I walk down the road with a cigarette in the corner of my mouth. Playing with the ends of my hair as I think about where Henry and the gang might be. It was after lunch when we were walking out of my house when they saw the home schooled kid, Mike, ride past on his bike. They whooped and hollered rushing into Belch's car and speeding off.
"Fucking assholes." I was on the sidewalk when the Loser club or whatever the hell they call themselves rode past. Trash-mouth was riding in circles around them. I heard him spout off something about Eddie's mom's vagina on Halloween and felt a smirk on my face. They were all talking about see this weird clown and some wild shit going on around town. So I'm not the only one going crazy this summer. Henry has been poking fun at me when we're alone, calling me his crazy lover. I'm surprised they haven't noticed me yet. I stop looking up at the sky when I hear them come to a halt.
"Oh shit that's Belch Huggins car." Trash-mouth said. There is yelling in the woods where the car is basically pulled into a ditch. They all look to me as my boots scrap on the sidewalk as I step off of it.
"Why is she here?" Eddie speaks up.
"Maybe she's watch out?" Beverly questions. I shrug and spit my cigarette to the ground.
"Nah I've been looking for Henry. They sped off when home school biked past. Thanks for pointing them out. You might want to go help Mike though." I nod to the gap in the shrubs and they all run off. I take my time and light another cigarette before I follow after them. This should be quite the show.
The cheering or screaming as some would call it from the boys gets louder as I step over weeds and shit. There is a sudden burst of laughter. Then it goes quiet and I take bigger steps. Just how far did these assholes go into the woods? There is a loud groan, almost a scream. What is happening? Wanting to hear how this unfolds more I hide behind some weeds. Looking I see that Beverly had thrown a rock at Henry's head. His forehead is bleeding now. Good now he'll stay at my house tonight. If his dad sees that he'll get his ass handed to him for being a 'pussy' in his dad's eyes. I haven't gotten any action from Henry lately and I'm in a little need.
Mike scatters across the river and I hear an off handed 'nice throw' from one of the losers. They all move to pick up more rocks to defend Mike. Vic and Belch help Henry stand up but he shrugs them off. From the look of Henry he's glad I'm not there to see him get hurt. It hurts his image he says.
"You losers are trying too hard." Henry mutters walking to the edge of the stream. Vic and Belch flank either side. I blow my smoke into the bushes, to not be seen.
"She'll do you. Just have to ask nicely." He says in a matter-of-fact voice grabbing his crotch hard,"Like I did." He smiles and my stomach drops. Is that why we haven't been having sex lately? He's getting his rocks off with another girl! I burst through the bushes flicking my cigarette at Henry. He looks at me in shock and so does everyone else.
"You fucking cunt. You took advantage of another girl when you can have me anytime you want? I can't fucking believe you." My face feels hot and I hope its the sun cause I really don't want any of these people to see me cry. Henry steps in the water coming closer towards me, but I back up. I ball my hands into fists. I can't believe this.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" I scream running my hands into my hair," I trusted you." I growl at him and now Henry is almost ankle deep in water. One of the losers screams from behind me and throws a rock at Henry's head. I take that as my queue to leave. As I stomp through the grass I hear grunts and rocks being either pushed around or picked up and thrown. I can't tell. My face is still hot. I use my wrist to wipe it all away, but nothing works.
I walk home chain smoking and wiping my face. God I haven't cried this much since middle school after a 9th grader put gum in my hair and I had to cut my hair to my shoulders. Before going up the path to my house I see Henry on my porch steps with his hands together looking down at his boots. I toss my cigarette down and step on it before starting to head to the back of my house to climb my roof and sneak into my room. Henry looks up and stands up quickly.
"Babe." He says almost running to me, stopping me in my tracks. I rip his hands off of me and put space between us. I can't do anything but glare at him and feel my eyes water again. I'm going to dehydrate at this rate.
"Don't call me that. I'm not anybodies babe." I spit reaching for another cigarette, but I realize I finished the pack on the way home. Shit. My hands itch to do something so they resort to wiping my face.
"Don't say that." He steps to me again, but I move and head for my front door since he's far enough from my porch. I jump up the stairs, but feel Henry follow me. He grabs my hand as I have a hold of the handle. He pulls the door closed. Even though its summer my parents still have to work so I'm the only one home and my little brother is at summer school. Henry leans on the door frame. His hand turns me around then snakes around my waist pulling me close to him. I cross my arms to keep some distance between us.
"I never touched her. It was a lie. All I wanted was the get under their skin. I was just kidding." He whispers trying to lean his forehead on mine, but I lean away from him. I don't even want him touching me right now.
"You're lucky I don't kick your ass and tell you dad you got your ass handed to you by The Loser Club." I look Henry in the eye, glancing at his forehead and look at the blood trickling down. His hand finds my face and wipes away some tears. Even is the swelling heat of summer his hands are just the right temperature for me.
"Y/n I'm sorry I said that. I shouldn't joke like that. I-I-" I look at him shocked. Is he going to say it? The only time Henry says he loves me is during sex and on Valentine's day, but even then he had it written down with his chicken scratch called handwriting. His face is all red and he looks very frustrated. He goes quiet for a moment and I keep looking at him. I've never seen his face make that expression.
"I love you Y/n." He says seriously, but not meeting my eyes. I move my arms to around his neck, hugging him close. Henry's arms close in around me and he digs his face into neck. He holds me tight taking a deep breath.
"Come inside I'll fix you up." I move my arms and grab his hand opening the door. Henry follows me closely. I sit him on my bed as I pull the first-aid kit from under it. Wetting a cotton ball I pat at Henry's forehead and he flinches away for a second. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me onto his lap. Henry's hands roam my body making it hard to dress his wounds.
"What are you doing?" I ask pushing his shoulders back. He has that shit eating smirk engraved on his face.
"Trying to fuck my girlfriend right." He mutters and pulls me on top of the bed with him. Oh this isn't fair. I think as I kiss him back as hard as he is kissing me.
