t h i r t y - f o u r

TEN YEARS BACK

HAZEL

“I’m sorry I’m late.” I breathed out once I practically ran to my car and found Atlas near it. I almost forgot that I’ve told him to wait. Unlocking the car, I asked him to sit which he gladly did. Once I started the engine, I looked at my wrist watch which read half past six. Shit. He must be waiting for three hours or so.

I lost track of time with Justin and later he accompanied me to the library where I picked out few fictions for him along with some for Atlas.

“How was your date?” His sudden question caught me off guard.

“How do you know about it?”

“Whole school knows.” He shrugged.

“Right.” I let out an awkward laugh. “It was fun. Justin’s nice.” I added, excluding the detail that it wasn’t anything like date.

God! This is so embarrassing! He must be thinking that I left him to wait for hours just because I was busy on my date. Well technically he isn’t wrong.

We reached my home and I unlocked the door before stepping inside. “Freshen up, I’ll prepare t