Henry scanned the hallway for a head full of dark curls until he located Charlotte standing by her locker talking to some people from L.I.M.P.
"Char!" Henry yelled while power walking towards her.
Deeply engrossed in her conversation, Charlotte didn't hear Henry until he was right behind her. "Charlotte Marie Page!" he practically screamed in her ear.
Jumping slightly from the unexpected volume, Charlotte turned around with a glare. "First of all, that's not my middle name. Second, why are you yelling?"
Her L.I.M.P. colleagues slowly walked away, knowing from experience that she was unlikely to return to their conversation now that Henry was there.
"That's not the point! Listen, I want you to be my girlfriend."
Charlotte's brain short-circuits. He wants me to WHAT? Be his girlfriend? I don't really see him like that. I mean I can't deny that he's attractive but- dating? Since when does he have feelings for me? This could ruin our entire friendship!
"Ummm... Henry I don't think that-" she starts to protest. Henry puts a finger over Charlotte's lips and frantically whispers, "Shhhhhh she's coming!"
"Who's coming?" Charlotte asks confusedly. Her question was answered a moment later when Bianca strolled over to them with a smirk on her face.
"Henry. Hi. I see you're looking...taller since we last saw each other" she says while giving him a slow once over and biting her bottom lip.
"Yeah well, time will do that to you. Puberty and all that." Henry laughs uncomfortably.
A small snort of amusement comes from Charlotte, causing both to look over at her.
"Henry's friend! I didn't see you there!"
Char fights the urge to roll her eyes, "Brittney! I didn't know you were back in Swellview! How are you doing after the show?" she asks in a falsely sympathetic tone.
Bianca plastered on a tight smile. "I'm fine, we're just on hiatus right now."
"Oh? I heard that Kids in the Woods was cancelled?"
Bianca clenched her teeth and Charlotte could see a muscle in her jaw moving.
"Technically...but it's only a matter of time before it's picked up by another network. There's a Change.org petition and everything. We have such loyal fans. I'm sure Netflix or Hulu will probably snatch it up real soon."
"How optimistic. Good for you, keep hope alive."
Bianca's left eye twitched in annoyance as she swiveled her head in Henry's direction. "Hey, I've been reaching out to you on Insta, have you gotten my messages?" Bianca asked while twirling a piece of hair around her finger.
"I don't really check Instagram like that."
"Oh. Well anyway" Bianca plows forward, "Since I'm back in town, I was wondering if you wanted to catch up over frozen yogurt sometime?"
"Can't. Sorry."
"I didn't even give you a date or time." Bianca narrows her eyes at him.
"Uh- I'm uh...Charlotte! We always have plans. You know, booked and busy. Right babe?"
She gives him an exasperated look as understanding dawned on her. Oh! You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend in front of Bianca. Ugh, why do you always get me into these situations Henry? Going with the program, Charlotte wraps a hand around Henry's bicep and leans into his side. "That's right. Babe."
