BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 35

I roll over and stretch as my eyes wander over the empty space next to me. The warmth from Tray's body still lingers on the sheets as I reach over and rub a hand over the empty spot.

He stayed the whole night!

I run my hands through my hair and burying my face in my pillow. My head is awfully paining.

I have a sick hangover.

Laughter from downstairs wakes me up completely. I plug my phone in the charger and throw a t-shirt on. The laughs are coming from the kitchen, I hear my dad's voice then....

Tray?

The sight of him makes me slightly breathless and happy.

" Oh, good morning sweetheart." Dad says and hands Tray a glass of milk.

" Look who decided to join us for breakfast."

I look at my stubborn boyfriend.

He smiles.

I melt.

I sit on the other side of the table, throwing daggers at him.

"Hi," He whispers and smiles again.

" Here you go." Dad slides my glass of milk and some cookies.

I eat in small bits. Tray is still looking at me, smiling. I want to ask what's his problem but i gotta act cool infront of dad. I still haven't told him that Tray is my boyfriend.

"Hal, you're awfully quiet, is everything okay?"

" I have a headache that's all."

" I can run to the store and grab-"

"No, I'm fine," I cut in Tray and try to sound as believable as possible. "I'll be fine."

He gives me an apologetic look and i roll my eyes.

" Tray and I have been discussing some man to man issues, do you have something you want to tell me?"

I look at Tray, he sticks his thumb out and pretend to slice his neck.

" Dad, I...."

He starts laughing, " Relax, I know what you want to say and yes, Tray has my permission to court you."

My eyebrows practically stick up to my hairline.

" I should be going now, " He checks his wrist watch and stands, " Enjoy your day you two." Dad grabs his briefcase and kisses my hair.

"Bye."

"What?" I turn to Tray.

"WhAt?" He mimicks me.

I roll my eyes.

He rolls his.

I push my hair back behind my ear.

He pretends to push his too.

He mimicks my actions and i can't help but laugh. He walks over and sits next me. Then he hugs me tight and plant a small kiss on my lips.

"I was dying to do that." He says and grabs a cookie from my plate.

Tray has a habit of eating my food.

" Did you sleep well? He asks and snakes his arm around my waist.

" Yeah, expect for my headache."

" That should teach you not to drink too much."

" But it's your fault, you made me drink."

" And i said I'm sorry."

I want him to stop apologizing since it was my stupidity in the first place but then again it feels good hearing him say that every two minutes.

" So tell me, what lies did you cook up and tell my dad?" I drop the dirty cups in the sink and start washing them.

" I told him that I like you and blah blah blah, you know, stuff like that and he said yes." He helps clear the table and even offers to wipe the wet dishes.

" You do know your dad likes me. It was a piece of cake."

" At least i wasn't the one who was going to tell him, it would be.... what's the word? awkward?"

" I don't see any awkwardness in there, he's your dad, you should be open to him."

I hate when he got strong points.

" Ok ok, I get it."

" I got a surprise for you," Tray says and hugs me from behind.

" What kind of surprise?"

He kisses my neck and I giggle.

" Go wash up and I'll take you there."

" Ok but first, I'll finish these dishes."

" No, I'll wash them." He says and pulls me backward. " Thirty minutes, then we leave okay?"

I nod and head up to my room.
...................................................................................

" We're here." Tray says and brings the car to a halt.

We're in a movie theater.

We walk through the gleaming glass doors. The lobby is smaller and it's missing the tang of artificially buttered popcorn.

Movie with no popcorn? Sheeesh!

Tray pays for our ticket and we enter, hand in hand. We follow the blue rope lights down the aisle of the theater. It has perfect seats and are all classic red. We decide to sit four rows up from the center, where the view is clear.

The movie begins and the title screen flashes up.

MR POPPINS AND HIS PEGUINS.

The theater is dark except for the flicker of blacks and whites and grays on-screen.

"Seriously?" I laugh.

"What? It's a really nice movie." he says laughing.

I get distracted by the whiteness of his teeth through the darkness.

He is soooo beautiful.

The movie is an old film about a man who lived with peguins his whole life. He names each one of them and together with his family, they build a foundation to help penguins in Ice land.

Tray laughs when the man in the movie gets slapped with a baby penguin.

I see his deep dimple on his cheek.

I feel like poking my finger in it.

"Do you like it?" He whispers and draws me into his chest.

"I like it very much."

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