BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 57

" Tray? Could you please come pick me up."

" Is something wrong?" He asks. " Are you crying?"

" No...I mean yes... Please hurry." I tell him and grab my backpack.

" Five minutes baby..." He says and hung up.

I throw open my closet door and shuffle clothes inside my bag. There's no way I'm staying in this house with her. I rush to the bathroom and grab my toiletry bag together with my shoes.

" Hal, honey, " Dad says, blocking the door. " Please don't do this..."

" No dad, I need to go." I bang my closet door once I've finished shoving everything in my backpack.

" Look...I was going to tell you...but she told me not to. She wanted to tell you herself."

" I don't care dad. I hate the both of you." I grab my books lying on my computer counter and shove them inside.

" So what now dad? y'all going to fight for custody? or I'll be forced to stay with her."

" No no... We wouldn't do that, we love you... please understand."

A car honks.

Tray.

" I'm sorry dad but I have to go." I walk past him and literally run down the stairs.

My "mother" stands up from the couch and quickly follows me outside. Tray opens the door for me and I jump in. He runs over to the other side and starts the engine. I sink down in my seat and bury my face in my hands.

***

" Babe? Is something wrong?" Tray asks and halts the car.

I keep my mouth shut.

He offers to carry my bag and opens the front door. I pour myself some water and drink it slowly. My throat is dry and aching from all that shouting. Tray follows behind and sits on one of the kitchen stools.

" So you're not talking to me now?"

" Where's that stuff that you like to smoke?" I ask, opening the top drawers.

" Weed? They're in my room, I'll go get them."

I unzip my jacket and sit behind the counter. He swiftly drops the brown long blunts and a small blue lighter. I pick one and lit it.

I need to cool down.

The weed always works magic inside me.

" You're not smoking?" I ask Tray and blow the smoke on his face intentionally.

He shakes his head No.

" Well bad for you."

I close my eyes and inhale.

Tray grabs a bottle of whisky from the small freezer and pours himself on a small glass.

" Can I have some?" I ask and tap the burnt blunt on the ash tray.

He pours some for me and I gulp it down quickly before banging the glass on the counter.

" Are you having some trouble?" Tray asks and leans over to pat my arm. I grasp his wrist and pull him towards him, pressing my mouth to his. Our tongues meet and we don't stop kissing for a long time.

I need a distraction.

To shut down my world and forget everything.

" No..." Tray says in between our kissing." Tell me what happened first."

" Are you sure?" I say and look down at the thickness growing between his jeans.

He groans and lifts me up, my legs wrapped tightly around his waist. He kicks the bedroom door behind and we fall on the bed laughing.

***

" Now tell me." Tray says as I fall next to him on the bed.

I sigh and cover myself with the black duvet.

" Remember that woman you saw when you came to pick me up?"

" Yea?"

" She's my mother...my birth mother."

" Your Mother?" Tray asks shocked.

" Yes," I nod. " She said she's my long lost mom."

" And you believe her? I thought you said your mom died?"

" That's what I knew till now. From the way my dad was talking to her, she really is my real mother." I tell him and play with his necklace.

" But she does look like you. She seems nice."

" Are you siding with her?" I sit up.

" No, I'm just saying...but you guys look like sisters. How old is she?"

" Wow. Now you like her?"

He laughs. " You're really cute when you get mad." He starts drawing small circles with his fingers on my bare back.

I roll my eyes.

" I'm going to take a shower."

" Good, cause we're going to a party."

***