Chapter 15

Hazel unlocked her apartment and went in, after placing her purse on the table she dialed Ava.

'Ava?' she called out as Ava answered the call.

'Hey Haze!'

'Where are you? I thought you guys would have reached by now' she said switching on the lights in the kitchen.

'Ohh sorry Haze! We had a small work, I am on my way. We will be there in a few minutes' she replied and disconnected the call within Hazel could ask anything further.

Hazel entered her room and after relaxing for a few minutes opened her laptop to continue her project. She has been working on this project for months now, though ninety percent of the work is done yet she felt there was something that needed attention before she presented it in front all the board members in her company. She connected her drive to the system and opened her project file when she heard the apartment door open. She heard Ava's voice outside and hence she didn't bother to go out and check. After a few moments Ava entered Hazel's room.

'Haze, are you working?' she asked sitting on Hazel's bed.

'Yeah' she replied still looking at her project for corrections. Hazel was too immersed in reviewing that project she didn't bother to look up and talk to Ava.

'Ms. Hazel White!' she yelled out of the blue.

'What the…? Why are you shouting Ava?' she asked alarmed.

'It's 11 p.m. you can work tomorrow. So either talk to me or sleep' Ava threatened.

'Just a minute, Ava! I have to make some corrections in this project' Hazel said looking at Ava.

'Hon! Tomorrow is Sunday and so you can do it tomorrow, don't be a workaholic every time' Ava said taking the laptop away from Hazel.

'Fine…Fine you are the boss' Hazel gave up looking at her adamant friend. She managed to take the laptop from Ava.

'So finally you are dating someone' Hazel teased chuckling as she switched off her laptop.

'Well...I still don't know why I like him. But Ed is different' she answered, her cheeks turning pink.

'Ava you look like a tomato!! Stop blushing' Hazel commented laughing loudly. Not once has she seen Ava blushing like this, in fact she rarely talks about guys. Hazel knew Ed liked Ava for more than two years now but she didn't know that Ava felt the same towards Ed. When Ava took the initiative to propose Ed today she was completely astonished as Ava basically isn't very expressive and that's the main reason why Ed never approached her in the past years. Witnessing Ava today made Hazel wonder whether she was wrong about Chris the whole time.

Hazel always felt that Chris was someone who cared so much for his loved ones, she was confident that she knew Chris well. She wasn't wrong because back in college she was the only one who could tell what Chris was thinking. It was true that she didn't know Chris like Ed did, but many times she was right about Chris. Maybe that was one reason that made her fall for him but was it the only reason? No. Though Chris doesn't talk much to Hazel he could tell what she was thinking with just a glance. And what is the use only of noticing? He was there for her at all times, he knew how to cheer her up and the best part was she never had to say or explain anything. He just knew...he just knew. But as she saw him after six years in her office he seemed like whole different person, she couldn't read him like before. She was cent percent sure that he changed.

When she goes back to thinking about her past she could give the people around her a hundred reasons why she loved Chris. It was true that she wanted to give Ryan a chance but will he live up to her expectations? He will but will Hazel accept it? She won't; because all these years whenever she thinks of getting into a relationship automatically her eyes looks for the characteristics of Chris in that guy. She waited six years just to know that the guy she has been in love with was married and has two kids. She knew she had be a fool if she kept looking for rain from the sky that had no clouds. But after working with Chris these five weeks she realized that she couldn't find someone like Chris no matter what. And she wanted to embrace it by letting it go. Whatever they had back in college was beautiful but they aren't in college anymore and many things have changed in the past six years and Hazel had to let it go...… it was really hard for her. She told everyone that she moved on…but moving on was harder than she imagined.

The simple belief that kept Hazel love Chris for the past years was because she wasn't worried about reality she was able to assume whatever she wanted because Chris was somewhere else and she chose believe that he would come back for her, but it wasn't the same anymore she had to get back to reality now and that's why she noticed Ryan. He has been in love with her for more than six years and he didn't bother to tell her, he was ok with loving her from a distance.

'Maybe it's true' Hazel spoke out.

'What is?' Ava asked confused. Ava noticed that Hazel was awfully quiet for a long time and it was obvious that she was thinking something.

'That when we are too focused on putting our life together for someone we want in it but fail to notice the people who are trying to get into ours to make it beautiful' she said looking at Ava.

Ava noticed that Hazel's eyes were moist.

'I decided to give Ryan a chance' Hazel continued.

'Are you sure, Haze? You haven't made this decision in haste, right?' Ava asked worried about her friend. Hazel always seemed like an open book to people but only a few knew that she keeps a lot inside her because she doesn't want anyone to think that she is weak. She rarely explains her sorrow to Charlotte and Ava, when they notice that she isn't her usual self and enquire she just choose to smile and distract them from the topic but this is the first time Hazel volunteered to talk about her life with them and they didn't even have to force her.

'Ryan looks like a good guy and maybe I should at least try to get to know him. If I like him then maybe I will date him' she replied smiling optimistically.

'That's great honey. I am finally glad that you are moving on' Ava told her smiling happily.

'Haze, tell me one thing remember last week we went to that amusement park with Ed and Chris? You seemed a little off after that day. I noticed that you were upset after talking to Chris. What happened?' she asked.

Hazel didn't reply but instead kept looking at Ava quietly.

'Haze? Tell me. I have wanted to ask you this for a week now but you seemed disturbed the entire week and you kept avoiding Chris too. So I thought I will ask you later' Ava told her hoping that Hazel would open up.

'Well that day Chris kinda told me to stay away from Ryan and he didn't tell me a clear reason to do so and...' she paused as she recollected the events after that; she could still feel his hand on hers. She couldn't figure what made him lose composure and act on impulse. It felt weird when he held her hand; she felt giddy and was not able to think straight. And when he was trying to finish his sentence she observed that his eyes were filled with sadness.

'That's why I was a little upset' Hazel told her, she didn't want to mention the other incident to Ava thinking that Ava will misunderstand that she still thinks about Chris and likes him.

'It's ok, just don't bother about him. You do what you feel is right' Ava advised her. Hazel nodded smiling at Ava.

Ava asked Hazel to take rest and left her room. Hazel looked at her laptop; she knew that she can't continue to work now as her mind was filled with unending thoughts. As she was lost in thoughts, she felt tears rolling down her cheeks; the funny part was she didn't know why she was crying. How many ever times she wiped away her tears and composed herself the tears just won't stop. She didn't know the reason or maybe she just chose not to find out, cause she knew that her mind would deny to accept the actual reason.

The next day Hazel woke up late as she has been fighting her thoughts till 3:00 a.m.

She noticed Ava inside the kitchen making lunch.

'Is it already lunchtime?' Hazel asked sitting on the couch.

'No honey! But Ed told me that they will be joining us for lunch today. So I am cooking beforehand' she informed coming over to Hazel giving her a cup of coffee.

'Ah thanks, Ava! I needed this' she said smiling expressing her gratefulness.

Ava returned back to the kitchen to continue. Hazel finished her coffee and got up from the couch to help Ava in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring.

'I think they are here. I will get that' Hazel shouted walking towards the door.

She answered the door and stopped right in her tracks noticing Chris outside.

'Hey Hazel!' he greeted.

'What are you doing here?' she asked looking at him as her mind went blank on seeing him.

Ava came outside and noticed Chris and Hazel standing silently staring at each other.

'Haze I am sorry. I think I forgot to mention that Chris and his family will be joining us for lunch today' Ava told her as she asked Chris to come inside.

'His Family?' Hazel questioned her in a low voice. Ava nodded slowly at her.

"Does that mean his wife will come too? Is it the same girl whom he liked back in college?" Hazel wondered as her face clearly projected agony.

'Where are your kids and wife?' Ava asked as Chris sat in the living room.

'They are coming. Their mom will be bringing them because I directly came from a meeting' he answered her.

'Can I invite Ryan?' she quickly asked turning towards Ava.

'Sure Haze' Ava replied.

Hazel noticed Chris' expression changed to exasperation as she mentioned Ryan's name but she didn't care. She wanted Ryan to be there but she didn't know why.

Chris looked at Hazel but she avoided him and went inside her room. She knew exactly what Chris was thinking but why should she listen to him? She decided not to take Chris' opinion personally after all if he's advising her cause he cares she doesn't want that. She didn't want a person who chose to never let them know about his existence for the past six years to care for her.

As she went inside she texted Ryan;

'Hey, how about you stop at my place for lunch?'

There was no reply from Ryan, she was about to call him when a message popped up in her inbox.

'Hey Hazel! That's a lovely offer but sadly I am working today so please don't misunderstand but I would love to stop by your place for lunch some other day. Sorry again. Bye!'

'Great!' she exclaimed clenching her fists in anger.

'Now how am I gonna face his wife? I wanted Ryan to be there so that Chris could know that I moved on but now…how am I supposed be normal around them? Jesus! Why is moving on so hard?' she asked annoyed with herself for being so weak in front of Chris.