CHAPTER 6
1240 Words
“Five, six, seven, eight… let’s go.” Bonita counted as everyone danced passionately.
They moved their bodies to the rhythm lf the music that echoed in the background. After some minutes of dancing, Bonita asked them to stop and take a break.
“Heard we’d be dancing for the President of Dolo’s group tomorrow.” Lola whispered.
“He’ll be coming with his sons. They’re hot.” Darla, another dancer added.
The girls and boys conversed amongst themselves, they made jokes, while Hazel stared blankly, lost in her own thoughts.
“Hazie.” Camilla nudged her.
“Huh?” She subconsciously responded.
“You seem distant, for over a week now.” Meghan whispered.
“I….” Hazel was interrupted by her Dad’s personal assistant Mrs Lucia, who walked into the rehearsing room with a lady.
“Hello ladies, can I get your attention please.”
“Sure.” Bonita said.
They all looked up to Mrs Lucia, while she spoke.
“This is Mercedes, your new teammate.” Mrs Lucia announced.
“Hello.” Mercedes smiled at the team.
“Welcome to the Illusion, Mercedes.” Everyone said, except Hazel who was still lost in thoughts.
“Hazel, are you okay?” Mrs Lucia asked.
There was no response, Meghan quickly touched her, she jerked.
“Mrs Lucia?” Hazel said awkwardly.
“Are you okay, you didn't join the others do say Hello to Mercedes.”
“Ptfff… I'm sorry, hello Mercedes. Welcome.” Hazel smiled.
Mercedes stared at her, she frowned and quickly feigned a smile, she whispered, “Hazel.”
“Okay, let's go, back to work. Mercedes, I trust you're a fast learner, thus dance will be performwd tomorrow.” Bonita said.
“Try me.” Mercedes smirked.
Bonita smiled, everyone took their positions and started dancing, while the music played in the background.
****
After practice, Hazel and her friends strolled down the long hallway, leading to the exit of the arena.
“Hazie, for the past two weeks you've been off, I and Meghan didn't want to ask, we decided to give you time till you're ready to speak, but we've given you enough time. What's wrong?” Camilla asked.
Meghan stared at her and nodded her head in agreement to what Camilla said.
Hazel sighed and paused on her tracks, which made Meghan and Camilla halt.
“Its Nathan.”
“I knew it.” Meghan said.
“I haven't seen or heard from him since that night. I'm bothered. I tried asking my dad, but he won't say anything.” Hazel explained.
“I understand Hazie.”
“No, you don't. You both can never understand. You have partners and I don't have anyone, I have myself and Ice and threats. Threats from people I don't even know and the only person who can make me feel seen and safe is nowhere to be found,” Hazel half yelled, tears flowed down her cheeks, “Nathan has always been there, I don't know why he feels he's not safe with me.”
“Haze take it easy okay, I'm sure he's fine. Maybe he needs space.” Meghan said.
“I don't need space. I want him all around me. I don't know what this feeling is, if it's love or attraction, but I want him around.”
“We will help you out, I know he, Noah and Donovan had dinner together, last weekend.” Camilla said.
Hazel gasped, “And you both didn't tell me.”
“We didn't know you were searching for him.” Meghan defended.
“That means he's still in the city, I'll go to his place tonight.”
Meghan and Camilla nodded.
“Thats a good move.”
“Thank you girls.” Hazel smiled as they hugged briefly.
“Its over a week since you last smiled.” Meghan joked.
They all laughed.
“So, w…”
“Hazel.”
Hazel froze as she heard that familiar Spanish masculine voice. She hadn't heard that voice in years.
She looked behind her to see him, standing tall and elegant, his blonde hair, well relaxed. He smiled, as they locked eyes, that smile that drove her crazy.
“Lucas.” It came out as a whisper.
Lucas was her ex boyfriend in college. They dated for ten months while she and Sebastian had issues and reconciled after.
He was good to her and Icelynn, till he had to travel back to Barcelona to run his father’s Organisation, as he passed away. They couldn't do long distance, they decided to part ways and good terms. She reconciled ith Sebastian afterwards.
“Lucas.” She smiled and walked hurriedly towards him, she gave him a hug. He wrapped his arms round her back, after a while, they pulled away from each other.
Meghan and Camilla cleared their throats dramatically to gain Hazel and Lucas’s attention.
“Oh, my bad,” Lucas chuckled, “How can I forget Hazel’s squad.”
“Hello Lucas.” Camilla said, she gave him a side hug.
“Hello.” He replied.
“Hi, daddy’s boy.” Meghan teased, as usual.
“Vixen.” Lucas joked, they shook hands instead.
“Well, you both can catch up, I and Camilla have somewhere to be.” Meghan said.
“Alright girls, later.” Hazel said and they hugged before parting ways.
“So what are you doing here? In my Dad’s arena” Hazel asked.
“How about we sit somewhere and talk.” Lucas said.
“Sure.” Hazel nodded.
****
“So you're saying, Sebastian was involved in the mafia. Does that even exist?” Hazel asked in disbelief. They had to sit outside the arena to speak.
Lucas nodded.
“The FBI and other anti criminal bodies are currently searching for the headquarters. The mafia group he belonged to is a very dangerous one. More dangerous than the Russian mafia.”
Hazel stood up and paced about for a while then sat down.
“I can't believe it. Sebastian was good. He’d never do anything evil.” Hazel defended.
“Why do you receive threat letters?”
Hazel’s eyes widened in shock. “ Have you been stalking me?”
“No, no, no, no, we are just keeping an eye on you.”
“We?”
“Hazel, it's a lot, I'll explain gradually, for now, we want you to cooperate with us.” Lucas said.
“Who the f**k are the we?”
“Okay, I’ll stop here for today, when you're calm, we can continue this conversation.”
Hazel exhaled, she tried to calm down. Lucas stood up, they both walked back inside the arena.
“Lucas, I don't know what to do.”
“I understand, you just take your time. Where's the strong Hazel i used to know?” Lucas smiled.
Hazel stared at him and smiled too.
“You are beautiful, still beautiful Hazel.” Lucas said, he wanted to pull her hair out of her face, but Hazel turned away slowly. He folded his fists, nodded and kept his hands down.
“Thank you, Lucas. I'll think about what you said.”
“Sure.”
“Take care.” She smiled politely at him, he did same and walked away.
Hazel turned to leave, suddenly a strong hand grabbed her arms and placed her against the wall by the corner of the hallway.
- Writer
