In Color. {l.r.h.}

him

Luke's head swam as if he had just guzzled down too much liquor, which was a far more familiar situation than this. He came to the park for two days and just watched Halli sit silently. Without fail, it was always the same. She would sit down and listen. Just listen. To the birds, the children, the wind. She'd nudge away soccer balls that came by her, she'd flinch if she felt any bugs or leaves touch her skin, she'd smile when the wind tousled her hair, and she'd listen. And everyday at exactly 4:00, her phone would beep loudly, and she'd start walking in the opposite direction of her apartment. He never dared to follow. Too many New Yorkers would call the police. Besides, she might hear him. As silly as it was, Luke had learned once in third grade that blind people had super-sonic hearing and deaf people had eagle eyes. But he never said it out loud.

He soon grew tired of crying and too lonely to just sit, and he made up his mind to go visit Halli's apartment. He stopped at the front desk, afraid the doorman would yell at him if he didn't.  He did his best to portray phony confidence.

"Uh... Hello. I'm here to see Halli...." He dragged out the "i". Halli What? What's her last name? Oh my God, I didn't even make it past the lobby. Way to go, Luke. He cleared his throat. "Just Halli. I'm here to see her."

The doorman raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't get paid enough," he grumbled. "Okay, go on up." It was all Luke could do to keep from dancing up the twelve flights of stairs.

He was wheezing by the time he got to the top floor.

The pitter-patter of his feet on the floor seemed to be the only noise he could hear -- aside from someone softly strumming a ukulele behind one of the doors. He stopped right in front of Halli's door, drawing a breath in an attempt to calm his nerves. He lifted his knuckles to knock, only to have them swatted away and him pushed against the wall.

"Hey!" a voice shouted.

He looked down at the person pinning him down. "What the--"

"Listen, buddy, I don't know who you are or what you want, but I don't need you hanging around here, sniffing' around Halli. Get lost, creep."

This tiny woman was by far the most terrifying person he'd ever encountered. "I... I don't want trouble. Halli and I, we're friends. I think I love--"

"Boy, if you finish that sentence, you will no longer own a spinal column." She glanced around before nodding towards her apartment. "Come inside." He did as he was told.

She pointed at a small round table in the kitchen area. "Sit." He sat. She coasted her way to a coffee maker. "You want coffee?"

"N- no. Thank you."

"Yeah, you do want coffee." The pot began to brew, and she joined him at the table. "Look, Romeo, I didn't mean to scare you. I care about Halli. She's a good kid."

"You're around our age."

"Zip it," she snapped. "I'm Cameron Palazzo."

"I'm Luke Hemmings."

"I know who you are, lover boy. Halli's an open book. That's what everyone loves about her." She paused, shifting in her seat. "Everyone loves Halli. Looks like you do too. She's got lots of things on her mind. She cries about you, you know."

Luke felt his heart break inside of his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "That's not my intentions."

"Yeah, but it's what happened. Your intentions don't really matter, do they?" It was silent. "Just get out of here."

Luke was completely still, trying to imagine his life without Halli in it. Trying to imagine each day without the mismatched girl with a quick wit and silver, foggy eyes. Trying to imagine himself living without her radiance.

"No," he spoke.

Cameron cocked her head. "No?"

"No. I love her. I'm in love with her. I won't leave."

She stood to her feet, causing him to shuffle backwards. "Be true." Her words surprised him. "You can stay."

"What?"

"You can stay. I trust you."