CHAPTER : 01

Hazel has always had a unique relationship with darkness. Ever since she was little, she has never been afraid of it. Instead, she finds it intriguing and has a tendency to seek it out.

Perhaps she enjoys the quiet and solitude that darkness can bring, or maybe she feels a sense of comfort and safety in the darkness. She loves the way that the darkness can transform familiar places into something entirely new and unexplored. She enjoys the way that shadows dance across walls, and the way that the moonlight can cast an eerie glow over everything.

Nonetheless, her love of the darkness remains undiminished, and she will always find herself drawn to its mysterious allure.

As Hazel stands there, paralyzed by her fear, she tries to remember a time when darkness didn't terrify her. She thinks back to all the times she's ventured into the night, exploring abandoned buildings and wandering through fields under the light of the moon.

She remembers how she used to find comfort in the darkness. But now, all of those memories are tainted by her fear. She can't imagine ever feeling safe in the darkness again.

Hazel tries to take deep breaths and calm herself down, but it's no use. Her fear has taken over, and she feels like she's drowning in it. It's like her feet are rooted to the spot.

This fear has completely consumed her body, leaving her feeling helpless and overwhelmed. Her hands are shaking uncontrollably, and her breaths are coming in heavy gasps. Tears are streaming down her face, and her heart is beating so quickly that she can feel it pounding in her chest.

Sweat is evaporating from her body, leaving her feeling cold and clammy. It's clear that Hazel is completely swallowed up by her fear of the darkness, and she doesn't know how to make it stop. Hazel is struggling to cope with this intense and overwhelming fear.

The situation that Hazel found herself in is one that is difficult to imagine. To watch a friend struggling to breathe, her throat slit blood pouring out of her throat, must have been an absolutely terrifying experience.

The helplessness that Hazel must have felt is something that many people can relate to - that sense of being frozen in place, unable to act, even when someone's life is on the line.

As Hazel stood there, watching her best friend die in front of her eyes, she was overwhelmed with a range of emotions. Fear, shock, disbelief, and horror are all natural responses to such a traumatic event.

A WEEK EARLIER

"Hey, Haze!. Are you coming to Theo's for the weekend?" Lanita, her voice screamed in joy.

"Sorry to say this, love. I'm not interested in visiting his farm house and all, because he'll definitely be there." Hazel explained her inconveniences to her.

"You mean Julian?" Said Lana.

Hazel's deep blue ocean eyes enlarged and her heartbeat was pounding faster like a drum, when she heard his name, Julian.

Memories of their time together at Yale flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but be transported back to a time when they were happy and in love.

The memories were bittersweet - a reminder of what once was, but also a painful reminder of what she had lost. The image of them strolling down the streets, kissing in the summer rain, and chasing the sunset while listening to their favorite song was etched into her mind. It was a time when everything seemed possible, when the future was full of promise, and when they were each other's world.

But now, things are different. Julian was no longer in her life, and she was left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. The pain of their breakup was still raw, and the thought of seeing him again was enough to send her into a tailspin. She couldn't bear the thought of being in the same room as him, of having to face him and the memories they shared.

"Hello, Hazel? Are you there? Hello?" Lana asked her. Regaining her conscious back , Hazel replies "Don't force me, Lana"

"But-" as Lana tries to speak,The tears that were falling from Hazel's crystal blue eyes, and the way she hung up the phone and threw it away, suggest that she is still in a lot of pain. She feels as though she has lost a part of herself, and that she may never be able to love again.

She knows that she can't let the pain consume her, that she must find a way to heal and to move on. And so, she takes a deep breath, wipes away her tears, and tries to focus on the present moment. She knows that it won't be easy, but she is determined to find a way to live her life without Julian, even as she carries the memory of him with her always.

"I'm so sorry, Ju." Lana apologized to Julian, who was sitting next to her. "There's no way she's gonna come to Theo's birthday party. She's very frm in her decision, you know Hazel very much right? If she's not ok with it, she'll never do that. "

"I know, but I think you know your friend Julian who cannot leave anything unfinished" a smirk rested in his soft pink lips.

"If you are smiling, there is a plan behind this." Lana said.

"Yep, you're right Ms. Lanita swift" Julian says and adds "Make a call to Arden Sinclair. She'll definitely bring Hazel to the party. "

"Okie dokie !" Lana squeals and makes a call to Arden . Hazel's so-called soulmate, who has always been for her. As Arden picks up Lana's call, she explains the situation of Hazel not coming to Theo's party this weekend.

"Don't worry, Lana, I'll bring Hazel with me. It's my responsibility " Arden confidently said and hung up her call.

Hazel lay on her bed, burying her head in her pillow as she wept loudly, consumed by thoughts of Julian. Despite her best efforts to forget, she found herself unable to erase his beautiful and caring face from her mind. Julian had always been there for her, loving her endlessly and never letting her feel lonely.

However, despite his love and support, Hazel still felt a deep sense of sadness and longing, she was struggling to move on from their memories together.

"Hazel, you have a voicemail from Arden" the notification popped up in her phone.

Hazel received a message from her friend Arden, who was inviting her to Theo's party. Arden started by acknowledging Hazel's reluctance to attend the party, using a playful nickname "hazy-buzzy" to show her support. She then joked about how bad the party would be, but quickly got serious.

She explained that if Hazel didn't attend, Julian might think that she still had feelings for him, which would show her weakness. Arden urged Hazel to show Julian that she was doing well without him and to prove him wrong.

After taking a deep breath, Arden announced that she was coming to pick up Hazel in 15 minutes, and that they were going to have a lot of fun. She promised to be by Hazel's side at all times and to keep Julian away from her. Hazel was moved by Arden's words and closed her phone, feeling motivated to attend the party and show Julian that she was doing just fine without him.

Hazel felt grateful for Arden's support and encouragement. She had been feeling down lately, and the thought of facing Julian again was daunting. But Arden's words gave her the strength she needed to face her fears and attend the party.

As she got ready, Hazel thought about the importance of having friends who believed in her and supported her, even when she didn't believe in herself. She knew that Arden had her back, and that gave her the confidence she needed to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As she waited for Arden to arrive, Hazel felt a sense of excitement building inside her. She knew that the party would be a challenge, but she was ready to face it head-on. With Arden by her side, she felt invincible. Together, they would show Julian that Hazel was doing just fine without him, and that she was stronger than he ever imagined.

Arden arrived at Hazel's house, feeling excited to spend time with her friend. As soon as Hazel opened the door, Arden gave her a quick hug, wearing a smile on her face. She was dressed in a stylish outfit, wearing a white tank top and a red wine jacket, paired with black pants.

Hazel couldn't help but compliment her friend's stunning appearance, telling her how gorgeous she looked. Arden returned the compliment, telling Hazel how hot she looked in her pink floral dress. A smile slowly appeared on Hazel's peach lips.

"Thanks for being here for me, Den. I've been feeling down lately and you always know how to cheer me up," Hazel said, giving her friend a warm hug.

"Of course, I'm always here for you. You're my best friend, remember? And don't worry, we're going to have so much fun today," Arden replied, hugging her back.

Hazel felt a sense of warmth in her heart, knowing that she had a friend like Arden by her side. As they made their way out of the house, Arden grabbed Hazel's bag and held her hand. They locked the door and waited for the car to arrive. Hazel was feeling a little nervous, but Arden's presence helped to ease her worries.

They chatted about their plans for the day, and Arden shared some funny stories from her work. As they waited for their ride, Hazel felt a sense of comfort knowing that she had a friend by her side who truly cared for her.

She felt grateful for the moments she spent with Arden, knowing that they would create beautiful memories together.

When the car arrived, Arden took charge of the luggage and handed it over to Julian, who helped him arrange it in the backseat of the car.

Meanwhile, Hazel got into the passenger seat and saw that Brixton, Augustus, and Lanita were already seated in the car. Arden and Hazel were the last ones to join the group, and they quickly settled themselves in the remaining seats.

" What is she doing here?" When Hazel heard the familiar voice in the car, she felt a jolt of recognition and her heart skipped a beat. She could never forget that voice, as it was etched into her memories.

As she slowly turned towards the voice, her ocean blue eyes met Julian's lush green ones. He was leaning towards the car window, looking at her with a gaze that made her feel self-conscious.

"Ugh, someone please kill me" Hazel groaned under her breath, feeling embarrassed and frustrated that he was there. Julian was staring back at her, admiring her beauty in the sunlight. She noticed a change in his eyes, which were now pure and calm.

Breaking the silence, Arden interrupted by telling Julian to start the car. Julian nodded his head and went to the driver's seat, and the group was off on their trip.

As Julian started the car, Arden sat next to Hazel. Hazel hadn't seen Julian in months, and she wasn't sure how she felt about seeing him again.

As the car pulled out of the parking lot, Hazel stole a glance at Julian and saw that he was watching her through the mirror. She quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks flush.

She couldn't deny that Julian was still attractive, with his messy hair and bright green eyes. But she didn't want to get her hopes up about anything between them.