Hal Polwith
Dès que Connor est entré dans la fête, Hal savait que ça allait être une bonne nuit. Après la ruée générale de voir des gens qu'il n'avait pas déjà vus à l'école, les choses se sont passées comme ça. Acacia avait fait plusieurs annonces pour continuer la fête, et quand les boissons ont commencé à tourner autour, les choses ont commencé à glisser un peu.
Connor avait bien sûr commencé le jeu de la bière pong presque immédiatement, il aimait argumenter que ce devrait être un sport pro et qu'il devrait être le premier champion du monde. Un ivrogne l'avait englouti dans le pong des ours, et pour une raison quelconque les Hancock avaient des costumes d'ours. Hal avait essayé de faire une blague à ce sujet, mais Aspen passait et il craignait que son ami ne se venge d'une façon ou d'une autre. Ils avaient donc joué au pong des ours pendant un certain temps. Hal avait perdu, mais il a fait un point de renverser une des tasses sur son adversaire, juste pour s'amuser, ce qui voulait dire que l'un des costumes sentait maintenant la bière.
Un jeu de "Sardines" avait commencé, et Hal avait suivi la foule. À un moment donné, il avait été poussé dans un manteau dans le placard, et à la fin avait été enterré 10 personnes profondément. Apparemment, quelque chose s'était passé, pas que Hal pouvait voir quoi que ce soit. Quand Aspen les a trouvés, il avait essayé de demander à Hal, mais Hal l'avait ébranlé, son buzz le rendant hors de propos. Hé, laisse les enfants s'amuser, personne n'était mort... pas vrai?
Après cela, il avait un peu erré dans la fête, s'est heurté à son ami Eric, qui avait organisé un concours entre eux pour voir qui pouvait s'intégrer plus de cochons dans une couverture dans leur bouche. Une foule et s'est formée et les deux gars avaient tous les deux atteint 9, avec Eric battu Hal à la fin. Le gagnant a obtenu une boisson fraîche et des droits de se vanter, et Hal avait fait un commentaire sur la « tête de pig », qu'Eric avait trouvé si drôle qu'il avait commencé à s'étouffer et Hal avait besoin de jouer le Heimlich.
Le groupe s'était finalement installé dans un cercle largish sur l'étape du salon de Hancock, Hal s'est assis entre Aspen et Emilie. Acacia avait suggéré Jamais n'ai-je jamais, un jeu Hal était excellent parce qu'il était l'un des rares personnes qui a grandi pas riche. Si tu l'as fait, tu dois t'écraser pour ne pas te cacher et poser un doigt. Tu perds si tu baisses les 10! Qui veut commencer?" Acacia a demandé au groupe. Elle était clairement un peu saoule, et Hal ne pouvait pas s'empêcher de sourire. Lorsqu'elle le regarda, en plaisantant, il jeta les mains sur la défensive, souriant largement.
-- Très bien, je vais commencer, dit-il. Il se tenait prêt à faire un peu de spectacle. « Jamais, s'arrêta-t-il, regardant autour de lui, n'ai-je jamais, dit-il, tourné pour regarder toute la pièce. Quelques personnes se sont moquées de lui, d'autres ont semblé impatients qu'il aille de l'avant. Il regardait de côté Connor, un sourire diabolique qui se répandait "être, disons juste agressé, pour avoir traité une fille de "bon cul biddie"" Hal s'est assis en arrière. Connor s'est penché de son siège quelques-uns sur lui et lui a braqué des poignards. Hal riait silencieusement. Oh comment il paierait pour ça.
Henry "Hal" Polwith

"If nobody traveled back in time to stop you from doing it, how bad can it be?"
-Hal Polwith
Hal Polwith
Henry Trent Polwith
Nicknames
Henry goes by Hal. It's just a common nickname for Henry, and his parents have called him that since he was young. He wonders why they didn't just name him Hal.
Age
17
Gender
Male
Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual
Grade Level
Junior
Appearance
Hal is a relatively average looking boy at first glance. 5'10", straight, brown, shortish hair, green eyes. But a more detailed inspection reveals a lot about him. While not a hulking beast of muscle, Hal is well toned, and by no means weak. His upper body and upper arms in particular are well toned. His long legs lend him most of his height. Hal is generally found wearing jeans or khaki pants/shorts, a t-shirt, and a jacket or sweatshirt. He's anti-hat, unless it's his New York Giants baseball cap. He has a medium length scar just above his right pectoral.


"Let's go hiking...or kayaking...or for a run!"

Personality
Hal is a bright and happy guy. He's upbeat, positive, and hard to get down. He's a big fan of making jokes, though he's often told they aren't as funny as he thinks. Despite this he still laughs, and makes a point of laughing at everyone else's jokes, regardless of whether anyone else thinks they're funny. Hal's smart as a whip, though he doesn't like to show it. Unless the person he's interacting with is excessively rude, obnoxious, or dull, Hal will try his best to keep a conversation going. He loves talking to people, and figuring out how they work, especially people with complicated or interesting personalities. Unfortunately, this makes him rather pushy. He will not give up on making somebody laugh until he is absolutely sure he has failed. This makes him somewhat obnoxious to those who don't like him straight out.
In reality, Hal is fueled by a need to make everyone feel happy about themselves. He believes nobody deserves to feel like crap. A battle with depression as a middle schooler has left him feeling the need to make sure nobody else has to feel that way. He's also terrified it will come back and he'll collapse again. He's also near-impossible to offend. Hal loves history, and can talk about it for ages before somebody tells him to shut up. He's also a big fan of literature and reading in general, which he often has to hide from those who don't know him well for fear of being stereotyped. Generally, Hal is afraid of being viewed as something he isn't, or something with a negative connotation, even if it isn't true. Outwardly, he'll brush it off, but inside, it hurts him deeper than most would think.
Hal loves the outdoors, and is obsessed with going out and exploring them. Be it hiking, rock climbing, fishing, camping, or swimming, Hal will go out there and do it. He often drags his friends out, not always to their wishes, but they usually end up having a good time. He swims competitively as a sport, which gives him his surprising physique. He finds animals refreshing, but tires of them quickly, with the exception of dogs. Hal's also a big fan of food. American food, deep fried, baked, barbecue sauce slathered american food. He can eat it because all his exercise keeps him from getting fat. He often jokes about this.
Likes

History
Reading/Literature
The Outdoors/Adventure
Dogs
The New York Giants
Swimming
Movies
Food (especially deep fried)
Dislikes

Sadness
Stereotyping
Math
Cats
Falling Behind
Feeling Helpless

Fears
A return to his depression, Cats
Strengths
History
Athletics
General Cheeriness
Charismatic Interaction
Humor
Organization
Weaknesses

Mislabeling (of himself or others)
MATH
Unsociable people
Stubborn
Inwardly Fragile


There's a place downtown that serves deep-fried burgers! You want to come try them with me?

History
Hal grew up a relatively average kid. His mother died when he was young, but his father was always there, even though he worked long hours as a mechanic. Hal's childhood was spent helping his father fix things and running around in the forest behind his house. Hal didn't have many friends until he reached 6th Grade, when he suddenly found that comedy was a way for him to connect to others. He instantly became a favorite of kids in his grade, and everyone knew him.
Surprisingly, Hal felt alone. His life felt superficial, and his friends phony. After a nasty snub from a girl when he was in 8th grade, Hal spiraled downward into a horrid depression. He spent months like this, feeling like nothing was worth doing. Only once did he ever consider ending it, and nearly went through with it, but in the end, he stopped himself. Finally, his father noticed what was going on and he was sent to a doctor, where he recovered over the next month or so. Amazingly, his school work has not suffered, a brilliant feat of resilience.
Upon his admission to the Ashbury Academy, Hal was overjoyed, if confused. He had no idea why he was admitted, but was glad to get a fresh start after the mess he had made of his middle school life. Hal quickly took up his new mission of making as many people happy as he could, and set out for it with a passion. He eventually developed a more close and earnest group of friends, those who shared some of his likes and beliefs. He finally feels like he's found his place in the world, and wonders what will happen when he has to go out and do it all for real.
Favorite memory
Hanging from a treebranch over a the creek behind his house as a 10 year old. He loved the feeling of being so high but so free. Nothing could beat the feeling of the drop into the creek either.
Least favorite memory
The blackest moment of his depression, when he considered his suicide. He refuses to even think in detail about the incident.
What corporation sent you to Ashbury?
Tromford Automotive is a massive, industrial, car company. Its owner and CEO, Frank Tromford, is worth billions. Tromford cars are considered high quality, cheap vehicles, and are renowned around the world.
While working on a particularly fancy Tromford car, Hal's father unwittingly began a discussion with Mr. Tromford himself. The two hit it off, and Mr. Polwith didn't even realize who the man he took out for drinks was until the end of the night. Mr. Tromford, understanding how difficult paying for college would be for Hal, looked into the boy. He got Hal admitted to Ashbury, a debt to which both Polwith men owe him greatly.
Birthday
October 15th
Twitter Name
@Halpoles
"Hey, c'mon, at least you aren't addicted to drugs or uglier than a bulldog hit by a truck!"


HAL POLWITH

"Hey! How's Your Day? Even if it's bad, I'm still happy to listen!"
Brooke Avery
"Hmm...Tricky. Not the kind of person I work well with, but, I guess I don't dislike her. Don't talk to her much at all."
Given their opposing personalities, Hal and Brooke are not exactly excellent friends. Hal tries to "work his magic" on her when he can, but its fairly obvious to him it doesn't work. He shrugs it off and moves on.
Korrigan Alexander Jackson
"He seems like a nice enough guy. Can't say the hair and eyes don't throw me off. He knows his books, I'll give him that."
Hal and Korrie will probably get along decently, they share some interests. Hal is rather off-put by Korrie's appearance, and often stares, though he thinks Korrie notices more than it appears. Korrie seems to object to Hal's personality, but he doesn't mind.
Amanda Cho
"Such a cute girl. It's really too bad she's so hard on herself... But she does seem to like my company, so can't say I object."
Hal feels this is a girl who needs his help. He tries to act well around her, and works hard to try to boost her self esteem. They're probably a good bet to become friends.
Spencer Dalle
"Christ, what a prick sometimes. We get it, you have red hair. Cheer up bud..."
Hal and Spence are often at odds, given their near opposite personalities. Hal is fed up with hearing the same 10 jokes about Spence's hair color. At least tell original jokes. And, somewhere in Hal's head, he feels sorry for the boy. He does want to help, and be friends, the guy just wont let him.
Maie-Marie Malveaux
"*whistles* Dang! Never met somebody so similar to me! Great girl. Wish she'd race me though. I bet I could win."
Hal secretly has a bit of a crush on Maie. Aside from that, he thinks she's a great person, and he'd love to go out adventuring with her sometime. He appreciates her similar quest to save people, though he thinks hers is more detrimental (to her) than his own.
Laney Kaire Chandler
"She's attractive, that's true. Not really my type though. Seems a bit high-and-mighty, though I guess that's not really her fault..."
Hal finds Laney confusing. She's very outgoing, but at the same time he feels that she towers of the rest of their grade. He often wonders what she's like outside school. He has no real intent of ever finding out, he just likes to think. One of his favorite character studies.
Riley Emerson
"Oy! Don't put me in the ring with her! *laughter* But seriously, toughest damn girl I've ever met. Sometimes, it's even scary. Wish she'd tone it down sometimes though, some people aren't fans."
Hal's intimidated by Riley, though he'd never admit it. She's a very unusual person, so Hal finds her interesting. Hal wonders, though he'd never ask her, if she's trying to hide something with that demeanor. He doubts it, but you never know.
Nathan Matthews
"He's a nice guy, maybe a little too nice. *chuckles* But seriously, I like him. I'd love to see some of his writing, it's always nice to read something from somebody you know."
Hal is essentially an acquaintance of Nathan. They aren't friends per say, but they don't dislike each other. Hal always appreciates somebody as mature as Nathan, and could expect to get along with him well in the future.
Connor MacQuarrie
"If you ever put me on steroids, I think I would be Connor. Though of course, I am more attractive...joking, don't tell him I said that, he could probably beat me up with one hand. Plus he's on the team, so I can't NOT like him."
Hal likes Connor. And he loves hanging out with him. Connor reminds Hal of the brother He never had. Maybe that's a little cheesy, but Hal likes Connor's wild personality. They're best bros.
Brenden Rivers
"Ugh, how can you be such a jerk and so nice at the same time?! Chill bro! 
Hal is very put-off by Brenden. The boy's demeanor infuriates him to no end, and Hal is done with it. To put it shortly, Hal stays far away from Brenden. The kind of remarks that come from him can only end badly.
Emilie Delacour
"Emilie is funny. But like sarcastic funny. Snarky I guess. Who am I to argue with snark? Anyway, she's a nice enough girl I guess.
Hal likes Emilie, but is somewhat distracted by her own rapid-happiness nature. Her cynicism washes off him like water on rocks. Understanding her romanticism, Hal tries to make sure he doesn't give off the wrong vibes.
Aspen Hancock
My man! This guy's got a sick backstroke, let me tell you. Honestly, this is the only guy I'd bet against myself on. Plus he takes wicked pictures."
Hal and Aspen are teammates, to put it lightly. Because they share a sport, Hal knows Aspen better than a lot of the other students, especially because the Swim Team is so small. Given both boys are supportive and caring, they get along even better. Hal's humor is the perfect counter to Aspen's quietness.
Acacia Hancock
She's great. I have NEVER met somebody that social, and she's not obnoxious about it at all. And that girl can move. Don't let her size fool you, she has skills. Like, if I had to pick somebody to teach my how to dance, I'd pick her. Seriously though, I need help, do you know anybody?"
Hal is a fan of Acacia, but then, who isn't? He always appreciates her energy and leading talent. But he worries about her clinginess, though he'd never say it to her face. He knows her quiet well because of his relationship with Aspen, and considers her a friend.


Questions for Hal
How many shoes do you own? What types?
"Shoes? Um, okay, weird way to start. I guess I own four sets. Regular shoes, Running shoes, slides for the pool deck, and a pair of work/hiking boots."
Are you on social media? Who’s in your profile pictures with them?
"Yeah, I've got a twitter, I mostly use it to follow other people. Just me in my picture right now, but I've been meaning to change it..."
How many romantic relationships have you had?
"Oh ho ho, looking to see if I'm a playa? Sorry, Connor taught me that. I've had a few girlfriends, nothing serious though."
Are you right- or left-handed?
"Righty all the way! I sign with my left though so its harder to forge. Can't have anyone stealing my patent for real-cheese cheese hats (Don't ask)."
What charities do you donate to?
"Charities? I don't really have enough money to donate to charities. I guess if I did it would be to Red Cross or one of the anti-hunger campaigns."
What are your biggest fears?
"Aw c'mon, really? ...Fine, cats, I hate cats. They give me the heebie jeebies. Feels like they're going to eat my soul, you know?"
How much money do you make?
"Enough. Thats not any of your buisiness. My parents aren't rich like all these other kids, so I actually have to work for my money, so back off."
What is your ethnicity?
"Classic white person answer time: I'm half Polish, a quarter Swedish, and a quarter Scottish. Mostly, I'm a pale white European. But I'm also an American!"
Do you speak with an accent?
"I think American neutral is an accent. I can do a pretty good Russian accent too. I've never been able to nail a Scottish one, though I want to.
What did you dress as for Halloween last year?
"Go Big or go Home! Me and this sophomore guy teamed up to sit on each other's shoulders and we were this like 11 foot tall troll thing. It was great until some little kids accidentally knocked us over."
What are your email addresses, blogs, and websites? Passwords?
"That's too personal. Especially the passwords. Back off."
What are you superstitious about?
"I don't like to walk under ladders. Not because of bad luck or whatever, I just don't want to get squished."
Are you allergic to anything?
"Not that I know of. It would suck to be allergic to peanuts. They're great. Especially as peanut butter....mmmm"
What hobbies do you have?
"Lets see, swimming, running, biking, hiking, kayaking, eating, rock climbing, adventuring, reading, watching movies, eating, did I say eating twice? I'm a big fan."
Do you keep secrets?
"That depends. If you ask me to keep the girl you like a secret, sure. But if you set fire to old man Jenkin's truck (long story), I'm calling the cops. Plus, if you feel like shit, thats something I'm telling about, I don't care whether you asked me not to, its too important.
What are your astrological signs?
"Ugh, that BS? Nope, sorry, no idea. Whatever October is I guess."
What are your tastes in movies, books, and music?
"Okay, Books: I'll read anything that isn't romance or random vauge non-fiction, though my favorite authors are Tolkien and Bradbury. Movies, I'm a big fan of action, thrillers, and comedy, Shawshank Redemption is my favorite. Music, I'm a pretty wide range guy, anything from Coldplay up through Green Day and Arctic Monkeys. No death metal though, ugh."
Do you have scars?
"Yeah, I've got this one wicked one *lifts shirt* right here across my chest. I think I got it from a tree branch, but I tell people I wrestled a bear."
What are your feelings on gay marriage, abortion, legalization of marijuana, or other controversial topics?
"I'm pretty liberal I guess. Pro-gay, pro-abortion and all that. I think we shouldn't restrict gun rights, just do better background checks though. No reason to take all the guns away."
Any tattoos or piercings?
"Ugh, gross, no. I can't stand to even look at them. Maybe ears, but not on guys and little kids, it's just weird."
What does your handwriting look like?
"Couldn't get much worse if you ran my hand over with a truck. I am the bane of every handwritten essay ever. Thank god for keyboards, am I right?"
What is your religious background?
"My dad and I were never very religious. We celebrated Christmas and Easter and stuff, but I don't think I've ever been in a church except for a funeral."
Where do you like to shop?
"Shop? I'm not much of a shopper. I guess I like outdoor stores and bookstores. I want to buy a machete from REI, they look awesome, but I don't actually know what I'd do with it."
What is your relationship like with your sibling(s)?
"I'm an only child. I guess Connor is kind of like a brother, and the team are like my cousins or something? But I don't really know what it's like."
Do you have enemies? How did you make them?
"I hope I don't have any enemies. If I do, maybe they have a peanut allergy. Then I can throw peanuts at them."
What are your ambitions? Do you have a “five-year plan”?
"A five year plan? What am I, a communist? I guess I'm gonna run an automotive company. Before Ashbury, I wanted to teach history at a university. But I'm okay with making billions. *Slightly forced laughter*"
What are their political preferences?
"Like I said, I'm pretty liberal. I guess I'm like, a moderate liberal or something? I don't really care."
What do they habitually keep in their cupboards, medicine cabinets, and wallet?
"I have no idea, thats the one place I'm completely disorganized. I always have my license and my phone, thats about it."
What are their favorite outfits/pieces of clothing?
"My NY Giants baseball cap, even though we suck this year. And my orange-blue flannel shirt, the only shirt I have left from home. All the rest of my stuff I bought here.
What do they keep in remote storage?
"I guess the stuff I left at home is remotely stored. But I don't own a storage unit or anything. Don't those things end up as meth-joints a lot?
Are they night owls or morning people?
"Definetly a morning person. I can get up and swim, or run, or bike, or hike. There's so much mroe to do early in the morning!