...And a Happy New Year

January 10, 2014

5 days.

120 hours.

7200 minutes.

432,000 seconds.

That was how long it took before Halvo finally got to see Chaney, or have any form of contact with her. When Chaney woke up later in the night that past Sunday, she noted that her phone was lying dead in her purse. She quickly plugged it in to see that she had innumerable voicemails and text messages from Halvo. She feared the worst had happened since he wouldn’t quit contacting her. She quickly looked through them to see if she could figure out what was wrong. She came to the conclusion that he was wanting to make sure she was okay because she left without telling him the other morning, and he hadn’t been able to contact her. He asked that she contact him no matter what time of day it was whenever she got these messages.

She looked at the time on her phone and noted that it was around 2 am on Monday morning. Sighing, she quickly sent him a text.

I’m alive. My phone was on silent and my battery died. I fell asleep as soon as I got home and just woke up. Sorry to worry you.

She genuinely did feel bad. She knew that Halvo would flip about her leaving without saying goodbye. That was something he had always been peculiar about; something about always saying goodbye/love you whenever you left because you never knew if it would be the last time you saw them or not. When the two of them began to get closer in their friendship, she found that trait irrational and annoying. Well, she didn’t think that he was stupid for wanting to say that, but she was annoyed that he flipped his shit if you didn’t, though she could understand his point of view. Now though, she found the trait endearing. She felt guilty for intentionally not telling him she was leaving the morning before. She didn’t understand what was going on with her lately. She felt off and didn’t know why.

Instead of going back to sleep, she decided to get up for the day since she essentially slept all day the day before and made herself some breakfast before preparing herself for the work week.
Chaney worked a 9-5 job as a secretary at a local business office. It definitely wasn’t her first choice for a job, but for the time being, it’s all she could do. It paid well enough that hopefully come summer, she would have enough saved up to start paying rent for her own place. She hadn’t told anyone of her plans to move out yet, and was excited to make the big announcement to everyone once she found somewhere to live.

That entire week, Chaney buried herself in her work. She would wake up, get ready, and leave for work. Once she got off work, she would come back home, make and eat dinner, and would then retreat to her room for the night; often times watching TV and working on additional paperwork from the office before drifting back off to sleep and repeating the routine the following day.

By the time Friday came around, Halvo was going crazy. Outside of tour, Chaney never went this long without talking or hanging out with Halvo. She was just as crazed about seeing him as he was about her. They became practically inseparable once they established a strong enough friendship; inseparable other than when Halvo had to tour, or would hang out with John. However Halvo often tried to include Chaney in as many things as possible when he hung out with John. He knew of her strange fantasy of kissing John at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Though he never understood why she was so set on accomplishing this, he did what he could to help her. He gave her 15 years of opportunities to make a move and she never would, being too shy to want to approach him.

Halvo knew what time Chaney got off work as well as where she worked, so he made sure to get there a few minutes before he knew she got off so he could surprise her at the office and hopefully they could go grab dinner. He missed the girl so much and wanted to catch up with her. He decided to give her some space after she told him that she was indeed alright and made it home okay. He was relieved to say the least, and resolved to dial back his overprotective brother side for the time being.

He pulled his car on the side of the street across from the doors she would be exiting to go to her car. He looked over in the parking lot next to her building and easily spotted her car, not missing the lime green Volkswagen Beetle that sat in the parking lot.

Wanting to be his cheesy self, especially since he was parallel parked on the road, he got out of his car, and casually leaned against the driver’s door, with his hands in his pockets and ankles crossed, as he faced the doors she would be exiting. He was striving to pull off the clichéd 80s movie guy pose. That was just the kind of guy he was. Doing whatever he could to put a smile on someone’s face. It was also in his favor that he decided to wear a baggy sweater vest and leather jacket over it. Unintentionally, he was giving off a very Ferris Bueller vibe.

He stood there for a few minutes before he noticed her approaching the doors from inside. She was talking to someone while she dug around in her purse for her keys so she didn’t notice him as she approached the doors. She wouldn’t have noticed him either if it weren’t for the co-worker she was talking to get her attention, and point towards Halvo.

Chaney looked at her confused before turning her head across the street to see Halvo casually leaning against his car. It was then that Halvo pulled his phone out of his pocket, and held it above his head as he played “Don’t You Forget About Me”.

She couldn’t help but laugh at his obvious John Hughes references. She rolled her eyes and laughed. She gave her farewell to her co-worker before running across the street to engulf Halvo in a giant hug.

“Bout damn time you decided to acknowledge my existence, Indy.”

She just laughed and hugged him tighter as she burrowed her face in his chest.

“So to what do I owe the office visit Ferris?” She asked with a teasing tone, noting his Ferris Bueller-esque appearance.

“Oh ya know, I just figured we could grab some dinner at our favorite diner, catch up, and maybe hang out. I haven’t seen ya all week!”

She pulled back to look at him. She frowned slightly and looked down.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been a sucky friend lately. Sorry about that.”

“Psh. Don’t worry about it. Yet. You’re off the hook for now until we get to the diner and then you can tell me why you ditched me all week. To be honest, my feelings are hurt.”

He then overdramatically mock pouted, to prove that he wasn’t genuinely upset with her.

She rolled her eyes at his antics before playfully slapping the side of his face.

“Careful Halvo, if you’re not careful, your face could freeze like that. Then again, it would be an improvement…”

He just stood and gawked at her before messing up the top of her hair as he gently pushed her towards the front of the car so she could get in on the passenger’s side.

***

Chaney and Halvo were sitting across from each other in a booth at their favorite diner, unnecessarily looking through the memorized menu for food that they already knew they were getting.

Their waitress stopped by their table and they both ordered waters before returning to looking back at their menus.

“So Indy…about ignoring me the last few days…” Halvo stated with a playful tone.

“Shut up Halvo. You know damn well I wouldn’t do it intentionally.” She retorted.

“Aw c’mon. You never go this long without talking to me. Even when I’m on tour…what gives?”

She sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know. This week I haven’t really talked to anyone. I’ve literally woken up, gone to work, come home, ate dinner, and gone up to my room.”

“Woah, wait. You mean to tell me you didn’t even talk to lover-boy this week?” Halvo asked with raised eyebrows.

“Ugh. No. Speaking of, do you know what’s up with him? He drove me back from your house the other morning, and from the time we left your house to the time he dropped me off, his whole demeanor changed. He went from sweetheart to asshole. Like he literally forced me out of his truck to go home. What gives?”

Halvo looked at her curiously. “Huh. That’s really odd. What couple times I’ve seen him this week he’s been fine. He hasn’t acted any differently. Wonder what happened…”

“I don’t know. But I can tell you this, I absolutely don’t care to be around asshole John. I mean, I’m sure he has a good reason to be upset for whatever is bothering him because he’s always seemed so level-headed, but did he have to take it out on me?”

He sat there in contemplation for a few moments before answering her. “Do you think you did anything to him? I mean, you said when you left he was fine, but by the time you got home he seemed pissed at you?”

“Yeah he was, but I totally didn’t say anything! Like he asked me if I wanted a ride home since he was heading out and I nodded, too hungover and slightly pissed at you still, so we got our stuff and left. We didn’t say two words the entire drive back. By the time we pulled in his driveway, he was fuming and had a death grip on the steering wheel. I was thanking him for the ride when he cut me off and demanded I get out and go home…”

“Huh…” Halvo sat there in utter astonishment. He never knew John to be that way unless someone made him angry. He rarely lost his cool for no reason. It would be something he’d have to talk to John about later.

“Indy, do you think it had something to do with the fact that you didn’t talk the whole way back?”

“What?! Why would that matter?”

“I don’t know…I was just wondering. I mean, you guys had been hanging out more…”

“Yeah, by hanging out more it’s been like once for a couple hours to get coffee. Trust me Halvo, it’s not like we’re super close.”

“Not yet at least. Just give it time. As sociable as he is, it takes him awhile to really warm up to people and get close to them. You’ll really have to step up your game if you want your beloved kiss at midnight.”

Chaney just rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. However you know I suck at making the first move…”

Halvo just beamed. “Which is why you have me to help you.”

***

Halvo and Chaney had left the diner hours ago. Halvo dropped her off at her office to pick up her car, and then she followed him to his apartment to watch movies. Wanting to keep up with his theme for earlier, they settled for a mini John Hughes marathon.

Halvo was coming out of the kitchen with a couple bottles of beer for each of them while Chaney was hunched over by the entertainment center searching for his John Hughes movies.

“God Halvo, you need some real organization for you movies. How do you even find them? There’s no system here!”

“If you’re that bent out of shape about it, rearrange them yourself.” He laughed at her frantic need to have an organized system for everything.

Exasperated, she finally pulled out all the ones she could find. “Okay, I’m not sure if this is all of them, but this is what I could find.” She glared up at him for his lack of organization before she continued to read off the titles. “So we have Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Weird Science…woah wait a minute. Where is Say Anything?”

“Ugh…we’re not watching that one again. I hid it from you. You’ve seen it WAY too many times!”

“First of all, you can NEVER watch a John Hughes movie too many times. Secondly, if that was the case then why the hell did you reference one of the most famous scenes from it this afternoon?”

“In hopes that you would come have a John Hughes marathon with me tonight…” he replied cheekily.

“Like you would have to ask…You know he’s one of my favorites.”

He laughed. “I know, I just thought it’d be fun to see what it was like being a corny 80s heartthrob.”

Chaney rolled her eyes. “Of course you did. So which one should we start with?”

“Let’s do Breakfast Club. Haven’t watched that one in a while.”

Chaney nodded. She set the other DVDs on the entertainment center by the TV and put in Breakfast Club.

They sat there cuddled on the couch watching the movie, sharing a blanket because Halvo liked to keep his apartment ridiculously cold. They were at the scene towards the end of the movie where all of them were sitting in the library, telling each other why they were in detention that day when Chaney broke the silence of them watching the movie.

“Ya know I’m gonna get my own place this summer…”

Halvo quickly sat up from his slouched position, nearly making Chaney fall over from his sudden movements. “What? Really? Why are you just now telling me this?”

He didn’t sound angry, just surprised.

“Honestly, it’s something I’d been thinking about for a few months; actually since I moved back after graduating college, and with the job I’ve been working, I’ve finally saved enough to start paying rent for my own place. I haven’t really started looking yet, but I just wanted you to know. You’re the first and only person I’ve told. I was uh, also wondering if you’d help me find a place. You found this place pretty easily, and I wouldn’t mind the extra assistance.”

Halvo didn’t respond, but just looked down at her. She leaned up from where she had been laying down on his lap and looked back at him, wondering why he hadn’t responded. Once he had her attention, he replied. “Ya know, I’ve already found a place for you.”

“Really? Where? You didn’t even know about this until a few minutes ago, how could you have possibly found me a place already?”

“Because it’d be with me silly! You can have the guest room and split rent with me.”

“Halvo I don’t know…I know you and John have been wanting to bunk together forever, and I wouldn’t want to infringe on that…Besides, wouldn’t it be awkward if we lived together?”

“No, I mean, you’re over here all the time or I’m over at your place. Not to mention, you stay here to house sit when I’m on tour, so why not just live here? Hell, I wouldn’t even make you wait until summer if you didn’t want to.”

“Halvo, you know I love you to death, but I’m not sure about this…”

“Chaney…” He had her full attention now since he rarely called her by her real name. “You’re like my baby sister. I wouldn’t let you go live in the big city without having someone there to look after you.”

“Halvo, you know Phoenix isn’t that bad, and it’s not like I’d be living hours away from you.”

“Look, I don’t want to pressure you into this if you’re really that repulsed to live with me” he said jokingly, “but I just want you to know that I’ve got your back alright? At least think about it, and if you still want your private, personal place, I’ll make sure to be there with you every step of the way until you’re fully moved in.”

She groaned. “Alright, fine. I’ll at least think about it.”

He nodded, kissed the side of her head, and patted her shoulder where his arm had been slung across, before turning back to finish watching the movie.

Did she want to move in with Halvo? She couldn’t shake that something about this was off, and she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly it was. She knew he would look after her and continue to be his over-bearing, big-brother self towards her, but somehow she felt that moving in with him, even under these pretenses would change things. Quite honestly, she wasn’t sure if she was ready for those changes, despite getting butterflies in her stomach at the thought of it.

***

Chaney woke up with a killer crick in her neck, and the title menu for Sixteen Candles playing on repeat. She and Halvo had almost successfully watched all of his “found” John Hughes movies without falling asleep. Sixteen Candles was their second to last one to watch and they both barely made it passed the credits. She slowly sat up from where she had been lying on Halvo’s lap, to see him passed out, bent over sideways to lay his head on the arm rest of the couch. If she was uncomfortable he had to have been more so.

She rubbed her eyes and squinted to see the time on the cable box and saw that it was almost 3 in the morning. She looked down at the peacefully sleeping boy and smiled. Not wanting him to flip out, nor wanting to wake him, she decided to make him more comfortable before she left.

She gently grabbed his feet and brought them onto the couch so he could lay down normally. As soon as she did that, his body responded accordingly, and he laid down in a more natural position. She then took the blanket that had since fallen on the floor and covered him up. She kissed him softly on the forehead, and he stirred slightly, just opening his eyes enough to see her. She whispered that she was heading out, and he barely nodded. She ruffled his hair a bit, and left a note on the coffee table in case he didn’t remember this encounter when he woke up. She then grabbed her purse, put on her shoes, and drove home.

The entire drive back home, she couldn’t help but keep replaying Halvo’s words in her head to move in with him. It’s not like the thought hadn’t crossed her mind at one point, but she would never ask to move in with him despite how close they were. She knew John had been looking forward to moving in with Halvo since they were in college, if not beforehand. Actually, she had no idea why he hadn’t already done so. There was no reason for him to still live at home, at least that she knew of. Yet another layer to the mystery of John O’Callaghan that she was determined to unravel.

Halvo was right, she needed to make the first move. She was nervous as hell about doing so, but what’s the worst that could happen? He says no? It’s not like she wasn’t used to rejection. She is an adult and has learned to handle such things. If nothing else, if for whatever reason John is mad at her, maybe she could smooth things over. She had to at least try. If she didn’t show initiative, then he would never know she was interested. She would have to swallow her nerves and in the “wise” words of Halvo, “grow a pair and talk to him”. She just prayed that he wasn’t busy later today or else she would lose what little nerve she had.