The music changed from one song to the next, not that it was easy to hear under all the chatter and laughter and screams of the kids on rides. Jacie, Dan, and I moved from one stall to the next, growing a small pile of plushies and sweets in our arms.

“And that's Turp the 4th!” Dan said with pride as he took the tiny polar bear from the guy manning the ring-toss booth.

Jacie probably said something in disdain for the name but I checked out the second I saw Hazel in the distance, surrounded by his friends.

Despite being wrapped up for the cold, Hazel looked well put together. His brown coat matched the warmth of his red and blue scarf, and he wore mini wreath earrings that actually lit up. He laughed along with the friend I had seen outside the bathroom and his cheeks grew an even brighter red.

As if I wasn't staring right in his direction, Jacie elbowed me in the ribs, one red finger extended towards Hazel. “Omg, it's Hazel! This is your chance!” She hushedly squealed. 

Dan looked much less impressed. “We were gonna go do date stuff anyway. Unless you would like third wheeling?”

“Nope! I'm leaving!” I waved them off, cautiously making my way to Hazel's group. 

Hazel’s eyes grew a little wider when he saw me, but a smile quickly overtook his face. “Elvis!” He greeted. 

I waved at him and all of his friends. “Hey. Uh, you guys don't mind adding another to your group do you? I got abandoned by mine.”

They all looked behind me, eyes meeting the backs of Jacie and Dan, and their surely entwined hands.

“Best friends dating is so cute! Until you become the third wheel, eh?” A short-haired brunette said. Her name was Aneta I think – she was in my English.

“I'm glad you get it.” I grinned, Aneta shook her head.

“We were about to grab food. I hope you're hungry!” She said while directing the group towards the food stalls.

There isn't much choice for food. A hotdog, a plain burger or fried chips. So I, of course, went for the fried doughnuts. 

We occupied a picnic table caught in the edges of light the fairground bestowed in the dark field. Looking out into the empty grass and distant trees was shuddering – eerily quiet and contrasting.

“Creepy.” Hazel said beside me, it almost made me jump.

“Do you think something is out there?” I said quietly.

Aneta slammed the table, it brought a jolt to both me and Hazel. “Stop that! You'll freak me the hell out!” She glared at Hazel's laughter.

Hazel's laughter. Is it bad of me to say that I don't… You know, never mind. I can't have these kinds of thoughts before I find out his potential role in the notes.

Speaking of, I needed to learn more about Hazel. Something that I could use to link him to the notes! Or to cross him off of the list entirely.

But what do I even know about the note writer?

“...So, is your favourite colour yellow or blue?” Was the best I could think of. I know my admirer apparently liked pink… this was stupid.

Hazel's eyes shot up to his colourful hair before fixing back on me. He laughed briefly. “A random question. Neither actually.”

Oh. Oh this could be it! Maybe I'm not actually stupid!

“I really like green.”

Hmm…okay. Well, that was underwhelming.

“Nice.” I said, lowering my head to eat my doughnuts and feel as small as possible so I could hopefully disappear. Because that was awkward.

“Do you guys know what you're doing after school finishes yet?” Aneta asked while looking around the table. She seemed stressed but wore a smile.

Stressed is the right emotion to feel because I'd rather keep talking about colours than this subject! I had no idea. There wasn't much that scared me more than the concept of leaving secondary school. It was comfortable here, as much as I hated the pressure.

But – this could be what I needed!

After a few group members spilt their thoughts and plans, all eyes fell to Hazel.

“Uh, I'm not too sure exactly,” he started, “but I really want to move to another city. I wanna experience something new.” He smiled.

I frowned. More than that – I felt my heart sink. If he is the note writer then that would truly mean nothing would come out of everything.

This seemed like bittersweet information.