A/N: Dedicated to @nothingwithoutwords whose book of one-shots inspired me to keep going with this fic

Hazel's Flashback

TUESDAY 3rd January

Hazel rechecked the address on the letter from the lawyers' office she had received the day before.

Please, God, don't let them take it away.

Calm down, Hannah.

That small amount of money every month is what keeps me fed. I don't think someone would give me a job. What could I do? Portraits?

Even if they take it away, I doubt Nanni will leave you to starve.

I'm not close to Nanni as you're to Nico.

Now he knows you're his sister, I doubt he will abandon you; even after we leave.

***

In the end, the reason for their visit was the exact opposite of Hannah's fear. The lawyers had received express orders from her father to find Hannah a new house respecting her taste, preferably closer to Nanni's. They also handed her a credit card with a limit so high Hannah had lost the ability to think for three full minutes. Even her step-mother had made it clear the house should have a closet big enough to fit all Hannah's new clothes that would arrive in two weeks. Hazel told the lawyer she would think it through and email him with her ideas, knowing she wanted time and privacy to listen to Hannah's ideas.

Leaving the building in a haze, she went back home in silence, letting Hannah absorb the new information.

I think I'm feeling sick.

Well, it's quite a change.

Can I feel sick? You control my body, shouldn't you be the one feeling sick? Oh, God, what am I going to do?

Take a break. Think about something else entirely.

Like what? My childhood? It won't work to call me down, you know.

Which food did you hate as a kid that you like it now?

What?

I'm giving you something else to think about. So?

Hm... almonds, I guess.

Any quirk about food? Something stupid that takes away your appetite?

Not that I remember... actually, I'm not sure I understand the question.

Well, I, for example, don't like raw tomatoes. Unless you remove every single seed.

Why?

I don't know, I don't like it. You?

Hm... oh, I got one! I like watermelon, but not its juice.

Really? Ok... the food you would NEVER try.

Fried insects. Argh, I feel shivers only imagining. Ok, my turn. Weirdest thing you ever ate.

WEDNESDAY, 4th January

The moment her alarm went off, Hazel knew they were in no condition to go to school. Before Hannah could suggest they stay at home, Hazel felt their mouth quickly filling with saliva and jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. After she finished washing her mouth and face with trembling hand, she sat down, hoping the cold tile helped ease her nausea.

That answers yesterday's question. It wasn't just the excitement of a new life, I was really getting sick. These are the times I hate living alone.

What do you usually do?

Bury myself under the covers and hope it passes.

Well, you're not alone now.

You're sick as well.

I wasn't thinking about me.

Then who?

Nico? Frank? Reyna?

You mean Nanni, Felix, and Regina, people I barely knew before you came. I'm not relying on your friends, Hazel.

What about Lucy?

Lucy is...

Your friend, and will keep being your friend, I know this.

Either way, they are all at school, how can they help me?

A text alert made Hazel pick their phone.

Speak of the devil...

L: Where are you? I brought you something I wanted to give you before my day got ruined by classes, a cheap ass pirate and the devil's spawn that follows him anywhere.

H: I'm not going today, I think I got the flu.

L: L sorry to hear that. Best wishes!

See what I meant?

***

After a shower to stabilize her body temperature, Hazel pulled on sweaters and tried to follow Hannah's instructions to navigate the internet.

No, you put two N's, just... noooo, why did you erase everything? It was just one letter!

A doorbell startled them, and Hazel's hand instinctively went to her hip, almost knocking Hannah's computer out of their lap.

Sorry!

Just how many times you had to reach for your sword that even after months in my very mortal body in my very mortal world, this is still your first instinct?

Too many to count.

The doorbell rang again, more impatient this time.

"Coming!"

Checking through the peephole she could see two people and took an extra moment to recognize them. Opening the door, she couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice.

"Niel? What are you doing here?"

Bowing before her, he extended his hand, asking for her own. Too surprised to react, she gave it to him, blushing and removing it from his hold when he kissed it.

"The wench felt compelled to guarantee her maiden companion's health, and was convinced that the quickest way to assure it was to promise a curse upon this poor pirate's bloodline."

Niel's and Reyna's beautiful and tall friend who Hazel had momentarily forgotten the name, took a step forward to grin at Hazel over Niel's shoulder.

"He means that Lucy threatened to stomp his balls until the idea of children was a long lost memory if he didn't come to check on you."

And what about Sierra? She's not our friend.

Right, that's her name.

Hannah's question must have shown in their expression because Sierra's answered before Hazel said anything.

"I only came for the ride, I was bored at AP Geometry. But we brought chicken soup!"

Hazel diverted her gaze from the raised bag in Sierra's right hand when Niel raised another one.

"And banana bread, Nanni insisted that you liked it."

Sierra's left hand raised, a smaller bag in it.

"And half pharmacy, since we weren't sure what you had."

***

H: You didn't have to, you know?

L: And leave my best girl to fend for herself? Of course not. They didn't disturb you, right?

H: They said you insisted I needed rest and they are enough to give a monk a heart attack.

L: They are.

H: I don't think they saw as an offense.

L: Oh, I know, I had to hear they saying that they are such bombshells, with effects like an atomic bomb, and that together, they would be a hydrogen bomb. I must have done a backflip from the top of Christ's cross in another life to deserve it, it's the only explanation.

L: Go eat and rest, we see each other at school when you get better if I don't go to jail for murdering someone.

Well, watching a movie is resting, right?

What are you thinking about?

I'm pretty sure I was missing a certain black and white classic.

It took Hazel almost a minute to remember a conversation they had before winter break.

Do you want to watch Casablanca?

Why not?

But... how...

Internet, darling, internet.

***

They ended up taking a three-hour long nap after the movie, leaving them wide awake.

Do you want to watch another movie?

Nah... I'm not in the mood.

I don't think we can sleep for at least a couple of hours. Read a book?

Actually, I was thinking about Felix. And Frank.

What about them?

They gave us a gift, and I would like to return the favor?

Well, we're feeling better, we can go out tomorrow and search for something.

Hm... I was thinking something a tiny bit more personal.

Like?

I... there is a box in the back of my wardrobe full of strings. It's just a hobby, and most of the bracelets I did were for myself, but maybe we could do something together...?

I think it's a great idea.