No Such Thing As A Hollywood Ending

chapter 8

Lucy sat in the food court of the mall, stirring her iced latte absently as she waited for her friend to arrive. She'd been mulling things over for days, trying to wrap her head around everything that had happened with Henry. The kiss, their conversation afterward, the way he always seemed to genuinely care about her stories—things nobody else paid much attention to.

When her friend Sarah finally arrived, dropping her shopping bags onto the table with a dramatic sigh, Lucy barely had time to say hello before she blurted out, "I think I really like a boy."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her seat with a curious smirk. "Oh? Who's the lucky guy? Spill."

Lucy hesitated for a second, wondering if she should keep it to herself a little longer. But Sarah had been her best friend for years, and they shared just about everything. She decided to go for it.

"It's this boy from school..." Lucy said quietly, glancing around as if saying his name out loud might change everything.

Lucy continued smiling a little. "He's really sweet. He's different from everyone else. Like, at the coffee shop, he bought me coffee without me even asking. And he's always so... interested in what I have to say. I was telling him about my book the other day, and he actually listened. Not just pretending, but really listened. Most people zone out when I start talking about fanfictions or Hazbin Hotel."

Sarah leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Wow. Okay, that's kind of adorable. Go on."

Lucy bit her lip, unsure how to explain what had happened at the dance. "We went to the school dance together. Just as friends, at least that's what I told him. But then, at the end of the night, I... well, I kissed him. Like, really kissed him."

Sarah's eyes widened even more, her jaw dropping. "Wait, what? You kissed him? On the lips?"

Lucy nodded, her face turning bright red. "Yeah, and then I ran off. I was so embarrassed. But we talked afterward, and he asked if we were still friends or if we were something more. He was really understanding about it all."

"Okay, that's super cute," Sarah said, her excitement bubbling over. "So what's the problem? You like him, he likes you, and you kissed. Sounds like you're on the right track!"

Lucy sighed, swirling the ice in her drink. "Yeah, but I don't know if I want to rush things. He has mental health issues, and I don't want to take advantage of him or make him feel pressured. I really care about him, and I just want to make sure he's comfortable."

Sarah raised her eyebrows, a teasing grin forming. "Girl, you should tap that shit! I mean, if you like him and he likes you, why not?"

Lucy felt her cheeks flush again, but this time it was out of a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Sarah, I'm not talking about having sex with him. I genuinely like him, and I don't want to rush into anything physical just because it's what everyone else does."

It took Sarah a moment to fully register what Lucy had said about him having mental health is but then her laughter burst out, loud and uncontrollable. She nearly fell off her chair, clutching her stomach as she gasped for breath. "You're talking about Henry? Oh my God! I can't believe it! You like Henry! The guy who's always in the back of the classroom!"

Lucy crossed her arms, trying to hide her smile as she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, very funny. I know it's surprising."

After catching her breath, Sarah leaned in, her expression turning serious. "Okay, okay. But really, if you like him, just be careful, alright? I know he has his issues, but it sounds like you two are connecting. That's important."

Lucy nodded, feeling a sense of relief that her friend understood. "Thanks, Sarah. I just want to take my time with this. I don't want to mess it up."

"I get it. Just don't overthink it too much. You can't control everything," Sarah said, giving her a supportive smile. "Just be honest with him about how you feel. Communication is key, you know?"

Lucy took a deep breath, her resolve strengthening. "You're right. I'll talk to him. I want to be open about how I feel."

As they continued chatting about Henry and everything else, Lucy felt a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling inside her. Maybe this was the start of something special, and she was determined to navigate it carefully.

She wouldn't let fear or embarrassment stop her from exploring whatever this connection with Henry could be. After all, he deserved someone who genuinely cared for him, and maybe—just maybe—she could be that person.