Chapter 22

Hazel Sinclair

The two days I spent without the two boys who have forcefully entered my life, were agonizingly slow. Only I would know how I spent the forty-eight hours, with my thoughts which often turned pessimistic to optimistic and optimistic to pessimistic. There was no in-between. One minute I was ready to embrace all of my wrongdoings and pray to God, the next I was hell-bent on taking my own life, thinking that if I stopped living, everything would just automatically turn okay.

On the night of the second day I spent away from Jayden and Christian, I heard them talking because Jayden was my next-door neighbor and they were pretty loud. Had it not been my inner voice and my pride, I'd have opened the door, ran to them and pleaded them to never do what foolish and rubbish I asked them to do, ever.

That's why I watched from the keyhole, only seeing their legs. It wasn't rocket science to not make out which pair of legs belonged to whom. And the best part of it was, I could see if one of them was nervous or felt something like physical feelings. They talked about me, alright. But I noticed how Christian's legs were moving on their own because he couldn't stand at one place. Jayden, however, was standing proudly but his hand would often come down and he'd snap his fingers or made weird gestures. All the while they talked about me, I had a feeling that they didn't know I was hearing. That I was eavesdropping.

It was way past midnight and I had been sitting there by my front door; still thinking about what they talked.

My phone beeped, indicating that I had received a text.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion when I read that I was needed where my car was parked because apparently, someone hit my car and needs to apologize. I was ready to tell them off, to ignore or tell them that I wasn't worthy of their apology. But the bigger part of me wanted to go and see which bastard of this world ruined my car.

So, I did what any sane person would. I changed into jeans and a tank top, and shrugged on a denim jacket and walked out of my apartment which I had been hoarding for a week.

It felt good to come out from under the rock.

Casually walking in the hallway and waiting for the elevator, I was standing by it when I heard footsteps. My heartbeat increased because I had a feeling that it was Jayden.

My suspicions were correct and I was standing in front of Jayden who casually smiled at me. "Is the lift taking long? How long have you been waiting here?" He asked.

I was tongue-tied. I eagerly nodded, and I had no idea why I was nodding. "Its... it's uhh... y-yeah."

My eyes widened and I licked my dry lips out of embarrassment.

"I'll take the stairs then. Bye Hazel." He curtly replied and walked away.

The elevator binged and I stepped in, pressing for the underground floor where my car was parked.

Just as I walked in, Martin, who was the watchman, walked over to me hurriedly. "Ms. Sinclair! That man practically bashed your car in! I told him his wagon won't make inside but he drove right in and while backing up, he hit your car. I'm sorry for the-"

"Its fine, Martin. I'll talk to the guy. Where is he?" I spoke to Martin who looked kinda scared because I was once so close to making him lose his job.

Once when I was a jerk.

I smiled at the not-so-old but old man and his eyes widened a bit. "He's coming right over here. See him? Yeah."

The man walked over to me and I was amused. "Marcus? I didn't know you live here."

Marcus grinned at me, his pearly white teeth were on full show. "Heya, Hazel."

I smiled.

I seem to be doing those a lot lately.

"Hey..." Then I was reminded. "Hey! You hit my car!"

Martin was quick to take sides. "You hit Ms. Sinclair's car and you know what the consequences are? She could press charges on you!"

I gave him a look that shut him up.

"Oh come on, Martin! I forgot to give you lunch that day, be more forgiving!" Then Marcus chuckled. "Yes, Hazel. I live here on the seventh floor and I didn't tell you because your boyfriend's jealousy was heading over the top."

"He's not... he's just my friend." It was hard to control my burning cheeks.

"Come on, let me show you the damage and apologise." Marcus grinned again and walked me to where my car was parked.

My brows furrowed when I saw the front of the car. It was nothing. Literally. No damage was done to my Audi r8.

But when I walked to the passenger side of it, my mouth hung opened in shock and I gasped. "What the fuck?!"

Marcus grimaced from behind me and I turned around. His hands were on his waist and he had the sleeves of his button-up shirt rolled up to his elbows.

He looked quite handsome if I say so.

"How did it happen?!" I shouted and shrieked at the same time.

He grimaced.

"Forgive me? I was reversing with my wagon," he pointed to his yellow-colored monster truck. "And forgot that there was a car behind me. I actually forgot to use my brain and look into the rearview mirror."

I slapped my forehead. "Even Sweetie is more intelligent than you."

He chuckled. "Well, let me make it up. How about we go for ice cream and I'll fix your car later by bringing it to my dad's garage?"

I didn't think one bit. "Late night ice cream actually sounds good."

"And its Saturday so I know many places that serve ice cream this late." His face brightened up.

We decided we could walk around the block after taking our ice creams and talking about random stuff.

"Your blueberry tastes sweet while my chocolate chip tastes divine." I smiled casually.

"Well, I don't eat chocolate so blueberry is my favourite. Blueberry pancakes..." He did a chef's kiss gesture. "Out of this world."

I rolled my eyes. "There were many flavors and you chose so... basic."

"Kiss me if this chocolate chip isn't basic...?" He wiggled his eyebrows in a teasing manner. And his teasing expression suddenly changed into a confused one.

I felt the presence of a car behind me. Turning around, I saw that the window was rolling down and Jayden was sitting on the driver's seat.

He gave me one icy look that was the end of our non-existing argument. "Get in the car."

Marcus pushed me behind him and faced him. "Excuse me, but she's here with me."

"This is between me and Hazel. You don't have a part in it." Jayden's cold voice was stern.

"Listen, buddy. She-"

"Marcus, it's fine. I'll meet you again someday, alright?" I sighed, hoping for him to not put up a fight.

I was done with drama already.

He merely nodded and said, "Let me get your number so it's easy to contact you."

I glanced at Jayden who was staring at me. He cocked his head forward a little in a manner to ask me of my doings.

I simply rolled my eyes and typed my number in his phone. Walking over to the passenger side of Jayden's car, I sat down and sighed in anger.

"Seatbelt." Jayden reminded but I was too angry to make out what he said. "Seatbelt on." He said again.

The car started beeping, constantly reminding me of my carelessness.

"Hazel!" My head snapped towards my left and I looked at Jayden.

"What do you want?!" I shouted. The car was moving slowly so there was danger.

"Right now, I want you to put your seatbelt on!" He exclaimed.

He was frustrated.

I was angry.

And I wasn't wearing The Clip.

***