Austin's pov:

The rest of the night, Hazel barely said another word. She had everything locked up inside her, not letting it reach her face that held a bland expression. I had a hard time telling if she was thinking too much, or not at all.

It reminded me of when Ian took her and she slipped into a trance. It has me scared, but at least this time I got her to eat and actually function properly.

I made her get into bed early because I'm pretty sure she hasn't slept at all the past two days and when she willingly curled into her bed, I left to sleep on the couch and give her space. I've been breathing down her throat all day so I wanted her to have time alone.

I went to bed on the lumpy couch not knowing what was going to happen next, and I woke up like that, too, hearing a large thump come from the kitchen. I quickly sat up on the couch and looked up to see Hazel sitting at the table, placing the phone that must have fallen off back on it.

I rub my eyes and stretch out my arms as I swing my legs off the couch. I shove the blanket that was on my lap back onto the cushions, immediately feeling the cool air on my bare chest. It's really cold in Washington in general, but I guess in Hazel's house, too.

I stand up from the sofa and look at Hazel as I walk through the living room and into the kitchen. She sits at the table wrapped up in the sweatshirt I picked out for her yesterday and a bulky pair of sweatpants, very similar to the ones I have on. Her hair was in an adorable messy bun that was sticking out everywhere, but I had a hard time focusing on that when I walked closer to her and saw what she was doing.

Almost the whole table was covered in papers that Hazel was writing on or looking at. Her face was set in hard, numb concentration as she looked over a sheet of paper, her hand resting on the phone like she was getting ready to use it again.

She didn't look at me as I walked in. She was working so fast, hard, and numbly that I don't think she even noticed me. It's like it wasn't even her doing the work, it's like her body went on autopilot and she's lost somewhere inside. I wonder how long she's been up and doing this..

When my mom died, I didn't have to do any of the planning, paper work, or even telling other people the news. My dad did that all so I didn't have to go through it. So I can't imagine how hard it is for Hazel, getting reminded every second that her father is dead and actually having to make the plans to bury him. I guess that's why she wanted to get all the work done as fast as she could.

But I can't let her do it all on her own.

With this in mind, I do my best to forget about breakfast or actually waking up and walk over to the opposite side of the table. I slide into the seat across from Hazel, laying my arms out on the table and folding my hands together. "Tell me what to do," I say, looking directly at her.

Her hand that was scribbling something onto a piece of paper stops and she glances up at me. Her eyes have no emotion in them, no sparkle like they used to. "I promised I would help. I keep my promises," I wait to see if she was going to argue, but she knows I haven't broken one yet. "So tell me what I can do."

She gnaws on her lip, debating if she should let me help, but then sets her pen down and sits up straight. She breathes in a big breath before letting it all out. "I've already called the funeral home, but am still waiting for them to call back with a time I can meet up with the director. I've called the post office and my father's credit card company. I've ordered flowers and called my father's lawyer to see if he had a will.." She starts to list off all the things she's been up all morning doing. I couldn't help but notice how something was off. She's not as emotional as she should be.. She should be drained and needing breaks and having troubles, but she's not. It just seconds my theory that she's locked herself up to go on autopilot or something. What happens when she turns it off and it all comes back?

"Hazel," I cut in lightly when she starts the list off what she still has to do. She was getting rushed and kept finding more things to list. "Take a deep breath, okay?" I look at her softly as she stops and shuts her eyes, following my instructions and breathing in deeply, a hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Let's take this one thing at a time, focus on whats most important to get done first, right? Like the funeral. Let's start with that."

"Funeral..." Hazel mumbles, nodding as she opens her eyes to search around the table for a piece of paper. She grabs it and looks it over. "I talked to a lady at the funeral home and we've got a date and place of burial, but I still have to meet with the director to talk about if my dad wanted to be cremated or whatever. He didn't tell me, but it might be in his will. The lawyer said he would mail it..."

"Okay," I cut in before she can get ahead of herself and list a thousand more things. "I'll go check the mail and then I'll come back and make some breakfast, yeah?" I ask, not wanting her to work too hard with no breaks or meals or anything. She nods, but her attention is already back in what she was doing. "Anything you need me to take to the mailbox while I'm headed there?" I now ask, starting to stand up.

She quickly reaches across the table to grab some envelopes, I assume that they are her father's unpaid bills. "I'm gona make some calls... I still have to tell everyone," she mumbles.

"I can do that for you, Haze," I offer, giving her a sympathetic look. That's the worst part, telling everyone.

"No," she shakes her head. "They need to hear from me."

I nod, understanding. "Want me to be here?" I try.

"No, it's okay. Get that stuff done," she points at the envelopes in my hands. I know she doesn't want to get more behind in her work. I nod.

"Okay. I'll be right back," I look at her one more time as she grabs the phone before I start heading to the door, stopping to slide my shoes on. I glance back at her, worried about how she's doing and how she will do. I don't want her to go through all this, but I can't take it away.

But I can at least try to make at as bearable as it can be. And I know exactly how to do that...

I guess now I have to make some calls, too..

Notes

Oh MYGOD This is sOO SHORT I'M SORRY!

Sorry for another short weird chapter, guys! I feel like everything is turning into one giant filler, haha! But, more is to come! I just wanted to add this little bit here because I felt like it was important to show how Hazel is dealing with things (and by dealing I mean not dealing because she's just shutting it out lol), but also because of the CALLS.

Who do you think Austin is calling?!?!?!!?