We Are Free

Roommating

"Are those clothes on the bed for me?" Halo asks as we eat.
"Yeah."
"Okay, could I stay here until my mom comes home?"
"Yeah that's not a problem."
"I just feel alone and I know I'm not but I can't believe he did that to me. I just really need to be with someone and have down time and someone with me to assure me that I'm going to be okay and everything will be fine."
"Yeah and that's okay you're there for me so I'm there for you."
"I love that about you no matter what your going through or doing your always there for others. You're always there to help."
"I am nice like that."
"Yes you are."
"Are you taking your dress home?"
"Yeah I'm going to go home take a shower and pack because I just need a long shower and no offense to you but I don't wanna smell like a man and Emily's stuff is for kids."
"No offense taken."
"I will be a few hours but I will be fine."
"Okay I trust you I think you just need time to yourself to think."
"Yeah me to." After breakfast Halo puts on the new clothes. I said I would drive her but she refused saying she wanted to walk so I let her.
I make the bed and do the dishes. 11:00 comes around I text her. She responds with just got out of shower. I'm worried about her but I trust her she is a big girl and can take care of herself. 2:00 comes around the kids are sleeping for their naps.
I text her again she says she is on her way back. 2:30 she walks in the door with skinny jeans, a plain purple shirt, and a black sweat shirt on. She had on converse and her hair was in a high ponytail.
She had a French braid on top of her head and that leaded into the pony tail. There was a braid on the side of the pony tail. She had a duffle bag over her shoulder. She drops the duffle bag by the door and takes her shoes off.
"Where should I put this?" She asks me.
"In my room."
"Okay." She takes it and walks down the hallway she comes back a few minutes later. She sits on the couch.
"How was your adventure?" I ask her.
"It was an adventure I got a call from Derek." She says and my blood starts boiling.
"Really what did you do?" I ask her hoping she didn't answer it.
"Let it go to voicemail but I listened to the message any way and started crying. I should have just deleted it."
"Can I listen to it?"
"Yeah." She pulls her phone out and pulls it up she hands the phone to me and I listen to the message.
"Halo you're nothing but a worthless slut." I hear his voice say. I want to slam him against a wall and choke him so he knows what it is like to be in pain. She gets up and leaves and I don't blame her.
"I hate you you say you love me but you don't love me enough to make me happy. I really hate you you know the only reason you didn't want to get in bed with me was because you are a slut. You just don't want me to find out you dirty little whore. I can't believe I ever dated you we are through and I no longer want to be with you ever again. I hope those two fuck boys of yours know your a slut looking to get lucky." The voice message ends she comes back wiping a tear away.
"I hate him I can't believe I dated him I'm a naive little girl." She says I get up quickly and go to her lightly grabbing her arms.
"No your not you made a mistake and you learned from it." I say to her.
"I know but still."
"He is just trash that's all he is and he don't deserve you, if he did love you he wouldn't try and make you sleep with him he wouldn't say those things to you. He wouldn't act like that to you he don't love you Halo." I say to her.
"I know he don't. I learned that last night it hurts to know that though because I care for him and he did that to me." I hug her she was definitely crying at this point I hold her close.
"The only thing that matters is that the people you love actually love you back your mom, Andrew, Emily, Zac, and me we all love you so much and that's all that matters."
"I know but I just need time and I'm going to be a mess for a while."
"That's okay."
"I should really stop wearing make up for right now considering it's all over me now and I probably look even worse."
"Hey for one I think you look beautiful." I say to her blushing I really want to kiss her. I want to hold her against the wall and kiss her. I want to make her feel wanted and loved. Before I know it that's what I am doing. I have her against the wall. My face close to hers. She doesn't looks scared. She looks into my eyes.
This is probably the dumbest thing I will ever do. I crush my lips to hers. She doesn't fight, pull away, or push me. She kisses me back. It lasts for a full 30 seconds before we let go and she looks into my eyes. We both blush and I feel guilty.
"I'm going to go clean myself up." She says to me. I don't know what I say back. I can't believe I just did that. She comes out with no makeup and she looks gorgeous. We sit down it had started raining again hard to. We still don't know what to say.
We cover up with a blanket and she sits close to me though. I let her do so. The feelings I have now makes me feel like a horrible person. She starts talking though.
"Despite these feelings I have and all the emotions running through me there is one I feel the most."
"What's that?"
"I feel loved. Thanks for the kiss."
"You liked it?"
"Yeah, just don't do it again." She says then smiles. "It made me feel better and it makes me feel loved and cared for. It's just a little weird because you're my friend." She bites her lip a little like she didn't want to say that. I decide I want to change the subject I am glad she likes the kiss.
"Really I was going more for a emoji." She laughs a little.
"Do you really know how those work?" She asks me.
"Not a damn clue I got a whole phone full of them and I have only used the poop and the middle finger." She starts laughing. Her laugh was so adorable I could listen to it all day long and stay right here all day long. She stops laughing at me.
"How about now?" I ask her and she knows what I am talking about.
"I still feel the same way.
"Okay just checking." I say and she laughs some more.
"You are something else."
"Yeah I guess well, and maybe I use the eggplant but that's only when I'm trying to prove a point to Zac." She starts laughing again.
"You are such a guy." She says shaking her head.
"Runs in the family and I have to raise Andrew so be prepared."
"If I can deal with you I'm sure I can deal with him."
"Then it's like having 2 of me."
"Hopefully you would have matured a little more."
"Do you know what you're asking of me?"
"Yes and I don't know why I try."
"Yeah me either." She starts laughing again I smile.
"You're funny."
"Well I try."
​​​​ "No you don't."
"No I don't it just runs in the family."
"Yeah."
"Jace can I get up?" Emily asks me.
"Yeah."
"Okay." She comes over and gets on the couch and sits in between me and Halo under the blanket.
"How long is Halo staying?" She asks me.
"Until the 13th." I tell her and her eyes get wide.
"That's a long time." She says.
"Five days." I tell her and she claps a couple times.
"Yay!" She says.
"We can do nails and makeup." Halo says and Emily's eyes get wide once more.
"Yay I like doing that stuff with you."
"Yeah."
"Yeah Jace sucks at it." I stick my tongue out at her she does the same back.
"In my defense I'm not female I don't care how makeup works and have no intention of learning. Now if you ask Zac maybe he would."
"You are mean." Halo says.
"To Zac?" I ask her.
"Yeah." She says.
"Oh I know." She smiles and looks at Emily.
"Can I have a snack?" She asks me.
"I don't know can you?" I asks her back.
"Yeah."
"What do you want?"
"I don't know."
"Do you want some fruit salad."
"Yeah."
"Okay." I get up and put some yogurt in a bowl and some mixed fruit I mix it all up and give it to her. She sits at the table and eats her snack I sit back down with Halo.
"Are you ok with that?" Halo asks me. I raise my eyebrow a little bit.
"What?" I ask her back.
"Doing her nails and hair."
"Yeah why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know."
"I think it's great she has another female role model in her life."
"Yeah does she have any hair dye?"
"That wash out spray in stuff."
"Yeah."
"Yeah she has a whole box full."
"Okay."
"What are you planning on doing to my sister?"
"You will see."
"I'm done." Emily says.
"Okay did you put your bowl in the dishwasher?" I ask her.
"Yeah and my spoon." She says walking on her tiptoes to us.
"Okay." Halo's phone rings.
"It's Derek." She says with panic in her voice.
"I got this." I say.
"You sure?" She asks handing me her phone.
"Yeah and why don't you start that make over."
"Why?"
"Just trust me." She grabs Emily and leaves as soon as she is gone I hit answer.
"I thought you would never answer look I'm sorry I really am I love you please forgive me."
"Listen ass hole Halo is my friend and if you hurt her you face me. She is worth more than your scummy ass and deserves more than you because she is the most wonderful person ever. You kicked her out and made her walk 3 miles in the pouring rain because she didn't want to have sex with you you are a sick son of a bitch. I hope you burn in hell, she hates you and doesn't want to be with you anymore. If you call her one more time you will be getting a personal visit from both me and Zac because she is our girl and not yours. I hope you rot in hell for what you did to her." I hang up on him and go to Emily's room.
"So?" She asks me.
"I told him off and hung up on his ass I told him if he ever comes near you or calls you again he will be getting a personal visit from me and Zac."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"You're bad ass."
"Not really he doesn't scare me." I leave and let them continue to have fun. Andrew gets up from his nap and I give him a snack.
"Where is Emily?"
"In her room with Halo."
"Okay."
"Why?" He shrugs his shoulders and lays in the chair I have to find out what he wants for his birthday. I will wait though. 2 hours later Halo and Emily are still in the bedroom I was making dinner. I knock on the door.
"Did you guys drown?" I ask them.
"No we are almost done."
"How much longer?" I ask.
"A few minutes." Halo says through the door.
"You said that 1 and 1/2 hours ago." I say to them and I hear giggles.
"Can't rush perfection." Halo says.
"Well dinner will be ready soon."
"Okay." I shake my head and leave the door I pull plates out and when I start putting dinner on the table they come out Emily was in Halo's arm she was wearing sandals and a summer dress so was Halo.
They both had makeup on and looked amazing they had hair dye in that would wash out next time they shower. I smile both their toenails and fingernails were painted.
"What you think?" Halo asks me.
"You guys look amazing." I say smiling.
"Really." She says.
"Yeah you both look beautiful. I just hope she isn't eating in that." I say. It was a nice dress and I didn't want her ruining it.
"No it was just for effect." Halo says.
"Okay."
"We are going to change."
"Alright." They go back down the hallway to the bedrooms. I put Andrew at the table and he starts eating. Halo and Emily come back and sit down at the table they were both wearing skinny jeans sandals and a blouse. I smile at them we eat dinner and I do the dishes.
"Why don't we go for a walk." I say as I finish the dishes up.
"That sounds like a good idea." Halo says. Andrew just looks at me like I am nuts.
"Yeah." Emily says.
"I will get the stroller and the diaper bag and we can just go for a walk." I say then Andrew smiles.
"I like walks." He says.
     "He is talking more." Halo says.
     "Yeah I think it's one he's nearly three and two he just feels free enough to do so."
     "Yeah." I get Andrew's shoes on and Emily and Halo just decide to keep their sandals on I get the stroller and put an extra outfit for the kids some snacks and water bottles I mark them so we know which one is which.
I hang the bag on the stroller Andrew gets in the back Emily in the front. I put my shoes on. I grab the keys and my phone. Halo grabs her phone and we head out we put are phones in the tray on top of the stroller.
We walk down the driveway and into the road it was still sunny out. It was windy but warm. It smelled sweet outside. It smelled like lilacs wet earth and honeysuckle. Halo walks next to me as I push the stroller. We end up at the creek we were a good two miles away from home.
We sit by the creek and eat snacks and drink water. The sun still hasn't started setting it was 7:00 but it was summer time to.
I take a picture of all of us and go on facebook. I post it saying "a night by the creek with my girls and little buddy" I don't have many people on my Facebook. I only have Anna, Zac, and Halo and a few others that is it. We go by the creek and I can tell Halo is happy and I'm happy to.
We sit on the bank I let the kids out of the stroller.
"Can we play in the water?" Emily asks me.
"Yeah just don't get your face wet or else the makeup will run." I tell her.
"Okay."
"How much did you put on her?" I ask Halo.
"Just some blush and eye shadow."
Halo responds to me.
"Okay." I take her sandals off and I take Andrew's sandals off and they go play in the shallow end of the creek.
"What's cool about this creek is that it is private it's hidden and it is like a swimming pool in some areas." I tell her.
"That's cool." She says to me. She takes her sandals off and goes into the creek to up to her ankles I take pictures and they all laugh and dance in the water 8:00 comes around and we head home I put the kids in the stroller without shoes and I put their shoes under Andrew's feet. They both fall asleep on the way back.
"I had fun today." Halo says to me smiling.
"Yeah that's good." I say to her.
"Yeah I didn't think I would be this happy already but I am."
"Yeah."
"Yeah and I know I'm still going to be emotional about it but that is what happens when you break up with someone you care about."
"See I never have these problems this is a you thing."
"Yeah probably is but oh well you will know some day."
"What do you mean?"
"One day this girl will come along you will love her and care for her and then just like that she will be gone and you will be the same way I am. She will never be yours no matter what."
"Well until that day comes I'm single and not ready to mingle."
"We both can be single together."
"Yup." I feel this pit in my stomach she was right about one thing, a girl will come along. I will love her but she will never be mine no matter how much I try. That thought hurts a lot. I hope that maybe she is wrong.
We get home and I get the kids out of the stroller it was close to dark out. Halo helps me get them in bed then she changes into some short shorts and a long t-shirt. I put on some pj's and we just chill.
"What's wrong?" I ask Halo she looks upset.
"I'm just thinking."
"About?" I ask nudging her shoulder.
"Stuff." She says trying not to smile.
"What stuff?" I ask her nudging her again.
"You know what stuff." She says trying not to smile again.
"Maybe I do maybe I don't."
"You do."
"Maybe, maybe not."
"You are a dick."
"I'm well aware."
"Good."
"Are you going to answer?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"I don't know."
"You sure?"
"Fine I will tell you!" She says.
"Bout damn time I was losing lines." I say and she laughs a little but stops herself.
"I was thinking about Derek." She says.
"Why?" I ask making a face at her.
"Maybe if I would have just slept with him then-"
"Yo, no no no no ask yourself this I know the answers but do it anyway." I say cutting herself off.
"Okay."
"Are you virgin?"
"Yeah." She says nodding her head.
"Are you ready to give that up?" I ask her.
"No."
"He wanted you to right?"
"Yeah."
"You didn't want to?"
"No."
"So what did he do?"
"Kicked me out and made me walk 3 miles in the rain."
"Exactly so tell me does he really deserve you as a person much less to be your first time just because he wanted to get in your pants?" I ask her.
"No he don't."
"If he doesn't then why tell yourself you should have sex with him?"
"I shouldn't."
"Right you shouldn't."
"Then why do I feel like crap that I didn't do it?" She asks me close to tears.
"Because you feel bad you care about him but he don't care about you so you feel bad. Halo ever since we met you have always wanted to change the world. Change racism, inequality, and any other thing in this world that goes wrong. You want to change everyone and everything to see that the world can be right and the only things that can go wrong is natural disasters.
I have always loved that about you because you have a heart of gold and a soul of rainbows. You love every thing and every one but some people just can't be changed some people aren't worth it. Some people just don't care to change and Derek he is all three, he will never change at all.
He will never be that guy that sweeps you off your feet onto the white horse and off into the sunset. He is a dick and the real kind to not the playful kind you shouldn't have to give up something you still wanna hang on to because he is a dick just trying to get lucky."
"You are right and that is it your just right. I just wanna be happy." She leans to me I hug her she starts crying I hold her as she cries. "I don't know if I should care for him or to hate him." She says to me.
"I don't know either does your mom know?" I ask her.
"Yeah I told her and she wants to kill him I told her to tame herself."
"I wanna kill him to but I have 2 kids to take care of I can't afford prison." We laugh a little.
"I didn't see nothing. She says and we laugh some more. "Does Zac know?"
"I don't know if Zac knows or not."
"Should I tell him?"
"It's the right thing to do."
"Okay where's my phone?"
"Here."
"Thanks." She dials Zac and puts him on speaker phone.
"Hello." His voice comes through the other end.
"Hey." She says putting her chin in her hand.
"What's up?" He asks.
"I have something to tell you." She says her voice cracks a couple times.
"Oh dear god your not pregnant are you?" He says with panic in his voice.
"No." She says.
"Good." He says taking a deep breath.
"Ummmm thanks." She says.
"So what do you have to tell me?"
"Well when Derek and I went to his cabin, he wanted to have sex. I didn't want to so he kicked me out and made me walk 3 miles in the rain until nearly 10:00 at night to Jace's house. I'm staying with him for a few days until my mom comes home." She says and I can feel Zac's rage through the phone.
"I'm going to kill that son of a bitch." He says.
"Control yourself Zac it's fine." Halo says trying to calm him down.
"No it's not fine he is a dick and I'm going to fucking kill him." Zac says with nothing but anger in his voice.
"Zac." She says.
"Wait I'm not done." He says to her.
"Oh boy." Halo says rolling her eyes.
"Once I kill him I'm going to bury him next to satan. Then I am going to tell satan to do whatever he wants to him because we all know I have close ties with him." Zac says.
"No need for that Zac I'm done with him period." She says trying to get him to chill out.
"Good if he contacts you ever again I will make sure he gets a personal visit from my fist."
"Okay Zac just don't do anything to him."
"I will play nice I promise."
"Just don't play nice period just stop."
"Okay fine I won't hurt him he hurt himself. He lost you and he will never get you back the only thing he can do is downgrade."
"Thanks, I just wanted to tell you so you don't find out on your own and kill him."
"Well thanks for telling me I hope you feel better and get over that ass hole quick and if you need anything just give me a call."
"Okay thanks bye."
"Bye." She puts her phone on the table and looks at me.
"Well who wants some ice cream?" I ask smiling.
"Fine what you got?"
"Well I got ice cream, toppings, bowls, and spoons."
"I'm in."
"Okay." We each get a bowl of ice cream with lots of toppings. We sit down and watch a movie. When the movie is done we go to bed but it was hot as hell in my room. I get a box fan and start it up facing my bed.
"I'm just not sleeping with my shirt on if that is okay with you?" I ask her.
"Yeah why wouldn't it be?" She asks me.
"I don't know." I take my shirt off and throw it on my dresser I get in bed and shut the light off. Halo crawls to me and puts her hand on my stomach. I put my arms round her and we go to sleep. I wake up to her crying I put my chin on her shoulder.
"Why are you crying." I ask her and she looks at me.
"Do I have to answer that every time?" She says laying her head on her knees.
"No it's just a force of habit." I tell her. I know why she is crying.
"Okay then." I lean back and grab a few tissues and hand them to her. She takes them and dries her eyes. She gets up and throws them away then lays back down next to me. She puts her arms around me I do the same she falls back asleep fast. I go to sleep myself.
*Morning*