Chapter 8
Hazel was still in the back room with Oswald.
"I really do want to thank you. Would you like to have dinner with me?" said Oswald.
"Are you asking me out?" Hazel asked.
"Yes, I think I am," said Oswald.
He was already prepared for rejection after what happened with Ed.
"Yes," said Hazel.
"Okay, then let's go," said Oswald.
"Should I change first?" Hazel asked.
"No, you look good in that. But first, tell me, how long have you been able to talk to spirits?" Oswald asked as he tried to stand up.
Hazel got his cane for him.
"Oh, thank you," said Oswald, taking it from her.
"I've been able to do it since I was a kid. My dad didn't really believe me at first, until he himself died," she said.
Oswald noticed a wave of sadness hit Hazel.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," he said.
"It's okay," said Hazel, "I've been able to make peace with it, but I still have guilt."
Oswald took hold of Hazel's hand, "Let's go, shall we?"
He led her through the club and out to the car with his umbrella. Hazel was amazed at how relaxed she was becoming around Oswald. Usually around strangers she was uncomfortable.
"I'm not really a club type of person," said Hazel as she began to fiddle with her necklace.
Oswald gently took her wrist and brought it down, "I knew that the moment I met you."
"My dad convinced me to go to the Sirens," said Hazel.
"There is no need to be nervous around me, Hazel. I know I can be a bit short tempered at times, but I would never do anything to make you uncomfortable," said Oswald.
"Can I ask what happened to your leg?" She asked.
"I got shot by a former crime boss. I used to hold an umbrella for her," Oswald said, "Her name was Fish Mooney."
"What happened to her?" Hazel asked.
"Well, I thought I had killed her, but she came back," said Oswald.
Hazel decided not to press the subject.
As they arrived at the restaurant, Hazel said, "Wow, this place looks expensive."
"It is," said Oswald.
"I'm just used to simple things. My dad and I never had much money growing up," she said.
"Neither did me and my mother," said Oswald, and he held out his hand to her, "Come, Haze, it's okay."
Nervously, she took hold of his hand as he led her inside. They sat down at a table in the back.
"I figured this way we could be alone," said Oswald.
Hazel was nervous, hoping he wasn't going to try to kiss her. She decided to change the subject. She took a Sno Ball out of her bag.
"Hey, have you ever tried one of these before?" She asked.
"Um, not really," said Oswald.
Hazel put it back in her bag, "Oh, right. I forgot I had my camcorder in here," she took the camera out.
"Why do you have a camera with you?" Oswald asked.
"I use it to document my life. It's like a video diary."
"I see. So, um, what would you like to drink?" Oswald said.
A waiter came over, "Can I get you started with some drinks?"
Hazel put the camera in her bag.
"Yes, I would like a glass of wine," said Oswald, "and what would you like, Hazel?"
"Um, can I just have a soda? I don't drink alcohol."
"Right away," said the waiter and he walked away.
"So, what do you like?" Oswald asked.
"Well, um, I love country music as well as Harry Potter. My Hogwarts. House is Ravenclaw," she said.
Oswald couldn't help but notice how much she reminded him of Ed. The waiter returned with their drinks. Oswald took a sip and immediately spit it out.
"This stuff tastes horrible," said Oswald to the waiter.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Mayor."
"In case you are forgetting, I still run the underworld!" Oswald stood and shouted.
Hazel put her hands over her ears. Oswald looked at her.
"I think I can let this go," said Oswald, sitting down.
"I'm sorry about that," saidOswald."
"It's okay,"Hazel said .
The rest of the dinner passed great. Oswald paid for the meal, then took Hazel's hand and they went back to. the car.
"So, we still have time left. What would you like to do?said Oswald.
"Well, I was thinking maybe we could, um, go to the cemetery?" said Hazel.
"I'm good with that. I want to visit my parents' graves anyway," said Oswald.
"Yaeh, and I want to see my dad," said Hazel.
Oswald took her and led her to his parents' graves, "Hey, Mom and Dad, this is Hazel. Well, Mom, you have already met her, but Dad- I know you would love her."
Oswald started to cry. Hazel hugged him.
"It's okay," she said.
Oswald paid for the food. He took Hazel's hand and said, "You're a good person, Haze. Don't do what I've done and screw your life up."
"I won't," she said.
"How did your father die, if you don't mind me asking?"
"He died in a car accident shortly after we left our house. Dad wanted a new start after my mom divorced him, so he told me he bought this house. I was really excited til we got to it. I didn't like how it looked. He told me he got the place really cheap. I told him not to go in there. When we walked in, it was like the previous owners didn't take anything with them except for their clothing. I thought it was weird, but my dad didn't seem to care. We moved in right away. I had this uneasy feeling at night of something watching me. Each time I told my dad, he just shrugged it off. One night, I was in the bathroom, brushing my teeth. I felt my skin get cold and I turned around. This thing was there, shadowy with red eyes. It pinned me to the wall. I screamed and my dad came running. He saw it and grabbed me. As we ran out, it pushed us down the stairs. We ran out and never looked back," said Hazel, "To this day, the thought of it still freaks me out."
"Oh my gosh, that sounds creepy," said Oswald.
"Yeah, and a few days later he died in a car accident. I sometimes still talk to his spirit."
"Why hasn't he moved on?" Oswald asked.
"He won't leave until he sees I am happy," said Hazel.
"Okay, well, I think I should take you home now, but we should stay in contact," Oswald said, taking her phone to put his number in it, "Call me if you should ever need help, you understand?"
"Yes," said Hazel.
"Alright, come on, I'll take you home."
Once they got back to her place, they walked inside.
"I've been in this apartment before. This used to be Ed's," said Oswald.
"Hey, Herman," said Hazel, walking over to a terrarium.
There was a big green frog in there with black eyes.
"This is Oswald," she said.
"Wow, he's nice," said Oswald, looking at the frog, "May I hold him?"
"Yes," said Hazel, taking Herman out and handing him to Oswald.
"He's slimy," said Oswald.
"I think he likes you," said Hazel, sitting down on her bed and taking out her camcorder.
She began filming Oswald with Herman. Oswald placed Herman back in the terrarium and went to wash his hands.
"Alright, well, I'll call you," he said.
Before he left, he turned to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Hazel smiled as he left. She lay down on her bed. Well, it seemed she had two guys she liked.