— ❝too scared to jump in.❞

Days turned into weeks filled with punching and kicking hours on end at times. Estelle had seen every shade of blues fade on her face in a matter of days, only for the process to start up again the next day.

But Estelle didn't mind as much as she thought she would. There was something very freeing about releasing all negative feelings in a punch as hard as you can throw. It gave her a sense of rush, the punching and —weirdly enough— the getting punched, as well.

Estelle felt strange admitting it, but this club actually made her forget how the dire things were so omnipresent. Plus, having an excuse every day to be so close to Hazel was definitely not something she complained about. Almost every single day after school she'd join Hazel to go to her place. And despite her crazy guest list, Estelle became extremely close to Mrs. Callahan.

            Estelle missed the feeling of a maternal figure in her life— or a parental figure in general.

            Or any loving relationship at all.

            A loud smack took her out of her daydreams. Estelle fell face down on the hard gymnasium floor. She reached for her nose, the crimson red blood sticking to her fingers. She hopped back up, wiping her nose ineffectively ( she just spread the blood further over her face ) as she stared at the person having brought her down.

            PJ walked in a small circle, lightly shaking the hand she used to strike her competitor down. She raised her eyebrows. "You gonna hit me or what?"

            The first few weeks, Estelle had not even dared to set foot inside the circle. She was too scared to just jump in like that. Not because of whatever would happen to her, but because of the fact that all eyes would be on her. They are now.

            Estelle swung her fist rather clumsily, but PJ ducked it. She connected her fist with Estelle's stomach in the same second she ducked. Estelle fell back a few steps, then straightened her back. PJ was looking at her daringly, and even though her face was very inviting, Estelle was hesitant to hit her back.

            Then she swooped her leg to hit her side as hard as she could. PJ doubled over in pain. Estelle's eyes found their way to Hazel's momentarily. Hazel's eyes were filled with anticipation to see what was about to happen.

            She watched how Estelle took PJ's doubled over as an invite to trip her. PJ fell straight on her back, collapsing to the ground with a loud thud. Estelle straddled her, holding her down as best as she could. PJ struggled against the action, she swung her legs and hit her arms, but Estelle wouldn't budge.

            She was at a winning point, but now she wasn't sure what to do. PJ's nose had already been broken, so she wasn't going to hit that spot again. But where else to hit ? Estelle thought it good enough to simply smack her cheek and then get off of her. She let the brunette stand up and shake her hand.

            Hazel was sort of disappointed that she hadn't gone further. Seeing Estelle on top of someone else awakened something inside of her. She wasn't sure what it was, but she knew for sure that she liked it. She liked it a lot. And Hazel wasn't one to admit this soon, but part of her imagined Estelle to straddle her like that.. in other situations.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Melanie Callahan's questions rose higher and higher every day her daughter and her friend came home with fresh bruises. She never asked about them, but she was aware something happened. Hazel and Estelle came home later each passing day lately.

            And if she was thinking about that topic anyway, she wondered why Estelle came along every day, no exceptions. Sure, he knew of the town's obsession with her brother, but beforehand she'd never searched anything behind it. That was until the redhead showed her the antidepressants she was taking. Mrs. Callahan's suspicions of the Morrigan household acted up more. It was as if their house was haunted.

            Estelle's dad on the other hand hadn't noticed anything. He was so focused on Jeff's big game, his attention was on nothing else. Once he came into Estelle's room after she had a big fight. She had a tampon up her nose as if she was in She's The Man ! He said nothing, instead asking for her to book a photoshoot for Jeff's new poster. Seriously, who does that ?!

            Somehow, Hazel and Estelle found themselves laying in Hazel's garden. It was already late, though, the sun had set, the stars were brightening the skies, Estelle felt at peace in that moment. She laid in the grass next to Hazel, looking up at the sky.

            Estelle had always had a strange infatuation with the stars. She found them so beautiful, 8-year old her would stay up late just to be able to watch them. Estelle thought she might have been brainwashed, since her name's definition was literally star. She, however, couldn't bother to ask since she didn't see it as a burden.

            As her gaze was up, examining every single star, she was unaware of Hazel's glance having long diverted from above. She was supporting her head on her arm as she laid down in the grass, but her gaze was on nothing else than the redhead next to her.

            "Look at the stars," Estelle pointed at the brightest star of all. Her eyes did not meet Hazel's. "They're so beautiful."

            As if she felt eyes burning into her, Estelle casted her eyes onto Hazel's. Hazel didn't look away, her voice didn't falter as she spoke softly. "You're my star."

            Estelle's eyes softened. Never in a million years had she expected such an answer. How was she expected to answer this? She stuttered for a bit, and Hazel took the initiative. She reached forward, bringing the girl's face closer with one hand, and connected her lips with hers.

            The redhead was taken aback. This was the first time something like this happened to her, she wasn't sure how to respond. Again. Not that Hazel had much more experience ( Estelle had no knowledge of this ). Hazel pulled away, feeling that there was no movement from the other side.

            "I'm sorry—" Hazel began nervously. She got interrupted by Estelle cutting her off. She grabbed her cheeks with both hands, kissing her more deeply than Hazel had. Hazel's hands found their way to Estelle's long hair, entangling themselves in between her locks.

The kiss was deep, but not too intense, since it was both their first. It was clumsy, but somehow that just added to its perfection. Because whenever the stars were watching, anything less than perfection was impossible.

Estelle felt completely at home in that moment. Everyone always told her home was a place, and she would always believe them. She knew home wasn't her home, however she would never stop searching for the place. But what if it isn't a place? Estelle felt better around Hazel than any place she'd been in.

And even though she didn't know it yet, Hazel felt the exact same. This was her first time feeling anything like this as well. She just loved having the excuse of getting Estelle separated from her brother and father ( which was definitely not the main idea, but certainly a plus ).

            Estelle's house was haunted, and, in a way, everyone in the town knew it. Mrs. Callahan once offered Hazel to do something totally crazy such as dressing up pirates just to distract her or something. Hazel agreed to it, though she was not dressing up as a pirate.

            Hazel pulled away, smiling childishly. "I've wanted to do that for a while." She whispered.

            "So this isn't a friend thing?" Estelle chuckled lowly. She looked up into Hazel's eyes. Her hand wiped a strand of Hazel's hair that had fallen to the power of gravity off of her forehead. "I should probably go home. It's pretty late."

Hazel laid a hand on Estelle's arm, her eyes growing bigger. "Do you have to? My mom wouldn't mind you sleeping over."

"I know, but, uh..." Estelle responded, sitting up straight on the grass. "I'll take you up on the offer."

That made Hazel sit up too. "You sure?" She asked. Estelle nodded. She stood up from the grass, waiting for Hazel to do the same. When she did, the two girls walked to the front together. Estelle unlocked her bike. "Are you sure I don't have to drive you?" Hazel asked again. She wasn't too comfortable with Estelle cycling alone in the dark.

"You're too sweet, Hazelnut," Estelle smiled, taking her hand in her own. "But I must go home eventually." She kissed the palm of Hazel's hand. "I'll call you, okay?"

            She drove away on her bike. Even when she wanted to keep a straight face, Estelle knew her smile would break through. It was confirmed. Estelle Morrigan liked Hazel Callahan as more than a friend. And it was a mutual feeling.

Author's Note
AND I THINK YOU SHOULD COME LIVE WITH ME AND WE CAN BE PIRATES

folklore is my favourite album of all time so i just had to shoot my shot ( i will probably do the same for chapter fifteen and 22 though so be prepared )

this was also so not planned. i wanted them to have a little slow burn moment but apparently my unconscious didnt want that