How to Survive Your 19th Life [BL]

Chapter 55: Homecoming

When it was time for me to meet Henri at Macho's, I froze. I wanted to get dressed and rush over to see him, as I desperately needed a friend, but I couldn't move from my bed. 

What if Emiel is out there? What if he sees? I wanted to believe that I avoided death this time, but how could I be sure? I felt safe at home and of course Emiel didn't know where I lived. But I couldn't just forget being stabbed or choked.

A bit after noon, someone knocked on my bedroom door. I grabbed a pen as a weapon and stood in the corner of the room when it opened. Henri stood on the other side with my mom next to him.

"What on Earth?" Mom said. 

I burst out laughing and tossed the pen on the bed. Bending over, I held my stomach and laughed until I started coughing. "I'm kidding," I told my mom. 

She left us two alone. Her face was a mask of unease. 

Henri removed his backpack and sat on my bed. My room wasn't anything lavish—just a pile of books, comics, and random leftover items from childhood. Henri took a small dinosaur figurine from my nightstand and started bouncing it playfully on his knee.

"Which one is this?" he asked me.

I sat on the floor with my back to the window. "A Spinosaurus."

"Your favorite? Or was that a..."

"Velociraptor," we said at the same time.

I laughed a bit. "Dad has cancer," I said.

He nodded. "Your mom told me that apparently you found out... through me?"

"Sorry, I couldn't really explain how I really know," I said.

"Can you explain it to me?" He tossed me the Spinosaurus, which I caught. 

I examined the figurine with its detailed scales and coloring. My fingertips ran along the neural spines, clicking with each bump. "It was like a dream." I had to lie to him of course, but I needed to stay at least as close to the truth as possible. 

"Like you're psychic?" he laughed.

I shrugged. "Something like that. I was right in any case."

"What now? You dropping out of your fancy college and joining us regular folks?"

"Do you still love me, Henri?" I asked. It was a question that was burning in the back of my mind for a couple of deaths now. In my second life, Henri and Emiel had a 20 minute phone conversation, and now there was no way for me to know what that was about. I was left with more questions than anything.

Henri furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"

"When we talked last summer, I asked if you had a crush on me and you told me you didn't know. Was that a lie?"

Henri scoffed and ran one hand through his hair. "I'll always love you, Solo. That's how first loves work, you know."

Clenching my fists together, I buried my face in my arms. "Fuck..."

"Hey man, you don't have to act so upset by it," Henri laughed.

I met his gaze and found him look at me as if he were searching for something. His cute button chin wrinkled a bit. "I have a stalker," I told him. "That's the real reason I left school... well that and my dad." This was the first time I was grateful that Henri didn't go to Javernick. I didn't have to fill him in on all the details. He would be able to just take my word for it.

"Stalker? Have you told the school?"

"He has some strong ties, Hen. I can't be sure who I can even trust. It's literally easier and safer for me to come back home for now." I sighed. "And it's not safe for you either. He's jealous."

"I have a special place for you in my heart, Solo," Henri said. "Bur I would never date you again."

"It doesn't matter to him." My breath quickened. Tremors travelled from my fingertips to my chest. "I'm so scared."

Henri came over to me and knelt in front of me. He grabbed my knees and gave them a squeeze. "Hey, hey, now. Calm down Solo. You're here now, okay?"

"He's... ruthless, Chicken. He will--" I swallowed. "He'll kill me."

Henri grabbed my shirt and pulled me into his arms. He was so much smaller than me, yet he was able to gather all of me up into the crest of his body as though I were a puppy. He smelled like lavender and high school. 

"You're here now," he cooed, rubbing my head as my face pressed into his chest. "No need to be scared, Solo. You're home now. We'll figure the rest out okay?"