Foul Play 🩷

Twenty

Millicent was grateful that Henry had stuck by her side throughout the day, even making sure they had all the same classes. She suspected that her father had played a role in arranging this. She held Henry's hand as they walked through the school hallway after lunch, heading towards their last class of the day.

"Millicent..."

Her heart raced as she heard the voice from behind her. She froze, fear gripping her, and felt Henry come to a halt beside her. Closing her eyes briefly, she listened as Kyle, one of her tormentors, approached.

"Hey, Millicent. Long time no see. Did you have a good Christmas break?" Kyle's voice was taunting, and he winked at her just as Henry released her hand, stepping forward to confront him.

She clung to her books, unable to find her voice as Henry pushed Kyle back against the wall. She wanted to tell Henry to stop, to release him, but her words failed her.

"Woah!" Kyle laughed, raising his hands as he grinned wickedly at Henry, whose free hand was clenched into a fist. "Someone's wound up today... Keep that on the field, huh?"

"Leave her the hell alone. Don't even look at her!" Henry shoved him against the wall again, harder this time, before letting him go. Millicent watched, a mix of fear and relief.

Kyle leaned in towards Henry, his tone low and mocking. "Don't worry, been there, done that. You know?"

Millicent managed to grab Henry's hand to keep him from going after Kyle as he laughed and walked away. "Let's just get to class, Henry, please."

Henry sighed but didn't say anything. He escorted her to class, taking a chair beside her. "I'm gonna make them pay," he muttered under his breath, and Millicent sighed beside him.

"I have to face them eventually, Henry. I'll be alright. Please, don't do anything to jeopardize your spot on the team. You're so close to what you've been working for. Please..."

He nodded, offering her a small, thankful smile before pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I know, Shortcake. I know..." He turned his attention back to the front of the class, determined to find a way to make Kyle and the others pay without sabotaging his own future.

***

Henry offered a warm smile to Abby as they met up with her after class. "I have to get to practice, so I'll be leaving you with Abby."

Millicent smiled, appreciating that Henry had made sure she wouldn't be alone on campus. "Thank you, Henry. I'll see you later?"

"Of course." He smiled as he leaned in, planting a soft kiss on her lips. It was a display of the affection they were both comfortable with for now. Henry was patient and looked forward to every night he spent with her, even if it sometimes left him with injuries from her nightmares.

As Henry began to walk away, Abby stopped him by grabbing his arm. "Hey... I just wanted to apologize. I thought, after everything that happened, that you were still the same guy from when Millicent first got here. But I can see how you've changed. So..." She took a deep breath, as if admitting fault was physically painful, while Henry couldn't help but smirk slightly. "I'm sorry. And thanks. For taking care of her."

"Don't worry about it. I have a long way to go to prove my intentions to everyone. I'm willing to put in the effort." Henry turned to Millicent with one last smile. "I'll see you later."

Entering the locker room before practice, Henry overheard a few of the guys hazing Nigel, a new recruit and the water boy for his first year on the team. Henry intervened just as Ben pushed Nigel to the ground, causing him to drop the water bottles he was carrying.

Henry firmly pushed Ben away and turned to Nigel, helping him up and picking up the dropped bottles. "Are you okay?"

Nigel nodded, grateful. "Yeah... thanks, Henry."

Henry smiled and then got an idea. "Hey, what do you think about helping me get back at them?"

Nigel hesitated before shrugging with a smile. "Okay. What do you have in mind?"

Henry grinned, patting Nigel on the shoulder. "I'll get back to you at the next practice. Keep this between us, okay?"

Nigel nodded, his initial apprehension giving way to curiosity. "Sure."

***

Millicent's bedroom door softly opened and closed, followed by the sound of clothes rustling. She smiled as she felt Henry slip into bed behind her, pulling her close against his chest and placing a gentle kiss on the back of her head. "You're back late."

"I know. Practice. And then dinner with the family. They invited you over for dinner on Sunday... if you want."

She turned around to face him, the soft desk lamp lighting up his face as he smiled back at her. "You want me to meet your family? As what? Your tutor?"

Henry chuckled, planting a sweet kiss on her lips before pulling back and gently running his fingers through her hair. "No... I was hoping as my girlfriend..."

Her heart quickened at the title, and she paused for a moment to absorb it. "Oh..." She let the word linger as she processed the implications. "How about... as someone you're getting to know? Slowly," she emphasized, to which he nodded with understanding.

"Fair enough." He rested his hand on her side tentatively. "There's one more thing..."

"Okay, go on..."

"I want you to come watch one of our practices on Thursday. You can bring Abby with you."

She groaned softly, burying her face in his chest as he planted a loving kiss on the top of her head. "I don't know, Henry."

"It'll be worth it, I promise. Please, Shortcake?"

With another sigh, she looked back up at him with a resigned expression. "Fine. Can we sleep now?"

"Yes, please," he replied with a chuckle, pulling her close to his chest as they settled in for the night.