A Day in The Life of Hazel Kamalachi; Chapter 4, Cady's desicion

Hazel didn't talk to anybody the rest of the day. Anybody except...Jake. She talked to Jake. She went to him, and she poured out her heart.

"Jake, I know you weren't there but can you believe Cady? She hates me because I'm around you! She's the one who likes you, Jake!" Hazel exploded. "S-she's just jealous you're my best friend!"

Jake frowned a bit. "Cady likes me? Really?"

Hazel ignored him. "She's probably been jealous ALL t-this time! J-just hiding it! And she thinks she embarrassed herself? NO, NO, N-NO! I'm the one who's embarrassed!"

Jake patted her back. "Yeah, what a..jerk," he seemed lost for words.

She sighed, made that perfect pouting face again and shook her head. "And you're the only one so far who's actually understood."

* * *

It was late afternoon, at Jake's house. His mom had offered juice and cookies, and so, they were sitting in the basement, watching TV, eating cookies. Hazel had settled herself in a blue beanbag, Jake in a green.

Nacho Libre was playing on the screen. Jake flicked the crumbs off his shirt, staring intently at the screen. Hazel, on the other hand, was staring at her cookie miserably.

"J-jake..what if Cady steals all my friends?"

Jake shrugged. "I dunno, Haze, I won't let her steal me." He smiled teasingly.

Hazel frowned. "Y-yeah, but..." Her voice was chopped off by the telephone.

Jake sighed. "Haze, it's nothing to worry about. If she does turn everyone against you, then, you'll still have me, won't you?"

Hazel nodded solemnly. "I guess, but--"

Another ring.

Hazel frowned harder.

"HAZEL! 'S FOR YOU!"

Hazel looked shocked. "Why would somebody even be calli-"

"Cady," Jake answered in a matter-of-fact voice.

Hazel nodded, and held the phone to her ear.
"Listen, Hazel, if Jake's coming, I don't even want to be there."

"How'd I know that you'd figure out I'd be here?"

"It's obvious. He's so your boyfriend."

"Ten year olds can't have boyfriends, idiot!" her voice was dry.

"Whatever. Anyway, I'd like you to know I'm not coming to any of your 'hang outs' or 'hang ins' whatever you call them."
And she hung up.

Hazel bit her lip. "How'd I know?"

Jake laughed. "Maybe you're phsycic."

Hazel shook her head. "I'd like to tell her that there isn't one this week. But, she's never coming again, so whatever."

Jake stared at her for a long time, and after taking a bite of his cookie spoke.

"No, she said she was never coming again if I was there, Haze."

Hazel looked him in the eye. "But, I want you to come, Jake."