Now It's Your Turn Pt. 01

In college, Hazel Carpenter was one of my closest friends. I mean, I was no social butterfly, since I was rather quiet and stubborn to meet new people. So, Hazel's extroverted nature was a perfect complement to my introverted one. As friends, we made a great match.

My name is Micah Dimitrov. From my name, you can probably guess that it sounds European and I certainly am--being half Greek and half Bulgarian. I stand at a decent 6' 0" and weigh about 160 pounds. So sure, I was on the slim side, but I've got some muscle in my legs and some decent abs from my track days in high school. Still, I was pretty invisible. If you saw me out in public, you wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary about me.

Anyway, me and Hazel had met each other during our high school sophomore year chemistry class. We were assigned as lab partners, and honestly, we weren't that close back then. But we worked well together and aced all our experiments and exams. I found her dark forest green eyes to be incredibly pretty, and I admired how smart she was, which were both qualities that I admired--both then and now. Outside of chemistry class, we sadly didn't text each other very much, which was a bit disappointing to me.

But our temporary friendship would resume and blossom when we both ended up within the same major at the same university. From there, we shared a lot of classes, and Hazel had chosen to sit next to me in one of them when she recognized me.

From there, we spent more time together, mostly during our late-night study sessions, but we both needed them for our difficult classes. Without them, I'm almost certain that we would have bombed those exams. We made a great team academically, just like in high school, but now we were also vibing really well together.

Outside of our stressful college academic life, she would invite me to hang out with her friends, which I was extremely grateful for. My own friends were more or less just like me, finding the comfort of spending time alone comforting. So without her, I would never have come out of my shell so much.

Hazel was half Polish, half German, and she was gorgeous. She was a brunette with slightly wavy, light-brown hair that went down to her chest. Not only was she the prettiest girl I had set eyes on, she also had a smoking hot body. Back in high school, I only noticed her pretty eyes and face, but since then, she had grown from a cute innocent girl to a stunning hot model. She was blessed with her genes, as she now sported a pair of amazing C-cup tits. She was 5' 4 and had a rather petite frame, so the ratio of her chest to her body accentuated her already nice rack.

What was my type, you ask? Well, I can describe it in one word: Hazel.

That would turn out to be a curse of mine, because during our freshman year, Hazel met a guy at the gym named Rafe, and the two of them really hit it off. She was obsessed with him and would tell me everything about him. Of course it hurt me, and I had to fight the demons of jealousy within me, but what drove me over the edge was when she started telling me how great he was in bed.

Hazel was one of those people who didn't mind oversharing. In fact, the first week in our high school chemistry class, she had brought up how sore she was from using her dildo without enough lube. Because of that, I remember that day very clearly. She had been limping around as she gathered materials for our experiment, so I had asked her what happened. Now, she could have and probably should have lied by saying she tripped and fell or injured herself in a sport, but no. She told me the truth--in detail too. I left the classroom that day with a horrifyingly accurate picture of what her personal dildo looked like. Apparently it was light pink in color, 6 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Being a horny teenager, I measured myself the second I got home, and guess what? Yep, those happened to be my exact measurements. And I thought if her dildo made her sore... then I could probably do the same. Did that dirty thought increase my attraction to her? Maybe a little bit, but she was never really that into me, and we rarely spoke for the rest of high school. And that killed me from the inside out until we grew closer in college.

You see, for some unexplainable reason, I absolutely loved this quirky personality trait of hers. But when it came to her describing her sexual escapades with Rafe, I had to restrain my emotions hard to avoid my jealousy spilling out. One notable time she left in the middle of our study session to go see Rafe, and she returned with a cum stain on the left cheek of her black leggings. When I brought it up, she laughed it off and said that she was surprised it didn't get anywhere else. That drove me crazy, but I held my tongue. I hated almost everything about Rafe, but their gym sessions together gave Hazel an amazing gift--her new amazingly fit and round butt. She hadn't mentioned it in conversation, but I had slowly noticed her booty go from an unassuming one to a toned, heart-shaped beauty that always made me--a tits guy--feel funny in my pants.

So you see, I struggled constantly with the thought of us only being friends, but I knew our friendship was worth more than anything to me. Why would I ruin that? It was a binding contract and I had no choice but to stay as her friend--nothing more and nothing less.

This continued throughout our first two years, and Hazel's stories only got more wild. Let's just say she was allowing Rafe to do things to her that most pornstars would hesitate at. She had mentioned how he would always call her dirty nicknames like 'his little Fleshlight'. More often than not, I'd notice her walking with a slight limp as we headed to class, and neither of us needed to exchange a word for me to understand why. She always blamed her high libido, but whatever it was, she was crazy--crazy horny--for him.

All of this would come to a screeching and sudden halt when our third year started and we were juniors. Both of us had just turned 20 over the summer, and we were excited to finally be one year closer to 21. As soon as summer ended and the fall semester began, Hazel made a shocking discovery. She had caught Rafe at a frat party making out with not one but two girls. The next day, Rafe broke things off with her and essentially discarded her.

To say Hazel was heartbroken would be the understatement of the century. She started to spend all her free time in the gym, and she stopped coming to classes. I had to plead for her to come back, but even in class, she was emotionally dead, barely participating in discussions that she had always looked forward to before. I had to carry our study sessions and share almost all my notes with her. But I kind of understood, even though I had never been in a relationship before. I mean, for two years, Hazel had somebody who she could be very intimate with. Other than all the sex, she would tell me how he would buy her gifts and even talk about their future beyond college. It turns out all that future was a blatant, meaningless lie. The only positive thing about this situation was that it brought us closer, and Hazel admitted to me that she saw me as her best friend, which had made me tingle all over.

A month had passed since that heartbreaking night, but Hazel didn't seem to be healing, even a little bit. It was incredibly concerning, but no matter how many comforting words I spoke to her, it did little to ease her pain. Which, in turn, caused me a great deal of pain. But as her best friend, I was willing to brace the pain too.

Now, I was sitting in our favorite study room, located on the fifth floor of our university library. All the rooms on this floor were private study rooms, which offered a popular whisper-quiet experience. It was difficult to reserve them, but I was elated when this room--Room 520--was available. Not only was it newly renovated, but both me and Hazel always aced our exams whenever we studied in this very room. Maybe it was a coincidence, but if the room was available, we would reserve it every single time.

Hazel had mentioned how '520' was a slang term for 'I love you' in Chinese, and May 20th was China's unofficial Valentine's Day. An interesting bit of trivia, but I thought it was interesting.

I fidgeted with my pen as a temporary distraction from my spiraling stress. Not just about my best friend, but because our accounting exam was coming up. Of course, the material was extremely overwhelming, but what made it even more difficult was getting Hazel to actually focus. I looked over at her, and her eyes were blank as she seemed to zone out on her notebook.

"Do you think you're prepared for Unit 3?" I asked her, flipping through my own notes one last time.

"Which one is that again?" Hazel's voice was dull. "Financial accounting?"

"Managerial accounting," I sighed. Usually she was the one who would help me learn tough material, but now the tables had turned. "Come on, Hazel, the test is in two days."

"I'm trying," Hazel sounded hopeless. "Can I see your notes real quick?"

"Sure thing."

After five minutes passed, I took back my notes and began quizzing her.

"The cost of raw materials is debited to Raw Materials Inventory when..."

Hazel closed her eyes and thought hard, twirling her pen in her hand.

"Materials are ordered?" Hazel didn't sound confident at all.

"No, when materials are received."

She swung her head back and exhaled hard. "Give me an easier question to start off."

"That was the easy question," I couldn't help but shake my head disappointingly.

As soon as Hazel heard that, she gripped her pen tighter, and her forced composure was now gone. "I just... I can't concentrate, Micah. I'm sorry. Everything just... hurts."

I could feel the frustration radiating off of her. And I knew she wasn't talking about the accounting material, even if that was also something to be pretty concerned about.

"Hazel..." I began, trying to keep my voice gentle. "I know you're still dealing with your breakup. But this exam needs your full attention. You're usually the one who's tutoring me, remember?"

Hazel looked away, but I could still see her dark green eyes clouding up with sadness. "I... I can't focus on anything else. My heart keeps breaking over and over again."

Instinctively, I reached out, placing my hand on top of hers. "I know, Hazel. It's been very hard for you. But you're allowed to let out your emotions. You don't have to force yourself to bottle it all up."

She shook her head lightly, trying to brush it off. "It's not that. I already cried all my feelings out the night I found out. Then I called you, right after I finished wiping away my last tear, and then you invited me over. You cheered me up and comforted me, and I felt amazing. But then the reality set in... and..."

I nodded slowly. "You've been trying your best. But you've got me, okay? I'm right here. And we'll get through this together." I squeezed her hand softly, hoping my words would soothe her.

Hazel took a deep breath, her beautiful green eyes tearing up slightly, but she blinked them away quickly. "I know, Micah. And I'm so thankful for you... I really am. And I know how meaningless Rafe is to me now; I just wish my stupid heart would also get the message."

"It just takes time, Hazel," I replied, blinking at her slowly. "Right now you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's there. Just a little further, I promise."

"I know," Hazel whispered, her voice shaky. "I just don't know how to hold on until then."

I wanted to say something comforting, but to be honest, I wasn't sure there were any words that could take away the pain she was feeling. All I could do was sit here with her, offering my support, as I always had.

After a long moment of silence, Hazel straightened up, reaching down to open her backpack. "I think we both need a break. Let's come back later."

"Look, I know this is hard for you, but we just started an hour ago," I argued, turning my attention back to the exam. "Let's study for one more hour, then take a break. Besides, we're in Room 520, remember?"

"Well, you can study for one more hour." Hazel finished packing up her stuff and put her headphones on. "And I could care less about Room 520. It was cute before, but now it's nothing but a mockery of my failed love."

"Come on, Hazel." I grabbed her arm to stop her, but she shrugged it off.

"I'll come back later," Hazel said, but there was no certainty in her tone. "But if I accidentally fall asleep, don't wake me. I'm super tired."

Knowing there was no changing her mind, I sighed and relented.

"Alright, I'll go with you," I reluctantly agreed. "But we are coming back. You need it."

"Hush," Hazel narrowed her eyes at me. "We'll talk about accounting later."

We walked together out of the library and headed towards the bus stop.

"My place or yours?" I asked, taking in the cool night air.

"Mine," Hazel replied. "I have some leftover cookies I baked earlier this week."

"Mmm, I can't wait," I licked my lips. "Stale cookies."

"Shut up," Hazel punched my arm playfully. "They're really good, you'll see."

The bus arrived shortly, and we boarded. Her apartment was rather far, so I sat down and got comfortable. Not even a minute in, Hazel dozed off, collapsing gently and resting her head on my shoulder. I thought she had been bluffing when she said she'd fall asleep, but I guess not. My first instinct was to playfully push her off, but upon seeing how peaceful she looked, I did my best to stay still and let her continue resting.

As we neared Hazel's apartment, Hazel shifted slightly, almost like she had a sixth sense that we were almost there. Her head was still resting against my shoulder. I watched her as she stirred, blinking her eyes open and letting out a soft yawn.

"Did I fall asleep?" Hazel asked, rubbing her eyes as she straightened up.

"You sure did," I grinned. "I guess you weren't lying about being tired."

"Why would I lie about that?" Hazel mumbled, smiling slightly. "I've been tired for a whole month."

The bus came to a stop, and we both stood up, gathering our bags and stepping off together. Hazel led the way to her apartment, unlocking her apartment door and waving me inside. The familiar scent of pine trees from her candles filled the air as soon as we stepped in. Hazel immediately headed toward the kitchen and started rummaging through the cabinets.

"Let's see those stale cookies." I joked, raising an eyebrow. I hadn't eaten since dinner, which was now hours ago, so I was going to have one regardless of how stale it was.

"Fresh-baked," Hazel replied with a playful grin. "Well, fresh-baked a few days ago, but they're still good. Just ignore the slight staleness."

I couldn't help but smirk. "You'd make a horrible salesperson."

"Hey, they're the best stale cookies you'll have," Hazel retorted, opening the container and setting it down on the kitchen counter and grabbing one for herself. "Help yourself."

"Mmm, I can really taste the staleness," I commented with a grin as I took a bite out of one. "What's your secret?"

Hazel rolled her eyes. "I'd have a comeback ready, but I'm exhausted."

"Honestly, it's not that bad," I replied, finishing the cookie. It was stale, but it was also really good too. Hazel sure knew her way around an oven.

"Hey, let's go watch a movie," Hazel suggested, taking a bite out of her cookie. "That new comedy just came out, Badge of Fury. I've been meaning to ask you. It's available on the TV in my room."

Her idea was exciting. I had seen the movie trailer a few weeks ago, and I was excited to watch it too. It was about a mall cop that took himself way too seriously and uses extreme force to enforce his rules, but somehow he keeps his job because his methods are so effective.

I thought about it briefly, but the responsible part of me took over. "Personally, I think we should watch it after our exam. I wouldn't be able to focus on it before then from all the stress."

"You're such a nerd," Hazel rolled her eyes. "You are obsessed with that class."

"No, I'm obsessed with not failing the exam," I defended myself. "And if I were a nerd about accounting, I wouldn't need to worry about studying."

"Whatever." Hazel shifted her eyes to the side for a second before biting her bottom lip gently. "You go keep panicking about the exam; I'm going to take a quick nap."

"Make it quick," I advised her. "You're not getting out of studying."

"Wake me up in 20," Hazel said, yawning loudly. "Hopefully you've changed your mind by then."

I opened my mouth to argue but watched as Hazel turned on her heels and marched to her bedroom. Sitting down on her living room couch, I sighed as I continued to worry. Mostly about our exam, but also her carefree attitude towards it.

A few moments later, I heard a door open, and Hazel's roommate Olivia--one of her best friends--stepped out. She saw me on the couch and paused.

"Micah!" Olivia gasped. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while. Where's Hazel?"

"I'm good," I nodded shyly. "A little stressed for an exam, but we're in college, so that's expected. And Hazel's in her room taking a nap."

"Ugh, I wish I had time to take one too." Olivia walked up to the refrigerator and began filling up her water bottle. "I've got a biology exam tomorrow; what about you?"

"Accounting exam in two days."

"Sounds rough." Olivia took a sip of her water. "Isn't Hazel in your class?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm, that's strange. I haven't heard her mention anything, and she always complains to me about her upcoming exams."

"That's what I'm worried about too," I admitted. "Hazel paused our study session tonight to come back here. And I have to beg her to continue studying."

"Well, maybe she's looking to you for some comfort?" Olivia shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't forget she's still upset and lonely after her breakup. I wouldn't be able to focus on studying either."

"I know, but there's not much I can do other than offer her comforting words. And I've been doing that tonight. What else could she possibly want?"

"I'm sure you'll find out eventually." Olivia's voice was casual, but I swear she was hinting at something. She walked back towards her room before pausing right before she entered. "Later, Micah. Good luck on that exam."

"Thanks." I didn't have enough confidence to ask her for more information.

But what was I supposed to find out eventually? It was moments like this that I was reminded of how frustrating girls could be with their subtle and indirect language. Sure, Hazel was sad, but I had already been doing my best to comfort her--ever since her breakup. I frowned, as I knew I would struggle to convince her to study again. Right now, she was probably sound asleep, feeling so comfortable under her warm blanket.

I stared at the clock until the 20 minutes had passed, and I went to knock on her door.

"Wake up!" I called out.

Instantly, Hazel replied back. "Right on time. Come in."

"What? No, you come out. We have to study."

"Again with that? Stop being a nerd."

"I'm serious, Hazel."

"Fine, but come in first."

"Why?"

"Because I want to enjoy the comfort of my warm bed if you're going to try and convince me."

"Fair enough," I turned her door handle and stepped inside before shutting the door behind. Hazel was wrapped up in her blanket, and she had a mischievous expression on her face.

"How was your nap?" I asked, leaning on her desk.

Hazel stretched under her blanket as she let out a soft sigh. "Too short, but nice. I dreamt about something interesting."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Something about failing your accounting exam?"

Hazel snorted. "Shut up." Her eyes flickered with something intense as she propped herself up on one elbow. "You know, Micah, you're really cute when you're all worked up about studying."

"Cute?" I rolled my eyes. "Are you sure you're not the nerd? Who finds a student stressed about their exams cute? You're weird."

Hazel grinned, but then, without warning, she kicked off her blanket. The blanket fell to the floor beside my feet, and my jaw fell with it.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw what she was wearing--or rather, what little she was wearing.

Lingerie. Dark green, delicate, lacy, and revealing lingerie.

My body locked up. Blood rushed to my head so fast that for a second, I thought I might pass out. "Hazel... what the hell?"

Hazel tilted her head, watching me carefully. "Relax."

"Relax?" My voice nearly cracked. "You just... you're... why are you...?" Suddenly, I had forgotten how to speak English.

I was powerless as I began to feel the blood beginning to rush down to my dick, and before I knew it, an erection was beginning to happen.

Hazel sat up fully, her expression serious now. But I barely noticed her face; my eyes were looking at the exposed, delicate curves of her body. The lingerie hugged her in all the right places. The lace traced around her already amazing breasts, the thin straps rested on top of her smooth shoulders, and the sheer fabric was more than just a little tease. Her smooth, toned legs stretched out beneath her. My gaze went back to her face when I noticed her own gaze staring back intensely. I shuddered as I recognized those eyes--they were the f*ck-me eyes.

Was this all real? My heart felt like it was about to fly out of my chest. It was clear as day what she was suggesting, even to an idiot like me. But why?

Why me?

Hazel maintained her flirtatious smile as her fingers drifted downward, playing with the thin straps of her sexy panties. With a slow, deliberate movement, she tugged them to the side, teasing what was beneath them. And then, just as quickly, she released her grip, letting the elastic snap back against her skin with a sharp sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Like what you see?" Hazel's tone was soft but teasing. "Take it all in, please."

"I... I..." I couldn't help but continue to admire her almost-naked body.

Hazel gently squeezed her arms together while flashing me a dirty smile, giving me a closer view of her already amazing tits but now exposing a long line of sexy cleavage. My cock jerked upwards, and I felt it push up against the material of my sweatpants.

"I left you a little to the imagination." Hazel whispered, her piercing gaze making me tense.

"Yeah, barely!" I blurted out, still awestruck by what I was seeing.

Hazel leaned in just a little closer, biting her bottom lip sensually while her f*ck-me eyes continued to burn into my gaze. "You know, I've been lonely, Micah. Real lonely."

I swallowed hard. "Lonely?"

Hazel nodded, biting her lower lip for a second before exhaling. "Oh, come on, don't tell me you haven't realized. I've been trying to move on after the breakup, but it's so much harder than I thought."

She had certainly made that clear.

"Hazel... I..."

"And tonight, when we were studying and you got all worried about me, all caring and thoughtful like you always are..." Hazel trailed off, searching for the right words.

I couldn't move, and I couldn't breathe.

"... I realized I don't want to be alone tonight," Hazel admitted softly. "And I don't want just anyone. I want you."

My dick continued to move around, feeling more and more aroused.

"Hazel," I finally managed, my voice rough. "You're my best friend."

Her lips curved slightly, but her eyes stayed locked onto mine. "Exactly. That's why I want you."

I opened my mouth to speak, but my mouth felt dry as a desert. I know I had mentioned how attractive I found her and how jealous I felt when she was in her relationship. But something still didn't feel right. Obviously, I had wanted something like this exact scenario to some extent in the past. But right now? I really didn't know; I was lost.

All I knew was that Hazel was waiting for an answer--an answer I had no idea how to even come up with.

"Look, I may be your best friend," Hazel continued, her voice quiet but steady. "But I'm also a woman. And after all these nights of using my dildo to satisfy my urges, I can't help but crave something real. Besides, I feel bad for my dildo and I think it deserves some vacation time."

"Your light pink dildo?" I asked, remembering that she had held on to that dildo since high school.

"Yeah." Hazel nodded shamelessly.

"Dear God," I couldn't help but comment. "That thing must have like a million miles on the odometer by now."

"You're hilarious, but probably right." Hazel rolled her eyes. "But that's besides the point, Micah."

"Okay..." I replied, my voice trembling. "But you can just go to the bars and bring home any hot guy you want. Why settle for me?"

Hazel rolled her eyes, sighing. "I'm not settling. You've always been so good to me, and I know you value me more than just some sex doll for the night."

"But if it's just the sex you want, why does it matter?"

Hazel paused before answering, crossing her arms. "I didn't say I just wanted sex. It's also about the emotional intimacy. You know what I'm saying, right?"

"Uh... no I don't really know what you're saying," I answered her, shaking my head. "I'm a virgin, remember?"

"Okay, but you don't need a driver's license to know how cars work, right?" Hazel smiled flirtatiously. "Don't worry, I can show you everything you need to know about sex."

"What are you, my sex ed teacher?" I joked, trying to lighten the awkwardness I felt.

"You can call me that." Hazel giggled, playing with her hair. "But I won't be using a textbook to teach you; I'll be using a hands-on demonstration."

I swallowed again, feeling my entire body stiffen. I was well aware of how dirty she was and how freaky she could be, but with me? Me? The air in her bedroom was light and sweet, but it felt suffocating.

Hazel's gaze flickered to the noticeable bulge in my pants for a second before going back to my eyes. The soft glow of her bedside lamp created the perfect lighting as I scanned her all over, taking in and lusting over every inch of her body.

"You don't have to be nervous, Micah," Hazel murmured softly. "It's just me, your best friend."

But that was exactly the problem. It was Hazel. My best friend! The person I've grown so close to over our college years. And here she was, offering me something I'd fantasized about--something that should've been a no-brainer.

"I..." I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling shakily. "Hazel, this is... a lot for me to take in. I mean, you're gorgeous and all, and I'd be crazy not to. But..."

"But?" Hazel prompted, her voice softer now.

"... But I don't want to just be some rebound for you." I forced myself to keep eye contact with her even though I was very nervous. "I don't want to be the guy you regret sleeping with because you were feeling lonely one night."

Hazel's expression shifted, a tiny flicker of pain flashing in her face. She pulled her knees up slightly and hugged them loosely. "You think I'd regret this?"

"I... I don't know," I admitted. "But I know you. And I know how much that relationship meant to you. You're still hurting, even if you don't want to talk about it."

Hazel was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "You're right. I am hurting." She looked away, her fingers distractedly brushing against the silky bedsheets beneath her. "But I also know what I want. And what I want right now is to feel something good for once. To be close to someone who actually cares about me."

I could physically feel my heart ache at her words.

Her gaze returned to me, and her eyes were searching mine. "I swear, Micah, I'm not asking for this because I want to bury the thought of him. He cheated on me, but I've already made peace with that. I'm asking for this because I want you. Because I trust that you'll take care of me."

My mind continued to spin, and my dick continued to feel aroused. She was inviting me to get closer--more intimate--with her. And all I had to say was yes in order to give her what she wanted. So why was I still a little hesitant?

"Take care of you?" I echoed, feeling utterly baffled. "I might be good at listening to you and comforting you, but in bed? I have zero experience, Hazel. You'd have to do all the work while teaching me everything. That doesn't sound like a fun time."

"I was once a virgin too," Hazel pointed out, her voice very convincing. "But now I have a lot of experience, and I'm willing to teach you. Anything you want to try, I'll probably know how."

Slowly but surely, my doubts were fading away. I took a slow breath before speaking. "Hazel... are you sure?"

Almost instantly, her eyes widened with desperation. She looked at me like I had just asked the world's dumbest question.

And in her bewildered expression, I found my answer.

"Okay..." I still couldn't shake the uncertainty in my voice. "... I guess..."

"Then come here," Hazel spoke, shifting to the side and patting the bed next to her.

I hesitated.

"Relax, I don't bite," Hazel teased, rolling her eyes and patting the bed again. "Come on, Micah. If this is your attempt at teasing me, you're killing me."

That was funny; I wouldn't even know how to do that. I just shook my head, but I listened to her and sat down beside her on the bed.

Hazel quickly leaned her head against my shoulder, and she let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"... Thanks, Micah."

I had no idea what exactly she was thanking me for. But I wasn't that naive to bring it up and ruin the moment. I wasn't completely inexperienced.

I just sat there, next to my best friend, and savored the moment. Casually and slowly positioning my hands over my growing erection, I pressed down firmly to try and suppress it. My heart began to slow down with relaxation as I took in her sweet, floral scent. But I still felt very rigid; my posture was as stiff as a board.

Hazel shifted slightly, pressing her warm body closer against mine. Her fingers began to trace slowly down my forearm, which sent a shiver through me.

"You're so tense," Hazel murmured, her breath warm against my skin. "Just relax."

Relax? As if that were possible. Every nerve in my body was elevated, and a million thoughts raced all over my mind.

Hazel turned her head, her cheek now resting against my shoulder. "You're overthinking, you know?"

I exhaled sharply. "Well... yeah. This whole situation... is something I never expected."

Hazel chuckled softly. "Micah, you're acting like I just proposed to you or something."

Honestly, she wasn't that far off. With the exception of a ring, this felt just as intense.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch the way her lips curled into a smile. Her sparkling dark green eyes had a hint of amusement behind them.

"I just want to be close to you," Hazel admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not just physically, but emotionally. You make me feel safe. And right now, I really need that."

Her words warmed me even more, and I felt myself blush.

"Okay," I responded, my voice steadier this time. "Tell me what you need."

Hazel lifted her head, studying me for a long moment before a small smile played on her lips. "Right now? I just need you to hold me."

Slowly, I lifted my arm and wrapped it around her shoulders. Hazel let out a quiet sigh, as if she'd been waiting for this, and settled into my side, her hand resting lightly on my chest.

For the first time that night, everything felt still. There was no real tension--except for my escalating heartrate--but even that began to slow down after a few seconds.

I felt Hazel's hand press gently against my chest. Her fingers began to trace slowly all over. As she moved around the fabric of my shirt, I was met with such a sensual feeling.

"See? Not so scary, is it?" Hazel purred.

"I... I was never scared." I managed to cough out a small laugh.

"You're so cute when you lie," Hazel teased, her voice relaxed.

The room was quiet for a long moment, except for the sound of our gentle breathing. I kept holding her close, but I couldn't get one thought out of my head, which prevented me from feeling fully relaxed. As the seconds ticked by, this thought only grew in intensity.

Finally, I turned my head slightly, breaking the silence. "Hazel," I murmured quietly. "I still don't get it. Out of everyone, why me? I mean... you have so many other guy friends."

Hazel's hand continued to apply pressure against my chest, but never at any point did it feel suffocating. Slowly, she lifted her head to look at me. Her gaze softened, and I saw a glimmer of something in her captivating eyes.

It was an expression I had never seen before.