Between Three Hearts

6

The next day, I found myself strutting my way to Mayor Marcus's office. Apparently, he'd requested my presence. Can't say I'm surprised.

Yesterday's events were bound to be the talk of the town. I braced myself, ready to face him and maybe shake things up a bit.

I knocked on his door three times. Silence. I cautiously pushed it open. There he was, buried in a mountain of papers. Not wanting to disturb him, I snuck in like a ninja and plopped down on the sofa. To kill time, I whipped out my phone and dove into a game.

Lost in my virtual world, I completely lost track of time until a shadow loomed over me. I looked up to find Mayor Marcus's eyes boring into mine. "Been here long?" His voice was all business, his face as stern as a judge's.

"Just got here," I fibbed, quickly stashing my phone away. "What's up?"

He sat across from me, scrutinizing my face like I was a particularly perplexing puzzle. "You know, if you keep staring, you might fall for me," I quipped. Tough crowd. His face remained as expressionless as a brick wall.

Finally, he leaned back. "We need to talk about yesterday." His tone was inscrutable.

Angry? Annoyed? One thing was clear: he wasn't throwing me a party.

Given yesterday's fiasco, I can't really blame him. Being the town's mayor makes it extra awkward. I could practically feel the blame radiating off him like heat from a furnace. I let out a sigh. "Can't we just let it go, Mayor?"

His brows furrowed, mouth twisting. "Is that how you handle your mistakes?" His voice was calm, but his displeasure was as clear as day.

Seems like I've already been cast as the villain in his mind. Ouch. But I plastered on a smile. "Sure is, Mr. Mayor," I grinned.

He shook his head. "How can you just forget yesterday's mess?"

"Well, Mr. Mayor, dwelling on the past is the fast track to wrinkles. Let's move on, shall we?"

His frown deepened. "So, you cause chaos and then just brush it off? Can't you even muster an apology?"

"Apology? Me?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "Sorry, Mayor, but that's not really my style." My face hardened. "I won't apologize to her. Period."

Without waiting for his response, I sprang up. "Have a fantastic day, Mayor!" I chirped, breezing out the door.

No point in sticking around. We were at an impasse. I'd rather eat nails than apologize to her. She didn't deserve it, not by a long shot.

Arriving home, I walked into a storm. "Hazel, we expected so much more," Dad's words hit like a ton of bricks.

Fresh from my chat with Mayor Marcus, I felt drained. Work? Not today. A few days off sounded heavenly, even with the pay cut. I just needed some peace and quiet.

Dad stood up, looking grim. "We begged Marcus to guide you, to help you grow," he said. I blinked, stunned.

"We gave you everything, Hazel," Mom chimed in, disappointment etched on her face. "Always let you have your way. Maybe that's why you're always the talk of the town – and not in a good way."

"We hear the gossip, the snide comments, but we ignore them. We thought we knew our daughter," Dad added, his voice thick. "Seems we were wrong."

"All we wanted was for you to be kind, to be good. Instead, you're feuding with the governor's daughter. A girl who spends her life volunteering." Mom's words stung, but I bit my tongue. They didn't know the whole story.

Tears threatened, but I held them back.

"Was an apology too much to ask?" Dad's tone was harsh. Again, I was floored.

I had a pretty good idea who'd filled them in. Mayor Marcus, no doubt. But instead of defending myself, I waited for them to ask my side. They didn't.

"We've done all we could, Hazel. But now, as an adult with a college degree..." Dad trailed off, turning away.

"You're on your own," Mom finished.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused and hurt.

"We've packed your things," she added.

I stood frozen, shock paralyzing me as tears flowed freely. They'd made their choice without hearing me out.

I love them, but right now -

I hate them.

I've always felt like an outsider, even with their lavish gifts. They never bothered to ask what I really wanted.

"Are you sure about this?" I pleaded, clinging to a thread of hope. "Don't you want to hear my side?"

They just turned away, silent as stones.

"Fine!" I croaked, my voice raw with emotion.

As I hefted my bags, I caught Noah's eye upstairs. His gaze was full of pity. I just flashed him a sad smile and shook my head.

He must've heard it all. Maybe he'll spill the beans to Mom and Dad. I gave him a subtle nod, praying he'd get the hint.

I offered them the truth, but they didn't bite. So what's the point if Noah tells them now?

I'll swallow their decision. They've seen me as the black sheep, so why fight it?

Despite everything, I still love them. I'm thankful for all they've done. I get their intentions, but I just can't be who they want me to be.

This fury, this bitterness... it'll fade with time...

But for now, as I walked out the door, I couldn't help but feel a mix of sadness and liberation. It was time for me to forge my own path, to discover who I truly was without the weight of their expectations. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to find my own version of kindness and goodness, even if it looked different from what they had envisioned.