I woke up the next morning when my alarm rang for the third time. I wasn't ready to get out of bed yet. I pulled my blanket up to my face in frustration with the constant sound.

Finally, I dragged my feet out of my bed fifteen minutes later. I looked at the mirror in my bathroom and a pair of dark circled eyes were staring right back at me. I looked like a walking zombie.

Ignoring the image the mirror reflected, I splashed some cold water on my face and began brushing my teeth. My mind wandered into its own world. It looked like I was in a universe of my own sorrow.

Heartbreak. Have you ever felt it? It's like persistent pain in the chest, in the throat, in the head, and everywhere else. It's like the undeniable pain that you give yourself. Everything you exist around gives you that pain. You memories, your soul, and most of all your heart. The worst part is there is no escape to it.

A moment, a realization changes your entire life. Mine changed too after Austin came in. He came into my life at a point where I had lost faith in myself. The faith of being better, the faith of having potential, and the faith of being worthy.

Before he came along, I had accepted myself and my miseries for however they were. I had laid out my plans. Everything I would do in my life. I had no high hopes or expectations to be accepted or asserted. I didn't ask much of life. Just to be able to lead me through my path unnoticed and unrecognized. But ever since he has come along I've become greedy. I want more in life. I want good for myself.

My mind drifted off to the night Kevin and I were together for the last time. Everything rolled in front of my eyes like it was just happening right now. He was my whole life and, to him, I was merely a chapter in his life.

"I'm sorry Hazel," Kevin's beseeching voice echoed my ears, "I don't want your sorry Kevin," I replied trying to walk away, "Let's just leave it here later ok?" he said.

I remember sobbing while my heart was demolished into a million pieces. "there is nothing left to talk about," I opposed, gathering all the courage I had. "No, we'll talk about this later," he said sternly edging his finger at me. "But-," I was about to say when he continued, "You're suffocating me with your drama Hazel. Just stop for god sake," he yelled.

I fell silent.

I zoomed back to the present when I felt tears roll out of my eyes once again. I looked down at the empty sink. I splashed more water on my face to hide my tears. Would Austin say the same if we ever got together? I wondered. Would I 'suffocate' him just like I suffocated Kevin?

"Rose is here," I heard my mom call me from the outside.

"Ye- yeah, I'm...I'm coming," I said trying to pull myself together.

I had decided to go to college today. I couldn't miss any more class as we were graduating in a few weeks and skipping classes wasn't an option for me.

I grabbed whatever clothes I could find and pulled my hair back in my usual ponytail. I left the room with my backpack on my shoulder.

I walked down the stairs still thinking about Kevin and Austin.

"Honey, Breakfast?" my mom said from the kitchen

"Nope, I'm not hungry. I'll grab something on the way," I replied, softly.

I saw Rose munching on something in her car as soon as I walked out of my house. She looked at me and waved merrily

"Chips?" she said offering me a bag of lays chips as I sat on the passenger seat of her bright red car

"Thanks," I replied taking it

"So how is your day going?" she asked merrily

"It's- it's going," I replied looking out the window

"Hmm. So what's your plan today?" she asked ignoring my unhappy tone

"Nothing. Just college and home, I guess, " I replied trying to keep the conversation alive

********

As we entered the hallway of the college, there was an unusual excitement and drive among everyone. We pushed our way to our lockers. We could hear groups of people chattering about something.

"Do we have something today?" I asked Rose, trying to recollect any event that I've forgotten about

"Yeah. The basketball competition. Remember?" she said

As soon as those words reached my ears I recalled Austin telling me about the final basketball competition that he would have just a few weeks before graduation. I had entirely forgotten about it.

"Hey," Jake greeted us as he and his gang approached

"Hi," Rose replied giving him a broad smile

"Big game today. You coming right?" he asked her

"Of course. How can I miss," she replied as her cheeks turned red

Oh. Okay. So now they're flirting openly. Great. Just the thing I need.

I looked at Austin for a second and noticed he was looking back at me. There was pain and dissatisfaction in his eyes. He didn't have his usual vibe.

"You coming too right, Hazel?" Jason questioned, looking at me, "Austin's question," he raised his hands

Austin gave him a death glare and nudged his elbow in his stomach

"What? I don't want her to get any wrong ideas," he said as he smiled, "otherwise she would just fall in love with me instead of you, you dumbhead,"

"Of course," I replied and smiled back, completely ignoring their conversation

"Great. See you at the big game," Jake said as he winked at Rose.

I raised my eyebrows at him which they all ignored.

The boys were about to leave when I held Austin back

"Hey," I said, looking into his deep blue eyes, "I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have responded the way I did,"

"Really? You mean it?" he asked brightening up

"Yes. However, I do wanna say that let's not rush everything. Let's just stay friends, ok?" I continued

"We can never be "just friends", Hazel," he replied, "But I'm glad you cleared the air. Thanks," he continued as a broad smile shaped his lips.

I smiled back at him.

"You know what this means?" he asked

"What?" I questioned

"This means I can still woo you," he answered, going back to his cheesy, annoying tone

I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

*********

The entire college was crowded in the basketball court. There was too much noise. The buzzer rang as the host took the court to address the audience.

After a brief welcome speech, the North Tigers ran in as a huge crowd shouted for them. Next, came the Eastview Eagles, who were also welcomed with huge applause and cheers.

Austin and Jake were in Eastview Eagles and so were we, obviously.
As soon as everyone took their places in the court before the whistle blew Austin looked up at me, kissed his index and middle finger together, and threw them at me as if he was throwing the ball in the basket. I just smiled back at him.

Jake saw Rose and waved at her. To which she smiled at and waved back.

The game began and it was hard to tell which one of the players were Austin and Jake.

They were running all over the place
We just stood up and cheered each time the team scored a point. We could recognize them now and then but for the most part, we were clueless.

After about an hour or so the game finally came to rest. Eastview Eagles had won. Everyone in the crowd was cheering for them and so were we. We pushed past our way to the front where Jake and Austin ran as soon as they saw us coming.

"So you won, huh?" I said to Austin, crossing my arms across my chest with a sweet smile.

"I knew we would, " he said

"Oh really, and how is that? " I asked

"That's why I invited you," he stated

"Me? What did it have to do with me?" I asked

"I thought you must have figured it by now. You're my lucky charm, Baze" he announced.

Those words were carved in my heart, now. Those words just made me forget everything. Did he really mean it? I wondered.

********

A/N
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Until next time,
Toodles.