Chris and Hazel

'And it's done' Ava sighed a heave of relief as she completed her report on her new project.

'Hazel? What do you think I should wear today?' She asked Hazel quite excited about the date she was going tonight.

Hazel didn't hear a thing that Ava just told; she was lost in her own little world.

'Hazel?' Ava called out in a stern voice.

'What? What happened? Did someone call me?' Hazel asked as she jolted back to reality.

'Yes' Ava replied.

'Oh I am sorry, who called me?' She asked looking around.

'I did!' Ava replied quite annoyed.

'Oh tell me Ava, so sorry I think I was kinda not listening' Hazel replied projecting an apologetic look towards Ava.

'You think? I was talking here but all you did was dream. I really don't get you. You told us you moved on and don't care about Chris' existence, but you keep getting lost in your thoughts since then, you don't hear what people talk around you, what's bothering you?' Ava yelled anxiously.

'Yes, I did say all that and I don't care about him anymore Ava, did you anytime see me talking nervously around him since then?' Hazel asked.

'Well no, but neither did you confront him. All you did throughout the week was, you avoided any kinds of meeting with him and when assigned any work, you complete it and asked someone else to turn in your work and then what? Twice, Ms. White, twice when he came to ask about anything personally you literally ran away before he could get to your desk and I had to lie that you were on break and enquire all the details he has come for, then when you get the guts to show up to your own desk you mail him the details he asked for. Yes, I must say you were very brave and you are woman for your words as you faced him dauntlessly, CONGRATS Ms. White!' Ava answered in a sardonic tone.

'Enough with the sarcasm, Ava. Now tell me what you were asking me when I wasn't listening?' Hazel pleaded as reality pierced right through her.

'Don't try to change the subject Hazel, I thought you were over him' Ava asked her eyes filled with concern.

'I am Ava; let's not talk about this now ok? Now tell me what you were asking' Hazel told Ava trying hide her pain with a smile.

'Fine, but promise me you will tell me tonight' Ava demanded.

'Not tonight honey, today's your date night. Did you forget?' Hazel asked grinning.

Ava's cheeks flushed pink.

'Ahaha... someone is blushing...' Hazel squealed enthusiastically.

'Hazel, keep your voice down' Ava hushed Hazel turning around to see if anyone heard them.

'Come on don't be shy, you have known Ed for more than a year now. Just go out there and be yourself because Ed fell for the real you so don't be anything you aren't ok?' Hazel told Ava who was biting her nails nervously.

Ava nodded like an obedient five-year old and turned towards her desk taking deep breaths telling her,

'You can do this Ava, it's just Ed, come on Ava'

Hazel laughed looking at her friend's childishness.

'Hazel' a voice called up.

Hazel looked up to see Jessica Quinn, Chris' assistant, standing in front of her desk.

'Hey Jessica, what's up?' she asked smiling.

'Mr. Finch asks you to meet him in his office right now' she answered.

'Like right now?' hazel asked growing pale.

'Yes, quick' saying this Jessica left Hazel's desk.

'Hazel?' Ava called shaking Hazel who just froze, out of fear.

'Just go Hazel; you can't hide away for a lifetime. Remember he doesn't remember you and neither do you. Just go and act casual' Ava advised Hazel.

Hazel nodded and left her desk walking towards Chris' office.

'Mr. Finch?' she called out entering his office.

Chris looked at her signaling her to come in.

'You called me?' she asked walking towards him.

'Yes, Ms. White. I haven't quite seen you in the office lately. All your works are being turned in by someone else and you just mail me the details I asked for. Are you coming to office regularly?' he asked Hazel in a stern tone.

"It was because of you I had to hide and you interrogate me as if you had nothing to do with it" Hazel thought to herself looking at him.

She cleared her throat before answering,

'Mr. Finch, I am sorry that I gave you a displeasing impression about myself it's just I was really busy this week and couldn't turn in my works by myself. And I am coming to the office regularly' she answered firmly looking at him.

'Ms. White, I was just joking don't get so worked up, I just wanted to know whether you were fine because it seemed kinda weird like as though you didn't want to face me' he told her smiling lightly.

"Oh my, he didn't forget to smile? Well that sure is surprising" she thought to herself smiling back at him.

'Ms. White?' he called out as she continued to remain silent.

'No, Mr. Finch it's nothing like that' she replied humbly turning around to leave.

'Hazel' he called out.

Hazel froze in place, she didn't want to turn towards him as she feared that he would read her mind if she turned now.

'I mean, Ms. White, I wasn't done yet' he told her.

Hazel turned to look at him, for a moment she thought he remembered her because the way he called out her name just now, brought back hundreds of memories but when he corrected his sentence she knew that she was the only one living in the world of their past memories, after all he knew her only for like a year during their college.

'I am sorry Mr. Finch, I thought we were done' She replied looking directly into his eyes. She knew that sentence meant a lot than what it was asked for.

'No we aren't' He answered at once.

Hazel looked at him taken aback for a moment, it seemed like they weren't talking about the conversion taking place right now, those words he told meant much more than that.

Even Chris had to reflect on his reply for a moment.

As Hazel kept wondering, Chris continued,

'I mean, I wasn't done. Actually, you will have to attend a meeting at 2 p.m. today instead of me. I will have to bail due to some personal issues so get the details from Jessica and ask me if there's anything else you need to know before 1 p.m.' he told her.

'You mean Ms. Quinn, right?' she asked

'Yes Ms. White, ask Jessica Quinn, my assistant' he explained.

'I knew that' she told him bluntly.

'Then? What's the doubt.....Ms. White?' he asked looking at her clueless.

'Well, it's...' she stopped before concluding.

'It's what?' he asked her muddled.

"It's that you are addressing her with her first name and you keep calling me Ms. White" Hazel wondered quite irritated.

'Nothing, Good day.....Mr. Finch' she told him managing to swallow up her original thoughts.

As she turned to leave,

'Ms. White' He called out.

She turned towards him giving him a "What now?" look,

'Jes... I mean Ms. Quinn is your colleague so I thought addressing her by her first name would make you feel comfortable and nothing else' he explained himself.

'I didn't ask anything...Mr. Finch, your way of addressing people has nothing to do with me' she told him sarcastically and walked towards the door fighting back a smile.

'Still stubborn and childish' Chris said smiling as she walked out of his office.

Hazel returned to her desk smiling widely, Ava noticed her friend's sudden change in behavior but felt that she should keep quiet and let Hazel have this moment and so continued working without questioning Hazel.

Hazel couldn't stop smiling for a long time as she noticed the hint of the old Chris today, the Chris who could read her mind without her having to tell him what's going on.