Third Person POV:
The
game had everyone on the edge of their seats, and Bella's heart raced each time Ryder faced an opponent. Even though he was skilled, she couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt. The entire time, Hazel wore a bright smile, cheering and booing at the right moments.
"Hey, do you want to get a drink or something?" Hazel grabbed Bella's hand, and Bella nodded, grateful for the distraction.
Bella turned to inform the guys, who were deeply engrossed in the game.
"Do you want us to come?" Kai asked, but Bella shook her head.
"We'll be fine."
Bella didn't want Ryder to look up and see their seats empty. Plus, she wanted to spend time with Hazel.
Hazel stood up quickly, and they made their way out of the bleachers, searching for a vending machine around the field. They found one, but as they approached it, Hazel tugged Bella's hand, pulling her backward. They slipped behind the vending machine, hiding in an alley that led back to the school building.
Bella was about to speak when she heard Noah's voice, accompanied by a group of guys, near the vending machine. Her face tightened, and she clenched her fists. She had promised herself to deal with him the next time she saw him, but he had been missing in action.
"We have to go before he......." Hazel began, but before she could finish, Noah popped his head around the corner where they were hiding. Hazel let out a forced laugh.
"That was funny, and I can't believe I missed it," Hazel said, trying to sound casual. Bella joined in with a forced laugh, holding onto her belly, hoping to convince Noah it was real.
"Yeah, you should have seen it," Bella added while Hazel stool still without turning around.
"Hazel? What are you doing here?" Noah asked, and Hazel turned around, her face wrinkled. "I mean, you should be in school, but I didn't expect to bump into you. The crowd is intense in school, and it's worse with other schools attending, so I didn't..."
"Well, I'm here, and I will be leaving now," she said with a straight face, grabbing Bella's hand. But Noah didn't move out of the way.
"Hazel, I'm sorry for what happened before, and I swear I didn't mean it that way. We are just not compatible, and I'm sorry if I made you quit the computer club. Everyone hates me there, and I need you back, please."
Hazel stood for a moment, her breath shaky. Bella tightened her grip on Hazel's hand, sensing her turmoil.
"She doesn't want to talk to you, Noah, and I hope we can keep it that way," Bella said, pulling Hazel out of the
corner.
They made their way into the school building, but Hazel paused after a short distance.
'I miss you so much, Hazel, and the thought of you keeps me awake. You look better than the last time I saw you, and
I would love to feel your body even if it's just once. No girl has ever made me feel what I felt with you.'
Noah's mind linked with Hazel, causing her to clench her fists and grit her teeth.
"Is something wrong? Please, tell me," Bella begged.
"He says he misses me, and the girls he's been with can't compare to me. He misses my body, and he would like to....."
"I know," Bella said, cutting her short.
'You said we are not compatible,' Hazel replied.
'Yes, but that doesn't stop us from being more than friends. You liked it every time we did it, and I admit I shouldn't have done it with you at the carnival before ending things. But now we can do it with no strings attached.'
He was yet to be rejected, and it seemed like he had forgotten or didn't know rejection worked both ways.
Bella could feel the disrespect from a mile away. All he truly cared about was Hazel's body. The school was big, but she could smell the triplets from a distance, and she knew Hazel could smell and feel him every single day. Noah was just an asshole, pretending he could only feel her now.
"So, what are you going to do?" Bella asked Hazel as they made their way into the hallway.
'I've missed you too, but Bella won't allow me to be with you,' Hazel said to him before she walked away.
"Grab
my hand and follow me, please," she said, and Bella did as she was told.
They walked for a long time until they reached the restrooms.
"I made him think you're preventing us from being together, and he's coming after us, so act like you are. I'm going to teach the bastard a lesson," Hazel said, and Bella's face lit up with a smile. "He's close." Bella nodded when Hazel said this.
"Let go of me, Bella. Your relationship might be all fairy tales, and I don't have three guys at my feet, so I can't let go of this one. I love Noah, and you can't stop me from being with him," Hazel screamed at the top of her lungs.
Bella spotted Noah at the end of the hallway.
"That's what you want to settle for? The bare minimum? Then I won't let you!"
"Let her be, Bella. She has made her choice, and it doesn't include you!"
"Bastard," Bella muttered under her breath. She watched Hazel run towards Noah, throwing her arms around him. Noah pulled her towards his chest, clasping her body tightly.
"Okay then, go fuck yourselves," Bella said, turning around.
"Gladly," Noah said, cupping Hazel's face and pulling her into a kiss. He tried to deepen the kiss by giving her a nibble, then she returned the favor, nibbling his lips gently before giving him a nick with her fang. He pulled away with a tremendous scream, causing Bella to chuckle.
"What was that for?" Noah asked, holding onto his swollen lips.
"For being an asshole. I would love to stick around to explain how you damaged me, but I don't have that kind of time. So, in essence, I, Hazel, reject you, Noah, as my mate!"
When Hazel said this, Noah felt his heart shatter into pieces. He had never felt such pain before; it was surreal, as if he was bleeding to death. He fell to his knees at once, staring at Hazel, trying to reach out to her. But she turned away, clasping Bella's hand. His parents had lied to him, telling him he could be the one to call it off and his mate would be the one to feel the pain. They had shielded him from this, and his insecurities had made him lose Hazel. Now he couldn't even bear the pain.
"What the hell is going on here?" Finn asked as he rushed over to Bella and Hazel with Kai.
"Hazel rejected him, and..."
Before Bella could finish, Hazel slipped away from her hands, running as fast as her legs could carry her. She had just lost her mate. Bella went after her, calling out to her.
"Stay away from me, please! I want to be alone!" Hazel pushed Bella roughly, causing her to stagger slightly into the arms of the twins as she watched her best friend disappear...