Chapter Six: Hazel
Christopher remained eagle-eyed for the rest of the night at Jason's party. He didn't want the girl he kissed to slip by right under his watch. He wasn't even interested in partying anymore. He looked around for her friend Brooke later on but didn't see her either. He couldn't believe they've been attending the same school since 9th grade. She's probably the quiet unpopular type. She's actually pretty, to be honest. So is her friend. He eventually decided to crash and went into Jason's room.
"What's wrong man?" Jason had asked him when he told him he wanted to sleep.
"I'm just tired dude," he had answered faking a yawn.
Jason shrugged.
The thing is that Christopher couldn't sleep immediately. When he closed his eyes, he kept remembering how his lips moved in sync with hers. The kiss wasn't even deep but it seemed to have trapped him.
What the hell is this?
I've never felt that way when kissing anyone not even Ivy when they were together, he had thought.
And the worst part is that he doesn't know her at all, not even her name.
And come to think of it, the kiss didn't get deepened but it sure was intense. She pulled away before he could deepen it.
He tossed and turned on the bed until he finally said "Fuck that stupid game" and drifted off to sleep. The sleep that he dreamt about her, the girl he kissed.
His mission is to find her and get her out of his system quickly. That's exactly what he wants to do.
Now it's Monday and he's determined to find her.
He MUST find her.
That would be his 'raison dêtre' for today.
He would find the black-haired, hazel-eyed girl he kissed.
He decides to give her his name for her.
He decides to come up with a name for her.
He can't keep calling her that till he finds out her real name.
It's way too long.
Hazel!
He would call her Hazel!
Because of her eyes.
"Hazel," he whispers to himself as he drives to school. He walks into school after parking his car in the parking lot.
As he enters the front doors, he tells himself to keep his eyes wide open in search of Hazel or at least Brooke, her friend.
He finds his way to his locker, still looking at faces cautiously.
"Hey man," Jason bumps him with a shoulder.
"Hi," Chris replies. "Where's Max?"
"Homeroom," Jason replies.
"Okay," Chris says as the bell rings.
"Off I go," Jason says and walks away.
"Bye," Chris mutters.
He makes his way to his first class and enters. He scans all faces present before taking a seat at the back. He then busies himself with Twitter on his phone.
Then the teacher walks in and announces the commencement of the class.
Just then, Christopher looks up and notices a girl with black long hair seated a little closer to the front. He becomes alert and perks up in his seat.
He can't wait for class to be over.
Seems he's finally found Hazel.
It's too easy - too quick.
He didn't expect to find her this quickly. But he's happy he has.
***
Brooke watches as Stephanie comes out of her house and locks the door with her backpack on her shoulders. She watches her as she approaches her car.
Goodness!
She even looks better than before.
Damn!
She looks hot even.
Her new haircut is perfect for her.
Her black hair is no longer as long as it used to be, now shoulder-length.
If she looks this good now, what if she gets a pixie cut?
She should have done this a long time ago. She might have become popular and have guys trailing her. Brooke continues to think, watching her till she opens the door.
"Good morning B," she greets her as she hops in.
"Hey," Brooke replies taking her new look in. She isn't exactly used to it yet.
It makes her more beautiful.
"What?" Stephanie asks when she notices her staring.
"Is there something on my face? She asks, unconsciously lifting her hands to touch her face.
"No," Brooke laughs lightly. "I'm just getting used to your new look."
"Oh. You like it, don't you?" Stephanie smiles smugly as she buckles her seatbelt.
"Of course I do. You should have had this haircut a long time ago. It's perfect for you," Brooke tells her truthfully.
"Thanks."
"I won't be surprised if you start getting guys' attention," Brooke tells her raising her eyebrows suggestively.
"Eww," Stephanie grimaces. "No thank you very much."
Brooke just laughs and starts to drive.
She wasn't joking when she talked about Stephanie getting some attention from guys. She suddenly grins as she drives, remembering Cole. Hopefully, he'd eventually ask her out on a date. Maybe this year wouldn't be so bad after all.
A few minutes later, they're both coming out of the car and heading towards the front doors of the school.
They head toward their lockers.
"Do you think they'll remember?" Stephanie asks Brooke.
"Remember what?" She asks as she notices Chris at his locker with Jason. His back to them as they're passing.
"Look who it is," Brooke nudges Stephanie.
Stephanie follows her gaze and sights Chris. She looks away almost immediately and they continue their walk.
"Do you think they'd remember the game? The kiss? My face?" Stephanie asks.
"Nope. They were all probably drunk but Chris might remember," Brooke smirks.
"That one," Stephanie scoffs. "He'd have forgotten that night before leaving the party. That is the longest it'd have taken for him to forget."
"I don't think so," Brooke replies as they reach her locker.
She opens her locker and gets all she needs. She shuts the locker as someone says something behind them.
"Hey Brooke," Cole greets.
Brooke grins as she turns to face him.
"Hi, Cole."
"How was your night?" Cole inquiries smiling.
"It was great. Yours?"
"Okay," Cole replies.
He finally acknowledges Stephanie.
"Hi," he tells her.
"Brooke, introduce me to your friend," Cole says.
Brooke stares at him in confusion.
"But I've introduced you guys before. At the party," Brooke says.
"You did? I can only remember you introducing me to another of your friend. Um.....Stephanie was her name," Cole specifies.
Brooke finally understands the situation. She chuckles quietly and looks at Stephanie who is about to burst into laughter.
"She is Stephanie," Brooke says pointing at her.
"Huh?" Cole says bemusedly.
"I am Stephanie. The one you met at the party," She explains.
Cole's eyes widen, "You are? Geez! I didn't know. I'm so sorry."
Cole looks flustered.
"No probs," she chuckles.
"But you look different," he comments.
"Yeah. She got a haircut," Brooke tells him touching Steph's hair gently.
"Wow! You look great," Cole grins.
Stephanie blushes, "Thanks."
"Let's get to class, Brooke."
"Oh. Um...Steph and I-"
"Just go, B. I'll see you later," She cuts her off.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Run along now," she laughs lightly shooing them away.
They leave and she finds her way to her locker.
Cole and Brooke enter their class together and sit beside each other.
"So I was wondering," Cole begins.
"Hmmm?" Brooke looks at him.
"If you'd like to join me for lunch in the cafeteria. Sit with us at our table?" Cole finishes.
"I'd love to but Steph...."
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Cole interrupts.
"But-"
"What is it, Brooke?"
Brooke inhales closing her eyes for a few seconds as if trying to calm herself down. She reopens it as she exhales.
"Luke sits with you, yeah?" She asks.
"Yeah," he replies in a duh tone.
"That means Ivy would be sitting there too," she says.
Poison Ivy I mean, she says in her head.
"Yup."
"I'm sorry but Ivy and I don't get along. I can't sit at the same table with her," she says looking at her hands.
"That's it?" Cole chuckles.
"No problem. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable. And besides, I don't like Ivy or Aspen. She kind of infuriates me. I don't know what Luke sees in her," Cole adds shocking Brooke.
"Really?" Her head snaps her.
"Yeah," Cole sighs. "Finally. I've wanted to say that out loud for a while now."
Brooke chuckles and he joins her.
A/N: Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating.