Forever Yours

CHAPTER 9

What, do you have some secret hobby or something? Do you draw weird stuff?

Emily's heart raced as she thought about spending the evening with Henry's family. It had been a while since she'd been to their home, but it still felt familiar. She used to hang out here all the time with Trisha when they were younger. Back then, she never gave much thought to Henry—he was always just Trisha's older brother, quiet and in his own world. Now, the idea that fate had brought them together filled her with both curiosity and excitement.

Shaking her head, she smiled to herself. How funny life could be.

When Henry told his parents about their relationship, they were overjoyed. His mother had always been fond of Emily and treated her like one of her own. As soon as Emily stepped through the front door, Henry's mom pulled her into a tight hug.

"Emily! It's been too long, dear," she said warmly, stepping back to look at her. "You haven't changed one bit, but... I think you're glowing!"

Emily laughed softly. "It's so good to see you too, Mrs. Mitchell. I've missed you."

His mother smiled and led her into the living room, where Henry's father greeted her with a warm handshake and a nod of approval. Dinner was ready not long after, and the conversation flowed easily. Emily felt comfortable, as if no time had passed at all.

After the meal, Emily offered to help Henry's mom clean up in the kitchen, and they chatted as they worked. It felt natural, familiar, like coming home after being away for too long.

When they finished, Henry's mom called out teasingly, "Henry, why don't you take Emily up to your room? Show her where all your embarrassing childhood memories are!"

Henry blushed, rolling his eyes. "Mom, come on, don't make her uncomfortable."

Emily and his mom both laughed, but Emily's heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing Henry's room. She'd spent years in this house but never once stepped foot in his room. The idea of seeing his personal space—the place where he grew up, where his memories lived—made her curious and excited.

As she followed him up the stairs, Emily's mind raced. When they reached his room, Henry opened the door, and Emily took a breath. The room was neat and tidy, much cleaner than her own, and filled with band posters and memorabilia. She could tell he loved music as much as she did.

"This is nice," she said, walking in and letting her eyes roam around.

Henry rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "Yeah, I try to keep it organized. It's nothing special."

Emily moved toward the computer desk, her eyes landing on a sketchbook. Intrigued, she reached for it, but Henry quickly stepped forward, his face flushing red. "No, not that."

Emily raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What's in here, Henry?"

"It's... nothing, just some sketches," he said nervously, holding the sketchbook above his head, out of her reach.

Emily laughed. "Oh, come on. You're making me curious. What, do you have some secret hobby or something? Do you draw weird stuff?"

Henry's face turned even redder. "I swear it's not like that!"

Emily jumped, trying to grab the sketchbook, but Henry kept it out of reach. "Let me see! I'm dying to know what you're hiding!"

She laughed, but in her eagerness, she lost her balance. Before she could fall, Henry caught her in his arms, holding her close. For a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Their faces were inches apart, and Emily could feel her heart pounding in her chest. The warmth of his body, the soft look in his eyes—it was almost too much.

She took a step back, putting some distance between them. "Sorry," she muttered, her face flushing. She wasn't ready for things to escalate like this in his parents' house. It wasn't proper.

Henry, however, misunderstood her reaction. "You're mad, aren't you? Because I didn't show you the sketchbook?"

Emily blinked in surprise. "What? No, Henry, it's not that."

Henry, still feeling guilty, handed her the sketchbook. "Here. You can look."

Emily hesitated for a moment before taking it. She opened the pages carefully, expecting random doodles or casual sketches, but what she found blew her away. The detail, the artistry—Henry was incredibly talented. There were sketches of movie characters, intricate landscapes, and then she turned the page and stopped short. There was a sketch of her.

Her eyes widened as she traced the lines on the page. "Henry... when did you draw this?"

Henry scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "It was at Trisha and Your graduation. You were wearing that summer dress with your hair down, and the wind... well, I don't know, I just thought you looked really beautiful that day."

Emily's heart swelled as she stared at the sketch. "You liked me back then?"

Henry smiled sheepishly. "Much Earlier, actually. I think I started liking you the first time Trisha brought you here."

Emily's eyes widened. "What? You were just a kid then!"

Henry shrugged, a soft smile on his face. "It was love at first sight, I guess."

Emily shook her head, laughing. "I had no idea! And here I was crushing on you for years, thinking you didn't even notice me."

Henry's eyebrows shot up. "You did?"

"Yeah! Trisha teased me about it all the time. I used to think you were so handsome with your messy hair and quiet charm."

Henry grinned. "Well, I wasn't being aloof on purpose. I just... didn't know how to talk to you."

Emily blushed as she processed his words. Henry was so sweet, so genuine, and before she knew it, she reached for his hand. Their fingers intertwined naturally, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then, unexpectedly, Henry leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was slow, tender, and full of emotion. Emily's heart raced as she kissed him back, forgetting everything else. It was just the two of them, lost in the moment, until Henry finally pulled away.

"I don't want to rush things," he whispered, his voice gentle. "We can take it slow."

Emily nodded, still breathless from the kiss. "Yeah. Slow is good."

"Let's go on a 2 days trip , Emily." Henry suggested.

"I'd love that , Henry!" She replied excitedly. She felt a rush of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and an overwhelming warmth at the thought of spending two nights alone with him. She had never wanted to be with someone so much before. Her feelings were deeper than she ever imagined, and they seemed to intensify with every shared glance and touch.

Henry smiled, kissing her forehead before they both sat down on his bed, just enjoying the quiet comfort of being together.