I spent awhile trying to figure out where I wanted to go with this chapter. I'm really just building some more relationships with Alex and other characters. I also brough a new character in too.

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Chapter 17

The next few days following New Years was spent in total distress. I had been wrapped up in my photography more than ever now in an attempt to clear my mind. Even though I decided I like Ellie just as a friend I couldn't seem to get her out of my mind. My feelings for Ellie though, were nowhere near as strong as my feelings for Paige. Even now, my feelings for Paige ran deeper than ever. I was beginning to ponder more and more why Paige had given my the necklace. Did she still having feelings for me? Or was it just a sign of good friends? I didn't know. Nevertheless, my heart still pounded faster at the thought that Paige had gotten me something that nice.

I was sitting on the couch trying to watch television, while Marco and Dylan fought over the programming.

"Hey, change it." Marco said.

"It want to see what happens." Dylan argued.

"It's a rerun. Let's go do something else." Marco suggested.

"Like?" Dylan asked.

"How about I take my wonderful boyfriend to lunch this afternoon." Marco said looking a little love-struck.

Dylan rolled eyes up to suggest he was thinking about it.

"Well..." He finally said, "If you insist."

"Alright. Let's go." Marco turned to me, "Alex, you wanna come?"

I laughed at the invite, "Ah, as tempting as it is. I'll pass. You two go and have fun and don't get into to much trouble now."

"We wont." Marco laughed, "We'll bring you back something."

"Sounds good." I said and they left.

I was alone. Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk had gone to look at a new bedroom set and wouldn't be back for awhile. I stretched out on the couch. My mind subconsciously drifted to Paige and the butterflies suddenly woke up. I rubbed my stomach and it only intensified the fluttering. I closed my eyes and imagined Paige. She was so beautiful in my mind. Her hair was straight and she was wearing a cute baby blue sweater. I reached out to touch her...Dingdong...dammit.

I opened my eyes. The door bell sounded again.

"Coming." I said to myself. I lazily rolled off the couch and walked to the door. I had barely gotten it halfway open...

"Alex?" I heard, "Hi."

"Hazel...just the person I wanted to see." I replied.

She gave me an odd look.

"What do you want?" I questioned.

"I've been trying to call Paige all day to see if she's home. Is she?" Hazel asked.

"No, she went on a trip. She's not coming home."

"Oh." Hazel said, "What are you doing here? You two haven't. Have you?"

Why does everybody bring this up? "No." I said bluntly. "We haven't."

"Okay." There was a pause as Hazel tried to make some sense of the situation, "So again, what are you doing here?"

I was beginning to grow tired of having to explain my situation to everyone. "I live here."

"Why?" Said dragged out the word. It wasn't caring a why, but more of a 'what were you thinking why'.

"Long story." I didn't hate Hazel and I'd even admit at times to actually liking her, but she was beginning to annoy me now. We broke our gaze from each other for a while and I waited for her to end the conversation with a goodbye. She didn't. Instead she took a step forward.

"Well then." She said as she gave a small gesture for me to move out of the doorway. I don't know why, but I immediately obeyed and she stepped inside. To took a deep breath as if trying to think of something to say.

"So have you lived here all year." She finally asked.

"Pretty much." I didn't know what she wanted but I decided to find out.

"Hazel is there a reason your still here?"

"I came to see if Paige was home. She isn't. Everyone else is busy. I'm bored and your here." She said. She didn't sound to enthused at the situation.

"So, by last resort I'm your company?" I asked.

"Pretty much." She rolled her eyes. I shrugged and walked back to the living room. I sat back down on the couch and turned on the Television. It was a minute or two later I saw from the corner of my eye Hazel taking a seat next to me. She seemed like she was feeling a little awkward. Was she really that bored?

"So how has your year been going Alex?" She asked.

"Good." I said not turning my head from the television. For a short while the only talking in the room was coming from the television. That ended quickly.

"Don't you want to know how my year's been?" Hazel finally asked annoyed she had to confront me about it. I didn't feeling like arguing.

"How has your year been Hazel." I said. My tone was sarcastic.

"It's been good. College really isn't as hard as I thought it would be." She said.

"Glad to hear it." I hadn't intended to sound so cold with my words.

"You know. If you want me to leave." Hazel finally said. She seemed a little upset. I didn't know why it made me feel so bad. I turned off the television not really caring for what I had been watching anyway.

"No Hazel. I just didn't expect to see you." I said as I turned to look at her.

"And I really hadn't expected to see you. Especially here of all places." She said. "And everything has been so different since I got back. Everybody is so wrapped up in their own things right now."

I could tell Hazel been feeling lonely and she was right. Things were different and there probably wasn't much for her to do here. Her only friend really had been Paige. I couldn't help but relate to Hazel's feeling of utter loneliness. In fact, it actually hurt me to know she was suffering like I had.

"Common." I said, "Let's go see a movie or something and then you can tell me how your year was."

Hazel had probably expected me to say a lot of things, but that not being one of them. She looked at me in almost amazement.

"What?" She said.

"Yea, let's hang out." I said. I don't think I've ever sounded friendlier...at least to Hazel.

She didn't seem to know how to respond.

"Alex, your not...ummm...falling..."

"No." I said as I finally realized what she was thinking.

"Oh...good." She smiled still not looking entirely sure.

"Hazel," I laughed, "Not now. Not ever."

She seemed to relax a bit.

"So, what's playing?" She said.

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Hazel and I decided to see some cheesy romantic comedy. It wouldn't have been my choice but I decided to let her pick since she was after all the one who needed a little cheering up. I actually had to admit I had a pretty good time. Hazel was pretty open with me which made her easier to get along with. We talked about our year and I retold my story of how I somehow managed to move into Paige's house. She seemed to be generally glad I had a home.

"You know Alex, and this is just off the record, but I'd have to say you were one of Paige's best relationships." Hazel said during our conversation. Somehow talking about Paige with someone who really knew Paige made it easier.

"Well thanks." I said, not entirely sure how to respond I had actually had Hazel's approval for Paige. I don't know why, but that had actually meant something to me.

"So," Hazel began, "How is the whole lesbian thing working for you?"

I laughed. Maybe it was just the way she said it. I hadn't even found it offensive, but then again, I more or less expected those questions from Hazel.

"Pretty much working like the straight thing." I replied.

"You know Alex, I have to say I misjudged you." Hazel said.

"What does that mean?" I laughed again.

"I just mean your a cooler person than I thought. That's all."

In past circumstances I would have found that offensive, but I had come to learn Hazel was bluntly honest and at times even her compliments would sound like insults. I decided to just appreciate her compliment. I think that by the end of the day I had actually bonded with Hazel. Before we parted she actually gave me her number.

"Give me a call sometime. I don't leave until the 15th. We should hang out again. Maybe we can go shopping or something."

"Okay." I said as she hugged me.

As I got on the bus to go back home, I started thinking off all the things I had to do in the next few weeks. I had promised to hang out with Marco and Ellie too. And now Hazel? I started to feel a little overwhelmed, but I guess that's what it feels like to really have friends.

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Sorry for the lack of Marco and Dylan, but I promise this isn't the last time you will see them. I also hope to keep Hazel in the story for a bit. I'm just not sure what her exact role is yet. I have a few things I want to cover in the next few chapters, but I need to figure out how I'm going to do them. Though, I haven't seemed to have to much writers block yet, so hopefully the next chapter will be up in a day or two.