Wednesday 30 April 2014

The Monroe Legacy - G.2. Chapter 6 - All That Glitters Is Not Gold

The dorm felt different without Cai down the hall. In those first days Hallie would find herself starting up to get his opinion on her paintings or just to chat about their lives and end up half way down the hallway before she remembered he was gone.



She had tried calling him but he wasn't picking up and he hadn't been in lectures. Her new seat mate was no replacement and seemed never to have heard of deodorant. If Luna hadn't assured her he was okay, Hallie probably would have been worried. Instead she was just upset.



What had changed that he could throw away their friendship and not even tell her?

Hallie tried to put on a happy show for Brian when he arrived to visit and he seemed convinced. She avoided discussing Cai, she knew Brian wasn't his biggest fan, partially because he was a "bad influence" and partially because Brian knew that Cai didn't like him. Hallie just brooded quietly, checking her phone whenever she had a moment alone.



The weekend might have passed uneventfully had it not been for the party that Hallie had dragged Brian to. Brian preferred a quiet evening, they ate out a lot, sometimes caught a movie or went for a walk. Now he was in her world and Hallie was determined he'd have fun her way for a change.



She began to think it was a bad idea as soon as they arrived, the writhing mass of beer soaked bodies in the front room was off-putting, Brian had made it clear he wouldn't be drinking and Hallie didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of her sober boyfriend.



Things went from bad to worse as they battled through the crowd to the kitchen and Cai emerged from the masses. He was naked. And dancing. And smiling right at Hallie!



Hallie was so pleased to see him that she charged over and hugged him hard before suddenly realising that that was probably a bad move. She turned to see Brian with a face like thunder, his mouth a thin line under drawn eyebrows. Blushing she mumbled something incomprehensible to Cai before returning to Brian's side.



As the evening wore in Hallie wished she could defuse the tension between her and Brian or at least take the edge off with a drink or two. He was making no effort with her friends, his unmasked disapproval spoiling the atmosphere and he was barely speaking to her despite her effusive apologies.



Then whenever Cai entered the room he'd become overly possessive and affectionate, pulling her close whilst his eyes darted back and forward between her and Cai.



Hallie felt like the prize in an unannounced contest, Brian was the winner and he wanted to make a show of his trophy.



After a few agonising hours they left and as they did so she saw the tension drain out of Brian's shoulders.  Inexplicably this enraged her and they walked back to her dorm in a strained silence.

At her door Brian smiled at her sheepishly saying,

'Jeez Hal, that was awful, tell me we don't have to do that again!'

'Whatever you want' Hallie retorted, unlocking the door and storming in, making no effort to stop it swinging in his face.


'Are you mad at me Hallie?! After you just made me endure three hours in Gomorrah with my former students and your ex-boyfriend?' Brian accused, his face reddening as she threw herself on the bed.

'CAI is NOT my ex, those people are my friends and you made no effort with them at all! In fact you made no effort with me! Am I really so far beneath you that you can't even pretend to enjoy the evening I planned? That you can't even enjoy being with me if the surroundings don't suit you?'



'Hallie you aren't beneath me, you're different to all those other kids. More... More mature! I don't like how you become when you're around them, the silliness, the drinking, that's all. One day when you're older you'll see how beneath you all that juvenile crap is. You'll see yourself how I see you.'

'Fine. Maybe I will "grow up" to be just as patronising as you just were. But until I grow up enough to appreciate your fine taste you can sleep on the sofa.' Hallie hissed, too angry to decide whether or not he had a point.



With an withering look at her, Brian stormed out texting five minuets later to say he was staying with a professor friend and that he would see her in the morning when they were "calmer".

They made peace the next day although a lot of what had been said was brushed under the rug. Hallie knew that dating an older guy would have its challenges but as she knew that she still had some growing up to do she was prepared to let it go. For now.





As she waved Brian off on his train he phone vibrated with a text from Cai proposing coffee. Hallie accepted, she missed her best friend and the ease of their conversation but she decided it would be best if Brian didn't know for the moment. Their relationship was still adjusting to the distance and she didn't even know if Cai planned to keep speaking to her on a regular basis.

Cai didn't object, with Brian away they regained some of their old closeness but he never explained why he'd moved, changing the subject whenever Hallie asked.



The year rolled on, Hallie visited Brian every other weekend in New York. It was easier that way, he always had a reason why Boston was inconvenient and in New York they could just be a regular couple. 



Hallie spent the holidays with Brian's parents who welcomed her warmly to her face although she once heard them gossiping about her youth, her relationship and her "hobo boots" which caused her to flush with shame.



From then onwards she dressed more formally when meeting Brian's friends. He always showered her with compliments when she made the effort and Hallie couldn't help feeling that he'd like it if that was how she dressed all the time.



Back in Boston she had to work hard to keep up with her studies. Her down time was limited but she and Cai still found time to have fun, attending protests, entering underground tagging contests and hitting the odd party.

Her street art was still her escape and Hallie found herself working with new mediums, combining images and tagging. She found that after her weekends with Brian she did her best work, perhaps he inspired her?

Cai was obsessed with the art he believed was painted by the mysterios Why? , making grand statements about the juxtaposition between representations of the traditional woman and the freedom of street art.

Hallie just painted what she felt in the moment - sometimes art was just art, right?

She never meant to keep these times with Cai from Brian but always found a reason why the moment she had planned to bring her extracurriculars up wasn't the right one.



As graduation approached Hallie made the Dean's list of exceptional scholars. Brian could not have been prouder, surprising her with dinner at an expensive restaurant and advising her to "leave the boots at home". Hallie was feeling petulant and "forgot" the instruction and as a result the dinner was rather strained.



Cai's response was less traditional, he drove them out to a remote location in the dead of night and they sat companionably and sketched the sun as it rose over the nearby cliffs.



So much had changed at home as Hallie immersed herself in her studies that lived for her post deliveries. Coralie was now an adorable toddler already talking in lisping sentences. Lola and Jeffery were looking for a place of their own as the house was rather small for so many people.



Georgia and Oscar were about to graduate and Hallie was disappointed to discover her finals clashed with their party, they promised to celebrate again on her return and sent her lots of pictures, mainly of the new styles Georgia had come up with for the pair!














Too soon her time at college was over. 

As Hallie donned her graduation robes she reflected on her time at university wondering if she had any hope of making it as an artist. Whilst Cai had an exhibition scheduled she had no idea what she would do once she moved back home. Even Brian who usually had an opinion on everything had refrained from offering any guidance - she wondered if he'd expect her to move to New York?



As Hallie exited graduation her diploma heavy in her hand and her heart heavy at the thought of change, her parents hugged her and her worries seemed a little smaller.



Brody was tears, he had never looked so proud in his life. 



As her family left to collect their formal portrait, Brian grabbed her hand and dragged her out into the quad where they'd first kissed to take pictures.

As Hallie stood gazing at the buildings she had frequented for two years she barely noticed Brian rummaging in his pocket. As she felt him take her hand she tore her mind from the reminiscence she'd been enjoying and turned to find him down on one knee.



'Hallie Mae Monroe' Brian began, his eyes bright with love and a ring in his hand.

'I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that you were special. I knew from the moment you touched my hand that I needed you. I've known from that first kiss that I love you like I'll never love anyone else.

Will you marry me?'

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Read on now in The Monroe Legacy - Generation 2 Chapter 7- Tangled Up in Blue


Tuesday 29 April 2014

The Monroe Legacy - G.2. Chapter 5 - Grey Areas



In the seconds that followed her impulsive move Hallie quickly sobered up. As Professor Petersen pulled away she stared at her toes, shuffling her boots in the dust on the ground.




Had she just jeopardised her university place on a juiced up kiss?

Watching from inside, Cai crushed the solo cup he'd been holding in to a ball in his fist, threw it violently at the door and ran up to his room.

The sound of a slamming door seemed to break the spell which had paralysed the couple standing outside. Hallie felt a soft touch on her chin as the professor raised her head so she couldn't avoid looking him in the eyes.




She saw a familiar mixture of hope and regret and braced herself for the harsh words she was sure would follow. Instead he just murmured, 'I need a week', turned on his heel and left.

Recalling that night Hallie was never sure how she made it inside, she remembered nothing until sunshine broke into her unsettled sleep and she surfaced to find herself in Cai's bed.




'Shit!' Hallie whispered, before clapping her hand over her mouth as her sleeping friend stirred. Moving slowly she shuffled to the edge of the bed and towards the door. 

 Hallie silently closed Cai's door behind her and scampered across the hall to her own room. There she curled up on her bed and wondered how everything had become such a mess.




A soft knock an hour or so later admitted Luna who looked both irritated and concerned.

'What on earth happened last night Hal?' She demanded.

'I... I'm not sure. I was drinking and then Professor Petersen was there and I was so mad. I kissed him. And then he ran. Then I don't remember. Why was I in Cai's room Luna. Tell me I didn't-'

'OH! No! Well I can fill in some of the gaps for you. I was flirting with that cute senior from Gamma Theta when that bald dude from down the hall came and interrupted saying you were losing it out front. 

By the time I got to you you'd downed a funnel that some idiot was running around with and were making no sense at all, rambling on about Professors and commissions and shame. The only thing I could make out as I hauled your drunken, sorry ass inside was that you kept saying Cai. So we went to his room, knocked for a few minutes and he eventually came out looking furious.




When he saw the look on your face he calmed right down, scooped you up and took you inside. I left him looking after you, you were barely conscious and went back to the party once I'd changed you into your pjs.

I checked in later and you were both asleep. So I went to bed.'

'Thank god! Hallie sighed. 'I already had one terrible decision to deal with from yesterday, at least things won't be awkward with Cai.'

Luna snorted, 'More awkward that they always are you mean!?'

Hallie just looked bewildered and Luna's face softened, 'You really are clueless aren't you Hal.'

-------------------------

Hallie skipped all her classes for the next week, immersing herself in art, though the almost complete Ruby Anniversary canvas lay untouched. Cai seemed to be tiptoeing around her but Hallie was too busy ignoring life to ask why.



With finals looming she knew she would have to go back to class and risk encountering Professor Petersen. She figured as it had been a week since what she was referring to as "the incident" and she hadn't heard from the college that he probably wasn't looking to have her thrown out. Steeling herself for the whispers she imagined would follow her Hallie made it to the library without incident, checking out the books she needed for revision.

The stack was so high that when a familiar voice stopped her outside her dorm she didn't have to meet the eyes of the person it belonged to, stepping around them and rushing for the door.




'Hallie will you please stop!' Professor Petersen begged. 'We need to talk'.

Reluctantly she put down her books and turned to face him.




'How can I help you, sir?' She replied, hiding her shame behind sarcasm and formality.

He had the decency to flinch.

'Hallie I told you I needed a week, will you please let me explain, it's not what it's looked like!'

Defeated Hallie sighed, 'There's nothing to explain. I acted out of turn, I'm so sorry. Now may I please go?'


'No! You can't! I mean... You weren't wrong last week. Your timing may have been but you were only doing what we'd both wanted to do for months. I should have stayed away but I couldn't. I was the one in the wrong. 

But I did want it. Want you.'




'I still do. I said I needed a week because I had some formalities to settle. You know that I was awaiting tenure here. Well I also applied for a job at NYU. Last week I was deciding between them, leaning toward staying. But then you kissed me and made up my mind.'

Hallie felt her heart sink. 'So you're leaving. Because of me.' She managed.

'Yes. Well sort of. But not for the reasons you think. If I go then we can see each other. I won't be your professor, there's no conflict if interest. I can be with you. If you'll have me.

Hallie,wont you say something?'




Speechless, Hallie looked up at the eyes which had haunted her for so long, she saw there a light and hopefulness that she'd never seen before. She was pretty sure her jaw was still on the floor and speech was a long way off so she just nodded.

With a smile that threatened to split his face in two he gently pulled her in into his arms. Hallie finally found her voice and pulling in a breath that it felt like she'd been holding all week she asked him something she couldn't believe she didn't know.

'Professor.... What's your first name?'

--------------------

The remaining days of term slipped past like clouds in a summer a wind. Hallie spent every spare moment with Brian (yes- his name was Brian) though they had to meet in secret until he was officially no longer a faculty member. 




Rumours swirled, especially when Hallie aced the year, but she was too happy to care and Brian assured her he had had nothing to do with her marking.

The only dark cloud in her sky was Cai. While Luna had handled the news with indifference and a sly smile, Cai, the only other person Hallie had told, had stormed out.




 He was still speaking to her but where they used to spend hours sketching and talking about their dreams they now spent time playing video games or watching films, activities where they didn't have to talk.



The rest of the time Cai was locked away with his easel. Luna pointed out that the few finished pictures they'd peeked at were all of girls with blue eyes. 




Hallie brushed off the implied significance, she decided to believe Cai's excuses that he was just stressed about finals and cross that Brian had upset her with his miscommunication.




Too soon it was time to return home, where joyous news was waiting and Hallie soon had many things to distract her from her university worries. 





Once Brian was settled in New York he flew in to visit, Marlie liked him though privately she worried about the twelve year age difference and Brody didn't disapprove which was more than could be said for most men his daughters brought home, though Brian did have to sleep on the lumpy old couch while Hallie enjoyed her newly redecorated room alone.




Cai cancelled his long anticipated visit to Utah, citing family commitments to everyone's disappointment. They had met him on their visits to Boston and loved the quirky guy's company.

Marlie couldn't help but notice that the confidence Cai seemed to bring out in Hallie was missing that vacation, but she buried her doubts as Lola's due date approached.



Coralie Adele Dean was born three weeks early, small but perfectly formed. 



It had been so long since there had been a baby in the house that she barely spent any time in her cradle.



Coralie loved it best when her mummy would take her outside in the heat whilst her aunt Georgia played guitar. She was also a slob, anything she ate would soon find it's way down her pretty dresses.



The summer sped by, filled with love, family and long distance calls to New York and Hallie returned to Boston for her second and final year with high hopes for both her academic and personal life. Her old room beckoned, Luna had text to say she was there and had found a party and a Brian was coming up to spend the next weekend.



For ten minutes everything in Hallie's world was perfect until she ventured down the corridor to check on Cai. As she knocked his door swung open to reveal unfamiliar posters and a strange guy in a varsity jacket.

'Hi,' said the confused jock, 'I'm Tad. Can I help you?'.


Hallie couldn't form words for a good twenty seconds before she finally managed,

'But where is Cai?'

'The dude with the blue hair? He sub-let to me. I guess he's living off campus?'

Dumbfounded Hallie turned and wandered down the corridor where Luna came rushing out. Seeing the door of Cai- no Tad's room open her face fell.


'Hallie I was coming to warn you. I'm so sorry you had to find out like that.'

----------------------------

How will Hallie cope without Cai at her side. Can Brian and Hallie make long-distance work?

Find out now in Chapter 6 - All That Glitters Is Not Gold.