Chapter 26: I'd most likely be on house arrest.
We get back to the house quite late, except it's not mine, it's Jays.
Seth and Zach's cars are still there, meaning that they must have waited up for us.
When we get inside, they're laying on the couch lazily, watching some TV.
Jay goes in first and grabs the remote, turning it off. Seth and Zach protest automatically.
"Stop whining, it's time to talk." He replies to them, sitting down. He looks up to me and motions his head to the armchair across from them.
I hesitate before sitting down; I know what's coming.
By now Seth and Zach are sitting up and all of their eyes are on me.
"I wasn't trying to kill myself if that's what you're thinking." I blurt.
"We know, they weren't the pills for that." Zach replies.
"Well then I'm sure you know what I was doing." I say, looking down.
"How long has this been going on for Hazel?" Seth asks.
I look back up, "I don't know, a while. But since I've come back it hasn't been as constant as before."
Everyone goes silent, and I look over and Jay and see him staring at the wall behind me.
His eyes jump to mine and he holds his hands up to his face in a thinking position.
"Why?" He asks softly.
"Why what?" I reply.
"Why did you do it? Why did you feel you had to do it?" He asks.
I shrug, "When you felt the way I did for almost half my life, it tends to get scarred in your memory. I always had the thought in the back of my mind that I was going to go back to the way I was, and I couldn't let that happen."
Jay nods, as though ending the subject with just that.
"Fine, what I want to know is why you were in such a mess when we found you?" Zach asks.
I sigh, "I ran into Roman on the way home."
They all frown, "What?" Jay asks.
I nod, "He set me off and I felt like it was the only way to reassure me, to make me feel better."
"Hazel, there's tonnes of other stuff you can do, like talking or at least hanging out with us." Seth says.
They all nod in agreement.
"You don't understand," I reply, "It's not that easy."
"It is." Jay nods, and we're going to help you."
I roll my eyes, "Trust me, I'm fine."
They all look around at each other, as though they don't agree.
I couldn't blame them really.
"We need to talk more about Robert." Zach says.
Jay jumps in at the word, "What about Robert?"
Zach nods his head to me, "She knows about him."
"What about him?" Jay asks, looking back to me.
I shrug, "Not too much."
"Hazel, we need to be on the same page here." He replies.
I sigh, "I've had a few run-ins with Roman relating to him, but they haven't physically hurt me. I'm fine."
"But what has he done?" Jay almost growls.
I hesitate before telling them about the night of the party, when Roman knocked me out.
They all stand up, "Why didn't you tell us about this?" Jay asks.
He starts pacing and puts his hands on his head.
I had left out the parts about Robert having his sights on me, mainly because if I told them I'd most likely be on house arrest.
"Look guys, I'm almost always with at least one of you. The couple of times I've had a run-in are when I've been away from you a couple of times." I reply.
"Well this just means we have to keep a sharper eye out. Robert is obviously getting Roman to do his dirty work, I think we need to make sure Roman doesn't come anywhere near Hazel." Jay says.
They guys nod in agreement.
"Good. Can I go now? I'm super tired." I say.
Jay nods, "Lets go."
>>|<<
The days left before the masquerade ball were quickly decreasing, and before I knew it, the day was already here.
"Lexi!" I say, coming down the stairs.
She looks up, "What's up?"
"The masquerade ball is tonight and I don't even have a dress!" I say, panicked.
She rolls her eyes, "Calm down, you're lucky that it's such a big thing in this town. There's tonnes of dresses in the shops. Also, I don't even have a dress or a date yet, so you're already winning."
I hop around trying to put on my shoes, "I can't believe I've left it this late, there's been so much on my mind."
Lexi grabs her keys, "Like what?"
We head outside to Lexi's car, "The guys have been non-stop body guards, I finally persuaded them to let me at least go shopping by myself today, as long as you're there of course."
"Well, I don't blame them really." She replies.
I had filled in Lexi with everything, since a girl's perspective was something I could use, and her advice was usually very helpful.
I sigh as we take off, "I know."
It's only a short drive to the shopping centre, which is easily filled up with music and small talk.
We browse the different shops, deciding which one to try first.
After racks and racks of different dresses, I was starting to lose hope.
"It's nice," Lexi says, studying the dress I have on, "But the colour isn't working."
"It's really heavy." I say.
She rolls her eyes, "It's supposed to be."
"Hazel!" I hear from behind Lexi.
I see Lucy making her way towards me.
"Hey Lucy." I smile.
She gives me a hug, "Wow, lovely dress. I'm not sure if it's the right one though."
I nod, "We think so too."
Lucy looks behind her and notices Lexi.
"This is my cousin Lexi." I introduce them.
"Hi I'm Lucy." She says.
They chat a little while I change into my normal clothes.
When I come out there's a guy in the conversation too.
"Oh Hazel, this is my older brother Lucas." Lucy says.
I shake his hand, he was nice looking, he had blonde hair like Lucy and was fairly tall, he looked like he would be a soccer player.
Lexi starts back a conversation with Lucas and the two laugh.
I grin a little at them before pulling Lucy away, "I'll meet you in a bit." I say to Lexi.
She looks at me and smiles.
"What about my brother?" Lucy says as I pull her away.
"You're brother is going to have to buy a suit and tie now." I reply.
She laughs in response.
"So, now I need you to help me find a dress." I say.
"I know just the one." She says.
"You do?" I ask.
Lucy nods, leading me into a small boutique, "I saw it when I was trying to find mine and it reminded me of you straight away."
"You're going?" I ask.
She rolls her eyes, "Of course."
"Who with?" I ask.
She looks away, "A guy called Jacob Bell."
My mind remembers the scene when Lucy was running out from him.
"Is he nice?" I ask.
"Nice enough, I really wanted to go to the ball and he was my last resort." She replies, scanning through the racks of dresses.
"Alright then."
She obviously finds the dress, "Ah! Here it is!" She shoves it into my hands, "Go try it on."
I do as I'm told and go into the dressing rooms.
I study myself in the mirror before I go out.
I instantly fall in love with it. It's black and strapless with lace running along the bodice, there is a twisted part of material that runs around my waist and then the soft material floats down to the ground.
I step out and Lucy instantly smiles, "I knew it was the one."
"I love it." I say to her.
She nods, "It's perfect then."
>>|<<
"I just need to go to the bathroom quickly." I say to Lucy as we are sitting in the middle of the food court, waiting for Lexi and Lucas to return.
She nods, "Sure."
I make my way there and notice it's empty except for one stall.
I start to walk to one when I hear the sounds of vomiting from the stall.
Too concerned for the girl, I patiently wait for her to exit.
When the door opens I look up and am more than surprised at who I see.
"Mae?"
She looks at me like she's seen a ghost, "Hazel."
I frown, "What are you doing?"
She looks around nervously, "I had to use the bathroom."
I give her a look.
She sighs and goes to the basin, leaning her hands next to it.
"Look, I've been through this too, and I'm here to help you if you need it." I say.
She shakes her head, "No, you haven't been through this. Unless you have a kid that no one knows about."
My frown fades and realisation sinks in, "Mae, you're pregnant?"
She suddenly breaks down and starts sinking to the ground, I grab her and we sink together.
"It was a mistake, I stupid mistake. Now I have no idea what I'm going to do." She sobs.
"How far along are you?" I ask.
She wipes her eyes, "About three months now. I'm going to start showing even more, and people are going to notice."
"Are you seeing a doctor?" I ask.
She nods, "But I don't know how much longer I can go without telling my parents."
Her head falls into her hands, "Everyone's going to think I'm a slut."
I shake my head, "I'll be there for you, don't worry."
She looks at me, "Really?"
I nod, "Of course."
She gives me a small smile and we stand up again, she rinses her face with water.
"I'm guessing you want to know who the father is, huh?" She says, drying her face.
"It's not really my business." I reply.
"It's Roman." She says, not looking at me.
My eyes widen, "Roman? Does he know?"
She scoffs, "Of course not. Could you imagine? There's no way he'll stick around anyway."
The door to the bathroom sudden opens and Lexi comes in, "Oh good," She sighs in relief, "You've been gone for ages, I thought something happened."
She takes in the sight and realises the seriousness in the room, "Oh, I can leave you for a bit?"
I shake my head, "We were just coming. Lexi, this is Mae."
They exchange hellos and before exit Mae grabs my arm, "You can't tell anyone, please."
I nod at her, "This is just between you and me, I promise."
Mae leaves when we go out of the bathroom and Lexi and I return to the food court.
It's hard to concentrate on what Lexi is saying when Mae has just told me that the father of her unborn baby is Roman.
"Are you listening to me?" Lexi says.
I shake out of it, "Sorry what?"
She rolls her eyes, "I said that there's no masks left."
"What will we do?" I ask.
"I'm pretty sure I can get some off my friends." She replies.
I nod, "Alright, good."
>>|<<
When we get home dad is in the living room.
"Hey dad." I say.
He looks to us, "Oh, hi girls. Caterpillar there was a parcel left at the door for you."
Sparking my interest I go to my room where the parcel will most likely be.
When I walk it, a small box is sitting on my bed. I open it and inside is a heap of black tissue paper.
I pull it out and sit on my bed, putting it on my lap.
Unwrapping all the layers of tissue paper, I finally through it all.
Sitting inside is a beautiful black lacy mask. Embroidered with black crystals and soft feathers, it's obviously a very expensive one.
Jay pops into my mind and I hope he didn't buy me this, it would have cost a fortune.
I look back down at the tissue paper and only now notice the note.
It's written in elegant script, obviously with old style ink.
Hazel,
I heard word that you are going to the masquerade ball tonight.
I saw this mask in a shop and it instantly reminded me of you, I thought you would appreciate the gesture.
I want you to wear it tonight, hopefully it suits your dress nicely.
-Robert
I stare at the note with shock and hear someone coming up the stairs, I quickly- but gently- put the mask into the tissue paper back into the box before putting it under my bed.
Lexi pops her head into my room, "Bad news, my friend only has one mask and it's blue, the colour of my dress."
I give her a tight smile, "It's alright, I'll figure out something."
She nods before going.
I glance back to where the box is.
It's my only option now.
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