Stranger Nights

Chapter 9

"Freddy Elliot! I rarely see you here." Ginger smirked."Ooooh! Who's this? He's cute!"

Henry blushed all the way up to his ears.

"This is Henry Baker and he's off the market." Freddy said. "Besides I thought you were gay."

"I like anything that breathes honey." she winked.

"Yeah, Yeah." Freddy rolled his eyes.

"So what are you guys lookin' for?" she asked still smirking.

"Oh..um...church clothes." Henry told her. Ginger narrowed her eye's.

"You're the type of person who goes to church, eh?" she said her smirk disappearing.

"Oh...I...actually..." Henry sputtered nervously.

"No, Ginger, he's doing this because he wrecked his other pair of church clothes. He only ever goes to church when his mother forces him or something and that's only when he gets in trouble. He'll get in trouble if he doesn't get new church clothes." Freddy explained dryly.

"Well okay then!" Ginger said her smile returning, "All those people who go to church are nutters. Anyone who isn't one of them is a friend to me! I guess I made a new friend today! Hey friend, mind tellin me how you wrecked your church clothes? Does it have somethin to do with your whole face situation?"

Ginger was gesturing to the bruised skin just by Henry's eye and his swollen red right cheek.

"I fell." He lied.

"Fine, don't tell me sweetface. Hey that's a good nickname!" Ginger added enthusiastically.

"Can you just tell us where some clothes are?" Freddy said impatiently.

"Yeah, yeah. I think I saw some nice clothes over there." Ginger said pointing over to a corner with a bin full of clothes. Wordlessly, Freddy grabbed Henry's arm and dragged him over to that spot. Henry barely got out a thank you.

Just as Ginger said there were a couple of nice white button ups and ugly brown sweater vest.

"Do you need anything?" Henry asked folding the shirts over his arm. Freddy shook his head. "Well, then I'll just-"

"Hey why didn't you tell her the truth?" Freddy asked. Henry laughed at him.

"You ask really stupid questions." Henry giggled. Freddy raised an eyebrow, but Henry simply turned around and went over to George ,by the counter, who put his hands on his hips.

"Ah, it's the Ministers boy." he frowned, but perked up when he saw Henry. "And Henry Baker! Haven't seen you around in a while."

"Hey, Mr. Peterson," Henry said, handing his clothes over to George. "How's your wife?"

Catherine Peterson worked with Henry's mother at the clinic.

"She's doing great. Things have been busy at the clinic though. She's been working herself too hard I'm afraid. Are these the first shirts you've bought this month?"

"Yes, sir. I met your daughter." Henry smiled.

"Oh did you!" George said handing the clothes back to Henry before leaning in and whispering, "You know Henry, if you were to ask her out sometime, I wouldn't mind, and I'm sure she wouldn't either so-"

"Almost done here Baker?" Freddy interrupted throwing an arm around Henry. Henry was thankful that he'd interrupted because his rosy cheeks were starting to get rosier the more George spoke.

"Oh..um..y...yeah." Henry stuttered out embarrassed. George glared at Freddy before saying goodbye.

Henry was dragged out of the shop.

"He doesn't seem to like you very much." Henry whispered as they walked out the door.

"I know." Freddy said taking his arm off of Henry as they started to walk.

"Hey wait!" Ginger called bouncing out of the door after them.

"What?" Freddy asked dryly.

"I forgot to tell you somethin" she said. "The garden ball is in a couple of days."

"So?" Freddy asked raising an eyebrow.

The garden ball was just a dance for church kids to celebrate what a good year they had and how great the crops were.

Ginger looked around and quietly leaned in before muttering.

"Well there's a rumour that some people are goin' to sneak in. The place is going to go from classy to trashy. You and sweetface should come."

"Are we allowed to invite friends?" Henry asked thinking of Charlotte.

"Of course! Make sure you all get nice and cleaned up though so the supervisors won't suspect anything until it's too late." Ginger smiled before returning back to the store. Freddy and Henry continued to walk.

"Wow....that sounds awesome! I've heard rumours of real parties, but to take over the whole dance....that's just so cool!" Henry said excitedly.

"You probably couldn't handle it." Freddy muttered stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"That's probably what will make it fun!" Henry laughed, "The fear coursing through my veins! You'll come too right?"

"I guess I have to so I can babysit you and Ms. Quiet." Freddy said rolling his eye's.

"I have to tell Charlotte!" Henry yelled at the reference to his cousin and he bounded off toward her house, but stopped and turned around, "Hey can you drop these off at my house for me?"

"Actually I-" but before Freddy could finish Henry was already running away yelling back a thanks. Freddy looked down at the clothes in his hands.

He groaned.