“Yeah, can you put it in a to-go cup? I’m going to shower and head straight out.”
I gave him a nod as I slipped out of the room. The smell of coffee was stronger, but I could smell eggs and bacon as I headed for the kitchen.
Hazel stood over the stove with her hair pulled back. She was wearing sweatpants and a baggy shirt. She had lost some weight since everything, almost becoming a shell of a person. It worried me.
“Morning, Hazel.”
She looked up from the stove toward me. She offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. It switched my heart up.
“I made breakfast.”
“I see, it smells amazing.” I headed for the coffee, making mine and Westley’s. I watched as she flipped the bacon while I screwed on the top of Westley’s mug.
“How are you feeling today?”
Hazel’s hands paused. “I’m fine.”
I placed my hands on the counter. “Hazel…”
“Don’t,” she said, grabbing a couple of plates and starting to place the bacon onto them. “I’m fine.”
“I can’t tell you’re not.”
“And how would you feel if you found out you’ve been unconscious for two weeks while someone was living your life?” Hazel stopped, turning back to the stove. “I know she made a mess of things with Lucia. I know she made a mess of things in my life.”
She grabbed the other pan and started to scoop eggs onto it. I heard footsteps coming down the hallway and spotted Westley. He was dressed already, with his hair combed back.
“Well, I’m heading out. I should be back in a couple of hours. While I’m out, does anything need anything?”
I shook my head.
Westley kissed the top of my head as he grabbed his coffee. He turned on his heels, giving Hazel a wave.
I leaned against the frame and watched Hazel for a moment. She sat at the table, flipping through something on her phone. The light in her eyes was gone, though.
“Hazel, talk to me.”
“I’ve told you I’m fine.”
“You obviously aren’t. It’s been a month, and I’ve given you space to calm down and figure things out. But I’m done doing that. I can’t keep acting like you’re okay when you’re clearly not.”
“How am I supposed to be okay?” she asked, giving me an angry look. “Everything is different!”
“How?” I asked as I moved forward, grabbing at one of the chairs. “Tell me, how is it different? What has changed?”
She fell silent.
I sat down. “Hazel, out of everyone in this world, I thought I could be the one person you could tell anything to. I will tell you everything. I told you about Westley and me. I’ve told you about my fears and…”
“You didn’t tell me about your magic,” she said, cutting me off.
I frowned. “I didn’t right away, but that was because I was scared. Not because I didn’t trust you. You have spoken so little about what happened. And I just wish you would lean on me, or tell me what you’re feeling.”
“I feel like I let this happen!” she snapped. She threw her hands up. “I got kidnapped, Gabriella. Someone acted in my place, and no one noticed the difference. I’m angry! I’m angry at the world, and I’m angry at myself. I feel guilty! I feel so many things that I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel.”
I frowned. “You know it’s not your fault this happened.”
“I know that,” she said, nodding her head. “But I also know that this could have been prevented. You guys are talking about putting up a barrier now so that magic like that can’t be brought into town. Everyone looks at me like I’m a criminal.”
