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~ Day Dreams ~
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~ Chapter Twenty Three ~
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~Uncertain Circumstances ~
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~ Eighteen-Years-Old ~
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~ Hazel's POV ~
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Throughout the entirety of the week of Creative Writing class, my every thought is of Jake and the nightmare of him haunts me. I know my mind should not be fixated on Jake, but I cannot stop myself from doing so. There is certainly something wrong with me... right?

Class finishes for the day, as I collect my belongings and stuff them into my leather, brown backpack. Upon leaving the class, Mrs. Samuels smiles in my direction as I return the gesture.

For some odd reason, I feel as though I can trust Mrs. Samuels, and not only is her first name my middle name, but she seems like a kindred spirit.

I glance towards Mrs. Samuel's direction and notice she is having difficulty carrying boxes that were used in class. I gaze at the door and back towards Mrs. Samuels and know I have to at least ask if she needs assistance.

My legs walk towards Mrs. Samuels and they halt directly in front of the professor's desk as I question, "Hi, Mrs. Samuels. Can I lend you a hand at all?"

"Hazel... hi," Mrs. Samuels smiles and reaches her green eyes." Yes, thank you, that would be wonderful."

I adjust my backpack sling on my shoulder, nodding a smile, and grab a box full of books from the disorganized desk and as does Mrs. Samuels. We both amble towards the exit of the classroom and once we enter the hallway, Mrs. Samuels locks the door behind her.

"So, how is College so far?" Mrs. Samuels questions while walking.

"So far so great, thank you. I have made friends, and focusing on getting good grades."

"I'm glad to hear that and yes, your grades are certainly noticeable and I will make note of your hard work in class."

"Thank you, Mrs. Samuels, I would appreciate that."

"Please, call me Anne," Anne smiles, "I consider the determined and hard-working students as friends."

My face lights up and I nod Anne's way as we continue our journey through the corridors of the college. Anne is Mrs. Samuels first name? She is the woman the admin lady was talking about. We abruptly halt near a storage closet and Anne adjusts the box to one side of her body as she unlocks the door.

"Thank you for your help, Haz—" Movements and muffle sounds resonate from within the closet as it distracts Anne from finishing her words.

Anne opens the door and to my relief, I am glad she never finishes her sentence, and to my disbelief my emerald blue eyes agape at the sight of what is in front of me.

Chanel and Weston are both intertwined with each other within the darkness of the room. I had a gut feeling Chanel was cheating on Jake with Weston.

"You two have zero seconds to explain yourselves," Anne's stern voice echoes throughout the hallway.

"I umm..." Chanel stutters and notices my presence and stares deeply at me, like how Fiona always had.

"Leave before I write a letter to the Chancellor and you better hurry before I change my mind." Anne said, dropping the box into the closet and crossing her arms over her pencil dress. Anne's bob of flaming red hair motions as she shakes her head, disappointment written all over her narrow face. 

My legs pace backward to let Chanel and Weston pass through as Chanel continues sending me daggers and Weston himself sends me piercing stares. I watch the both of them walk in separate directions, without even peering at each other as shame cascades over them. Before Chanel departs down the hallway, her sister Brooklyn catches up with her and they walk away together.

"Well, that was interesting," Anne says to herself, "Thank you for your help, but I have got things covered here. You enjoy your afternoon."

I follow Anne's orders and place the box on top of the other box inside the closet. I smile and wave towards Anne, departing from the closet and throughout the corridors.

I amble through the hallways of the campus towards my dorm room, however, I halt dead in my tracks. Ethan notices me and swaggers his way towards me as I step back, body hitting the rough bricks on the wall.

"Summer, that's your name right?" Ethan reassures in a Swedish accent.

"Uh... yeah," I reply glancing at my shoes.

"Well Summer, how would you like to go out sometime?" Ethan asks leaning an arm on the brick wall above my head.

"Umm... I'm not sure, I think I'm busy..." I trail off avoiding Ethan's stares as I try to wiggle out from underneath him but fail.

"Come on, you can't blow me off that easy. Give me a chance," Ethan touches my cheek and forces me to stare into his eyes.

"I—uh... can't breath," I say breathless, as the room spins in circles.

"You're not even gonna give me a fighting chance?" Ethan pouts.

"Sorry, but I can't," I continue to wriggle out from underneath Ethan but still no luck. "I'm not into you," I blurt, my face turning to the shade of crimson.

Ethan backs away from me as I stand alone breathless and hugging myself in the vacant hallway.

"But I do know someone who's into you," I say breathless but continue, "Honey Delilah Shores and you should ask her out."

Ethan mouths an 'oh face' realizing what he has caused, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. That wasn't my intention at all and I will."

"It's okay, don't worry about it, " I say in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

"Is there a problem here," a voice said, sounding like Jake, "What's happened, Summer?"

"There was just a misunderstanding, that's all," I swallow my pride and gaze into Jake's dazzling electric eyes, and notice another guy from the swim team behind Jake, who I believe to be Ash. Not long before I glance away and adjust my sweater and skirt jeans.

"I was just leaving anyway," Ethan said with a shaky breath and escapes for the exit. Once Ethan is out of sight, Jake and his friends stare at me.

I gaze into Jake's ocean blue eyes and tear eye contact straight away as guilt consumes me. As I recall back to the scene with Chanel and Weston I encountered not too long ago. Should I tell him what happened? Would he hate me for it? Would he blame me for it? I am always the one to blame, I am used to it and it is easier that way...

"We have to stop meeting like this," Jake said with a million-dollar smile playing on his lips. "Oh, and this is my best friend, Ash."

I smile biting my lower lip and half-wave in Ash's direction, "Hi—"

"It's nice to finally be acquainted with you," Ash said with a goofy grin and cutting my words short, "I've heard so little about you because of this one," Ash playfully elbows Jake in his arm, "Jake doesn't tell me about his private lessons."

"Well, what's the point in calling them private lessons if they aren't private," Jake said with sarcasm shaking his head.

"True," Ash says and changes the subject, "So, how was the lesson last week?"

"Umm... it went really well—"

"She got a concussion," Jake intervenes with the truth.

"Really? I guess I underestimated your teaching skills, Jake," Ash said staring at Jake with his chocolate brown eyes.

"No, his teaching skills are fine, it was my fault. I'm clumsy, I guess..." I trail off, studying the wooden floor and sighing to myself in annoyance.

"Well, it was nice to finally meet you, but I have an exam to study for and a girl to chase after. I'll catch you later, Jake," Ash said, slapping the back of Jake's shoulder and waving goodbye as he walks away, leaving Jake and me alone in the now awkward corridor.

"So, will you be up for swimming practice this afternoon because my weekends are now crazy busy," Jake said, breaking the ice as he rubs the back of his neck. Is Jake nervous around me?

"Umm... I'm not sure. I feel like I'm causing a wedge between you and Chanel and I don't want to make things worse for you two," I hear Honey's voice at the back of my mind about our deal but I will take matters into my own hands and do what is best for Jake.

"Don't worry about us, Chanel needs to understand that it's just a job. Being a coach requires teaching lessons which is part of the gig."

How can I say no to that? I cannot even maintain eye contact that is how guilty I feel. I am lying about so much and I am going to explode at any given moment. But knowing Jake is being cheated on is the icing on top of the cake. I have to tell him the truth sooner rather than later.

"Okay, it makes a lot of sense when you explain it like that," I said, still avoiding eye contact and fiddling with the tips of my fingers.

"So..." Jake trails off, rubbing the back of his neck again, "...is that a yes on the lessons because my mother's the Chancellor and if she finds out I'm not coaching everyone who signed up, I will get into trouble."

"Oh... I had no idea," I lie, my gaze leaving my hands and dropping to the ground as more lies pile up by the second. "Well, let me drop off my bag and I'll meet you at the pool afterwards."

"Alright, I'll see you soon," Jake said backing away still facing me, "And I promise, I won't let you drown again," Jake spins on his shoes and jogs in the opposite direction.

Standing alone in the vacant hallway, my consciousness begins to break as I try to fight back the tears from forming. Once Jake said 'I promise' it kills and stabs at my heart hard in the chest as guilt consumes my overwhelming consciousness. I promise means a great deal to me and hearing him say it out loud after so many years apart kills me a little more.

I swallow my pride and pull myself together as I sling both straps of the backpack over my shoulders and scramble throughout the corridors towards the dorm room. Once safe in the dorm, Honey spins on her desk chair as she raises her thick eyebrows. Jordan leans on the wall cupboard with his arms across his chest as he glares at me.

"Woah dude, you scared us half to death," Honey holds her rising and falling chest.

"Sorry, but I have something to tell you guys but you can't tell anyone," I said catching my breath and walking further into the room, sitting on my desk chair and facing Honey and Jordan.

"We're busy at the moment," Honey said in a blunt tone of voice, spinning on her chair and facing her laptop planted on the wood of the desk. Jordan glances at Honey's laptop without saying a word.

I shake my head, furrowing my brows, "Have I done something to upset you guys?"

"Umm... I don't know have you? I thought we made a deal?" Honey says, her back facing me avoiding my question.

"We still do but what did I do wrong?" I rise to my feet and stand in front of Honey and Jordan.

"Was this your plan all along to get with every guy you lay your eyes on?" Jordan said intervening in the conversation.

"Can you please tell me what I did? I'm so confused," I said, eyes pleading with sorrow.

"I saw you with Ethan, alright!" Honey raises her voice and swivels on her chair, her hazelnut brown eyes staring straight into my emerald blue one's as anger boils within Honey's skin.

"What! He came up to me and it was just a misunderstanding. I would never do that to you and you're welcome by the way," I pause for a breather as tears form in the corner of my eyes, "I told him you have feelings for him, but you're probably too blinded by jealously to care." I throw my backpack on my bed and grab my swimwear and rush out the door as I slam it shut.

Tears sting my eyes as I stumble into the girl's bathroom, changing into my swimwear but soon realizing I forgot my skirt overalls and towel. Standing in a stall half-naked wearing none other but two-piece swimmers and shoes.

Holding my clothes tight to my chest and bracing myself for what will come next. Breathing heavy and pacing through the bathroom and into the hallway and then through the arena doors.

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~ Cheers ~
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Please, tell me in the comments what you thought about Chapter Twenty Three? 🙈 I'll be greatly appreciated, thank you, you very kind soul!
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~ Chapter Twenty Three ~
~ 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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