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