A Day in The Life of Hazel Kamalachi; Chapter 6, Snow Day?

Hazel trotted to her front door (they were neighboors), pulled it open, slammed it shut, and ran to her room, leaving all her stuff at the bottom of the stairs.

"You okay, hunny?" asked her mom. Hazel didn't answer, but instead locked herself in her room, staring at her feet.

"It happened. I knew it would happen. Ever since he moved in there. And pretty soon, Zoey's going to join Cady. I just know she will. I can't believe I didn't see it coming...why'd I ever invite Jake? Cady's right, he's..he's such a clutz, and..." Her voice trailed off, shaking her pen for more ink.

"...and he doesn't know the capitol of Florida. What a loser!"

She wiped her eyes, and slamming herself down on her bed, groaned.

"Who am I kidding, he's the exact oppisite of everything! Cady is jealous...and now everyone's against me except for him. UUUGGGHHH!" Teary eyed Hazel stomped the floor, pacing around and around the room.

A knock on the sullen door startled her. She blew a strand of hair up, crossing her arms. "Yeah?"

"Hazel, if you won't let me talk to you, I'll talk to the wall."

Hazel remained silent.

"Listen, I know you're upset about whatever you're upset about, but it's okay. If it has anything to do with friends, then I can guarrantie you that any loyal friend wouldn't 'abandon' you or whatever you call it."

Still silence.

"But you can't mope around like this forever. I know you just think of me as a 45 year-old mom who doesn't know anything about nothing, but remember, I was 10 years old once, Hazel. Times may have changed, but the quality of friends stay the same."

Hazel sighed, covering her face in the pillow. Once she heard her mom stalk away, she stuffed her journal under the bed, and stared at the ceiling until 6:00.

"HAZEL! DINNER!"

She reluctantly opened the door after 10 minutes, tip-toeing down the stairs quietly, a solemn look on her face.

"It's your favorite!" her dad sung happily. Hazel sighed again, prodding the home-made meatloaf with her fork boredly.

"Come on, sweets, you're gonna have to eat sometime or another."

She thought about this a bit, taking a few bites and did a 'headdesk'.

"Hazel, tell us what's wrong?" her mom asked sadly.

"I decided to invite Jake to those Friday afternoon hangouts or whatever every other week--you know, that last about 3 hours or so--and then I told Cady, then she freaked out in school, now she's turned Fiona and Taylor against me, and now my arm is nearly broken, and I should've never invited him!"

It may be hard to believe, but she said this in about 4 seconds.

And both her parents looked at each other, shrugged, and continued cleaning up.

* * *

Hazel slept until 10:30 that day, and when she woke up, she freaked out realizing what time it was. Recovering slowly, she assumed it was a snow day.

She got herself dressed in amaroon T-shirt with a dragon on it, and black khakis that dragged along her heel. Sliding towards the kitchen, she placed her cereal bowl in the sink. Her eyes flickered to the door about every 10 minutes.

Suddenly, at 2:47, another knock on the door--sort of--startled her again.

"Hi, Haze! What's up? I thought I might stop over, because you didn't call me today. And you usually do, I've noticed!" The perky, fun-living voice of Zoey filled the air, making Hazel a little more pleasant. Jake and Zoey were the only ones who lived in Hazel's neighborhood.

Zoey was a nice girl, yes, you could put it that way. She had flowing blond hair down to her elbows, the palest skin, and shining green eyes. Right now she dressed in what almost always could find her in--jeans and a T-shirt. Well, underneath her winter jacket and boots.

Hazel and her friends (except for Cady) were all jeans-and a T-shirt kind of people. Cady was a LITTLE more preppy.

"Err...I'm just a little...forgetful today, I guess," Hazel stuttered.

"Or you thought I was turned against you like everybody else? I'm not that low," Zoey sighed.

Hazel nodded quietly, smiling a bit. "I know that, Zo. But you have to promise me no matter how hard Cady and everybody else tries to turn you against me, you won't let her."

"Promise," she grinned. "OH YEAH HIGH FIVE!"

They slapped hands, yelling a short, 'BOO YEAH' in the air, laughing hysterically.

"But...word is..Jake does like you, Haze."

Hazel stopped laughing abruptly, and smiling, started laughing again.

"Oh, I thought you meant that for a second!"

"I...I did."

Hazel's jaw hung open, a hundred thoughts racing through her head at once. "You mean, he really likes me? Omigosh! Seriously?"

Zoey laughed. "Yeah, why, you like him too?" She raised an eyebrow.

Hazel shook her head, laughing harder (or fake). "Uhh..no! Ew! Besides, I doubt he REALLY likes me. Once, someone spread a rumor I ate socks for breakfast. Yeah, I've learned not to believe them. Even if he did, he'd tell me, right?"

Zoey shrugged. "I dunno, Hazel, ask him." The wind blew her hair against her face, and she slapped it away.

"I gotta go--see ya later!" she yelled, running away.

Hazel sighed. At least she isn't ignoring me.

She watched Jake's house through the window all day, hoping he'd come running over. It was boring without having Cady or Taylor or Fiona or anyone be over, chatting, laughing, joking, eating together.

But Hazel decided she'd have to go get him herself. So she walked to the closet, pulling a winter coat, hat, gloves, and boots on and ran to Jake's house.

-~-~-

A/N: Sorry to have such a short chapter, but I'm home sick today and can't really write. (Cough, cough)