BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 29

Polly is onstage performing with my all time favorite band...Hey Violet.

GUYS MY AGE blasts from the speakers and i scream so Loud my throat hurts.

It's so thrilling.

I fan myself with a fan and try not to draw attention to the fact that I'm fanning my armpits more than my face. I don't want to smell gross for Tray, he hasn't seen me yet. The sun beats down and my nose is burning.

I text Tray for the hundredth time and sip the now warm water. The orange sun beats down and I'm sweating again. My hair is wet and smelly. At long last, I catch a break as a cloud passes over the sun. I release a tiny sigh.

"You're welcome," Tray says.

He's standing behind me. He is the cloud.

I hug him quickly before he can smell my gross hair.

" You look uncomfortable." He says and pulls me to his arms.

"This band blows and my feet are killing me," I sigh. "Plus the sun."

"You want us to leave?"

"No, Polly is still performing. Let's just wait a bit longer."

My plan was to hang out with Polly then finish my day with Tray. But now I don't want to hang out with Polly and Tray together. I want to stay with my friend but I haven't been alone with Tray for days.

No. I should stay with Polly.

"Babe?"

"Yeah?"

"Is something wrong? you look so lost."

"No. It's nothing. Just tired."

I shake out my hair, unbutton the top of my shirt and roll up the sleeves.

Tray leans over and speaks quietly, "I'm gonna load some stuff in the car." He kisses me, quickly at first, but then something changes in his mind and he slows down.

"I'll text you when I'm done."

"Okay."

The band steps down for a break and Polly walks towards me screaming.

" You were GREAT OMgggg!," I say and hug her.

" I was nervous the whole time."

"But you nailed it darling."

"Hal?" a guy calls out from behind us.

I turn around to find Dave, head tilted to the side. He looks over his shoulder and I follow his gaze as Khloe appears behind him.

"Can we talk?" Dave continues. "Please......"

" Idiots." Polly whispers.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Same thing you are." Khloe's voice is clipped. "Listening to music. Enjoying the day."

"Why didn't you guys dress up?" Polly asks. "You "are" couples right?"

She stifles her laughter.

"Can we talk now?" Dave asks, his eyes meeting mine.

"Umm, I don't think that would be necessary. Tray is waiting for Hal, right Hal?"

"No...I mean, yes. Gotta go...Bye."

Right on cue, my phone lits up with a text.

Gone to get gas. Be back in five minutes.

~Tray

"So, are you still going?" Khloe asks and crosses her arms on her chest.

What is it with her? No wonder she has a big forehead. Poking his head in everyone's business.

" No. Let's talk."

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We're standing behind the Backstage Room. Dave and I.

"Start talking." I tell him and fix my Mickey mouse wrist watch.

" You're still hanging out with him." He says.

" Duh, he's my boyfriend. You got a problem with that?"

Silence.

"If you called me out here to discuss my personal love life then I'm leaving."

"No. Please just listen."

"Then Talk Dave. TALK!"

He sighs and pulls his hair backwards.

" I know you won't believe what am about to say but please just know that i regret what i did to you and i wish i could take back time so me and you can be together again and I ......"

"That is never going to happen. Can't you see I'm over you? Come on Dave just move on already."

"I can't move on Hal. You are my life. I know i never treated you right before but i regret all that. And what happened between me and Khloe was nothing. Believe me. I was so stupid i shouldn't have agreed to her plan."

"Wait. What plan are you talking about?"

" Look, what happened that night, me and Khloe, it was....."

"It was what Dave? Answer me."

"A prank."

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