"Hallie"

Chapter 16: A Frog Disguised as a Toad

     Hallie woke up the next morning having mixed emotions about her birthday. She rolled over to look at her phone. There was a text from Vanerro.

                        Vanerro:" Hey darling, Happy Birthday. I've got a bunch of errands to run all  day, I'm very sorry I can't spend the day with you before the party. But I'll be there later on to come and pick you up. I hope you have a swell birthday darling. I'll make it up to you I promise."

   Hallie rolled her eyes and got out of bed. She ran downstairs and fixed herself a bowl of cereal. She noticed the house was completely silent. All she heard was the waves from the beach close by. Hallie noticed a birthday card with her Aunt Regina's handwriting on it. It was propped up against the vase of Arabian Jasmine flowers on the island. She picked up the card and opened it. It read: 

        Halligenica, 

       You are turning into such an amazing young lady. Me and mom love you very much. And we know that you haven't really had much of a break since you got here. So here is $100 dollars for you to pamper yourself all day for your party and your dinner date. Yes Vanerro told us all about it. I'm gonna be with mom all day she has an appointment soon. Have  a wonderful day sweetheart. I love you.

                                                                                                           -Aunt Regina

    Out fell a one hundred dollar bill. Hallie picked it up and smiled to herself. She set the money on the island's counter and grabbed her bowl of cereal while making her way to the back porch. She sat down in a lawn chair and crossed her legs. She took bite of her cereal and took a deep breath. She inhaled the warm air with the hint of a cool breeze. The palm trees swayed above her house creating a soothing assuring lullaby that today was going to be a good day. Despite her being alone. She looked into the distance of the ocean. She saw people swimming and surfing. She smiled at the thought of it being this relaxing, this peaceful, all the time. Hallie got up and made her way to her room. She grabbed her phone and sat on the edge of her bed. She looked at her phone and Renendez had texted her.

                       Renendez: "Happy Birthday Hallie. Stay great. Have a nice day :)"

    Hallie sighed and rolled her eyes. She took a deep breath before replying.

                      Hallie: "Thanks. Now delete this number."

      Hallie looked through her call log. She knew what she was looking for. A call from her dad. She didn't care if it was even a missed one. But just as she thought, there wasn't any. She dialed his number and anxiously awaited for him to answer. She didn't even know what she'd say. But that didn't matter anymore because " The number you have dialed..." was all Hallie heard. She tried hard not let that ruin her day. She got up and got ready. Hallie decided she wanted to go for a walk on the beach before spending the day by herself. The beach was packed with people. Hallie took off her shoes and wiggled her toes through the warm wet sand. She glanced up and saw Ronnie and Jenny talking at the smoothie bar. Ronnie called to her. She made her way over to the two. "Hey Hallie Happy Birthday. You excited for tonight?" Ronnie asked with a charming smile on his face. Hallie examined this boy, he was tall and quirky. His complexion was completely over tanned. "Yes I am very excited." Hallie said nodding her head. "Where's Vanerro, shouldn't she be with you?" Jenny asked with her eyebrows raised. "Shouldn't you mind your damn business?" Hallie thought annoyed. Now she understood how Vanerro felt, this bitch was nosy for Hallie's liking. She couldn't blame Jenny. She was only irritated because Vanerro wasn't with her. "Uh- no, she's busy so it's just me today." Hallie said uneasily. "Well you can hang with us if you'd like." Jenny offered. Hallie barely knew them. But anything beats celebrating her birthday alone. "Yes that'd be great. I got enough money for us all to do whatever the hell we want." Hallie said. "We could go eat?" Ronnie suggested happily. "Or? We could go get our nails done and Ronnie could just sit and watch." Jenny said cheerfully stepping in front of Ronnie. "Uh, no I need a pedicure." Ronnie said pushing them both out the way and walking toward the beach parking lot. Hallie saw him walk toward a gray Mazda 6. Hallie and Jenny laughed and followed him. Jenny got in and Hallie sat in the back. Ronnie backed out and left the beach's parking lot. "So how are things going between you and Vanerro?" Jenny asked turning to look at her. Hallie shifted in her seat. She didn't know how to answer that question. She looked out the window to avoid Jenny's stare. She nervously patted her legs with her hands. "We uh- we are great thanks for asking. How are you guys?" Hallie asked changing the subject. "Horrible, I plan on breaking up with him soon." Jenny said nonchalantly looking at her nails. Ronnie looked at her surprised in his rear view mirror. Jenny laughed. Hallie nervously laughed with her. "I'm just kidding babe. I love you." Jenny said grabbing his shoulder with one hand. He sighed in relief and kept his eyes on the road. Finally they reached the nail salon. They got out the car and immediately Ronnie and Jenny held hands. Hallie didn't realize she'd be a third wheel, when she'd been offered to hang out. Jenny had laughed at something Ronnie said and he just looked at her. He was admiring her. Her laugh, her smile, her sound. Just her. Him witnessing her happiness is because of him. She envied them, but smiled at the thought of 2 people who have been together for so long continue to be so genuinely happy. She walked into the salon right behind them and looked around. The salon was packed with women left and right. "Whoa. I should come here more often." Ronnie said smiling as a girl smiled and winked at him. Jenny punched him in the chest. "Don't get killed with a nail file in here Rondez." Jenny warned nastily. "Yes dear." He said while smiling at her and kissing her forehead. A short Chinese woman assisted them. "What can I do for you?" The lady asked with a gentle smile. "2 pedicures and 1 manicure please?" Hallie asked gesturing to herself, Ronnie and Jenny. The lady lead Hallie and Ronnie to a salon chair and Jenny to a table. "I thought you were getting a manicure?" Ronnie asked scooting his chair all the way back. "Have you seen these dogs?" Hallie said lifting her feet. Ronnie started laughing. "They don't look that bad." He said turning his head side to side to examine her feet. 2 Chinese women came and assisted Ronnie and Hallie. "So tell me about yourself Hallie-" "Well let's see-"Hallie started before Ronnie cut her off. "No no no no. I don't want to know what you tell everyone. Tell me about the real Hallie Mitchell." Ronnie said giving her a comforting look. Hallie took a minute to think about what she wanted to tell him. "Psh...um okay well for starters, back in Michigan I was known for my Volleyball skills you know." Hallie bragged while laughing. "Oh yeah, the best huh?" Ronnie asked sarcastically while laughing. "Yes, you ass I was amazing, but no, I had 2 best friends they're identical twins Yazmine and Jyada." Hallie said. "Oh really? How'd you tell them apart?" Ronnie asked intrigued. "Jyada wore a J on her neck and Yazmine wore a Y..." "Wait, a J?"  Ronnie asked confused. "The J is silent you goof. But back home I was loud and everyone knew me. I loved meeting new people. It was a small town you know. There was this boy who went to my school. He was this 6'2 chocolatey masculine guy with a head full of waves. He was my dreamboat back in Michigan boy I tell you." Hallie bragged on and on. "Well what happened with that guy to wanna make you go and switch to Vanerro?" Ronnie asked shifting his body to her. "That bastard beat my ass. And it wasn't even just because he fucked me up. We weren't even together yet and he was controlling as hell. Vanerro is what I want to find a guy like. But there aren't any, so of course I'm going to stick with the original. And what sucks most of all?" Hallie said leaving Ronnie in suspense. "We had sex one time, I missed my period. So I went ahead and took a pregnancy test... I was pregnant." Hallie said ashamed putting her head down. Ronnie was shocked in his seat. "I just, I knew he'd be mad. I took the pill and he even wore a rubber. I tried to explain to him as subtle as I possibly could. Phillip, was his name, lashed out at me. Made me feel like it was my fault. Called me a whore, a dirty bitch, every name in the book. He beat me every day until... one day I felt a sharp ass pain in my stomach, I was bleeding. I'd had a miscarriage." Hallie said wiping away a tear. Hallie cleared her throat. "The stress, was um, it was bad for the baby." Hallie mumbled. Ronnie's eyes teared up but her blinked them away. "I'd kill that son of a bitch." Was all he said. He felt so bad for Hallie. "To this day my parents never knew I was ever pregnant. And Vanerro can't know. Please, please don't tell her." Hallie begged. Ronnie put his hands up. "I won't even tell Jenny. Your secret will die with me I promise. Hallie I am so sorry for what happened to you." Ronnie said with sincerity in his voice. Hallie awkwardly cleared her throat and wiped away excess tears away as she thought about her life in Michigan. "So now it's your turn to talk." Hallie said awkwardly laughing. "Well I'm an only child, my mom walked out on me and my dad. He just beat lung cancer so I've been spending a lot of time with him. He's my rock, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world." Ronnie said with a slight smile. "Oh Ronnie that's wonderful." Hallie said with a smile and leaning over to hug him.