Chapter 10

“Hey, are you joining us for lunch today?” Christy asked me on Friday. I was at my locker, taking out the books for my class before lunch.

“Nope, I need to study.”

She shook her head. “I swear, if you study any more your head will explode.”

I smiled.

“Okay, so no lunch. But what about tomorrow? Oliver’s BBQ.”

“I really have to work. I can’t call in sick again, Mel,” I explained to her.

“I know, I know. But after your shift?” She looked hopeful and I hated denying her. “We’ll have fun.”

I winced. “I’ll probably be tired.” Even though spending time with Graham might not be the worst thing in the world, I wasn’t in the mood to be surrounded by the popular crowd.

She pressed her lips. “Want me to meet you after your shift?” She studied my face. “I can go to Oliver’s at noon, and we can hang out later in the evening.”

“No, it’s fine. You go and enjoy. We can meet at the community center on Sunday,” I told her with a smile. Melissa joined community work from time to time. Seeing as I hadn’t faced Jacob since the breakup, I needed her there. I needed all the support I could get.

“Absolutely,” she perked up.

I closed my locker while Melissa rambled about the BBQ. She wondered what they would do and what she should wear. Then her conversation turned to gossip.

“I wonder if Christy will finally get with Graham,” she mused.

That stopped me. “Huh?” I had to blink. “Why do you say that?”

“Because Christy really likes him. They hooked up once but never again.”

A bitter taste formed in my mouth.

“Who knows?” Melissa shrugged. “Graham likes older girls. Last I heard, he was dating a college girl but nothing serious.”

At the revelation, I was left reeling. The fact that he liked older girls made me doubt what he ~really~ wanted from me, but what made me angry was the fact that he might have a girl, serious or not, and meanwhile he was whispering sweet nothings in my ears.

Did he think he could string me along?

My mind conjured up images of Graham pressing another older and more interesting girl against a bed. He was kissing her, desperate for more, and his hands were roaming her body, and then—

~No.~

My jaw clenched but I didn’t say anything.

We walked down the hallway. Then Melissa touched my arm. “See you later?”

I nodded and watched her leave for her classroom.

I moved toward my classroom but on the way, I spotted Jackson, Oliver, and St. Claire. My stomach twisted. I didn’t want to face him. Not after Melissa’s revelation.

I faltered. Should I take a different route?

Then I scolded myself for the stupid idea. I marched on down the hallway. When he spotted me, he lifted his chin and shot me a smile. I glared at him without saying a word.

***

I woke up to the worst text ever.

Mel

Please. Don’t kill me. I’m the worst friend ever. I know. But I can’t go today to the community center. My head is pounding. I have the worst hangover ever. If I move too much, I’ll puke. I’m really sorry, Hazel.

Hazel

It’s okay. Get better soon.

I sighed.

I was dreading this. Without Melissa, I would have to face Jacob alone. I could avoid going again, but I was starting to feel bad. I liked helping people, and was I going to let my breakup stop me?

Besides, I couldn’t lie that serving the community made my résumé brighter. I needed any weapon to get a scholarship. Once I was done with university, I’d help even more people by becoming a doctor.

It was good that colleges liked altruistic acts and I enjoyed my time there. There was nothing like genuine thankfulness from someone. It inflated me like nothing else; the feeling was lighter than air. The moment someone smiled at me and thanked me, I remembered I had a mission in this world. I came to this planet for something, to ease someone else’s pain.

The community center collected clothes and supplies all year long, giving them away a few months during the year, but Thanksgiving and Christmas were our primary goals.

When I arrived at the center, I moved to my station, where I separated clothes into different boxes for genders and sizes. Also, I picked up the clothing that needed mending. The torn or damaged clothes were mended by volunteers, mothers, and fathers who had free time in spades and knew how to knit.

I worked hard rearranging the clothes, but from the corner of my eye, I kept searching for Jacob.

Jacob came every Sunday, representing his church. He was the one who had engaged me in community service three years ago. He had given me such a passionate speech about helping lives and the gratification it brought him, and I was beyond intrigued.

He had never missed a day.

Until today.

I kept glancing at his station but didn’t find him. Then I looked around the place, but it was bereft of his presence.

Though a part of me was disappointed I wasn’t able to see him, a larger part of me was relieved. Maybe he was ignoring me too. I hoped so. I wouldn’t have to face him, and he wouldn’t have to see my guilty, ashamed face.

I gathered a pile of clothes and went to the station where volunteers repaired them. They would take them home and bring them back next Sunday like they were new. They were miracle workers, I swore.

“Hey, Rosie,” I greeted one of the volunteers. She and Freddie were parents of twins. Her twins were in freshman year and were already a handful. I tutored the twins in biology from time to time and always laughed at their antics.

“Hazel!” She smiled brightly. “Hey!”

“How are you? How are Elisa and Jenny?” I asked after her twins, wondering what new mess they’d gotten themselves into. I placed the pile in front of Rosie, who picked them up and started sorting them out.

“They’re good.” She smiled. “Causing a bit of trouble at school, but good.” She shook her head. Twins never disappointed.

“Oh, no.” I laughed. “What did they do this time?”

Rosie thrust a shirt into one of the piles and exhaled, exasperated. “They scrambled the library section. Changed books from history to math, from art to biology. It was a disaster. I don’t know how they managed to do it without anyone realizing it sooner.”

I suppressed a laugh. Rosie rolled her eyes, but I could see her fondness behind them. She clearly loved her daredevil children, headaches included.

“They had to restore them back to order,” Rosie said. “They whined the entire time but at least they learned how to organize a library. I’m making them organize the one we have at home too as part of their punishment.”

I chuckled this time, picturing everything in my head. “Important skills for life.”

“What about you?”

I shrugged. “Not much,” I lied. I wasn’t in the mood to spill the beans about Jacob. Though I trusted her, any other pair of ears could hear and gossip. There was nothing I disliked as much as hearsay. “Same old. Lots of reading. Swimming practice starts tomorrow, so I’m excited.”

Rosie smiled. “Is this the pile that needs to be fixed?” She pointed to my pile, sifting through the garments and categorizing them. Some needed buttons, others knitting or patching, and so on.

“Yes.” I frowned at the small pile. “Not a lot.” I was a bit disappointed. Thanksgiving was approaching and I felt like we didn’t have enough clothes to give away. There was nothing more devastating than watching people not getting anything.

“Oh, but this year there’s been so many donations,” Rosie brushed it off. “It’s going to be huge.”

I blinked at her. I hadn’t noticed. “You think?”

“Absolutely. I’m so glad. It’s disheartening when you have to give clothes away and know not all kids are getting even a sock. It breaks my heart,” she said. “I’m happy to know that won’t be the case this year.”

The first good news this week. I exhaled in relief. “Incredible!”

“Yes, and it’s only September. We have high hopes for December. I was talking to the other mothers, and we were thinking about asking for donations of other things like books and toys for a change. Do you think you can ask around school?”

“Sure.”

“Great!” Rosie grinned. “Thank you, Hazel.”

“No problem at all. Say hi to Freddie, Elisa, and Jenny for me.”

“Will do!”

I returned to my station with a spring in my step. I focused on the positive emotion, eclipsing the exhaustion and frustration. It was what kept me going. I couldn’t wait to see the happy faces of the kids, especially when they received toys to play with and books to nourish their souls.

I felt hope. I couldn’t wait.