Spending the last two years in a land not her own Hailey had learned to find comfort in company of strangers. To appreciate that fine layer of anonymity where every mistake she’d ever made no longer haunted her steps like a second shadow. Her image made new in a bypasser's curious stare as her past was wiped clean and she was free to create. Her imagination the only limitation as she smiled brighter like her mother who had always been there to encourage her every dream. Her wit sharp like her father’s who had never missed a single softball game or parent’s day. Her dancing a hundreds time more graceful than anything her brother had tried to teach her before her first school dance. A confidence about her and who she was enigmatic, pulling people effortlessly into conversation and even flirtations.
She could speak her mind with no fear of repercussions and she missed that, being that glittering person on the other end of camera lens, but in the end those champagne dreams had crumble for their lack of authenticity. Leaving Hailey as she was now, a lonely sparkle where she used to shine, but with a few important realizations that kept her going. 1) As a photographer she had talent worth showing, her internship had shown her that much. 2) Being an artist wasn’t going to pay the bills (thank you california) and while she still had a nice nest egg left, she’d need a real job soon if she was gonna get her own place. 3) The only part she’d never had to change to fit into her ‘perfect’ life was Finn. That alone would have been reason enough to come home and try to be a better sister. Too bad life didn’t ever seem to have the common sense of going through one thing at a time.
"Does he now? Well I hope he's a better dancer at least," Hailey let out with a little giggle. Her mind supplying a rather hilarious dance off she'd once had with her sibling and just really. There were somethings that shouldn't be seen.
“Well you’ll have to let me know when you all have your next performance here. I promise to squeeze out of any crappy job I might find just to be your number one cheerleader,” Hailey promised. Realizing only then that she’d never really heard the other sing or play or do whatever she did musically. “I could even take some pictures and make some promo material for your band.”