BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 50

" What's the meaning of this tattoo?" I ask Tray as I trace the outline of his tattoo with my index finger.

" The black hawk?" He asks, his eyes still closed.

" Mhmm,"

He shifts into a more comfortable position while carefully keeping me nestled against his body.

" When I was seventeen, my brother died. He was beaten by a bunch of four guys and he died right on the spot. That's when I first got it done."

" I'm so sorry," I say and he swallows.

A lump stuck in his throat I'm sure.

" But," He pauses. " I'm taking care of them."

" How? The police didn't do anything?"

" Police? You asking bout the police? Those guys didn't do anything, no one even cared. A black guy beaten to death by four white dudes, what do you think they'll do? huh? Nothing... That's the world we live in."

I keep my mouth shut. I can feel his hot breath above my head.

" What was your brother like?" I ask and smile up to him.

" He was awesome!" I hear a smile in his voice. " He was the awesome big brother anyone could dream of. He taught me how to approach girls."

I laugh.

" And how to make the one special girl happy."

" Like now?"

" Like now." He says and runs his hand up and down my back.

" Are tattoos painful? cause I really want one."

" It depends. Where do you want to get one? On your butt cheek?"

I slightly slap his open chest and laugh.

" I can't stand another guy touching my ass."

" Only me right?"

" Well... There's this guy and he's name is Tray and he touches every body part of mine and---"

He silences me with a soft deep kiss.

" We'll get one when we get back, coo?" He brushes my hair away from my shoulder leaving it bare.

" Okay."

More sunlight streams in through the windows and it’s the happiest morning of my life. We shift but our legs are still hooked together. I stare at his adorable, sleep-rumpled hair and his long, lovely spine. I touch the skin of his back with the tip of one finger, he rolls over and smiles at me languorously.

" I love you." I tell him and he's smile widens.

" Finally. I've been waiting to hear those three words my whole life."

" I was only waiting for the right time. The day I'll mean it."

He kisses my nose and hops from the bed.

" I'll be right back."

" Bathroom?" I ask and he nods.

" Pass me my purse."

Tray digs it out from my bag, tosses it to me and goes into the bathroom. The door shuts. I switch my phone on and the screen illuminates.

My heart stops.

“No,” I whisper.

Thirty new messages plus missed calls.

Polly. Gabby. Dad.

" Tray!”

The bathroom door bursts open.

"What happened? Are you okay?” And then he sees the way I’m clutching my phone. The blood drains from his face.

" Fuck," he whispers.

He tears apart his own backpack, yanks out his phone and swears at its screen.

“ My dad, like a hundred times.” I say and feel the sting of tears.

He paces the room, raking his scalp with both hands.

“It’s okay. It’ll be fine. I’ve messed up before. It’ll be fine.”

" How Tray? How? My dad must be so worried. What if he had an emergency?"

" Calm down okay, I'll think of something."

I feel faint. My stomach churns threatening upheaval.

I scroll through the texts trying to piece together a timeline of events. But I can’t focus. I listen to Polly’s voicemail and she’s completely freaked out.

Hal, it's Pip....She sick. Something is wrong, I called your Dad and he asked and I had to tell him where you are. I'm sorry.

Tray sinks beside me onto the bed. He places one hand on each side of my face and touches his forehead to mine.

“Breathe,” he says. “Breathe. Breathe.”

***

Sorry y'all for not updating like FOR-EVER! Next chapter will be dropped tomorrow...

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P.S. I'm also thinking of getting a tattoo on my thigh. Tattoos ain't a big deal right? 😍😊😊

Anyone who got a birthday today... HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ME TO YEWWWW!!!

♥️♥️♥️