hazel basil

Hazel swayed her head from either side the moment that Ollie started singing. Her face was bright, silently clapping the moment they stopped. “Ugh, seriously -- You’re so cute. You sang that song on repeat? I love that.” While there was a part inside of her that was so jealous of what the other had found, she also had grown to accept the fact that she was always going to keep everyone the sidelines. The last she could do is live vicariously through people like Ollie. “That’s so wonderful, how long was the engagement?” she asked. Whether she actually knew or not, she couldn’t remember. She enjoyed it, just as much as it tortured her inside. She picked up a bolt and began fidgetting with it in the palm of her hands. “No kidding -- That sewin’ will come in real handy, you know. She should be proud of herself. -- What’s she teaching you? That niece of yours?” she asdded after she spoke about their sister. Hazel eyes moved towards their hair, looking expressionless for a moment before it grew widely. “Mmm, Yeah. I think I can work with this. It’ll look great. I’ve got you, no problem!” she said confidently. “Maybe I’ll do a traditional pride in my hair,” she wiggled her brows. 

After all this time, Moonie still had the manage to make her feel that ‘butterfly-in-stomach’ feeling, with such little words. Curving at each corner of her lips, she managed to allow another smile peek through. Hazel didn’t deserve to be as happy as she was to see him again; she hurt him all those years ago. Giving up before it went any further; might as well call that the story of her life. She didn’t deserve his compliments, but she knew better than to argue with him too. “Yeah, Yeah I do --,” she nodded. “Thank you,” she added. “When’s the last time you even seen a woman pull off such blue hair as mine, right?” she laughed, pushing through what was small talk? Come on, Hazel -- the two of you are better than that. Why was she nervous? Perhaps it was the nerves that were clearly radiating off of Moonie. She paid no mind to it, of course; not letting him know just how evident was while they spoke. It was sweet, truly. She always adored the way he wore his heart on his sleeve. Hazel was picturing herself in that moment, where she knew that those dreaded, powerful words would come to life; eight letters. The woman knew that she had stopped it before he even had the chance, and now she wondered who gotten the chance to hear that for the first time. While it seemd that Moonie’s life soared to the heights it deserved, Hazel remained stagnant in the same place, the same feelings -- hardly anything had changed. Man, does he deserve someone special she thought as she continued to play both past and future scenarios in her head. She rolled eyes playfully, pretending to be annoyed when he called her the nickname she hadn’t heard in a long time. Truthfully, it made the woman who hardly was ever nervous, actually nervous. What was he doing? Did he ever know what that meant to me? Probably not, she hardly ever said anything. Her own orbs were resting on him, outlining every feature from the way his hair hung out his face, to the crinkle in his nose when he laughed, to the point that even she wasn’t paying any attention to the male’s ice cream or her own until it was just as much as a mess as the relationship the two shared. Hazel scooped the remainder of her ice cream from her cup, popping the spoon into her mouth. “Don’t be sorry for living your life --  You needed to do that,” she offered. “Things certainly have changed. Not for me, of course,” her nose finding its own crinkle as she grinned. “Everything I was doing. Working, working -- and more working. Oh, I got a dog, name her Pretzel and, hmm,” she tapped her chin. “Started singing my originals at karaoke night, that happened -- I know, right? Long time coming...,” she sighed, shaking her head. “You look real good, Moonsy. Real good,” she confessed. 

The way they said that only made Hazel laugh just as much as they were, rolling her eyes playfully. “Oh my lanta, only you would said something like that,” she shook her head as her laughs turned into soft chuckles. “It’s like you said ‘I do’ or something, right?” she teased. Hazel listened to them speak about how they ended back up in the town. Her head nodded, “Oh, wouldn’t you know it -- I’m not surprised, not even in the slightest. I’m glad you’re back though, time for some R and R baby!” she said dramatically. They were so hard working, something she absolutely admired about them but even she knew that the best had to rest. “Dorothy realy was spot on with that,” she agreed with a subtle nod. “I mean, seriously -- Hey, how is that family of yours, hmm?” she wondered with curiosity. “I would love to color your hair. What were you thinking?” 

Wow, she missed their hugs -- more than she thought she already did while she was kept in their embrace. Her smile was bright the entire time, unable to lose its shape. “You and boo, huh? You came back to little ol’ Springhill? Can’t say that I’m complaining at all, ‘cause I’m not,” she admits to them. “I’ve seriously missed you too, so much,” she started at first. She crossed her arms against her chest, fully prepared to give them the low-run of everything that was going on in her life. It wasn’t much at all, really. But, she was sure she could find a way to spice it up. Her hands touched the ends of her hair, smiling as they acknowledged the color of her hair. “Yeah? Thank you! I decided to go back to blue. Was really missin’ how I felt back then so, why not give me the do that did the deed?” she laughed, shrugging it off. “Not a whole lot going on though, Ollie-pop. Keeping to myself real well, you know the deal,” she mentioned. 

“Course I do,” she said simply. She could have listed off so many other things that she knew about him, and would that list go on. The way his head would turn when you could tell he was listening, his smile lifting every other feature on his face, how well he could wear yellow,  and even how good he smelled so close to her. Truly, the list could go on. Waking herself from this day dream, she returned to realitly, hnads touching the ends of her hair, a habit she had whenever it was talked about. “Was really feeling that nostalgia,” she laughed briefly. It was more than that, it was those god awful nightmares that seemed to keep the bags under her eyes larger than they should be. Call it a cry for help, mental breakdown, whatever -- wherever it really came from, she loved it. She hadn’t even realized how much she missed him until he was standing there, right in front of him in the same spot that they spent so much time together in. The first time they were public for all to see. Not that she had ever been ashamed of the time she was with him, but it was so difficult with the age difference. “You’re the only one that’s ever earned it, c’mon -- sit down --,” she pulled out the chair that was next to her for him to take and their table. “Yes, we’re still friends, of course.” As hard as it was to see him again. Hazel didn’t expect him back at Springhill once he went away. But, she was a little selfish to know that he was back, no matter what their status was. 

“That’s a taste thing. By me telling you what I prefer will have no impact on what you’ll like but,” she looked over his shoulder, looking at the menu. “Light beer is easier on the stomach so if you plan on drinking a lot, I’d go that route. But, if you’re looking to have a steady drink and enjoy the taste? Dark beer,” she nodded. “I suppose I didn’t answer your question, did I?” she laughed, leaning her arm over his shoulder as she flashed him a soft smirk. “Dark beer is where its at though,” she replied. “But in the heat like this,” her free hand that wasn’t wrapped around his shoulder the other pointed to the sky. “A summer ale is where its at,” she said to him. 

One thing that excited Hazel so much about living in Springhill, was the ability to see anyone practically whenever she wanted; even if she didn’t want to see them. Hazel made a lot of mistakes in her life too, but to her it was another thing that was meant to happen. The woman filled with so much darkness seemed to find the light in everything that she did. While it could be so easy for her to keep herself locked way in her room or at the park by herself, she knew that she would have much more fun if she went to the carnival. Hazel made her way slowly through the carnival, looking at everything and anything alongside a friend of hers that she met up with. Walking past the pop up bar, she heard her name clear as day being called from someone nearby. “Hmm?” she turned her head before her eyes rested on the male that spoke her name. Acknowledging Conrad, she gave a soft smile before returning to her friend, saying goodbye to them as they were meeting up with someone else. Hazel hugged her friend goodbye and went up to sit at one of the stools that were next to Conrad. “Well, the sun is shining and I’m breathing so, I must be good, right?” she suggested with a devilish smirk at the corner of her lips. She leaned her forearms against the counter top, eyes scanning the available liquor at her disposal. “Bourbon, -- on the rocks,” she looked at the bartender and then shot a glance back at Conrad. “Old fashioned?” she raised a playful brow, grinning at him. Not only could she tell by the contents of the glass, but also remembering from the last time the two interacted where she fell victim to his charm and ended in a way that she didn’t expect, but didn’t disprove of either. 

@seanfiellds​

The woman accepted the other’s hand in hers to help settle the balance between the wall, a small smile moving to her lips after she found herself more centered than moments prior. She brushed off her ripped jeans, even though she didn’t fall. Call it a nervous habit? As time went on, she continued to get to know Teagan. Hazel would be lying if she didn’t admit to being drawn to parts of her that felt so much more familiar to her. “I’m good, I swear,” she lied through her teeth, but hoped that it was enough to not notice. It was obvious really, as she wasn’t putting much weight to her ankle and she was still leaning her hand on the wall. The pain she was feeling seemed at place on a back burner as Teagan complimented her. Her smile grew slightly larger than the one that came before it. “Can’t hurt coming from heaven if you came from hell, my dear,” she played along in her own, dark way. Hazel laughed as Teagan attempted to put on a ‘fuck gender’ play about her guitar when in fact, she gendered it herself. It was easy for anyone to fall victim to it anyway. “Joan,” she repeated, her eyes taking a soft nod to acknowledge the new greeting. “I’m glad she’s alright,” she admitted, still putting herself on the sidelines until Teagan made sure that she couldn’t any longer. Hazel returned her hand to place it in Teagan’s so she could help guide her to a seat. “Thank you, Teagan,” she smiled. 

As she thought she could get away with being unrecgonized, that seemed as a failed attempt when he spoke her name out loud. So he did see me, she thought in her head. There was the part of her that knew years ago it was her idea to remain friends, before things got more complicated. But also the fact that fear was her main drive back then; fear of letting herself be happy and mostly, fear of letting him into her life any more than she already had. No one knew, of course what happened to her but, it was fairly easy to recognize that something had happened as she never let anyone close to her. But Moonie was the one that almost cracked the code, until Hazel broke the key. She picked her head up from the blue treat that filled her cup. A smile broke through her expressionless face, not knowing where else to go but to look at him. He looked so handsome, so grown. He didn’t seem as happy as she remembered but then again, she knew she’d probably played a part in that. “The one, the only,” she said by default, After he made comment about her dessert, a soft smirk fell in place of the small that was once there. “Yeah, -- has a nostalgic taste to it,” she said, practically referencing the times she spent eating the exact blue treat alongside of him. “Mango still treating you with respect?” she said playfully, asking if he had stayed loyal to his favorite from back then. 

“Engine’s don’t exactly run away...,” she trailed on in a bit of confusion. As she turned around and fully realized that the individual that was standing before her was Ollie, she had no choice but to allow the smile to brighten on her face. But this time, it was much more purposeful. “Ollie-pop! Hello, dear!” she said excitedly. The two weren’t best of friends, perhaps not. But everytime the two ran into each other they definitely would have a good time. She may not have known them for a long time, but when they get together it is almost as if they spend their whole lives together. At least, that’s how Ollie made Hazel feel. “I can’t believe you’re back! When did you get back?” she shook her head excitedly before pulling them into a much needed hug. Surely not before making sure that any specs of grease was off of her as to not get it on them. “And uh, HI,” she said excitedly while pulling away. 

Hazel could see the way talking about Hayden’s father made her feel. And she could never fault her for having a good relationship with him. However, it did make it hard for her to sit there and listen sometimes and not feel jealous. “Sounds like the most amazing dad. You’re real lucky to have ‘em, you know. I don’t need to tell you that though,” she mentions. “Hey -- don’t knock the dad jokes. They’re horrible for a reason!” she smirked. Although she didn’t have one herself, she did find ways to hear them so often. “Ah, no. No pet duck but who knows -- maybe next time I have a few drinks in me.. maybe it won’t be a duck tattoo that I get. It’ll probably be a real one,” she wiggled her eyebrows playfully. 

“I can see why you’d be regretting it,” she flashed in a playful smirk, resting at the corner of her lips while she shook her head. Hazel, not exactly the type to steer away from caffeine herself but what the other had taken? Definitely would have been enough to send her over the edge. “Better make the best out of your all nighter, college,” she gave the nickname with a soft laugh. Hazel admired the male’s worth ethic, that was for sure but not if it was at cost to his sanity, which he may or may not have lost without her help. She nodded her head in agreement. If she saw him even with the slightest bit -- let’s just say she’ll keep an eye on him. “I won’t let you down, Hudson, m’kay? I’ve bartended plenty of high school parties. Well, for myself but -- I never had a complaint.” she laughed. “You sticking around or leaving me here to fend for myself?” she wiggled her brow, toying with him while she worked on tying her hair up into a messy bun and throwing off her flannel to place underneath the bar. 

Hazel smiled brightly, without even realizing it. The fact that she had her own issues with trust, it meant so much to her -- even a customer, that there were people out there that trusted her. “That’s what’s so great about this place, y’know -- we’re not some in some chain where we gotta talk to the ‘big’ man, you know? Everyone’s pretty equal here, I like that,” she shook her head as she nervously pushed through a laugh. “Sorry, I dont know why I said that,” she begins. “Gets real lonely being the only woman here,” she admits. Hazel started walking closer towards the other woman so they would be able to lead the way to her car. “It’s easy to make up excuses though, you know. Especially if you do them all the time,” she trails on. It’s why she was where she still was because she claimed that there was ‘never enough time’ or something else she could pull out of her ass. “I tell myself that if it’s meant to be, it’ll be,” she laughed. “Let’s just say, it never be’s,” she chuckled as she walked over to the woman’s car. “How long you been running on it without the change? D’you know?” she wondered. 

🌸  HAZELBASIL  –  📍  springhill carnival  🎡 ↳  live fast die young bad girls do it well  🖕🏼