Halley's Comet

05 ♍️ virgo

I woke up to the sound of rain hitting the roof the next morning. This was something I normally found relaxing, but today, it just seemed to worsen my sour mood. I was tired because I couldn't fall asleep last night. I had still been slightly buzzed from the party and I was trying to figure out why Halley had been behaving so oddly. This was a problem that apparently could not be slept off either, because I was still worrying about it now.

Worry always gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. In fact, it was the reason I took so long to come out to my parents. While they weren't exactly the model image for gay pride, they weren't homophobic either. By coming out, I was in no way endangering myself. It was just an uncomfortable situation, and because even the slightest conflict made me nauseous, I put it off for as long as possible. When it started causing my parents and I to drift apart, however, I knew I had to come clean. The one thing that sickened me more than conflict was silently drifting apart from someone I was close with. And right now, I felt like that was happening with me and Halley.

Sighing, I forced myself to roll out of my blanket burrito and get out of bed. If I was going to wallow around in self pity all day, I should at least wash off last night's makeup first - something I hadn't felt like doing when I got home.

Padding over to the bathroom, I pulled my hair into a messy side braid before splashing my face with water. Then I changed into my largest hoodie and a pair of athletic shorts before crawling back under the covers.

Today was a perfect day to watch Parks and Recreation and avoid my problems.

However, a sudden knock on the glass door informed me that my problems wouldn't be avoiding me.

I didn't have to check to see that it was Halley. I knew it was her, I just hadn't expected her to show up. Being the nonconfrontational person that I am, I never talked my issues out with anyone. I guess that was why all my past friendships seemed to have an expiration date.

"It's open," I called out, sitting up straight as Halley came inside.

I watched her enter the room: a mess of wet hair cascading over a white tank top, which was paired with grey sweatpants. I tried not to notice how the rain drenched her tank top, leaving her light pink bra visible. I was pretty sure we were in some sort of fight, which meant that checking her out was not what I should have been doing.

"Hi," Halley said softly, playing with the drawstrings on her pants as if she was too embarrassed to make eye contact.

"Hey," I replied, my voice coming out oddly raspy since I hadn't spoken at all since I woke up.

She must have noticed this, because she rushed over to my bedside. "Are you sick?"

I smiled, touched by her concern. "No, I just woke up."

"Oh, God," Halley flushed. "I'm such an idiot. I always forget that most people sleep way later than I do."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I have like a mild case of insomnia," She shrugged. "But that's not what I came here to say. I wanted to apologize. I know I was acting strange last night. You didn't deserve that."

Her apology was so sincere that even if I was mad at her, I wouldn't have stayed that way. Lifting the comforter, I patted the spot beside me, silently inviting her to sit down. She obliged, tugging the comforter up to her chin in an adorable fashion.

"I was never mad at you," I told her. "But I accept your apology. Now let's watch some movies."

• • •

Three movies later, Halley was asleep with her head on my lap. The credits for Buffalo 66 were running, but even if the actual movie was still on, I'd be watching her.

She had showed me her favorite movie, American Beauty, which I had heard of but never watched. It wasn't the most captivating film, but the way she narrated it and analyzed the characters made me want to watch it a thousand more times.

The movie was essentially about a man in his forties who felt like he was wasting his life. He lived in the suburbs with his daughter and wife, and he was infatuated with his daughter's best friend, Angela. Angela reminded me of Halley. She was confident and fascinating, yet at some points, she was vulnerable and frail. However, she feared being ordinary, which would be an irrational thing for Halley to fear. She was the furthest thing from it.

I missed talking to her, but I didn't wake her. She looked so peaceful that I barely moved to make sure I didn't disturb her. She looked so beautiful that I couldn't breathe.

• • •

Halley woke up a short while later, blushing madly when she realized she fell asleep on my lap. I smiled, assuring her that it was okay.

She sat up, running a hand through her hair, which was still damp from the rain. "I should shower. I'm a mess."

I wanted to tell her that she was the furthest thing from a mess, but I was a coward. Instead I said, "You can use my shower. That way you don't have to walk home in the rain."

"You sure?"

I nodded and she thanked me, slipping into the bathroom and closing the door.

• • •

I expected developing feelings for Halley. She was so beautiful and fascinating that it was impossible not to. I expected that these feelings would be hard to ignore as well, but I figured it was managable. What I didn't expect, however, was to see Halley standing in front of me in nothing but a towel, with her wet hair falling onto her shoulders and small droplets of water scattered across her skin.

"Hey," She said. "My tank top is soaked. Do you have one I can borrow?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Grabbing a black tank top, I handed it to her and tried to prevent my gaze from lingering.

Halley accepted the tank top, but stayed where she was. Just as I was about to ask if there was anything else she needed, she spoke.

"I want to be honest with you," She told me, chewing on her bottom lip. It occurred to me that while some people felt exposed showing their bare body, Halley felt most vulnerable when showing her true emotions. "I was upset last night because I was jealous. Maybe I was imagining it, but I felt like there was something between us, so when you kissed that girl, it hurt. I know it was just spin the bottle, and I know I didn't have any right to be jealous, but..."

This was it. She was taking a leap, and putting her heart on the line. I had two choices. I could let her finish, or I could meet her halfway. I already knew what I wanted to do. I had known it since the first time I saw her.

So with two strides, I closed the gap between us, and placing my hands on her face, I kissed her.

All my previous insecurities seemed to disappear as her lips moved against mine. Her hands found my hair as mine slid down to the small of her back and I couldn't imagine thinking of anything else. I was completely lost in her. She smelled like daisies and she tasted like the miracles I never believed in. I couldn't get close enough to her.

She slipped her tongue into my mouth and suddenly I was out of breath, but I couldn't stop. I was so wrapped up in her. I was eating, drinking, and breathing Halley Demarco.

She was the light. She took what was supposed to be an ordinary summer and made it one I would never forget. She lit up an otherwise starless sky.

Against her lips, I told her, "You're my comet."

And she was, she was, she was.