No Such Thing As A Hollywood Ending

chapter 6

The gym was alive with twinkling lights, soft music, and the low hum of student chatter, but Lucy could hardly focus on any of it. She stood near the entrance, scanning the room nervously. This wasn't her usual scene. School dances had always been something she attended alone, a quiet observer rather than a participant. But tonight was different. Tonight, she was here with Henry.

She spotted him by the snack table, looking a little out of place in his button-up shirt but smiling when he saw her. She felt a flutter in her stomach, something that hadn't been there before. This wasn't like any other dance for her.

"Hey," Henry greeted her, holding something out toward her. A bag of gummy bears.

Lucy blinked, surprised. "You got me these?"

"Yeah," he shrugged, his smile a little sheepish. "I thought you might like them."

The gift was small, not extravagant or flashy, but it meant the world to her. It was thoughtful, something he did without expecting anything in return. She smiled warmly, her chest tightening with a feeling she didn't fully understand yet.

"Thank you," she said softly, taking the bag. "I love them."

Together, they found a quiet spot away from the bustling crowd, where the music was just a distant hum. Henry didn't seem interested in the usual noise of the dance, and neither did she. As they sat, their conversation drifted to a familiar topic: her writing.

"I've been working on a new chapter," Lucy admitted, a bit awkwardly. "It's not finished yet, but I'm excited about it."

Henry's face lit up with genuine interest. "What's it about?"

Lucy hesitated, feeling a little vulnerable. No one ever asked her about her stories, and even her family barely acknowledged her love for writing. But Henry wasn't dismissing it. He wanted to know more.

"It's kind of a fantasy thing," she explained. "Angels, demons, all that. The main character is caught in the middle of this war but doesn't realize how important she is. She's slowly figuring it out."

Henry listened intently, his eyes focused on her like he truly cared. "That sounds awesome. What inspired it?"

Lucy was taken aback by the question. She wasn't used to anyone caring enough to ask why she wrote the things she did. But Henry wasn't being polite—he was genuinely curious.

"I've always loved stories with characters who feel like they don't belong," she admitted, feeling a little self-conscious. "And I'm kind of obsessed with Hazbin Hotel fanfictions."

Henry smiled. "You write those too?"

"Yeah," she laughed nervously. "I know it's niche, but I really enjoy it. The characters are fascinating."

"I think it's cool," Henry said, his voice warm and sincere. "You're really passionate about it."

Lucy felt a blush rise to her cheeks. He wasn't just listening—he was really seeing her, the parts of her that no one else seemed to notice. It felt... nice.

The night went on, the two of them talking more about her stories and about music, even Henry's thoughts on freestyling. He let her be the center of attention, something she wasn't used to, and it made her feel seen in a way she hadn't expected.

As the dance began to wind down, Lucy found herself standing with Henry by the exit, feeling a strange mix of emotions. She was happy, but there was something else. Something she couldn't quite put into words.

And then, without thinking, she acted on it.

Before she could stop herself, Lucy leaned in and kissed him. Not just a quick peck on the lips—no, her mouth met his in a way that made her heart pound. She kissed him deeply, her tongue slipping into his mouth for a brief moment, tasting the faint sweetness of the punch they'd been drinking earlier.

The kiss only lasted a second or two, but it felt like forever. The shock on Henry's face when she pulled back was immediate, his eyes wide with surprise. Lucy's own heart was racing, her mind spinning out of control. What had she just done?

She didn't wait for him to say anything. Her face burning with embarrassment, confusion, and dread, she turned on her heel and ran, leaving him standing there alone.

Lucy burst out into the cool night air, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. Why had she kissed him? Why had she gone so far, let herself get carried away like that?

She pressed her fingers to her lips, still feeling the warmth of his mouth against hers. Her heart ached with a mix of emotions she couldn't even begin to unravel. This was supposed to be simple—just a night with a friend. But now... now it felt like everything had changed.

Lucy didn't know why she had kissed him, why she had felt that surge of desire, or why she had run away so quickly afterward. But deep down, she knew this was more than just friendship. She just wasn't ready to face that yet.