Chris And Hazel - Volume 1 Chapter 39 Hazel

We reached the park that Chris suggested after we drove away from my previous apartment, we didn’t speak much after the kiss near the fountain.

I slowly peeked at Chris who was waiting for me to get down from the car so that he could park the car somewhere safe.

I slowly got down from the car and made my way towards the gate of the park and waited for Chris.

‘What took you this long?’ I asked as he reached the gate after fifteen minutes or more I really didn’t keep track.

‘It was just five minutes since I dropped you off, Haze’ he told me quite unsure of my blame.

‘Well…the park is closed Chris’ I said trying to divert the topic.

‘I know…that’s why I brought you here’ he said taking his phone out from his pocket.

I didn’t understand the reason why he would bring us there if he knew it was gonna be closed. I looked expectantly at him as he spoke to someone over the phone. After he finished the call when I asked him what we were gonna do and he simply signaled me to keep quiet.

He took me behind the park, and stopped near the end of it.

‘Chris, what are we doing here?’ I asked pretty confused as Chris kept looking around.

‘I will give you a boost, so grab the wall and wait for me on the other side’ he slowly whispered still looking round.

My heart almost jumped out of my chest hearing his plan.

‘Come on, Haze!’ he said closing in as he tried to lift me off the ground.

‘Chris, I think we are trespassing again’ I said as Chris lifted me.

‘I know…I know we will go to church after this and ask for forgiveness, now just go on a date with me ok?’ he asked looking up at me still holding me.

‘Chris we could get arrested, it’s a private park’ I said still hoping that this guy would change his mind.

‘Just hop over honey…we’ll continue this convo on the other side, so now hold on!’ he answered still not paying any heed to my plea.

Hop over? What am I? A bunny! I don’t have any past experiences climbing over walls. Why can’t he be like other boyfriends and take me on a normal date…we sure are gonna end up in jail. Though Ed and Ava kept their engagement party here, we won’t be able to attend it.

As I kept pondering over my thoughts again and again and again…and again, I realized that I wasn’t in Chris’ arms anymore. I was standing back at the ground and Chris was nowhere to be found.

‘Haze…!’ I heard a voice call my name but when I looked around there was no one.

‘Haze, look up’ Chris said looking down at me.

‘Chris…when did you get up there?’ I asked looking at him.

‘You were taking so long and it was clearly obvious that you were scared so come on I will help you up from here’ he answered stretching his hand towards me.

‘But…’

‘Come on now, place your left foot on the cracked opening at the end of the wall and step up on the pointing rock here and from there I will lift you up’ he said as he turned serious while trying to make me understand his stupid plan to trespass a private property.

Though I wasn’t totally onboard with the plan, I just knew how much excited Chris was and I was excited too.

‘Fine…please god! I shouldn’t fall’ I prayed as I followed Chris’ plan.

As soon as I stepped on the rock stuck on the wall…and I hope it was rock because it was kind of slushy when I stepped on it but ignore that! Chris pulled up my hand and soon we were sitting on the fence.

‘Why isn’t there any electric fence covering up this wall?’ I asked as I looked over at the other walls.

‘This wall was the first fence over this place but when they renovated the rest…they just didn’t see this one I guess! Now I will jump over first…then I will help you get down’ he suggested looking below inside the park.

‘Actually Chris…it doesn’t look deep so I guess I can just get down by myself’ I said smiling at him. I was pretty proud that I could jump over without his help and I was sure he would be proud too…but there he was staring at me.

‘I will help you down’ he said looking straight at me but there was not a single reaction visible on his face.

‘But…’

‘I WILL HELP YOU DOWN!’ he spelled out in a stern.

‘Sure that would be great!’ I gave up looking at his scary expression.

‘That’s my girl’ he said changing his reaction from scary to smiley.

He jumped down inside the park and caught me when I jumped down from the wall.

‘See…a nice place to walk!’ he said spreading out his arms as he smiled proudly.

‘I didn’t mean like this’ I whispered hoping he wouldn’t hear it.

‘I heard that’ he said holding out his hand towards me.

I decided not to respond to that comment and willingly took his hand as acceptance to continue further into the park.

‘Chris…will we get caught?’ I asked looking around for any guards.

‘I don’t know’ he answered casually.

‘Chris…Are you not scared at all?’ I asked jealous from how calm he looked.

‘I came here to spend time with you…and I will only regret getting caught if we didn’t spend any time together’ he answered taking me towards the nearby bench.

We settled down at the abandoned bench…and Chris made sure that no one was around there before sitting next to me.

I quietly looked around the place, we were sitting inside the town’s best park and I can see why it was called the best. Each turn right from the start had a great topiary standing at the end pointing towards the direction the visitors had to go but it looks like the topiaries are dancing. I have only visited this place during the day time though it is open till 9:00 p.m. this is my first time having a night view of this place. It had great trees covering the pathways as people walked in which is a good thing because if any guard stands outside, he won’t be able to spot us. The usual lights weren’t on, but it was the moon’s overflowing glow which added to the beauty of the scenery in front of me. It felt as though I was out of the world travelling in a different universe. It has been so long since I ever felt like this…all these years it was either work, or some novel accompanying me when I dreamed about walking out of the nightmare I was facing.

It wasn’t easy waiting for a guy who didn’t assure me of his comeback; it was just utter luck he is here now. But whenever I thought about giving up, which I did many times it’s just that Chris didn’t know, something would stop me and I couldn’t imagine another guy in Chris’ place. There was a ray of hope always living inside me, my clouded sky became clear and my life turned out as beautiful as the sky that was laid before me today.

I looked up to see the starry night sky and smiled happily thanking god for this perfect moment. As the reflection of the moon kept changing places with each passing moment, it was the only witness of my happiness and I kinda felt weird for feeling so happy right now and didn’t want anyone to know of it afraid that it might just go away and it seemed like my secret was safe with moon.

As I was engulfed by the moment before me, I slowly turned to look at this guy sitting near me; he was sitting there quite reactionless. I failed to read what was going on with him. It was hard to believe that the guy right next me, who seemed strong at all times had to face so much over the years and he faced them all alone so that he could protect his loved ones. He wanted them to be safe and so he took it all on him.

He didn’t care what was gonna come next all he ever wanted was his family to be all right. It might sound easy when people say it but we all know it was so much hard than that.

As far as I remember Chris from college, he was quite a clumsy guy. He didn’t think that he should live life by planning…he always went with the flow. He just didn’t have the need to be organized and he didn’t even know how to hold a baby but now he had raised two and they both turned lovely and were so much intelligent for their age.

‘Have you stared enough?’ he asked turning to face me.

I instantly turned away afraid to be caught in the act.

‘I wasn’t staring’ I protested as he closed in towards me.

As he closed in my mind slowly drifted towards the kiss we had almost an hour ago. I could still sense his lips over mine; I seriously didn’t know that he would ever make a move like that and at the same time I didn’t hate it after all it was our first kiss.

‘Ms. White, you’re blushing!’ he commented laughing as he slowly moved away.

I slowly covered my face attempting to hide away so that he would stop teasing me further.

‘Why are we here?’ I asked trying to diffuse the moment.

‘Because, you want me dead!’ he answered looking at me.

‘What?’ I asked startled by his reply.

Is he afraid that we will be caught? Is he upset because I suggested going to a place to chat quietly? I just didn’t know why he would say like that.my mind wandered off to so many questions before turning back at him.

‘I told you we should return home because your dad is waiting but you were like he can wait and told me to take you somewhere quiet and calm and here we are. And when we return…I am getting chills just by thinking that’ he answered shaking his head in dismay.

‘That was because you were pouring out and I didn’t want to stop you’ I answered defending myself.

‘…I guess I told you everything, Haze!’ he replied looking into a distance.

I thought the same too…he told me the reason why he left six years ago and also explained why he rejected me back then. He also told me the reason he had Aurora and Rob…but still it feels like he’s not completely honest. Though I got answers to all my questions…why do I feel like something is still missing…what am I missing here?

‘Chris…what do we do now?’ I asked hoping to make a conversation.

‘Just sit beside me for some time till I figure out some things’ he answered pulling me closer to him.

‘Chris…Are you all right?’ I asked after sometime.

‘I will be’ he murmured intending that I shouldn’t hear it.

‘Is there anything else I need to know?’ I asked as the tension between us kept building on the contrary it should be subsiding.

He proposed me and I too told him I still like him but still I am not happy wholeheartedly.

Few moments back Chris seemed to be opening up and tried to solve all his misunderstandings by himself but now he is getting distant I honestly didn’t know what was wrong.

‘Shall we take a walk?’ he asked getting up.

I nodded slowly linking my arms to his smiling at him.

He smiled back and we slowly started walking around the park.

I didn’t know how much time went by because by now it is pretty much obvious that I am not good at keeping track of time but it was amazing…just amazing! We kept walking around talking about our college days and Chris kept telling me all the stupid things he did after he fell in love with me and how much he missed me all these years…though it was kinda overwhelming but me and Chris never had a normal date but even though this date here was against the law it kinds seemed perfect. Maybe what some people say is true…that it doesn’t matter where we go, all that matters is with whom we go…at the end of the day it is just the perfect person who makes us feel special not the place.

‘You look happy’ he said as we stopped to look at me.

‘Because I am happy’ I answered beaming at him.

‘Then I am happy too’ he said smiling back.

‘Oh my god…! This line got old centuries ago Mr. Finch! You should update yourself’ I teased laughing at him though I was floating high up in the air from his comment.

‘You aren’t a sixteen-year old girl, Haze! Stop expecting so much in a few years the kids will start calling you aunt’ he said trying to hold back laughter.

‘How dare you…Oh my god Chris’ I stopped my sentence as the scene in front of me seemed more tarrying than me getting old.

‘Haze, what’s wrong?’ he asked me pretty worried.

‘How did I forget this? This entire park is monitored Chris! They’ll surely know we trespassed’ I said biting my nails anxiously.

‘That’s okay…its fine, we won’t …’ his sentence was stopped in midway as we heard the sound of sirens.

‘We are dead, Mr. Finch’ I said as I froze right in my spot.

What do we do now? Few moments back I was jumping from earth to the moon and now I am gonna end up behind bars with Chris, wait we’ll be put in different cells, right? Oh my god what am I gonna do.

‘Hazel look at me, it’s fine and you aren’t going to jail’ he said shaking me back to reality.

‘Chris…’ I started.

‘Just be quiet and stay behind me’ he said pulling me behind him.

‘I don’t hear the sirens anymore’ I said after sometime.

‘And there are no cops outside’ he answered peeking out to get a view of the entrance.

‘I guess they were heading elsewhere’ he answered looking back at me.

‘Ok…but let’s go please’ I pleaded afraid that we will be caught if we continue to stay plus dawn was just a few hours away.

‘Ok…we’ll go don’t worry’ he said reaching out to touch my cheeks trying to calm me down.

I slowly rested my head on his shoulders attempting to come out from the fear that took control over me a few minutes back.

He wrapped his arms around me slowly patting against my shoulder to keep me calm.

‘Let’s go’ I said slowly moving away.

‘Scared goose…!’ he teased as we turned back to return.

As we moved further, Chris suddenly stopped me and pulled me closer and stood in front of me looking around, his expression turning deadly.

‘Chris…’ I started when he hushed me.

‘Someone is here Haze’ he whispered slowly moving backwards taking me along.

I looked around but couldn’t find anyone there and it was pitch black to the place Chris was pointing at.

‘Stay back!’ he said reaching out inside his coat.

I waited anticipating what was gonna happen when I noticed Chris pulling out a gun from his coat…no I wasn’t wrong it was a GUN! Why the hell is he having a gun?

‘Chris is that a gun?’ I asked slowly trying to cover the shivering in my tone.

‘…Yeah, now be good and don’t move’ he said walking towards the black spot.

‘Chris…why…’

‘Show yourself…!’ he said pointing the gun at something or someone; I wasn’t very much sure in the dark.

I looked closely and saw a silhouette coming out from the pitch-blacked area. My legs had become wobbly as fear took over me and when I noticed how close he was to Chris, I almost fell onto the ground thinking of the consequences.

‘Chris…’ I tried calling out but he was too busy pointing the gun at the silhouette.

‘Calm down, Mr. Finch! I came a long way to meet you so just drop your gun and talk to me after all we have known each other for years’ the voice said as it was finally visible in the dim light from around the area.

It was a man, a middle-aged man and he looked kinda scary and the way he spoke to Chris rather looked like a warning than just a normal sentence.

‘It’s YOU! I am surprised you have the nerve to show yourself after three years’ Chris replied firmly not at all affected by the threatening aura he was projecting…and to be honest Chris looked so much scary than the huge man standing before us.

‘You are in my area Mr. Finch and plus you trespassed private area without authorization and above all you are pointing a gun at the owner of this place…its attempt murder’ he said as he lifted his head arrogantly at Chris.

I don’t like this man.

‘I wouldn’t worry about attempt murder…because if I continue to see you for some more time I will shoot right here and I have a hundred ways to make you disappear making sure that you never existed at all’ Chris answered as he further pressed the gun towards the man in front of him.

I looked at Chris and one thing was pretty sure…I knew nothing about him right now and the way he fearlessly kept staring back at this man right now made one thing sure…Chris wasn’t trying to scare him off he was pretty sure himself that he was gonna shoot him down.

What should I do now? I seriously have no idea. Will Chris really kill him? Should I do something? Will Chris be mad if I interfere? God! Someone just tell me what to do. I was completely blank though these kind of scenes looked so much fascinating in novels…it is too scary in real life…and it is way too bad than people could ever think off.

‘Chris…’ I called out but I am pretty sure no sound accompanied the words.

The two of them, still kept staring daggers at each other.

‘You are in my territory Christopher! You can’t do anything’ he replied as the corner of his mouth twitched to form an evil smile.

I am getting chills just by looking at that man, who the hell is he?

‘You are testing my patience…one…two…three…’ Chris started counting out of the blue and I am not sure but I guess the other guy was sweating.

‘…You can’t count your way out this time Christopher’ he said trying to sound bold and confident.

‘Four…and five’ he finished as he loaded his gun ready to shoot.

‘Fine…but even though I could have called the cops I didn’t because…I know that it will be too small of a punishment and I want you to suffer for eternity’ he answered closing in to Chris.

‘Go away or die!’ Chris said disinterested in the conversation.

I know it is not appropriate to think all this right now but Chris looked so handsome right now and my heart could explode any moment.

‘So this was your secret the entire time’ he said looking at me before turning away to walk away from there.

‘You can try your best but I am positive you will drop dead before you could reach for a strand of her hair’ Chris replied as he walked over towards me.

He slowly pulled me away from there not turning back to look at that man at all. I turned back to look at the man who was standing right there watching us walk away though my vision wasn’t it’s best self I was sure that he signaled something to me and smiled wickedly.

Thousands of questions rushed its way inside my mind. Chris started the car returning to the road as we drove back home. I knew Chris was in no mood to answer to all my questions but maybe I can try and ask him one. I know he definitely would answer the first question I ask him…maybe I will ask the other things in the morning. But this question must be important enough to at least answer three other questions on my mind and so I decided to ask him.

I could’ve asked him anything…just anything, for instance, who was the guy? What was the rivalry but the question that came out my stupid mouth was;

‘Is your gun licensed, Chris?’