was your fault. What are you doing standing anyway? You need to rest." Jake rushes over to my aid and guides me to sit on the metal bench to rest, as he takes a seat next to me. Jake's skin of his bare arm slightly brushes my side and his body heat warms me from inside out.

Yep, this is definitely more awkward. Do not give in, Hazel! Do not stare!

I lay a hand over my forehead in order to ease the pain, not that it helps much, but it does in various aspects. "Maybe I'll rest for a little bit then I'll see if Honey can help me take me to my dorm," I said, as Jake nods in reply. As soon as our surroundings become silent, my eyes wander around the hall as they land on Jake's bloodied hand.

"Oh my God, are you okay? What happened to your hand?" I said with concern written all over my face.

"Oh this, it's nothing to worry about it," Jake said casually, not giving it a second thought, moving his hand out of sight.

Jake's injury reminds me of my fingernail marks after my nightmares and I never want to talk about it so I drop the topic.

"O-okay... So... are you and Chanel okay? The conversation between you two sounded pretty heated," I said changing the subject wondering whether or not if he is hurt on in the inside too.

"To be honest, I'm not sure anymore. We've been fighting so much lately and I don't know what that means for us."

"Oh really, well I did hear you guys the other day about how Chanel spread rumours about me."

"You heard that?" Jake questions, "And sorry about the rumours. You don't deserve that. I'm not sure why she did that to you."

I know exactly why... Chanel hates me because I am friends with her x best friend and I am spending time with boyfriend.

"Yeah, I did," I said, staring at my slightly shaking hands. "But anyway, how long have you and Chanel been together? Sorry, I don't mean to pry, I'm just curious is all."

"It's fine. I've known her since middle school and our families are close and we started dating in high school. But I'm different now that I'm in college," Jake's gaze lingers off into the distance, deep in thought. "It feels as though that things have changed between us and there's nothing I can do about it."

"What's changed? If you don't mind me asking."

"I did," Jake said dropping his gaze to the floor, "Last year when I finished my two-year lifeguard training course, I became a different person after the things I saw. Chanel didn't understand and still doesn't and I don't think that she will ever vastly understand the man that I've become and the man who I used to be."

My voice quivers every word I speak, "Who did you use to be?"

"I used to be a horrible person, Summer, and I'm not proud of the things that I've done, but I'm trying to be a better man."

The words fall out of my mouth before I have a chance to stop myself, "What did you use to do?"

Jake breathes a long sigh focuses on the skylight above, deep I thought, "It doesn't matter anymore," Jake said with a distant voice still staring upon the ceiling window.

Somehow Jake is still not even fazed about his bloody knuckle and instead ponders about his past life I presume. Is Jake numb to the pain? Has this situation happened before? Has he punched a lot of walls before? I pushed Jake too far but curiosity got the better of me. I am so stupid for even asking. It was too soon and we barely know each other. I, however, knew the post-old Jake but not the new Jake. He seems so different but he is still my Jay who always called me Carrots. I miss those times and wonder if I should come out with my secret and just tell him the truth. Would it make the situation worse or better? I think this concussion is making me go crazy...

"Anyway, how's your head feeling?" Jake breaks the silence and smiles down on me causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach.

I have missed your smile, Jake. His smile reminds me of the very first day we met, how he smiled at me as the sun beat down upon us.

"I still feel groggy but better, thank you. I think I should be fine to head back to my dorm soon," I said, reaching for my phone and sending a text to Honey.

"Are you sure? I'm happy to help you to your dorm?" Jake's ocean blue eyes full of concern scans my face.

"O-okay sure, thanks," I feel horrible if I say no and he did just save my life. But I need to tell him the truth... should I or should I not? As soon as the thought enters my brain I know it is now or never. "Jake, I ah... there's something I need to tell you—"

While in the middle of my sentence Jake helps me to my feet, as my surroundings become blurry. I lose my sense of balance and my eyes see nothing but darkness again. Once I stand to my feet the headache throbs harder in my skull. It echoes louder and louder and thumps harder and harder against my temple. My feet give way from out underneath my awkward footing and Jake catches me before I hit the ground.

Before there was darkness, my body feels warm in someone's arms as they carry my weak body somewhere or maybe I am dreaming and that I am flying over the horizon. Is this a dream or a nightmare? I cannot tell the two apart anymore. My body finally gives out as I drift into an unconscious state of mind.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Please ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Vote ~ Comment ~ Share ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Cheers ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Please, tell me in the comments what you thought about Chapter Twenty? 🙈 I'll be greatly appreciated. Thank you, you very kind soul!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Chapter Twenty ~
~ Dedications ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
HeliiBoh
DebMorey
PeterPetruzzella
CaitlinWoodward9
DaniJones_14
ChloeMayerhofer
savvvy1998
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
You guys should totally check out PeterPetruzzella short story! Lighthouse. It's amazing! Please also go check out Peter's YouTube account pure56 for awesome content on movies, tv-shows, and game reviews!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
You guys should totally check out ChloeMayerhofer story! Fallen! It's awesome!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
C.Morey 🥕 xoxo
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~