~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Day Dreams ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Chapter Twenty Nine ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Reconnections ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Eighteen-Years-Old ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~ Hazel's POV ~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

It has been months of constant lying to Jake and the pain from lying is starting to shine forth and take a toll on my mental health. However, my feelings are starting to grow for Jake (not knowing if he feels the same, but he is only doing his job) and that is very bad for the real me, Hazel. Summer has become a part of me these past couple of months and I am starting to lose touch with reality, Hazel's reality... When finding out how Jake believes Hazel is dead that is when I really lost touch of reality.

Can I continue this persona of Summer? Am I at risk of an internal heartbreak? Will Jake love me for who I am? Or will he run for the mountains?

I leave the bookshelves of the library from another study session due to my lonesome, procrastinating ways. The difficulty was unforgettable as Honey's argument could not be shaken off of my mind. I now spend most of my time studying within the safety of the library walls. The thought of where my time had been spent recently grew on me, as I pack up the messy stack of books and shove them into my leather, brown backpack zipping it up and slinging it over my shoulders. Leaving the library and out the doors and not focusing on my own footing, I bump into someone at the entrance and hit my head on the wood of the door. Why am I so clumsy? It was an unfortunate gift I was gifted with...

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry—" I rub my forehead, glancing up from where I perch and notice Jake Gilbert Rivers standing in front of me as I gulp.

"Summer, hey..." Jake rubs the back of his neck and smiles as the dimples in his cheeks carve his features making him appear dreamy.

Snap out of it, Hazel. He is only your coach and nothing else. Only a platonic relationship. But I still cannot fight these feelings from rising as butterflies flutter in my stomach as though I am up in cloud nine.

"How's your head?" Jake bends forward, his breath fanning my now scarlet face.

"Uh... yeah, I'm fine," I said feeling dizzy from the impact of seeing Jake and an arising headache forming at my temple.

"It seems when you're around me you hit your head," Jake said, leading me towards a table in the library and sitting me onto a nearby chair.

"It does seem that way, but it was my fault again," I said, staring at the palms of my hands.

"No way, just bad timing," Jake slightly laughs to himself. I am guessing more of a nervous laugh but I cannot tell for sure.

"I hope you are still up for swim practice this afternoon? You're really improving on your skills," Jake asks, charming me with his glorious smile. However, Jake's ocean blue eyes still take my breath away.

"I think I'll be okay, but food will help the ache," I said nonchalantly. Glancing away from Jake's eyes, staring too long into those eyes of his may make him think I am a weirdo.

"Okay, great," Jake smiles, breaking eye contact and rubbing his neck again. "I'll see you soon."

"Okay, see you, " I said standing from the chair and watch Jake walk further into the library as I wander through the exit doors.

*    *    *

Roaming the hallways that afternoon, my mind was dizzy from the encounter I had with Jake. He brings out strange feelings from me that only himself can bring out of me. Still on cloud nine, I walk with a big, fat smile on my face. Ambling towards the food cafeteria with my backpack slinging off one shoulder. I waltz into the food cafeteria and grab a salad and a bottle of water and weave in between sweaty college students. Lowering myself onto the cold metal of the empty table, as I eat by myself.

The thought of Jake still rambles and fuzzes my brain, but the image that Honey is mad at me hurts my very core and continues to jab at my heart with every breath. Honey and Jordan have become family these past months and maybe even life-long friends. But this past week has been tough to imagine that I may lose both of them forever... over a stupid argument. The thought I may lose them causes my stomach into knots, not the good kind of knots.

"There you are, babes," Jordan said sitting at the food cafeteria table.

Pulling me from my never-ending thoughts, Jordan stares at me wearing his work uniform. "Jordan, hey—" I cover my face with a mouth full of food as I furrow my brows, "How did you know where I was?"

"I go to this school too, babes," Jordan said in a matter-of-fact tone. "You look in bad shape but so is Honey."

"Right," I breathe a heavy sigh and fix my hair, "I thought you guys hated me?" I said without stopping myself.

"No, of course not. It was just a misunderstanding between you and Honey," Jordan explains with his hands in order for me to understand better. "I'm protective of my girl, Honey, but we don't hate you."

"But I ruined everything and if I was you, I would hate me too," I said, narrowing my eyes at my half-eaten salad.

"I will not stand for this self-hatred," Jordan's voice hardens and stands from the bench with his hand out in front of me. "Come on, let's work out this misconception between you and Honey."

I nod my head and trash the salad and follow Jordan towards dorm room 124, knowing what is going to happen next. Halting at the foot of the door, I breathe an uneasy breath and try not to let my thoughts wander out loud. With a squeak from the wood of the door, Jordan and I pace inside the room where Honey sits on her desk chair and swivels to face us.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry, Hazel," Honey jumps out of her chair and throws her arms around me. "I'm the worst friend ever but I'm hot-headed, you see," Honey explains, pressing her chin into the crook of my neck as she speaks. "It's easy for me to get fired up but when it came to you, I should have tried better because you did nothing wrong. I hope you don't hate me?"

"I could never hate you, but it did hurt. But you also made me realize something — I need to stand up for myself," I said half pulling away and looking straight into Honey's hazelnut brown eyes.

In order for me to stand up for myself, I need to go have a chat with someone that I am not very fond of...

"Thank the Lords you don't hate me, you had me worried there," Honey places a hand on her chest to dramatize the effect. "Also, I got a visit from a certain Bumblebee player and he explained everything how Ethan didn't mean to scare you and he asked me out too," Honey explains with her hands and excitement in her eyes as she adds, "Only thanks to you so thank you. And you need to start standing up for yourself, you won't regret it."

"I am so pleased that he asked you out," I hug Honey as I continue talking, "And what a relief, but I have a lot of regrets lately, so it might be a while before the guilt abandons me," I said, breaking the hug and backing away as my gaze drops to the sleeves of my sweater.

"So babes, when I found you, you were deep in thought about something. You okay?" Jordan said, as he and Honey's eyes never leave mine.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just regretting all the lies I'm telling Jake," I pause as they stare at me.

"I feel horrible that I convinced you to sign up with us," Jordan intervenes with sympathy in his eyes, "The only reason I wanted to sign up was because of Weston, but I've seen the truth and he's a lying, manipulating asshole. Honey filled me in," Jordan adds with a hand on his hip.

"Thanks, Jordan. I'm facing my fears of water and I'm glad that you believe the lies about Weston too." I smile at both Honey and Jordan knowing I have two loving best friends I can count on.

Kicking myself back into reality and remember that I have swimming lessons this afternoon with the one and only, Jake. I gaze at the time on my phone and realize I am late for 'Survival 101'.

"See you guys later. Duty calls," I shout, rushing around the room and grabbing my swimming gear.

"Have fun with your 'noble suitor'," Honey directs back with a wide grin.

Smiling and shaking my head, I grab my two-piece swimmers and shut the door behind me. I amble towards the girl's bathroom and change and then journey into the indoor swimming arena.

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