The Halfway Group (book 1)

Chapter 15: Haley's Lament

Haley's POV:

I get in the back seat of Jimmys car as Max gets in next.to me and Rachel gets in shotgun.  Jimmys putting a nasty ass chew in, gross.

I'm gonna find that Luke kid and fuck him up for even getting him started on that. 

Jimmy gets in and I hand him a CD I've had for quite sometime.  "I know your birthday is still a few months off but consider this an apology for missing 3 of them."

Chloe gets in her truck and starts to follow us.

I really hope he's gonna like this.  It's something me and him worked on when we were younger.

He pops the CD in and the first song that comes out is our cover of Paranoid by Black Sabbath.  Jimmys guitar playing is heard before my voice is heard. 

"Oh my god Haley is that you singing?"  Max asks as she smiles really wide.

"Yeah, and the brat driving is playing the guitar." Jimmy blushes wide as Rachel shoots him a look I can only assume is very flirty.  "Jimmy tell them.what our band was called."  I say as I lean forward next to him.

"Our name was Killem Dead.  Haley started singing randomly one day while I was practicing my guitar after one of mine and dad's fights.  We decided to head to the garage and start jamming and it turned into this."  Jimmy skips forward a couple songs and comes to his favorite.  "This one is just me and my buddy Luke, he's on the drums but im singing and playing lead."  It's Jimmys favorite song of all time.  Don't drag me down by Social Distortion.  He listened to this song all the time growing up.

"Holy shit Jimmy, this is badass.  I didn't know you can sing."  Rachel says as she punches his arm lightly.  "You should sing for me."

"I don't sing anymore.  I don't sing ever since Haley started joining our sessions.  We didn't really spend much time together as kids but when we were in the garage or on stage at school we kicked ass and we're inseparable.  I don't know what I'd do without her."  I smile and blush so red as he says that. 

I love you too Jimmy, I'll always be here for you.  We may fight and argue but I'd never turn my back on you like dad did.  I promise.

"Shut up, you butt."  Is all I can manage to say.  Rachel looks in the rear view mirror and sees my face.

"Haley Nicole, are you blushing because your brother gave you a complement?" The color drained from my face.

"What? No no no."  Jimmy pulls into his apartment complex as he's still going on about our band days, and how he says we should bring it back now that we are at blackwell. 

"We will see, no promises."  Chloe gets out of her truck and asks "see what?"  Jimmy smiles and grabs the CD out of his car.

"Chloe, you need to hear your girlfriends singing."

I am gonna beat him horribly.

"I heard that Hale, sibling telepathy remember?"  Shit, I forgot he does that shit sometimes.  He just knows what I'm thinking.

Chloe starts dancing as the songs are playing and drinking her beer.  "Holy shit babe, you really can sing!!"  She grabs me by the arm and gets me up.  That's the one thing Haley does not do. Is dance. 

"I don't dance Chloe, you know this." 

"Come on Hale, have some fun." Jimmy says as he's 8 shots in already. He's staggering as he starts swaying back and forth as his attempt to dance. 

"Okay everyone, let's sit down and watch the movie and eat our pizza."  Jimmy lays on one of his couches as Rachel sits and lays his head on her lap.  Chloe and I sit on the other couch and cuddle as Rachel hits the play button on the remote.  Tarzan is one of my favorite movies. Especially with the Phil Collins soundtrack. 

As the movie goes on, Chloe falls asleep on me as I slowly stroke her hair,  I took her beanie off and put it on my head.

I look fucking adorable in a beanie okay, fight me.

Jimmy and Rachel are still awake and watching the movie.  I look at my phone and see its only 11.  We've only been here for a couple hours but we've already partied hard.  Rachel had a couple drinks but Jimmy is wasted and Chloe is hammered.  Those two are gonna be best friends I can already tell.

Then my phone vibrates.  Rachel looks at me and nods that I should take it, She and Max  have the two children.

I get up and slip, socks on a polished hardwood floor don't match. 

I slide to Jimmys room as I answer and it's Dad. His name is John. John Carswell

H: Hi daddy!  How's things going
J:  Hi baby girl, things are great how are you?
H:  I'm fine I'm at Jimmys watching a movie.
J: You are hanging out with your fuck up of a brother are you?  Tell that asshole I said hey, and to fuck off.
H:  Dad, we've talked about this. I hate how you treat him.  He's done nothing wrong to you.  And yet you are always so mean to him.  He deserves better.
J: he deserved to die when he tried commiting suicide, but your mother demanded I get him some help.  I would've let those pills eat away at him until he died in that coma.
H: Bye dad.

I hung up, fuck him for talking about Jimmy like that.  I feel so bad for him, no wonder he feels like cutting himself all the time.  Nobody cared,  but I do, now he's got me and Rachel and Chloe and Max.  He's not alone.

I creep back into the living room and the movie is only half over.  Rachel smiles at me as Max stretches on the carpeted part of the floor.  I sit on the  couch again as Chloe begins to wake up.  She lays her head back in my lap as she passes out again.  Rachel has herself positioned to where she's side saddle but still has Jimmys head in her lap, and he's fucking out.  Like dead asleep out.  Max is just chilling with her feet up on the table.  This is so nice.  Everyone just chilling out and having a good time, watching Disney movies and eating pizza.  What more could I ask for? As I feel my eyelids droop I fall asleep for the briefest of moments when I hear Jimmys voice.

"Hale wake up, the movies over."  He's still slurring but I guess that means it's bedtime.  Rachel and Max walk him to his room as I try waking Chloe.  It's gonna be a pain getting her into the guest room.  "Chloe, babe, wake up the movies over."  Chloe snaps awake.
"Huh who what when where, oh haaaaaley," she's so lovey when she's drunk. 
"Come on we are getting you to bed."  Max comes back out and helps me with Chloe.  "Thanks Max, you are super." 
"No problem it was really fun hanging out with you guys tonight."  She's already in her shorts and t shirt for bed.  "I'll ask Jimmy where blankets and stuff are." 
"No need Max, he keeps everything in the second room. We will set you a spot when we get chloe taken care of."  As we lay chloe in bed I cover her up and she wraps herself up quickly,  me and Max get her some blankets and a pillow out of the closet. And a twin bed pulls from under our bed.  "Gee this is great, not having to sleep on the floor."  Max says with a smile, sometimes she's too cute and innocent for her own good.  As Max gets situated I get my own night clothes on and get in bed next to Chloe who took all the blankets.  I steal one back and turn out the light.  I love this small group we have, and now Max, since none of us are all okay, we are at least halfway there.  I guess you could call us, the halfway group.