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~ Day Dreams ~
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~ Chapter Forty One ~
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~ Swim off with a Twist ~
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~ Eighteen-Years-Old ~
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~ Hazel's POV ~
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"Go, go, Bumblebee. Go, go," the wild crowd roars with chants.

The swim meet starts with a big bang but as it draws to a close, Jake is the anchor and last to swim. Jake dives into the water below, swimming at lighting speed, and is already at the other end of the pool. Jake does at front flip in the water and twirls through the bubbles and reaches the surface, swimming back to the other side of the pool and touches his hand on the edge of the concrete. The Bumblebees yet again win the swim off, Jake finishing in first place as the whole crowd on the bleachers' applause. A megaphone screeches as the audience applause fades out, and everyone in the arena covers their ears.

"Yes, well done Bumblebees. Well done. You have made this school proud!" the Chancellor said, the megaphone screeching with every phrase. "More importantly, I am proud of my son, Jake! If you keep going, you will make history and go to the Olympics!" the crowd cheers and applause for Jake.

Chanel drags Jake out towards the sea of people and they continue cheering for him. Chanel side hugs Jake as a pink backpack on Chanel's shoulders leans to the side as she slips her hand into his, making a public statement. Jake appears to be uncomfortable and breaks the hug but still holds her hand.

"Can I say something?" Chanel whispers but still can be heard over the megaphone, next to Jake's mother. The Chancellor nods, handing over the megaphone to Chanel as she draws in a deep breath still standing next to Jake. "I would like to say how proud I am of my boyfriend for winning the race!" Chanel glances to the side of her at her boyfriend.

"But there is something the whole school needs to know!" Chanel faces the crowd and her eyes land on me and she smirks. "There is a liar amongst us, and they have been pretending to be someone they're not this whole time!" Chanel stares dead straight at me with every syllable the megaphone projects. "She fooled everyone and especially my boyfriend!" Chanel breathes as the megaphone screeches again.

Oh no, what is happening? This cannot be happening! Please, do not say my name! Why me?

"Summer or should I say, Hazel, will you please, stand up?" Chanel said sending razor-sharp daggers in my direction.

My stomach sinks to the bottom of the earth as my cheeks ignite with fire. Jake's eyes widen as he searches the crowd for Hazel — me. I give both Honey and Jordan worrying glances and stand from the crowd as my apricot hair falls around my shoulders covering my bright red, tomato cheeks. Everyone in the bleachers stares and awe in disappointment.

"That's right, Summer fooled everyone with her fake identity. Hazel Anne Summers is her real name and here's the kicker, Hazel was claimed to be dead at age ten. So, she faked her death and pretended to be someone else, and dyed her hair. How pathetic," Chanel said in a baby-like voice.

"I have evidence to prove it," Chanel said removing her pink backpack and unzip it, and tipping out the contents. Boxes of old blond hair dye fall out of her bag and onto the stone of the ground. "Explain that, Hazel?" Chanel said with a giggle, she turns off the megaphone with satisfaction in her movements. Jake removes his hand from Chanel's and shakes his head and backs away from Chanel and mouths, 'how could you?'

As for me, the whole crowd within the arena stares at me with disappointment and disgust. The laughter kills even more than the truth. Jake stares at me in shock and stays silent for feels like an eternity. I tilt my head down as my lips trample, my slender hands shake and silent tears fall down my porcelain freckled cheeks. I can feel Honey's and Jordan's hands on my shoulders, comforting me with their warmth.

I avoid glances from Jake as I sense he is still peering my way with I assume disgrace. I scramble through the sea of people and walk the walk of shame. Pushing through the arena doors, I cradle my face with my hands as the doors shut with a thud. Breathing in deep breaths as I pace back and forth in the narrow hallway, shaking my hands frantically.

I have never been more humiliated in my life than in that moment. Things were going my way and I chose to distance myself from Jake. It was the noble thing to do but now, he knows, hell the whole campus knows...

The inside of the arena roars with laughter, as the double doors behind me rattle open. Stopping in my tracks, I drop my hands to the sides of my body and run like hell, pushing open the front double doors of the college.

Lightning strikes the skies as it pours from above, tears mixing within the rain. I breathe heavy breaths, and the rain drenches my skirt overalls and long sleeve turtleneck as my heart scorches in my chest. My legs run towards the beach and the shoes on my feet splash in puddles of water, as I receive splashback on the back of my legs. I do not care, all I care about is running towards my willow tree.

"Hazel, wait up!" Jake calls from behind as he follows me in the storm.

"Go away!" I said breathing heavy, tears and rain still pouring down my cheeks.

My legs run as fast as they can on the wet sand. Finally making it towards a market where the ice-cream parlor is as fairy lights hang low above the streets and hang from the trees. Nearing the willow tree, I fall to the cold sand and lean against the trunk of the tree. My knees sink into the sand with my hands cradling my face as the windows to my soul pour out of me.

Footsteps approach, but I do not dare to move a muscle. "Hazel, please. Talk to me!" Jake said, raising his voice because of the storm.

I shake my head in my hands not daring to steal a glance at Jake. "S-Sorry, but..." I mumble, "...I-I can't do this." I cry not moving an inch.

"Hazel, please look at me," Jake said, his mint breath fanning my face and lifts my chin to meet his gaze, wiping my fallen tears away with his thumb. "I don't care you lied. I just can't believe it's you."

"You should hate me because I hate myself," I said, sniffing. "I-I lied to you for months. I d-deserve this punishment and Chanel was right, I am pathetic."

"No," Jake said, his eyes never leaving mine. "Chanel was the liar and a hypocrite. She was cheating on me."

"Did she f-finally tell you?" I question, glancing into Jake's eyes with glazed ones.

"No, Ash told me but I also sort of knew. But how did you know?" Jake said, looking down at the sand.

"Yeah, I sort of found out a while ago but it wasn't my secret to tell," I said, staring towards the restless ocean.

Thunder booms roaring in the distance and the rain continues to pour as the ocean waves roll in fast, causing wild waves crashing onto the shore. The wild wind causes endless shivers crawling up and down my body.

"Even though Chanel told the whole school your secret?"

"Chanel and I may have had secrets but I would never do what she did,"

"That's what makes you different and different is what I love about you," Jake said smiling down at me. "I missed you and I thought you were gone. So said my mother," Jake adds.

"I was here the whole time. But how did your mother say I was gone?"

"It was in the newspaper that you got shot and died," Jake explains with his hands.

"That was in the newspaper?" I say to myself.

"Yeah, but my mother most likely twisted the story because that night, I called the police to rescue you and I thought for all these years I had killed my best friend."

"Oh my God. That was you who called them. It was always a mystery who called. The real story is my father got shot in the leg and he and Fiona went to prison," I said, covering my mouth with my hands in shock. "I can't believe you lived with the burden of killing someone. I was told that I killed my birth mother on purpose but I know now that they needed someone to blame."

My teeth chatter due to the wind causing other trees to blow around us as my eyes still drown themselves with tears. Underneath the haven arms of the willow tree, the tree stops most of the rain from falling so droplets fall instead of heavy rain.

"You're right, it's easier to blame someone else. I wish I was there for you all those years ago when you needed me most. What happened to you when they both went to prison?"

"I know... but you can't blame yourself because it wasn't your fault. I went to an orphanage for two years and got adopted into a rich family but they were only after more money so I moved out and moved in with my new family. And I found out I have blood family too, my Aunt who works at the college." I add.

"Hazel, I'm so happy for you. And I can't believe I gave you swimming lessons and I didn't notice it was you but I thought you were gone back then. It feels like a lifetime ago..." Jake trails off, "I'm so proud of you for facing your fears."

"Thank you. But at first, it didn't seem real you were standing in front of me and you teaching swimming lessons, I would not change it for the world."

"I still kept my promise to you that I would find you but I lost hope, instead, you found me. And that's why you couldn't tell me your last name."

"Sorry, yeah. And sorry, for ruining everything and distancing myself from you. But can we just start over," I said, my eyes pleading.

"It's okay but I don't want to start over. I want to start where we left off," Jake said, lingering his fingers on my cheek as his breath continues fanning my scarlet face.

"Umm... you should hate me and run for the hills because I'm still a liar," I said, standing up and walking into the pouring rain, staring at the gloomy sky.

Jake follows behind and I feel his breath on the back of my neck as the hairs all over my body stand tiptoes tall. My heart races in my thumping chest at a mile per second. I cannot dare ponder, breathe or move an inch.

Jake, spins me to face him and I look away. "May I have this dance with you?"

Jake's fingers caress my chin and tilt it to face him. "Okay," I whisper. Even with the lack of lights except for the lightning and fairy lights around us, I see Jake all at once.

Jake and I sway in the rain with his arms around my waist and my hands on his chest due to Jake's height towering over me. My heart beats hard against my ribcage and I swear my heart will stop beating at any second. Is this really happening or is this my imagination? Do I have a concussion again?

Jake's ocean blue eyes never leave my emerald blue ones. Fireworks being bursting in my stomach and I fear the worst that my stomach may explode. Jake leans his soft lips caress my soft ones but I look away. I know I do not deserve his love.

I breathe in a deep panic breath, "I-I...," my mouth stutters, "...have to go," my back faces Jake as I wipe my face from tears and rain.

This is too hard! I do not deserve his love. I am a lair and lairs do not deserve happiness. It will be easier to walk away...

I begin to spin on my shoes but Jake grabs my hand, "No, not this time," Jake said, twirling me to face him. He lingers both hands on either side of my cheeks and presses his lips to mine with gentle passion.

Fireworks being to explode from my chest and stomach and sparks of fire flutter around us. Our wet lips kiss for what feels like an eternity. Jake pulls me closer to him and I feel the warmth of his body heat radiating around me. I wrap my hands around Jake's body as he ignites my senses, his hands lingering on my cheeks and leading their way to my hair. We both pull away breathless as the rain and thunderstorm continue from the skies above.

"I love you, Carrots. And I always will," Jake kisses my forehead and leans his forehead against mine.

"I love you, Jay," I say breathless due to the marathon my lips just endured. Gazing into Jake's eyes and was unable to wipe the smile from my face knowing their that I am worthy of Jake's love and worthy to be loved for the real me...

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Please, tell me in the comments what you thought about Chapter Forty One? 🙈 I'll be greatly appreciated, thank you, you very kind soul!
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~ Chapter Forty One ~
~ Dedications ~
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HeliiBoh
DebMorey
PeterPetruzzella
CaitlinWoodward9
DaniJones_14
ChloeMayerhofer
savvvy1998
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You guys should totally check out PeterPetruzzella short story! Lighthouse. It's amazing!
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You guys should totally check out ChloeMayerhofer story! Fallen! It's awesome!
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C.Morey 🥕 xoxo
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