sparks | henry creel

029

My only friend who's ever told me they loved me is Max. So I was completely caught off guard when Dustin said it. I thought the next person to say it would be.. Honestly, I don't know.

The walkie-talkie shuts off and I walk back over to my bed, sitting down. He's only saying it to make you feel better.

Oh here comes with the intrusive thoughts. He doesn't actually love you. Max doesn't love you, either.

If they loved you they would be here. Instead they're at family video.

Jesus, since when did my depressive thoughts get so self-involved? I hear the window crack open and Henry climbs through.

"Hey." He gives me a smile. "Hi." I say. He sits down next to me, looking over at me. He cups my cheeks with his hands."Why aren't you at family video?" He asks. "I.. didn't feel like it." Is all I say. "You can't avoid your friends forever, Heather."

Forever? It's only been a day. "It's been a day. I need time to think and... Get my head together." Is my defense, and I can't help but feel like he can see right through me. I break free of his grasp, my entire face being warm now. "Jesus, your hands are always so freaking hot," I say. He raises an eye, looking at me. "T-temperature hot."

Grandma had a school reunion tonight and there was a assembly at the school tonight that was mandatory. Great. "Why are you so worked up?" I ask Henry as he's sitting on my bed, tapping away with his feet. He shrugs. "It's just an assembly. It's not like anything bad is going to happen." I give him a small smile and he nods.

The walk to the school was pretty quiet. I thought Dustin would join us but I guess he either catched a ride with Steve or was already walking there.
"Okay, what's going on?" I break the silence, looking over to Henry. "Nothing." He replies. "Obviously there's something wrong, you've never been this quiet before." I say. "I'm sorry." He sighs. "Why are you sorry?"
"I don't know." He shrugs.

Me and Henry slide into next our friend group. "hey," Henry says to everyone. "hi Henry, hi Heather." They all give me a small smile.

This is what I was talking about. Everyone's treating me differently. I wish they would just forget everything happened.

Everyone said hey to me except for Dustin. I look over at him and he is eyes are glued on the floor. "Hey," Henry whispers to me, giving my hand a squeeze. "How are you doing?"

I don't deserve this man. "I'm okay," I give him a small smile.

A few other people pile into the auditorium and eventually the principal drifts onto the stage.

"So, as many as you know, a.. incident happened the other night involving the baseball team,    and I'd like to assure you that the entire team will be suspended from the Hawkins Tigers. They all will be evaluated, and we will come back to the idea of whether or not they should be allowed back into the school." He says into the microphone.

I feel a couple eyes land on me, whether or not they're my friends I don't know.

It's later that night. Everyone, Including Henry, went out to dinner after the assembly. I was invited, but I assured all of them I was too tired. And I was, which is why I insisted on Henry going without me, even though he didn't want to leave me alone. I told him I was just going to sleep the entire night away.

Im still alone, laying on my bed. I'm cuddling my stuffed teddy bear, it pulled against my chest. I hear a sudden gust and in comes Henry through the window, giving me a small heart attack. "Awww," he smirks when he sees my teddy bear. My face turns red and I put it back on my nightstand.

"Hmm, I'm gone for a few hours and you have somebody new to cuddle, huh?"

This really isn't helping the blush on my face.

"So how was dinner?" I change the subject, which is what I seem to be doing a lot these days. "It was okay, wish you were there, though." He shuts the window after him. "Not bring me any leftovers?" I pout, and he gives me a sly smile, but the smile fades as quickly as it forms.

A few seconds later I hear the telephone start to ring. It can't be Dustin, he's close enough to where he could just use his
walki-talki. Before I could even get up, Henry grabbed the phone, picking it up and answering for me, causing a scoff to come out of my mouth.

What if it was a family member, and they just hear a boy say "Goodwill residence?"

His voice softens, though. He nods. "Okay," he hangs up. "Lucas is outside. "What?" I raise an eyebrow, climbing out of my bed and looking out the window. Sure enough, there's Lucas.
"Hey, can you come down here?" He asks. I nod, climbing out of my window, down the ladder. "What's up?" I ask. "You know I wasn't a part of what Jason and the other assholes did, right? You know I wouldn't do that to you, that you're like a sister?"  He says all at once. "Yeah, of course I know Lucas," I pull him in for a hug, and he continues speaking. "Okay, good. I was knocked out as soon as I realized what his intentions were." He sighs. I let go of him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I just didn't know if you were avoiding hanging out with all of us because you thought I was apart of that-"

"No! Of course not! I... I just need time to think, you know?" I respond, my heart aching thinking he thought he was the reason why I wasn't hanging out with any of them.
"Well we miss you, H. And honestly I thought Henry wouldn't show since you didn't, especially since pretty much everyone knows he's like, head over heels for you, and also since Eddie isn't too fond of him and Henry knows that-"
He continues talking, but my brain goes somewhere else. That he's head over heels for me? No. He can't be. He's known me for what, a week? It just can't be true. "Anyways, I'm glad we've had this small talk. We miss you, H, so much. Please consider hanging out with us more often again, we miss you."