Page 44 of Daydream
I can tell Halle is buzzed as soon as she giggles and leans in to hug me. “My hero. I’m so happy I’myours.” Her laughter is so loud I can hear it over the instrumental being played from the speakers while we wait for the band. “Sorry, that was straight out of, like,90210or some old teen show or something. ‘Leave.’ Oh my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you actually look intimidating before.”
Her laughter instantly makes me feel better. “I’m very intimidating when I need to be.”
“I’m happy to be your damsel in distress if you’re going to be Mr. Serious.” She pinches my chin and shakes my head a little, pouting, and that’s when I realize she’s more than just buzzed.
“How drunk are you?” I ask, tucking a strand of hair behind herear while she rummages around her purse for something. “Do you need help?”
“I am very drunk. I brought you a present but I can’t freaking find it.” She huffs dramatically as she continues to dig through her purse that is not big enough to warrant this amount of effort. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so flustered. Eventually she pulls out a tiny drawstring bag and drops it into the palm of my hand. “Open it.”
I don’t know what I’m expecting to find in the bag. “Is it seeds?”
“I love that I hand you a small mystery bag at a concert and you go to seeds before drugs. Just open the bag, Henry.”
She watches closely as I empty two black loops onto my hand. “Thank you, but I don’t have my ears pierced.”
Halle starts laughing again and takes each of the loops from my palm, poking them into my ears. The noise around us dulls instantly. “They’re noise reducers. It’s so I can divide my time between dancing with Aurora like I promised her and cupping your ears. Working two jobs tonight, Turner. You gotta share me.”
I can hear everything but it’s like someone turned down the volume. It doesn’t feel like someone is hacking at my head anymore. Her arms wrap around me as I pull her into a hug, truly grateful. “Thank you.”
She smiles up at me and I kiss her forehead, catching us both by surprise. “You’re welcome.”
Right on cue, the lights dim and everyone starts screaming. Halle spins toward the stage but she doesn’t step out of my grasp. My hands land in a comfortable spot around her waist and she leans back into me.
Maybe the band isn’t that bad after all.
Chapter FourteenHENRY
“HEY, DAYDREAMER,” HALLE WHISPERS ASshe nudges my knee with hers to get my attention since I’d definitely zoned out. “I need the bathroom.”
She’s staring at me like I’m supposed to be reading her mind right now, but I can’t. After I don’t say anything, she nods toward the door. “Will you help me find it?”
Two of the band members—I can’t remember their names—are talking about Russ when he was a little kid and they used to rehearse in the Callaghans’ garage. Aurora is eating it up, but I’ve been ready to leave for twenty minutes; Russ is waiting for his brother to appear. I don’t understand why since they don’t seem to like each other, but I’m an only child so I don’t presume to understand sibling behavior.
“I’m going to pee my pants if we don’t go right now,” Halle whispers.
“You’re not wearing any pants,” I whisper back.
It takes two minutes to find the door labeled Restroom, and I’d argue that Halle didn’t need my help. I’m about to point that out when she pushes the door open and reveals Ethan, Russ’s brother,snorting a line of white powder from the edge of the sink with a woman.
There are various other clear plastic bags around them with powders and pills, and a half-drunk bottle of vodka. Ethan doesn’t pay any attention to either of us as Halle rushes into one of the stalls. It’s taking everything in me to not ask him what the fuck he thinks he’s doing.
I frankly don’t care about what irresponsible act he wants to do, but I’m angry for my friend. Russ deserves better.
“Close the fucking door, man,” he yells in my direction, not even bothering to look at me.
I reluctantly step into the bathroom, letting the door shut behind me. I don’t want to be anywhere near this, but I don’t want to leave Halle in here alone. I know Russ suspects there’s something going on with his brother because he confided in me about it over the summer.
He said it would be typical for his family to find something new to fall out over now that his dad is doing so well in his gambling addiction program. Russ thought maybe Ethan was using sleeping pills to help with traveling with the band, and that’s why he looked so strung out when they saw each other over the summer. I don’t think he suspected this, and I really don’t want to be the one to tell him he has another family problem to worry about.
Halle’s stall opens, and now that she’s turned toward me, I can see the horrified look on her face. I don’t think this is the experience she was looking for tonight. She doesn’t look at Ethan or his friend as she washes her hands beside them.
“What the fuck?” she says, having stormed out of the bathroom.
Halle doesn’t know about Russ’s family, other than what everyone who came here tonight knows: that Russ has issues with his brother but he’s supportive of him. I haven’t told her, and I know Aurora won’t have.
“Yeah, wild,” I respond, not knowing what else to say. This entire day has been a drain, and when I’m tired things come out wrong, and Ineednot to say things wrong right now.
I don’t want to betray Russ’s trust.