— ❝had a feeling so peculiar.❞

            Her mind full of doubts and terrors, Estelle wavered to move at all. She was stuck to the ground, as if someone had played a prank on her and glued her to the linoleum floor. She felt naked,
now that she'd stripped herself of her truths. But on the other hand, if you're already naked, what more have you got to lose?

She pulled herself off the ground, shuffling towards the benches where her bag had been dropped. Estelle picked it up, swinging it over her shoulder, her eyes were casted on Hazel, talking to Annie and Sylvie on the other side of the room. Hazel hadn't talked to her all day and it made Estelle question if she'd done something wrong.

The girl took a deep breath, steadily making her way towards them. In one, quick pace Estelle stopped in front of Hazel, in between Annie and Sylvie. "We need to talk," She said to Hazel. "Please."

Hazel seemed to not want to at first. "We need to go anyway." Annie nodded. She eyed the two girls, dragging Sylvie along with her.

"Walk with me?" Estelle asked the girl.

Hazel crossed her arms over her chest. Her jaw tightened as she looked to the side. "Yeah, fine," She murmured reluctantly. "Let me get my jacket."

Estelle nodded, giving her a smile, but for the first time ever, Hazel didn't return it. The two walked alongside each other to Estelle's bike as they had all those previous days. The tension filled the air as none of them dared saying the first word. The silence was almost suffocating.

They took a turn into Hazel's street. Estelle realised she'd almost blown her chance by being so ridiculously selfish — by being so scared, because she knew she'd say something that would only make it worse eventually.

Swallowing that deep pit of guilt, she spoke up. "Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." The short–haired brunette replied. Though Estelle wasn't familiar with this tone in Hazel's voice, she was sure it wasn't entirely genuine.

"Why did you say I should go back to my boyfriend? Why do you think I—" Estelle stopped her rant suddenly. Concern lingered in her voice, the thought of Hazel thinking she had a boyfriend consuming every other thought ever.

She couldn't imagine what Hazel must've been feeling to say that. How confusing it must've been to kiss someone, only to eventually think they had a boyfriend.

But Hazel stayed silent. Her eyes were plastered on her feet, setting one foot in front of the other, every time one step closer to her house. She eventually spoke, softly. "Forget it," She said, still avoiding eye contact. "It doesn't matter."

Estelle stopped walking, the steering wheel of her bike firm in her hands. "Yes it does," She said, determined to make Hazel stop walking as well and turn around. "To me, it does."

She stopped walking, but Hazel wasn't turning around. She just stayed silent, her back facing Estelle. Hazel couldn't bare looking at her right now. The picture of that foregoing morning replaying over and over in her head. She knew what she saw. Estelle would have to come up with a really well–thought excuse to make her forget.

"If you meant Logan, it's not what you think." Estelle said, this time louder and clearer.

            Hazel remained silent. She thought about turning around — she really did. But she was reluctant to show the girl she had such a crush on that tears started welling up in her eyes.

            Estelle scoffed faintly. "Can't believe I'm saying this but... I owed him money. The envelope you saw, it contained money," She smiled as Hazel finally turned around, a hint of a hopeful expression on her face. "As for the kiss, I am one hundred percent gay. He just doesn't get that."

            "Really?" Hazel's voice came out more doubtful than she'd wished, her voice cracking just the slightest. "You're not bullshitting me right now?"

            The red–haired girl shook her head. "I'm not bullshitting you right now," She stepped closer to Hazel. "And I really, really like you, Hazel Callahan."

            "I really like you, too, Estelle Morrigan." Hazel replied, her smile growing bigger. Her hands reached up to cup Estelle's face and bring her lips to her own. She'd been wrong, and she'd never been happier to be wrong about anything.

            The two girls made their way towards the driveway of Hazel's house — they'd quite literally been standing in front of it. "Wait, so you actually thought I had a boyfriend?" Estelle asked, laughing at even the idea of her dating a guy — Logan Westwick, of all guys.

            "Shut up." Hazel scratched the back of her neck. She turned her keys in the lock of the front door, looking over her shoulder to her girlfriend ( were they girlfriends now? ). She closed the door behind Estelle, calling out for her mom.

            From upstairs, the pair heard loud noises of a couple moaning. This was nothing strange, as Hazel had talked about this happening many times before. The moaning stopped when Hazel's exclaims reached the bedroom.

            Mrs. Callahan came out of her bedroom. She was clad in only her sheets, the rest of her clothes presumably having been ripped off by whoever shared her bed today. He stretched himself out, the cup of chocolate milk firm in his hand.

            Jeff.

            Estelle knew she should be disgusted by this sight. And she was. But she couldn't help but find it humorous. She glanced at Hazel, who was completely distraught. Estelle covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a dry laugh.

            Mrs. Callahan could've been glad she hadn't decided to make this connection last month. Jeff was now eighteen. An adult. But he'd only been legal for a month. One month earlier and Mrs. Callahan would be described as a pedophile.

            "Are you kidding me?" Hazel yelled, her hands flew out of her pockets. She could not see the humour in this situation. Hazel felt as though she was about to throw up.

            Mrs. Callahan only chuckled. "I had a long day." She walked out of sight, leaving Hazel downstairs with her mouth wide open.

            "Mrs. Callahan, can I have a snack?" Jeff asked her, walking behind her.

            This only made Estelle's attempts to stifle her laughs less successful. "Oh, that means you and I are stepsisters now," She exhaled deeply, her laughter dying down abruptly. "That is so fucked up."

            "Do not remind me of that," Hazel said surprisingly demanding. She tangled her hands in her short hair. "Oh, my God, what am I going to tell Isabel." She wondered out loud.

            "I don't know, but maybe this will finally make her break up with him," Estelle ran her hand over her face. "It's been time. What about now?"

            Hazel rested her arm around Estelle's shoulders, planting a small kiss on her cheek before letting her go again. "You should go home, this isn't your shit."

            "No, Hazel—" She started, but Hazel was already walking into the kitchen. Estelle followed her into the kitchen, where Hazel grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge. "Hazel, this is as much my shit as your shit. My brother is up there, too."

            "You're right, I'm—" She exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry, I'm just— I'm trying to process, but I can't."

            "So—" Estelle tilted her head, smiling slightly. "My place?"

            Hazel's eyes widened. "You're serious? I've never been in your house."

            "Well, I'd say this is kinda an emergency," Estelle laughed. She closed in on Hazel, reaching for the girl's forearm. "But don't get too used to it."

            "All right," Hazel picked up her backpack again, this time more energetic. "Let's go, then."

            This time, Hazel sat on the back of Estelle's bike while she cycled. She wouldn't tell Hazel, because there were more important matters at the moment, but Estelle was nervous to bring her home. She'd never had many friends to bring home, but whenever there was someone to bring home, something would happen. Her dad or brother would say something and the friend never wished to return. Estelle learned to just not do it anymore.

The giant driveway came in sight as Estelle drove onto it. Their house was at the end of a street, so a turn was unnecessary. Hazel stepped off, looking up at the house that seemed to go on forever.

"I've always known the Morrigan's had a big house, but," Hazel marvelled, her jaw slightly falling open. "This— this is— wow."

"Keep it in your pants, Callahan," Estelle smiled crookedly. She looked around, her voice lowering in volume. "It's best if we just avoid my dad, so try to stay silent."

"What about your mom?" Hazel asked. "Is she not here?"

Estelle's eyes widened momentarily. She forgot she hadn't told anyone about her mother's death. "Uh— no, she's working."

Hazel nodded and together they stepped foot on the stairs to Estelle's room. But before they made it to the first floor a voice called out from downstairs. "Stella!"

"Fuck—" Estelle cursed under her breath. She turned around to face her dad, who'd come out of his office downstairs, with a big smile. "Hey, Dad."

Hazel was confused as to why her friend had just turned so tense, hearing the sound of her father's boisterous voice. She'd seen the man at plenty football matches, and he'd always seemed supportive. Though, now that she'd thought about it, he seemed supportive of Jeff. She'd never seen him near Estelle.

"Come down for a second," He said, his hands on his hips. Estelle stepped down the steps, which now felt like a walk of shame. Hazel was unsure whether to follow her or not. "Who's your friend?" He ushered Hazel to come down as well.

Estelle turned to introduce Hazel. "Dad, this is Hazel Callahan," Hazel smiled awkwardly, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Her house is unavailable right now, so I was hoping she could spend the night here."

"The last you had friends over, your room got trashed." Father argued.

Estelle's voice rose. "Those weren't my friends, those were Jeff's friends."

"Don't blame it on your brother, Estelle Morrigan," Father's voice was now laced with anger, the poison seeming to drip out of his mouth. "They came here for you."

"And you didn't question the fact that they were football players?" Estelle countered. "They. Weren't. My. Friends."

"Well, I'm not risking it," He finalised. Father's gaze switched to Hazel. "I'm sorry but you can't stay here. And you," He turned back to Estelle. "You're grounded."

Estelle's jaw dropped. He couldn't possibly be serious. What had she done to deserve to be grounded? As for Hazel, Estelle felt incredibly bad for the girl. She'd promised her she wouldn't have to sleep in the house where their relatives were going at it like rabbits, only for her to be sent back there.

It wasn't fair, but there was nothing anyone could do about it. Estelle Morrigan was grounded. And Hazel Callahan was about to have a restless night.

Author's Note
hey lads, it's been a while... i know, i know. it was also my intention to be done by the end of October... but that didn't happen so we're moving on!! i updated a few other fics of mine and have overall not been very motivated to write anything other than two of my drafts.

anyway this scene was so strangeee. Estelle is just like me fr, I cringed but laughed and to this day I don't know why. also fuck u dad.