Hazel sat at her desk, lazily doodling on the corner of her notebook. The teacher still hadn't arrived, and the classroom was in complete chaos—students chatting loudly, walking around, tossing paper balls, and laughing like it was recess.
Suddenly, the noise shifted. A ripple of attention moved through the class as Alex strolled in with his friends—Liam, Mike, and Steve—commanding instant attention.
Alex's sharp eyes scanned the class. "Who's that boy?" he asked casually.
Mike pointed at a timid-looking student in the second row.
Before anyone could react, Liam had already grabbed the boy by the collar, dragging him out of the class while Mike followed behind, smirking.
Alex's gaze suddenly landed on Hazel, seated near the window.
For a second, he paused, eyes lingering on her quietly, and then turned to walk out with the others.
As soon as he left, the room exploded with whispers.
"Alex is so hot, girl! Ohhhh my God..."
Another girl rolled her eyes. "Please. He's nothing in front of Drake and his gang. They're the standard."
"No way!" the first girl shot back. "I love Alex. He's the real handsome guy. That stare? Deadly."
Hazel, ignoring all the chatter, continued sketching.
So… his name is Alex, she thought. He's the one who helped me yesterday…
Just as she lost herself in the lines on the page, the school peon entered the classroom, calling out:
"Who is Hazel Knight?"
Hazel looked up, startled. "Me," she said, standing up.
"Come with me."
She blinked in confusion but followed him without a word.
They walked through the hallway to the office hall. The peon stopped and gestured. "Someone's here to see you."
Hazel stepped inside slowly.
A man stood with his back to her.
She recognized him instantly. Even from behind. Her heartbeat stumbled.
Dad.
Her face turned red—not with joy, but burning anger. She froze for a second, then turned and started walking away, fast.
"Hazel… Haze!" came the familiar voice behind her.
Zayden. Her father.
He rushed forward and gently grabbed her wrist, spinning her around to face him.
Her eyes were glistening—but no tears fell. She refused to meet his gaze.
Zayden bent down slightly and cupped her face with both hands, his voice low, regretful.
"Are you okay? I'm sorry... I should've been with you. I should've never left you alone."
Hazel didn't respond. She kept her eyes to the floor, lips sealed, heart pounding.
Zayden tried again. "Can you talk to me? Please. We're leaving there, okay? Just give us one year. After that, your mom, you, and I—we'll all live together. I promise."
Still, Hazel didn't look at him.
She couldn't. Not yet.
The silence between them felt heavier than any words.
"I didn't break any promise I gave you… right?" Zayden asked softly, his eyes searching hers.
Hazel slowly nodded, still not looking at him.
Zayden gave a small, hopeful smile. "So just wait… one year, okay?"
Hazel nodded again, barely.
Then without a word, she turned and ran toward her class.
Zayden watched her disappear down the hall, the words he still wanted to say stuck in his throat. He sighed and pulled out his phone.
"Make sure Hazel is safe everywhere," he said, voice low but firm. "She shouldn't know about this. Nothing should happen to her anymore."
The call ended. He looked once more in the direction she vanished, then turned and walked away.
—
Meanwhile, Hazel slowed down as she neared her classroom. But instead of going inside, she quietly turned and made her way to the bathroom. Her footsteps were heavy, and she is talking to herself,
She pushed the door open, looking up—and froze.
Inside were several boys, some laughing, some standing casually—a few even shirtless.
Hazel's face turned bright red.
"Oh—I—I'm so sorry!" she stammered, eyes wide, then spun around and rushed out of the boys' bathroom in complete panic.
She stepped aside, leaning against the wall, covering her face with her hands. "Ugh Hazel, seriously? What is wrong with you…" she muttered to herself.
"Hey… are you okay?"
She stiffened and quickly wiped her face before turning around.
It was Axel.
"Oh—yeah," Hazel forced a smile. "I just… got lost in my thoughts. Didn't realize it was the boys' washroom. Sorry."
Axel tilted his head slightly. "No, I didn't mean that. I saw your face when you walked in. Looked like you were… crying."
Hazel quickly shook her head. "No no—something just went into my eyes. I'm not crying."
Axel didn't push. "Alright… just wanted to check. Do you need any help?"
She gave him a small smile. "No, it's okay. I'm fine. I'll just go alone."
Axel nodded, his voice soft. "Okay… take care."
Hazel turned and walked toward the girls' bathroom. She stepped inside, went to the sink, and splashed water on her face again and again, hoping the coolness would chase away everything stirring inside her heart.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Hazel quietly stepped into the class just as the teacher exited. Without saying a word, she walked to her seat and gently buried her face into the table, exhausted—physically and emotionally.
Moments later, the PE teacher walked in, his whistle hanging around his neck.
"Okay, students! Wear your PE uniforms and come to the ground. I'll be there in five minutes. And no one's allowed to sit in class, got it?"
Without waiting for a response, he strode off briskly.
The boys groaned but stood up and headed to change. The girls followed suit.
Hazel sighed and slowly got up, dragging her feet toward her locker. She pulled out her neatly folded PE uniform and trudged toward the changing room. Her body was moving, but her mind was elsewhere.
---
Soon, everyone had gathered on the school ground. The sun was high, and the students formed lines, stretching, jogging, and doing jumping jacks under the coach's strict watch.
Some were running relays, some doing drills. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, complaints, and the occasional whistle blow from the PE teacher.
Hazel, dressed in her PE outfit, was lazily jogging in a line with other girls, clearly unmotivated. She did everything half-heartedly, occasionally pausing to tie her hair or adjust her shoes just to slow things down.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Axel, standing near a bench, watching the field.
Their eyes met for a moment.
Hazel gave him a small, tired smile.
But what she didn't notice was a little distance away—Drake and the entire gang were lounging under a tree, arms crossed, watching everything like kings of the campus.
And Drake?
His gaze was fixed on Axel and Hazel.
He leaned slightly forward, his smirk fading into a hard stare.