A Collection of Short Stories

Everything Will Be Alright in the End

Nothing is fair; everyone knows that. Some people refuse to believe it, because of something they recieve. Seventeen year old Hallie Erikson has no idea what the word 'fair' even means. She's recieved everything she's ever wanted from her childhood until now all because her father owns a thriving toy business for children. Hallie was his inspiration; the toy company came to their family when she was a young infant. Hallie's mother helped in the toy stores all across the United States, but the headquarters and original location of Little One's Toys is in Houston, Texas. Houston is where Hallie was raised and she's one of the richest minors in the country. But one day, though, Hallie learns about life, and how it's not fair. 

- - -

"Help! 911! Please there's a house on fire on Saddlebrook Lane!" Hallie screams into her phone. She's frantically jumping around in the street in front of her house; her burning house. 

"Please calm down, miss. What's the address?" The 911 operator asks politely.

"5218 Saddlebrook Lane! Please come as fast as you can!" Hallie screams, yet again, into her phone. 

"The home of Thomas Erikson?" The operator questions. 

"Yes! Yes, that's my dad!" Hallie cries.

"Help is on it's way!" The operator says quietly. Hallie had left for only a few short hours, and had returned to this, her house burning down. She didn't know if her parents were inside, or how many of their workers were inside either, but all she cared about right now was her mother and father. The operator, opposite of what she should've done, hung up on Hallie, so no one was there to keep Hallie company. She texted her jerk of a boyfriend Derek, but he never responded. Hallie's house was the largest on the street, and many people from her school lived on that street too. A lot of people were watching Ms. Erikson's house burn to ashes instead of running to keep her comfort. Hallie didn't have many friends living near her, so not many of these people were even allowed to speak to her at school. It was an unspoken student body rule. One of the other seniors that lives on her street, Eric Ruhl, decided to throw that rule to the side.

Eric Ruhl has had a crush on Hallie Erikson for as long as he can remember; despite all her flaws, he was head over heels in love with her. He saw her in distress, staring at her incinerating home. Help hadn't arrived yet, so he walked over to her, not casually nor quickly. When he reached Hallie though, he saw her waterfall of tears.

"H-hey Hallie," Eric spoke up. Hallie turned to look at him, and he saw even more tears coating her cheeks. 

"H-hi E-Eric," Hallie choked out through her tears. Hallie knew his name; she knew him very well actually. Eric was somewhat of a friend, that's all she could call him. But he was way better than Derek. The conversation never continued between Hallie and Eric, he just wrapped his arms around her an she cried into his shirt. The firemen showed up, and immediately went into the house, completely ignoring the disorented Hallie crying hey eyes out into Eric's white t-shirt.

"Ms. Erikson?" A police officer walked up to Hallie and Eric.

"Y-yes?" Hallie turned away from Eric, but still stayed near him. Eric rested his arm on her shoulders.

"Your parents are fine, just a few third degree burns. They're in the hospital but visitors aren't accepted yet." The officer is nods his head, bows his cap, and walks off.

"So I guess now that you know your parents are fine, I'd better go," Eric turns and starts to walk away.

"Wait!" Hallie yells, grabbing his hand, not allowing him to leave. Eric turns to look at her with a confused face. "Please stay... I need someone to be with..." A few tears stream down Hallie's face. Eric nods and pulls Hallie to his chest again.

"Do you need a place to stay tonight?" Eric asks Hallie calmly, knowing she'll probably say no and run off with one of her billionaire friends.

"That would be nice. Thank you, Eric." Hallie says, hugging him tighter. Eric gently pushes Hallie off of him, and takes her small hand in his and they walk to Eric's house. Eric pushes open the front door, and leads her into the kitchen where his parents are.

"Hey mom, dad. This is Hallie. Can she stay for a few nights?" Eric squeezes Hallie's hand, giving her somewhat of a reassurance that his parents will say yes.

"Oh of course dear. She can stay in the guest room," Eric's mother replies. He doesn't reply to her, just leads Hallie up to the guest room that's right next to his. They sit together on the bed, still holding hands.

"So, what about your boyfriend?" Eric asks. Hallie takes a deep breath, and Eric begins to pull his hand away, but Hallie's grip tightens.

"I don't think he's going to be my boyfriend after today," Hallie speaks softly. Eric thinks that's perfect, and maybe she'll go out with him. He did feel somewhat guilty though that he was proud Hallie was going to break up with her boyfriend.

"Why not?" Eric asks.

"Because, he's a jerk. Especially after today. He didn't even care that my parents could've died. But you cared. You came over to me." Hallie looked up at Eric in hopes to find something in his eyes she never found in Derek's; love. Hallie had a secret no one- not even her closest friends- knew. She had a crush on Eric Ruhl that no one else knew about. Eric looked back into Hallie's eyes, not knowing he would find what he saw in her.

"Hey Hallie," Eric said.

"Yes?" Hallie smiled.

"I really, really like you." Eric said, barely more than a whisper.

"Really?" Hallie whispered back. That was a thrilling moment to her, even though it was a cliché movie moment. This happened in every movie; guy gets the girl with one line. But did Hallie care at all? No, because Eric said he liked her. That was the only thing that mattered to Hallie Erikson, but there was one little fault in his confession; Hallie still technically had a boyfriend, and was off limits. 

"Yes," Eric responded. She smiled, and pulled out her phone. "What are you doing?" Eric asked.

"Calling Derek," Eric panicked. Why was she calling him? He thought. Hallie knew what thought was running through his head, but she just dialed the number. He didn't answer, so she didn't leave a voicemail. She just decided to text him. 

"What are you doing?" Eric asked again.

"Texting him," Hallie finished typing the text, sent it, and stuck the phone in her pocket.

"Dinner!" Eric's mother yelled, and the two teenagers went downstairs to eat before going off to the hospital to check on Hallie's parents. And in that moment, Hallie knew everything was going to be alright in the end.