Chapter 8

I do not own any of the characters other than Hazel.

Previously on Hazel's Eyes:

"Ian is going to show you to his room; you will be sleeping in his room. The rest of the rooms are full. After Ian shows you to your new room, I will introduce you to everyone. That ought to be interesting," He laughed to himself as he spoke.

"Interesting will be an understatement," I mumbled to myself.

Melanie POV

I went with Ian to show Hazel his room. I wanted to ask her some more questions about Wanda on the way.

How did she get to Chicago? How did she get captured? Why did she get captured? Is she okay?

Before I got a chance to voice my inquiries, Hazel spoke in the darkness.

"You know, I know the way to your room Ian; Wanda showed me. You don't have to show me."

"Humor me," Ian said quietly.

Ian probably just wanted to spend some time with her; when Wanda was here, he could barely stand being apart from her. Now that she's here, I doubt he will let her out of his sight for more than thirty seconds.

Once we reached Ian's room, Hazel peeked inside and said, "Okay. What now?"

"Now we go to the kitchen. Time to introduce you to everyone," Ian said nervously.

I was nervous too. How are people going to react to this development? This was a nearly impossible thing that happened. Will they believe us? Will they accept her or shun her?

Thought were racing through my head as we headed toward the kitchen. I felt dizzy from my nerves. As I started to sway, Hazel grabbed my arm and steadied me.

"Are you okay?" Hazel asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy," I answered, touched by her concern.

"Have you eaten yet?" Hazel asked.

"I had a snack, but I didn't have breakfast yet. I think I am just dizzy from nerves," I explained.

She nodded her head.

"I understand. I have bad anxiety too; I used to take medicine for it. What really helps me is breathing through my nose for three seconds and then blowing the air out of my mouth with pursed lips for four seconds. It works like a charm," she said with a smile.

I sat on the ground for about two minutes while I breathed slowly as Hazel had told me. After those two minutes, I felt better.

"Feel better?" Hazel asked.

"Yeah, thanks."

"No problem," she replied.

Hazel seemed to be lost in thought as I got up for the cave floor.

"Wanda is talking to me; she says that you need to relax and not be so stressed out. She's worrying about you," Hazel said.

"Tell her I am fine; it was just a mini panic attack," I said touched by Wanda's concern.

"She says that you need to eat now so that you don't pass out again. She is really concerned about you."

"Now Wanda is telling me to watch what you eat when we get to the kitchen."

She started to laugh heartily.

"And now she is yelling at me for telling you that I will be watching what you eat; she wanted me to watch you secretly!"

Hazel continued to laugh and I joined in. Hazel seems to have a good sense of humor and I enjoy hearing what Wanda is saying.

Ian watched our exchange silently but his eyes lit up when he heard what Wanda was saying to Hazel. It was just more evidence that Wanda was really here with us.

We started walking toward the kitchen in silence and arrived after five minutes. I was too lost in thought to ask her any questions and I cursed myself silently. Hazel slowed down as we walked in so that Ian and I were in front of her. She was probably more nervous than I was.

I was extremely relieved to see that Jared, Jeb, and Kyle were already in the kitche; I could tell byt the looks on everyone's' faces that the boys had already told everyone of our little development.

Everybody was in the kitchen except for Maggie who was notable absent. Everyone was staring at us with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

Jared hurried over to my side and whispered, "We told them. They are still having a hard time believing, but they will come around."

Hazel must have heard because she instantly relaxed behind me.

Hazel said loudly so everyone could hear, "What's everyone staring at? Haven't you all seen a beautiful woman before?"

I couldn't help it, I cracked up. I fell to the floor from laughing so hard. I could tell that I was going to like Hazel because I love a woman with confidence and a sense of humor.

Jared, Ian, Kyle, and Jeb also laughed at Hazel's joke, though not as heartily as I did.

Hazel then strode confidently to the counter where the oatmeal and biscuits were. She ignored the stares and whispers and grabbed a plate and filled it up. However, before she could find a spot to sit down, Maggie stepped out from behind the stove. Hazel had her back turned and Maggie took a bandana and wrapped it around Hazel's slender neck.

Hazel immediately reached for the bandana as we all raced to her aid.

"Maggie, stop it. Let go," Jeb spoke from the other side of the room as if he was speaking to a rabid dog.

"But I saw its eyes… it's one of them," Maggie shouted.

Before Jeb could reply or I could reach them, Hazel slipped out of the bandana and punched Maggie square in the nose. Blood squirted everywhere but Maggie did not back down. Maggie then slapped Hazel and Hazel replied by punching Maggie again in the face and then kicking her in the stomach. Hard.

I realized that I had stopped moving because I was shocked at what had happened. I was still at least ten feet away from the fight, but Jared did not let his shock stop his legs and he reached the two brawling women.

Jared pulled Hazel off Maggie and Kyle grabbed Maggie from behind. The aftermath of the fight was bad, much worse for Maggie than Hazel. Maggie had a black eye, a bloody, broken nose, and by the looks of how Maggie was hunched over, a few broken ribs. Hazel only had a bruise on her cheek from Maggie's slap.

Kyle laughed and said, "Maggie, apparently you did not get the memo; she will fight back. She already gave me a nasty shiner. I would be careful around her. She's definitely not a wallflower!"

Hazel composed herself and pulled her arms out of Jared's grasp.

"Did you not here what Jeb said? I am human, but I have Wanda inside of me," Hazel spoke angrily.

"No. I just walked into the room and saw its shining eyes. Jeb, why did you bring back another? We just got rid of the last parasite," Maggie asked nastily.

"Oh no you didn't!" Hazel charged Maggie and landed a couple good blows on her before being drug away by Jared again.

"Don't talk about Wanda that way you cold hearted bitch! She was a hundred times more human than you will ever be!" Hazel was shouting at Maggie with a look of disgust on her face.

I had to admit that Maggie had that beat down coming. She called Wanda a parasite, and if Hazel had not gotten to Maggie, I might have punched Maggie myself.

Hazel was fighting Jared's grasp, flailing her legs everywhere trying to get to Maggie. Jeb quickly ushered Maggie out of the room and as soon as she was gone, Hazel relaxed.

"Are you going to let me go or what? You're bruising my arms!" Hazel exclaimed.

Jared let her go, but he stepped in front of her and put his arms over his chest in an authoritative stance.

"I'm fine. But she had that coming! No one is going to get away with calling Wanda a parasite as long as I'm here!" Hazel seemed to love and respect Wanda just like I do.

Just then, I saw Jamie running to Hazel. I hadn't even realized that he was in the room. Before any of us could prevent it, Jamie grabbed Hazel's midsection and squeezed.

"I missed you Wanda!" Jamie exclaimed.

Hazel was stiff for a few moments, but then she relaxed and hugged Jamie back.

"She missed you too, Jamie. Very much," Hazel spoke lovingly.

Jared broke up the hug and led Jamie into another room; probably not wanting Jamie to get his hopes up. If he believes Wanda is back and we can't convince Hazel to let us take her out, he will be crushed.

I should probably do my best to keep Jamie away from her I thought to myself.

Things settled down after a few minutes and Hazel turned around and grabbed some more food and a bottle of water.

"I always make a big entrance wherever I go!" She joked.

I began to laugh hysterically probably from nerves. Others joined in on my laughter and everyone relaxed and began to eat their breakfast.

Hazel grabbed her food and walked out of the kitchen. I followed her to Ian's room. I don't want to leave her alone because I am afraid of her bolting from the caves.

"Following me? Do you at least like the view?" Hazel asked sarcastically.

Her sense of humor was refreshing; everyone in the caves is so gloom and doom.

"I know that you are probably following me so that I don't run out of the caves. You're very smart because I probably would have tried, but Wanda showed me how fast you are. I am fast but I didn't eat breakfast yet, so I don't think I would make it far," Hazel said.

Hazel made it to Ian's room and sat on his bed. She began to eat and I turned to leave as I saw Ian standing in the doorway. I knew that he couldn't bear to be away from Wanda, even if she is in another body and not able to express herself.

"You're on watch duty," I said to Ian as I passed him.

He nodded and sat down on the ground in the doorway, watching Hazel eat.

I quickly ran to find Jared; I needed to talk to him. I am emotionally exhausted. Even though it was still morning, I felt like I needed a long nap. This morning was crazy and I needed to be around Jared because he always knows how to calm me.

I ran into Jared in the plaza and I jumped into his arms. I began to sob loudly. It was probably just nerves. He carried me to our room and laid down next to me. He stroked my hair and whispered calming and comforting words to me.

"We found you Wanda. Or, rather, you found us. I will get you out of Hazel if it's the last thing I do," I thought silently to the sky hoping she would receive the message.

I fell asleep a few minutes later in Jared's comforting and protective arms.

Author's Note:

What did you think? What do you think of Hazel? I thought that she needed to be confident and have an attitude, but not be snotty.

I know that you are all dying to know what happened to Wanda, but you will just have to be patient. There is a big surprise and lots of drama coming up! I will update soon, but I update faster when I get a lot of reviews! Thanks for reading! - Jen Lee E 56