43: You Were Meant To

At it again. School.

The halls are bustling. The teachers are yelling. The couples are kissing. Oh, high school, how I won't miss you.

Oliver had taken us to school, as he had been doing the semester before. Everyone always stared when I stepped out of the car. The incessant whispers of 'Who's that girl?' or 'What's he doing with her?' still bothered me. I hate attention, especially the attention that came from being the center of high school gossip. I just wanted to be Hazel the Prude, the nobody.

"A lovely day to start our last semester of high school, don't you think?" Levi comes up to and drops his arm over my shoulders.

I look to him and smile, handing him my books. He takes them unconsciously and we keep walking to class together.

"Yeah, lovely," I respond, messing with my silver chain.

I had the locket on too. Both of them hung from my neck every day without fail. It always brought a smile to my face when I remembered Christmas. The empty spot in the locket remains, waiting for a special moment to fill it.

"Are you okay?"

I nod, "Just tired, Oliver didn't come home till 4am last night."

"What could Oliver Grey have to do at 4am?"

I shrug my shoulders, "Be Oliver Grey."

We make it to our classroom and sit in our seats. As usual, Oliver never shows up to English, and if he does it's not on time. Today is no different. His shadow doesn't cover me like it does when he sits in his spot behind me. I miss the safety his shadow casts over me. God, I can't even remember a time I was afraid of his shadow. It feels so long ago.

Levi passes me my textbooks when I sit down, a little bewildered at how he ended up with them in the first place. I laugh at his face and take my textbooks before sinking into my chair. I pull the hood of my hoodie up and cross my arms.

I couldn't shake the thoughts of what Oliver did almost every night. Sure, he'd taken me to break into his father's house that one night, but is that all he did? Seems uncanny that Oliver Grey would sneak into his own house that often. Shouldn't his father want him home?

But then I remember his ugly voice. The anger that seeped through his seemingly kind words. There was something more to their relationship. Something that made Oliver run away and always want to punch his own father.

I sigh, still in the same confused state as before. The teacher is blabbing on and on about some paper we have to write if we want to graduate. I shake my head slightly at the stupidity. My eyes not really focusing on anything. My mind not registering the words. Im still stuck on Oliver Grey. If Oliver wants to share, he will.

"You look a little distracted," Levi tells me as we walk out of the classroom at the end of class.

I nod, "He's taking over my thoughts."

Levi's eyes widen at my plain honesty. I could not be bothered to hide what is going on with me. I feel exhausted and confused.

"Oh, well, Emma and I are going to the diner after school, what if you and the twins join us?"

"Will Emma be okay with it? I don't want to intrude."

Levi smiles, "She'd love to see you. Plus, it'll get your mind off things for a while."

I nod, accepting his offer. A night out with my friends and no Oliver might be just the thing I need to clear my cluttered head. Levi smiles and turns to go to his class. I walk off to my own, looking around the halls.

Posters for Valentine's day were hanging all around. They were promoting all the different options the school was offering to show love. There are little cards that come with a piece of chocolate. Oliver would hate those. A box filled with chocolate covered strawberries. Oliver would hate that too. A balloon and flowers. So cheesy. And the jazz choir that sings a love song. How embarrassing.

I roll my eyes at the posters and keep my head down as I walk. Have I mentioned how much I hate high school romance?

When the end of the day finally rolls around I hop into the back of Levi's car with Emma in the shotgun seat. I'd texted Oliver earlier in the day that I was hanging out Levi and that I didn't need a ride. All he said was 'Fine.' Always a man of few words.

"Hazel! Hi!" Emma excitedly greets me.

I give her a hug from behind, "Hey, Emma. I hope I'm not intruding on you guys."

"Not at all," Emma shakes her head and then turns to face me, "I like you better anyway."

"Hey!" Levi tries to look mad, "I heard that."

"You were meant to," Emma laughs.

Her hand falls on Levi's thigh and gives it a little rub. I sit back and buckle up before we head off to the elementary school to pick up the twins.

Throughout the drive Emma and Levi kept making cutesy faces at each other. It was interesting to watch them interact as a couple. It oddly reminded me of how Oliver and I are in the car. My hand brushing his white knuckles. The way he would look at me quickly, trying not to take his eyes off the road for too long. But maybe I'm just becoming an Oliver Grey groupie and reading too much into everything he does.

"You have twin brothers?" Emma asks me.

I nod even though she's not facing me, "Yeah, Ben and Braden."

"Cute!" She gushes.

Once we park, I catch sight of the twins and make my way towards them, leaving Levi and Emma in the car. When the boys see me they start sprinting up to me and wrap their arms around me. I stumble at the speed that they basically attack me with.

"Hazel!" They greet me.

"Hey boys, how was the first day back?"

"Great!" Ben smiles.

Braden pulls back at looks at me, "Where's Oliver?"

I shake my head, "It's Levi today, with his girlfriend, Emma."

"Emma?" Ben asks, pulling away now too.

I crouch down so I can be eye level to the twins. One hand resting on one of their shoulders for balance. They're both looking at me intently with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yeah, you know how you always ask me if Oliver and I are dating?"

"Are you?" Ben smiles.

"No," I shake my head.

"Not yet," Ben pokes my cheeks.

I give him a smile and punch his own cheek. He seats my hand away and giggles at me. Braden is smiling and pinches my cheek as a comeback. I turn to Braden and stick out my tongue. They both laugh lightly.

"Anyway, you know what I'm saying?"

They both nod.

"That's what Levi and Emma are doing, dating."

They mouths form little 'O's and they look at each other before breaking into song.

"Levi and Emma sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

I laugh at them and stand up. I give their hair a ruffle before grabbing their hands and making my way to Levi's car. When I get there Levi is turned around, ready to greet the boys as they slide into the back seat.

"Ben, Braden, how are you?"

"Levi and Emma sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

"I might have told them you guys were dating," I apologize.

I give the twins a look and they stop singing their little love song. The only love song you really know at nine. Emma turns around and smiles while Levi starts driving to the diner.

"I'm Emma."

"So, you're like Hazel? And Levi's like Oliver?" Ben asks, but he's looking at me.

I give Emma a small smile before turning back to Ben.

"Yes. But Emma is her own person, Ben."

He nods slowly, processing what I told him. He looks from me to Emma and smiles at her. Braden, that's on the other side of Ben, looks to Emma also. Emma just waits for one of the two to say something.

"Cool. Hi, Emma," Ben says.

"Hi," Braden adds, already shy at having to meet new people.

"Hey guys, nice to me you."

They all smile at each other and I'm glad the awkward interactions are over. It's always a hassle trying to introduce new people to the boys. Ben always speaks his mind and Braden is shy. It's like two sides of a coin.

We make it to the diner with light conversation and make our way to a booth. Joe, lovely as ever, already knows what me and the boys want. Milkshakes and burgers. I tell him to prepare a strawberry one for later too. Levi gives me a look when I do. I know this is supposed to be my 'Anything but Oliver' time, but I can't help it. This diner is the place that started it all.

Once we all get our food. We make our way to an empty booth. The boys and I on one side and Emma and Levi on the other. There's an extra chair at the end of our booth that remains empty, so I place the strawberry milkshake there where it doesn't bother anyone.

"How was your New Year's?" Emma asks me.

Well, there goes the strict no Oliver rule that was in place. I look to Levi and then back to Emma. My hand twiddles with the silver chain around my neck. I'm about to speak up when there's a loud noise from a chair squeaking against the floor. I look over to find the recently empty chair not so empty anymore.

"We had a great time, didn't we?"