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Hazel had been having a rotten day. More jeqels than usual had been following her around today, and that meant more people paid attention to her. She had to stop four kids from grabbing rubies during English class, and one of them almost got physical with her for it. Luckily, a teacher was in the room, so he couldn't actually do anything.
Next, Rufus took her lunch, again. He had started doing that almost a year ago, and she had given up hope of ever peacefully eating her lunch ever again.
Lastly, Sammy wasn't even at school that day. So she had no one to laugh away her problems with.
She wandered around the streets of New Orleans, doing everything she could to avoid going home. She'd rather avoid her mother for as long as she could, not wanting to add another bad experience on to her day. Hazel watched as the sun kept sinking lower into the horizon, and her excuses for not coming home right along with it.
Suddenly, a pair of hands were enclosed over her eyes, making her gasp from surprise, and almost trip over the precious stone that appearedvat her feet.
"Guess who?" Her surprise 'attacker' snickered. She sighed.
"You weren't at school today." She stated, grabbing his hands and prying them from her face. She turned and faced Sammy, who bore a goofy grin.
"You didn't hear?" He asked, crossing his arms in mock offense. "I was suspended."
She rolled her eyes, smiling softly and reaching to pick up the stone with her left hand. "Really? For what?"
"Nothing major," He said, grasping her right hand and started pulling her down the street. "But it gave me the day off."
Hazel chuckled softly. "And where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, Hazel!" Sammy said, pulling her towards a picnic table. They both sat down, and Sammy pulled out something from his bag that Hazel couldn't see.
Hazel brushed her thick curls out of her face and glanced at him. She wondered what he had planned, why he was so anxious to get her here.
With an exaggerated flourish, Sammy presented her with paper, glue, and three tubes of glitter. He smiled widely at her.
"Happy birthday, Hazel!" He grinned. Hazel dtared dumbly at him, begore breaking out into a smile of her own. She'd forgotten it was her birthday.
Sammy placed a piece of paper infront of her, and handed her a tube of bright blue glitter. She reached over his gangly arms to grab the singular glue bottle he'd brought.
After spreading the glue, Hazel painstakingly poured the glitter in its specific spots. Sammy laughed at her, but sputtered when she flicked glitter at him in retaliation.
They stayed there til the sun was almost out of the sky, making the sky awash with purple-orange light. Despite the fact that her mother would definitely be worrying right now, Hazel couldn't find it in her to care. She hoped all her birthdays could be like this.
Hazel finished her attempt at a glittery masterpiece, and watched the sunset with her bestfriend.