BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 9

I want to be alone.

I storm upstairs and lock the bedroom door behind me.

How did this day get so awful? When did this happen?

Tray.

His name explodes inside of me like gasoline. I move towards our windows. His curtains are open and the bags he brought home are still on his floor but there's no sign of him.

What am I supposed to say the next time we see each other? Why won't he stop ruining my life?

Why does he have to ask me out now?

And Dave knows about him.

It shouldn't matter but it does. Dave will forever bring it up. Did he believe me when I told him that I love him? That I don't like Tray?

I love Dave.

Oh God am i the only one with guy problems?

My phone vibrates on my back pocket signalling a text.

I peek at it.

It's a text from Polly:

Polly😍: I got the spot😭 I'm so HAPPY! Where are you?

Hal🦋: Sorry P, I'm at my house. Something happened

Polly 😍: What??? Is it Pip?

Hal🦋: No. It's about Tray. Dave caught us talking so I had to introduce them to each other. Oh P, it was so awful.

Polly😍: OMG, so Dave and Tray have already met? How did it go? Was Dave pissed? Poor Tray.

Hal🦋: I feel so bad for Tray, just wish you would see his face. He didn't expect me to have a boyfriend. He even asked me out tonight to make it up for what he did last time.

I fall back on the bed and stare at the three typing dots.

Polly 😍: TRAY ASKED YOU OUT?!!! You seriously have to tell me EVERYTHING.

Hal🦋: I will. I promise.

Polly 😍: Can't wait👏😌

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I arrive at the café late as usual. But I'm surprised to find it isn't loaded yet. Gabby isn't scheduled to work today but Ken is here. And he's wearing our uniform.

"What's with the uniform?" I ask.

He shrugs.

" I work here."

"Wait. You got a job here?"

"Yeah, but don't tell anyone. It's a secret." He widens his eyes joking.

"You. Working?"

"You don't think I can handle wiping tables?"

" Yes."

Ken grins and my heart skips a beat. He really IS attractive. What's my problem? I'm not interested in Gabby's boyfriend.

At all.

I dive into work to distract myself from increasingly uncomfortable thoughts. But Ken approaches me a few hours later.

"My knees feel weak," he says.

" Better get used to it pretty boy."

My shift ends way too early than I expected. I decide to drop by Dave's apartment to clear my thoughts. I want to know if he's "the one."