Halo

Beautiful Things

Adam

I stand in the garden the next day. Diana's mother told me to weed the rose garden. I enjoy the yardwork this family assigns me, it gives me time to process things. Like the night before.

Why did I think that smoking a joint with her be a good idea? I just wanted to spend time with her. Instead, I got to spend time with the high version of Diana. 

12 Hours Ago 

Currently she was laying on the floor giggling. 

"Adam! Watch this!" Diana yelled.

I watched her as she struggled to stand up. Knocking over her stacks of books off the desk. Once she was standing , she arched her feet so she was on the ball of her toes. Diana then raised on to her toes and held it for the next thirty seconds. Before she fell onto the ground again.

"Silly girl, you shouldn't do that." I chastised. 

I walked over to where she was and sat next to her shaking form. 

"I know! But when you've taken 14 years of ballet you're able to do alot of things!" she giggles. 

"You took 14 years of ballet?"

"I did... I was pretty fucking good too. Got some scholarships to some school in Boston for a summer thing." Diana looks off into the distance. The joint is in her hand. Cradled between her pointer and middle finger. Just like an old classy movie star would. 

"What happened?" I start to pry. I wanted to get to know this version of the girl I love.

"I quit. The girls kept getting meaner and I didn't enjoy it as much. But, I did take some classes at a local studio until I offically moved here."

"Can I see you dance?" I ask. 

Diana sighs heavily. She pulls out her phone and plays a song. I've heard it before.  Diana scoots herself out farther towards the balcony for more room.  At first its just a droning sound... similar to a cello or a low stringed instrument. 

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

The way she holds herself while she dances is amazing. Her presence fills the room. Its just her. Every single inch of her body is extended. Its incredible. 

The song finishes, Diana holds her pose. When she releases the pose its almost as if she let go 50 pounds of weight. 

She looks at peace.

"Can I ask you a question?" I ask.

Diana nods her head. "Shoot."

She takes the joint from my hands and takes another puff.

"Why'd your biological parents get divorced? Why do you hate your stepmother?" 

Diana's reaction surprises me. 

She laughs.

"Oh Adam... That's a hella long story." she giggles.

"I have time." I say back.

She turns her face to mine. "Ok, if you insist..."

I lean back onto my palms. Listening intently to every little detail she has to say. 

"My parents both love me,they really do. I guess they didn't just work out. They divorced when I was eight. It was pretty civil. I just had to spend time with my dad every other holiday or so. But I stopped coming when I was 14. I couldn't stand it here. I had no one my age. Then he married Gina. I was happy for him." She stops. 

"Go ahead, just because I'm employed by them doesn't mean I will tell them." I promise. 

Diana looks at me with her eyes. A flicker of doubt runs across her face. But she tells me anyways.

"Gina, has always been... needy. Always needs attention. Whenever I wanted my dad to hang out with me, she would always interrupt us and ruin it.  I just hate her. I feel that she hates me too. This might sound crazy but, I think she's evil. She sends out bad vibes. But at the party, I felt that she was the one causing my headache. She just had this look on her face." 

Diana wasn't wrong about Gina being evil. She did cause the headache. 

"Listen, maybe you should get some rest. You had a long day, plus you start your senior year in a couple of days." I say and start to stand up. 

"What? You don't want to listen to my sob story?" Diana asks. 

"No I want-"

"You know, I thought you were a little caring. But I guess not. You just wanted something against my parents. You're going to go and blab to them about this!" She yells.

"Diana, just listen to me. I am not-"

"Get the fuck out." 

Diana walks over to the balcony and shuts the doors behind her. 

Present Day 

"Adam?"

I look up from pulling weeds. I turn hoping its Diana, but am disappointed by Gina. 

"Hey. How can I help you?" I ask while wiping my forehead with my bandana. 

She looks me up and down disapprovingly. 

"I don't appreciate late night talks. Especially when there is drugs involved." She states. 

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I turn back down to the weed and pull.

"Adam, my stepdaughter needs to focus on her senior year. Plus she's special." Gina sighs.

I don't believe that for a second. 

"Of course Diana is special. I don't understand what you're asking me to do."

"Stay away." She says before walking back into the house. 

I stand there. I process the conversation. Gina's tone intended something more threatening than just a fair warning of staying away from Diana.