Chapter 9

Hazel Sinclair

Now that I think about it, really really think about it, the matter with the clip is real. Because I've been with Christian all day and I've been putting up and taking out the clip from my hair practically the whole day. I would wear it up and felt myself getting allured by Christian's facial beauty. He was handsome with clever and striking features. He'd occasionally let out a string of curse words but that felt odd to me. Even though considering the fact that I'm not nice, those curse words should feel normal to me. But it didn't. I scowled when he cursed at a little kid when a blob of ice cream fell on his shoes. I found that oddly dissatisfying.

But whenever I took the clip off my hair, my thoughts would suddenly go back to those murderous and torturous thoughts that I've grown accustomed to. I would think of tiny kids as the spawn of the devil. I'd almost not notice Christian's handsome face and just scowl at whatever he said. Even a joke from Christian had me scoffing in annoyance without me noticing it.

Just when I noticed it, I put the clip back on and put on a normal face just for the sake of Christian's good day. He wanted to spend it by talking and walking in the park because according to him, it was a nice day.

Christian was cut mid-ramble as his phone went off loudly. "Hello? Jayden, my man!"

I scowled. The last time I heard from Jayden or even saw his face was when I called him a creep for sleeping in the same bed with me.

"Yeah... You see, I'm taking a walk with- cool. I'll just come to yours to help you, okay?" He smiled with those same sparkles in his eyes. "Be there in ten."

He's always so excited when he talks to his best friend.

After hanging up, he looked at me. "Jayden wants my help, baby girl. Let's go."

"Fine. You go help him. I'll be at my apartment." I scowled. So much for putting up my mood for the sake of Christian's day.

"Actually, you should come with me. After all, we three could have a good time?" He grinned.

I just shrugged and followed him up the apartment building until he reached Jayden's apartment and rang his doorbell. "Jay, it's me. Open up!" He yelled.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure. Disturb everyone living in this hallway."

He just chuckled before the door to Jayden's apartment opened up. They hugged each other, leaving me standing so I made my own way inside the apartment and sat on the couch.

Jayden acknowledged me by sending a feeble nod my way and I just nodded back, but not before noticing some kind of heavy emotion in his eyes. It was there, swirling in his eyes. So intense, so deep.

Christian jumped right into the matter we came here for. He asked for Jayden's laptop and sat on a love sac to examine the problem. According to Christian himself, he was practically a computer virus. He knew almost everything about computers and technology.

When I followed Christian and sat beside him, I felt a deep gaze, directed towards me. I looked up to see that Jayden was standing by the kitchen counter which was attached to the living room, staring at me. I caught his eyes and stared back. Our stares turned into a staring match and soon I found myself getting lost; even though he was a pretty good distance away. Seconds turned into moments and I still didn't look away. Just when I was about to make out the heavy and intense emotion in his eyes, he looked away, sneering to himself. My eyebrows furrowed and I watched him walk over towards us and sat on Christian's other side while focusing on the computer. Christian was very busy tackling the problem in Jayden's laptop that he didn't notice when I stood up and walked over to sit beside Jayden.

Woah, bold move right there.

I double-checked myself to see that I was still wearing my clip.

"What's wrong?" I asked Jayden.

He gulped meekly and looked at me, the intensity long gone from his eyes. Instead, there was confusion written on his face.

"Why would anything be wrong? It's a nice day and-" I cut him off.

"Are you still not over that- that phase?" I whispered because I wanted this talk to stay between us and not reach Christian's ears.

Jayden sighed and looked down. "Look, I told you..." I felt his fingers touching mine. "Let's not talk about it right now. Chris is here and I don't want you guys to fight over me."

He was whispering and I nodded. The fight would be between you and Christian. Not me and Christian.

"Christian, I'll be going home now. I'm a bit tired." I feigned a yawn.

He didn't remove his eyes from the laptop but smirked. "Baby girl, we haven't even done anything. And you already feel tired."

I practically choked on my spit and felt Jayden stiffen beside me. "Christian!"

He just chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll follow you there shortly, baby girl."

I rolled my eyes and left Jayden's apartment to enter my own. Just when I entered, my cats practically attacked me. I smiled and scratched their heads before feeding them and drop myself onto my bed.

I sighed and Jayden's stormy eyes flashed into my mind. I could swear that I had seen the heavy emotion in his eye but I couldn't figure it out. And above all, why was he acting like it didn't matter at all? I scowled to myself at the thoughts.

Although it was strange having different thoughts circling in my mind right now because until now, my thoughts usually consisted of me wishing death upon myself. And I was really glad that for once, I was thinking differently.

Wait, I was glad?

That's very strange for me to feel since...

To be precise, I was thinking about the kiss I had with Jayden. It was also mind-reeling but I was kind of annoyed by it. And today, when he gently touched his fingers with mine...

I sighed and out of concentration, I pulled out the clip from my hair and ran my fingers through them.

That's the thing, he gently touched his fingers with mine! And he kissed me! I felt very disgusted and to think of it? It was mind reeling alright, but in a bad way!

I don't even deserve all this. I don't want someone's affection for a short time to have it snatched away sooner or later. I know the sooner Christian will come to know of the kiss, the sooner he'll leave me!

The door to my apartment was open and I heard someone enter.

"Hazel? Baby girl! I'm here!"

***