Last First Kiss {HP Next Generation}

Chapter Forty Eight

Lying outside by the Black Lake, Hope had her hands tucked behind her head with her legs sprawled out comfortably. She could hear Henry splashing in the distance, and it was growing closer and closer.

"Don't bother." She called out to him. "I'm wearing one of my mother's jumpers."

"Darn." She heard Henry mutter before she sat up with a grin. "What is with you and splashing anyways?"

Henry shrugged with an amused look. " Nana says I get it from her and Mum."

"You think your mum is going to come out and spend some time in the water? I hardly ever see her tail."

"I dunno.She might be home already in the water with Nana, I'm not sure. But I was hoping that it would just be you and me tonight."

He rested his chest on the land, and propped his elbows to hold his head head. Hope smiled at him.

"Oh really? Is this supposed to be a date?" She asked holding onto the bottoms of her feet.

"It might, that depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Do you want it to be a date?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I want it to be?"

Hope could see him look away, there was obviously something on the boy's mind and it had been on his mind for quite sometime, ever since the two were considered dating the boy had been acting quite weird. She scooted closer to the water's edge, where he was and didn't stop until she was right in front of him. Crossing her legs beneath her, Hope leaned forward and poked Henry on his forehead.

"What's going on in that mind of yours, Ry?" she asked him.

"Do you like me, Hope?" Henry suddenly blurted out. The girl tilted her head to the side as Henry grimaced in horror at what he had managed to just let out without even thinking it through. Hope didn't seem offended by his question, but confused.

"What do you mean? Of course I like you, Henry." She answered softly. "I-I-I don't understand."

"That's because I worded it stupidly." He sighed. "I didn't mean that you didn't like me, I know you do. I mean, you'd have to if we've been friends for this long, right?"

Hope nodded her head, still obviously confused by the merboy before her. 

"What I meant was, do you like me in the sense of going beyond friends? Like actually being boyfriend and girlfriend?"

No matter how he tried to word it in his head, it continued to sound horrible when he said it out loud. He groaned and dropped his face into his hands.

"You know what? Please, just ignore what I'm saying. I'm not making any sense and I sound mental." He shook his head unaware of Hope getting closer to him.

Suddenly, he felt her hand touch him under his chin, lifting his head up so that he was looking directly at her.

"Why are you questioning this all of a sudden, Henry? I told you back when we first spoke about all this that I did like you beyond a friend, and no I didn't mean being my best friend." She said before pushing some of his hair out of his face and tucking it behind his ear.

Henry tried to ignore the developing goosebumps that were developing on his arms as he met her eyes.

"Why do you think I wouldn't like you in those respects?"

"It's going to sound really stupid and I really rather not say." Henry said trying to look away, but she wouldn't let him.

"Henry, be honest, or I'll punch you in the face." She threatened. The two looked at each other before they started laughing.

 "Come on, Mermalocks," she flipped his hair into his face. "Tell me."

"Well, I thought..you..and..things...yeah."

"Wow," Hope blinked several times. "That made perfect sense. Brilliantly worded, Ry Ry. Just beautiful."

Henry dropped his face only to smash it right into the lake mud. He lifted his face back up to show Hope that he was covered. She snorted loudly before he slid back into the water to clean off his face.

When he emerged, Hope was up on her feet, with her hands on her hips.

"You're avoiding the subject, now tell me."

"It's just technically we've been dating for a little while now and...and...well even Teddy and Stella ...they...they..."

"Kissed?" 

"Yes!"

He was so thankful that Hope was able to finish his sentences throughout the years because it saved him plenty of trouble and struggling.

"Okay, and this has to do with us...'

But then again, there were times that Hope could be incredibly dense.

"Think about it, Hope." Henry encouraged her.

The girl paced back and forth several times before stopping and looking at him. 

"OH I GET IT!"

"That's great." He sighed.

"So, you're acting weird and getting all worked up because we haven't kissed, is that it?" 

"Bingo." He said under his breath.

"Oh thank Merlin," Hope wiped at her brow. "I thought it was something serious...not your dad, but...you get it."

"Yes Hope I get it, but you don't seem all that bothered by the idea...do you not want to kiss me?"

"Henry," she crouched down in front of him. "You forget something..."

"What's that?" He held his breath as she was only a couple of inches from his face. 

"I've already kissed you." She winked at him before kissing his forehead. "Remember? I gave you cooties."