Chapter Four

~ Hazel’s Story ~

"Thanks, guys!" I said as they dropped us off at our house. When I heard no response, I looked over at them. They were all standing there, drooling on my lawn at the size of my, excuse me, our house. "Yo, guys! You’re drooling on the lawn!" "That is one big baby," I heard AJ say. "Wanna come inside?" I asked them. The guys nodded eagerly, much to my delight. In the corner of my eye, I saw Krystal looking really scared. "Don’t worry," I whispered to her, "I cleaned up the house before we left." Krystal relaxed a little. We climbed the stairs to our house and I unlocked the door. Automatically, I flicked the lights up to light the chandeliers that were in the foyer. "Damn, man! That’s 10 times the size of our house," I heard AJ say to Brian. "And these girls are half the size of us." Brian shrugged and said, "What can I say? They’re girls!" I turned around to face him. "And what’s that supposed to mean?" "Nothing, ma’am" Brian said in a five-year old’s voice. I laughed. "Anyone want anything?" Krystal called from the kitchen. "Can I have a coke?" "Lemonade for me." "Just water, thanks." "Coke, please." "You, baby." We all turned around to see AJ grinning widely. Krys stepped out from the kitchen, both hands firmly fixed on her waist. "Who wanted me?" "AJ," we all replied smugly thinking that he’d get in trouble. He seemed to think that, too. "You’ll have me in a second, AJ," she smiled and left to get the drinks. Now it was my turn to be surprised. Krystal wasn’t those kind of girls who flirted; actually, she was more a sports person. AJ’s grin was getting bigger by the minute. I was still in shock when she came back with the refreshments. "Hazel, didn’t your mother ever tell you that it’s not nice to have your mouth hanging open? It’s attracting flies, dear," she said in a British accent. This was more like the Krystal I knew: funny, relaxed, easygoing. I guess she liked AJ more than I thought.