Chapter 19
Taking a deep breath, Hazel looked at the stable, debating again on what the best way to do this would be. She needed to, she knew that, it was just a matter of how she was going to. Apologizing to Frank wouldn't be easy without saying why she had freaked out, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to do that yet. She liked Frank, and Leo's comment did reassure her a little, but she still didn't know if she wanted to dump that on him.
After a moment of hesitation, she forced herself to walk forward. She couldn't avoid Frank forever. Well maybe she could, but she didn't want to. The time they had spent together had been really fun even if it was short.
The stable was empty, as Hazel had been hoping it would be. Luckily it had been easy to figure out a time when Frank would be the only one there. He liked to do things like brushing down the horses, and so he was almost always there later than everyone else. Which also made it very easy to locate him inside of the stable, despite the fact Hazel couldn't see him right away. Instead she heard him murmuring softly to the horse he was brushing down.
Hazel smiled a bit, listening to the murmuring, before taking a deep breath and walking down the aisle to the stall. As she stepped into sight she spoke softly "Would you like some help?"
Frank looked up with surprise when he heard her. To her relief, he smiled a bit when his eyes landed on her "I wouldn't be opposed. If brushing down horses is something you enjoy doing with your free time."
"Sounds a lot better than washing dishes, or whatever else Miss. Dodds will try to set me to if I go back through the kitchens right now," Hazel replied, smiling at him before finding a brush and moving to help him.
"You don't have to if you don't want," Frank said quickly "You can just stand there while I finish, I don't mind."
"I'm only teasing," Hazel smiled at him for a moment, before starting to brush the horse as well "I want to help."
"Alright," Frank agreed. Hazel held her breath, waiting for the question, but to her surprise it didn't come. Instead Frank just continued to brush the horse in silence.
Finally after a minute or two, when it was clear Frank wasn't going to ask, Hazel spoke up "I'm sorry for what happened last time."
"It's alright," Frank replied, shrugging a bit, before glancing at her for a moment "I hope I didn't do anything to offend you. I was really enjoying the day."
"You didn't," Hazel assured quickly "I just- overreacted. It's a long story, but Leo freaked me out when he grabbed my wrist- it's not his fault, he didn't do anything wrong. I just overreacted to the whole thing."
Slowly Frank nodded, taking a moment before he answered "Then why have you been avoiding me?"
"I was embarrassed," Hazel replied simply. It was true. Of course there had been more to it then just that, but he didn't need to know that. At least, not yet. "I ran off for no real reason. Not exactly the most sophisticated thing to do."
"You didn't have to be, I just wanted to make sure you were alright," Frank pulled his hand back from the horse as he finished, turning to face Hazel as he did so.
Taking a deep breath, Hazel did the same, nodding "I know. I'm sorry. I promise next time I won't randomly freak out."
"Next time?" Frank asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked down at her. He was trying to keep straight face, but Hazel could tell that he was fighting back a smile.
"Well I'd really like there to be a next time," Hazel replied, shrugging and looking up at him, raising an eyebrow at him in return "If you would."
"I would," Frank agreed, not trying to hide the smile now "I have the day off on Friday, would you be free then?"
"I can be," Hazel said, nodding and grinning up at him, before adding "Would you like help with the rest of the horses?"
"I would love it."
Still smiling, Frank opened the door to the stall to let Hael out, before leading the way over to the next stall in the row.
