totally meta

chapter 21

As Henry sat in the sterile, brightly lit lab, Dr. Harris stood across from him with her arms crossed, her eyes studying him intently. The cool hum of medical equipment filled the silence as she asked, "So, was it worth it? What Soundwave put you through?"

Henry paused, glancing at the floor. His mind replayed the recent events—the weight of the confession, Rachel's honesty, and his own painful truth. He finally looked up. "It gave me some clarity," he said, his voice steady but reflective. "It's weird to think back on everything. That situation never needed to happen. But, for what it's worth, at least now there's no confusion between me and Rachel."

Dr. Harris nodded, but her expression didn't soften. "And I take it she's not, you know, harboring feelings for you or anything?"

Henry blinked in surprise, then shook his head. "No, no. She doesn't have a crush on me. That's... not something I have to worry about."

Dr. Harris let out a small, unexpected laugh—one that seemed to hold a mix of relief and something else. "Good," she said, her tone shifting. "Because, if I'm being honest..." Her voice lowered just a touch, enough for Henry to feel the weight of what she was about to say. "I do."

Henry froze, staring at her. For a moment, it felt like the air between them thickened, a silent tension he didn't know how to respond to. His heart pounded in his chest, not from fear or excitement, but from pure, unfiltered awkwardness. He wasn't used to this—the idea that someone might like him, especially someone like Dr. Harris.

He scratched the back of his head, searching for words. "Uh... wow," he stammered, his voice faltering. "I... I didn't expect that."

Dr. Harris gave him a small, understanding smile, her sharp confidence softening for the first time. "I didn't expect to say it, to be honest." She shrugged, looking a little embarrassed herself. "But you've been through a lot, and... well, I guess I've grown to care about you more than I thought."

Henry looked away, feeling his cheeks heat up. He didn't know how to react—didn't know what to say. He'd never really considered himself someone people could like in that way. Sure, he had superpowers now, but he still felt like the same awkward, unsure guy he'd always been.

"Yeah, um..." he mumbled. "This is new for me."

Dr. Harris chuckled softly, breaking the tension with a lightness that made it easier for him to breathe. "It's new for me too, Henry. Let's not make it weird, okay?"

He let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, definitely. No weirdness."