totally meta

chapter 29

Henry sat across from Dr. Harris in the dimly lit restaurant, feeling out of place. The atmosphere was fancy, with soft music playing in the background, chandeliers casting a warm glow on the neatly set tables. Dr. Harris, dressed in a stunning black dress, looked every bit the part of someone enjoying a night out. Her makeup was flawless, her hair in soft waves, and her elegant demeanor only added to the sophistication she exuded.

Henry, on the other hand, felt painfully underdressed. He had shown up in sweatpants and a neon Mario T-shirt, clearly not fitting the restaurant's usual clientele. People around them whispered or shot odd looks their way, some with raised eyebrows, others with mild amusement. Henry, however, shrugged it off. He wasn't one to care much about appearances, but he couldn't help but feel a bit out of place with Dr. Harris looking so glamorous.

Dr. Harris had already finished her third glass of wine, and Henry noticed she was starting to get a bit tipsy. Her eyes were slightly glazed, and her usual composed self seemed a little more relaxed. She laughed a bit more freely, and her tone was softer, though occasionally slurred.

"You know," Dr. Harris said, leaning forward with a slightly mischievous grin, "I've been thinking about something."

Henry raised an eyebrow, not quite sure where she was going with this. He had only been drinking water, partly because he wasn't of legal age and partly because his body metabolized things so fast it wouldn't matter anyway.

Dr. Harris giggled a little, twirling the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. "Would you... ever have sex with me?"

Henry froze. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he was at a complete loss for words. The awkwardness in the air thickened, and he could feel his face heat up with embarrassment. He hadn't been expecting *that* question.

"Uh..." he stammered, glancing around to make sure no one had overheard her. The last thing he needed was some nosy diner eavesdropping on this incredibly awkward conversation. His mind raced, trying to find a way to handle the situation without making things worse.

Dr. Harris blinked, clearly a bit too tipsy to notice Henry's discomfort. Her question seemed casual to her, as though they were discussing the weather or a work project.

"Well," Henry started, choosing his words carefully, "maybe... if you weren't drunk." He kept his voice low, trying not to sound harsh or judgmental. He wasn't angry—he genuinely believed that her question stemmed from her inebriation.

Dr. Harris blinked again, as if processing what he'd just said. She gave him a goofy, lopsided grin. "Oh... right. Yeah, maybe," she mumbled, leaning back in her seat, almost spilling her wine in the process.

Henry let out a quiet sigh of relief. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, and he figured this was the safest way to handle it. But even so, the entire situation made him feel incredibly weird. He wasn't used to anyone—let alone someone as smart and driven as Dr. Harris—showing interest in him that way.

The rest of the dinner passed in a strange, quiet haze. Dr. Harris calmed down after a while, seemingly realizing she had overstepped. She busied herself with the rest of her meal, and Henry followed suit, grateful for the shift in focus. He was hoping they could both move past this awkward moment without making it into a big deal.

When the check finally came, Henry offered to pay, but Dr. Harris insisted, handing her card to the waiter before Henry could argue. Afterward, they walked outside together. The cool evening breeze felt refreshing after the stuffy warmth of the restaurant.

As they stood on the sidewalk, waiting for her ride, Dr. Harris looked up at Henry with a slightly apologetic smile. "Sorry... about earlier. I didn't mean to make things awkward."

Henry smiled awkwardly, shoving his hands in his pockets. "It's okay. I get it. Wine tends to make people say things they wouldn't normally say."

Dr. Harris chuckled softly and shook her head. "I don't usually drink that much... Guess I was just trying to loosen up."

Henry nodded. "Well, I'm not upset. It's just... something I wasn't really expecting." He paused for a moment, glancing at the street. "But, uh, I think we're good, right? No weirdness?"

Dr. Harris smiled a little wider. "Yeah. No weirdness."

As her ride pulled up, she turned to Henry and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for tonight, Henry. I had a good time... weirdness and all."

Henry gave her a quick nod. "Me too. Get home safe."

As she got into the car and it drove off, Henry stood there for a moment, watching the taillights disappear down the road. He let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. This night had definitely not gone how he expected, and he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.

For now, though, he pushed the awkwardness to the back of his mind. He'd figure it all out later. Right now, he just wanted to run—no, not as the Flash—just a normal jog to clear his head. Plus, running was how he told his mom he'd be getting home anyways.