BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 1

I Love three things in my life.

One, Marvel movies.

"VENOM" for example, that creature is ugly but imagine the power it gives you. With that power I could beat all those people who make fun of me at school. Like chopping off their heads and feeding them to my dog, Pip.

Two, My dad, Nate. He's the Best gift that God has blessed me with. We share a very unique strong bond.

Like dipping cookies in full glasses of milk or watching "Game Shakers" while eating pizza with both our legs up on the table.

I love him Alot!

And my best friend, Polly.

"Miss Hasley? Are you with us?"

Oh gee, I forgot am in class.

" It's nothing Mrs Susan. I didn't say anything."

The school bell rings and am glad the day is finally over. I walk over the twenty-one stairs from our porch to the sidewalk. Anywhere you go in San Francisco, you have to deal with steps and hills. It's unusually warm outside, so along with my grey sweat pants, and a black tank top, I walk Pip out.

The sunshine feels good on my shoulders. It doesn't matter that it's August; the temperature doesn't change much throughout the year. It's always cool. Today I'm grateful for the peculiar weather, because it means I won't have to bring a sweater on my walk.

Pip pees on the teeny rectangle of grass in front of the lavender Victorian next door-she always pees here, which I totally approve of-and we move on.

We hike up and down the massive hill that separates my street from the park. When we arrive, an old gentleman in a velveteen tracksuit greets us. He's sitted on a bench between two palm trees.

"Hello, Halsey! How was your birthday?" Mr. Lim is the only person apart from my Dad(when he's mad) who calls me by my real name. He's Polly's father and they live a few streets over.

"Hi, Mr. Lim. It was divine!" My birthday was last week. Mine is the earliest of anyone in my class, which I love. It gives me an additional air of maturity. "How's the restaurant?"

"Very good, thank you. Everyone asking for beef this week. Goodbye, Halsey! Say hello to your dad."

I love being called Hal.

Pip finishes and we head home.

A moving truck rattles by, and it's odd, because suddenly-just that quickly-my good mood is replaced by unease. We pick up speed. I can't explain it, but the closer I get to home, the worse I feel.

But I'm jogging now, hauling Pip down the hill. Something's not right. when I reach my street and everything clicks into place.

The moving truck.

The moving truck.

The moving truck.

But I'm sure the truck belongs to another renter. In the last two years, there's been a string of renters, and every time someone moves out, I can't help but feel ill until the new ones arrive.

I'm starting to hate new faces too.

I slow down to get a better look at the truck. Is anyone outside? I didn't notice a car in the garage when we passed earlier, but I've made a habit out of not staring at the house next door. Sure enough, there are two people ahead on the sidewalk. I strain my eyes and find, that it's just the movers. Pip tugs on her leash, and I pick up the pace again.

The movers lift boxes and I peer inside the crammed truck, searching for anything familiar, and I'm met with stacks of severe modern furniture that I've never seen before.

I grin from ear to ear-a silly smile that makes me look like a child, which I don't normally allow myself to do-and wave to the movers. They grunt and nod back.

Pip and I bound inside.

Dad is staring out the front window in our living room.

"Looks like we have neighbors again," I say.

Nate looks surprised by the cheer in my voice.

"What?" I grin again, but then stop myself. I tone it down.

"Uh, Hal? You didn't see them, by any chance, did you?"

Nate's concern is touching. I release Pip from her leash and whisk into the kitchen. Determined to hurry the morning and get to my room, I swipe the remaining dishes from the table and head toward the sink.

"Nope." I laugh. "What?

" You're going to like these new neighbours."

What's that suppose to mean?

My feet are carrying me towards the window and my heart is beating ten times louder.My eyes are riveted next door as a figure emerges onto the porch.

There he is.

The Gorgeous guy I've ever seen in my entire life!

My heart stops and imaginary stars and fairies dance above my head and blow pixie dust everywhere.

He turns over to our window and my face drops.

He's black.