The last place she thought she'd end up in her first year of high school, and all because she tried to be cool and got caught learning how to smoke in the school backyard.
There he was, sitting on the front seat of detention, the guy he tried to look cool for. Her heart pounded faster. She didn't expect to see him there. Theodore Jordan Shanley, the annoyingly good-looking senior, the soccer star athlete of Pinehurst Valley High, and the coolest guy in school who was her brother's best friend since kindergarten.
It's unfair how some people could grow up to be so cool while others stay as plain as a burlap no matter how hard they try. At least that's how she felt when her boobs started to grow, got her first period, and thought she would magically turn into a unicorn.
Instead, she still wears her favorite denim overall, an oversized sweater underneath it, her washed-out sneakers, tied her hair in a bundle, and covered it with a large bandana. Not that she knew another way to dress, she always prefers comfort over trends.
He was leaning his head on his palm looking half asleep. His light brown hair fell over his face. His head fell and jolted him. The first thing he saw was her walking past his seat. "Mickey?"
She hated that nickname. He's the only one who called her that because of a stupid incident that happened years ago when she was 9.
"What are you doing here?" he asked with a bewildered look on his face. "Detention? Really?" It was rather unbelievable because Hazel was not the kind of girl who would ever get herself in trouble.
She walked past him and took a seat in the back, "Long story." She threw herself on the chair, didn't really want to explain how embarrassing it was to be caught coughing on her first drag of cigarette smoke. "Just don't tell my mom."
He raised his brows and turned his back on her because the teacher's assistant gave them a look for talking in detention.
She took out her notebook from her backpack and started doodling. She would glance at him every few minutes just to admire him from the back. She had been doing that for years even when he came by to her house to hang out with Max, she would always find excuses to be able to be seen.
He'd seen her. Not the least bit interested in his best friend's quirky little sister whom he always called Mickey because she wore a Mickey Mouse costume on Halloween. She was 9 years old and he was 11. They went trick or treating together with Max and some other kids from the neighborhood. Everyone else was wearing scary costumes but Hazel wanted to wear something cute. She insisted on wearing that Mickey costume despite her mom persuaded her to wear something that's more in line with everybody else.
She wanted to stand out, and that she did. Theo never let her forget that night when he started to call her Mickey even until they're in high school together 7 years later. She was 16 now. Never been kissed, and never got over her crush on Theo even after she watched him, date girl, after girl since middle school.
She flirted with other guys, but none was more interesting than Theo. Smoldering green eyes, gorgeous wavy hair, and a playful smile. She would drop everything she was doing just to be able to spend a few minutes with him on an uneventful occasion. Pretended she was fine hanging out with his girlfriend even though it broke her heart every time she saw them cuddling and kissing.
Mickey ... she doodled it on her notebook. She hated it because it sounded silly and childish. It meant he only saw her as that little girl with the wrong costume, his best friend's little sister who never grew up in his eyes. She wanted him to see her as a big girl now, but it seemed impossible because she will always be Max's little sister.
Mickey ... she loved the fact that it was a special thing she has between her and Theo. No one else calls her that. But who was she kidding? He's 18 and was about to graduate. For seven years she had kept those feelings, and never once he showed any interest in her. Why would he start now?
When the bell dings, detention was over. She gathered her stuff and felt the tension trying to find words to say to him. Before she could think of anything, he turned to her, "Hey ... Mickey ... you want a ride home?"
Her heart bloated, she didn't want to rush her answer. They were neighbors, it was the most practical thing to do. "Sure." She wondered if her answer sounded cool enough. Then she thought of what she was going to say to him in the car, his new vintage red convertible that everyone at school talked about.
It's not like they've never been alone with each other, but her secret crush on him made her feel out of place whenever he's around. They walked toward the door in silence. If it was any quieter, he could probably hear her nervousness. Once the door opened, Peyton Brown was standing in front of it. The super hot blonde cheerleader in her practice uniform was waiting for her boyfriend. He leaned over and kissed her.
Hazel pretended not to look.
"Hey handsome ... sorry I couldn't join you in there, did you miss me?" she looped her arm around his, marking her territory, letting the world know she was his girl.
"You know I do," he said sweetly and kissed her again.
Hazel rolled her eyes almost as loudly as her gag re-flux.
"But I'm not alone in there ... look who's got her first detention," he added.
"Oh ... wow ... Hazel? What did you do?" her tone was unbelieving.
She waved a dismissive hand, "Ah ... you know ... they exaggerate everything ... you know what ... I just remembered something, I have to stop by at Janice's place ... so you guys go ahead, I'll just go home by myself."
"Are you sure? I can drop you off at Jan's," Theo said.
She was already walking away, "No, that's okay, I need the walk," she didn't have a better excuse. She couldn't possibly tell him that she couldn't stand his cheerleader girlfriend. Out of all his previous girls, Peyton was the worst. She was tall, gorgeous, popular and everything she's not, and they looked absolutely great together.
She let out a long sigh, at least she didn't have to sit in the backseat, and watched them gobbled each other up. She didn't really have to stop at Janice's, she was just not in the mood to pretend she was okay to see him with his girlfriend.
In less than a year, he'll be off to college. As a sports superstar, he's got colleges lining up to take him to be their student. Not only he was the captain of the school soccer team, but he was also a wrestling champion. Theo was always very physical since he was a kid, he loves the outdoors, going on adventures, something that she has in common with him. But the only reason she could do things together with Theo was that Max was there too. She was the tag-along sister who didn't have many friends she could hang out with, and Max was a great older brother who let her come wherever he goes.
Her stupid crush has occupied most of her teenage years, and it's not even close to being over. As she was thinking about it, his car passed by her near the schoolyard.
"Hey ... Mickey ... you sure you don't want a ride?"
Damn it. He looks so cool driving that convertible, one arm on the wheel, the other hanging on the edge of the door. His wavy hair floated against the breeze, vintage yellow shades slid down on his nose, and his blonde girlfriend nibbling at his ear.
She faked a smile, "No, thanks ... maybe next time."
He pursed his lips, pushed his glasses up, "Suit yourself ... see ya' Mickey." Then he drove off.
"Okay ... you have got to up your game and find someone else to obsess about," Jan threw a pillow at her face.She was flat on her back on Jan's bed feeling depressed yet again over Theo and his dreamy green eyes."You're in high school now ... there are a lot of guys out there that you can go out with, have a date with ... someone you can start smooching with ... Valentine is coming ... start dressing your age and not like that 12-year-old who drew hearts around Theo's name in her diary."Hazel grimaced, "What's wrong with how I dress? And ... I still draw hearts around his name on my diary ... I mean ... he's hot!"Jan put her index finger in her mouth and acted like she was going to vomit. "He is ... HOTTT ... I'
Tight jeans, long-sleeved crop top, because she thought showing off the middle part of her stomach was enough for her first day. She clutched her books in front of her as she walked towards her locker. She could see from the corner of her eyes, some students were turning their heads to look at her unusual appearance. Or maybe it was just her being self-conscious. But in high school, kids notice everything. "Looking good Williams!" someone shouted from the end of the hallway. She gasped silently, pretended nothing was out of the ordinary. She turned her head slowly and curved a knowing smile to the person who shouted. "Chin up, Hazel, own it!" Jan came from behind her and whispered in her ear. Her locker was
Lee Dennis Owens. 17. A sophomore. Friends with Kyle. Half Korean from the mother's side. Born and raised in Chestnut. A dance prodigy had been dancing since he was 6 years old."How do you know all that? I didn't know you were friends with him?" Hazel felt betrayed that she didn't know things about Jan when they were practically always together."I didn't, I knew that from Kyle ... anyway, you'd know a lot of stuff about other people too if you weren't so cooped up with Green Eyed Hottie at the soccer field."But lately, Jan had been ditching her to be with Kyle a lot, hence, she was stranded by herself trying to smoke a cigarette with Max's other friends, Joey and Stanley who were quick enough to run away leaving her behind and eventually sent to detention by Coach Garry.
Five: Dear TheoDear Theo,I really don't know what's the point of this ... but here goes ...I love you ... I'm obsessed with you ... I'm crazy for you ...There ... I said it, and it feels really goodNow you know. Although you don't know who I am, that's beside the point.I'm doing this for me.I've been holding on to these feelings for you and I'm tired because I know nothing is ever going to happen between you and me. Ever.I realize even though we sometimes feel so deeply about someone, it doesn't mean the feelings will be returned. It sucks and I'm learnin
He doesn't speak a single word of Korean, even though he was half Korean. Ever since his mother died there was no one who speaks Korean at home. His stepmother was French, so he knew a little bit of French.He danced to the number one Korean boy band without understanding a single word of the lyrics, except for the English parts. He said dancing didn't need an understanding of words but the emotions from the music. It was true for a lot of things.They followed each other on Instagram, he has around 5000 followers there and quite actively posted his dances in there too. While she has less than 300 followers, most of them were school friends and family.Most of her posts were selfies and wefies with Jan, sometimes she posted her journal entries in a blur, and also her favorit
At the end of Valentine's day, all the letters were distributed to their recipients. Most kids received at least one. Everyone made a pact with their best friends that they would send each other something.Theo got a whole bowl to himself. The committee even let him bring home the bowl as a bonus because his letters couldn't fit the largest envelope that was available. He was cheered along the corridor holding the large bowl in his hand.She wondered if he'll even bother to read them later because there were so many.Surprisingly, she got four letters herself. She tucked them into her backpack to read them later after dinner when she usually spends the rest of the day alone in her room.Lee was already gone to rehea
"How's school today?" her mom asked at dinner time the next day.She shrugged, "Fine," she answered almost simultaneously with Max.There was nothing eventful for her except spending the whole day with Jan celebrating her new relationship status with Kyle. He finally confessed to her and asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. How romantic.There's not much she could say about her own Valentine's Day. That last note she received was occupying her mind, but no one was sending her signals or trying to approach her about it. It was anonymous, it will probably stay anonymous. She didn't want to think about it too much."I have a surprise for you, actually," her dad said as he wiped his mouth wit
She spent the whole day trying on outfits to go to Lee's dance party. Fixed her hair in all the ways she could think of while Jan watched from the other end of their video call."Does this look okay?" she held a pink top over a white mini skirt she had sworn to never wear only a year ago. It was the sixth set of clothes she tried to mix and match.Jan grunted, "That looks adorable ... if you were going out for ice cream in the daytime ... it's a dance studio, everyone's gonna be wearing black, you don't want to be the odd one out.""Are you sure? Black? My first choice was black?""I know, I told you it was fine but you went through your whole closet anyway ... I think black is the way to go."