when the party's over, hockstetter 𝜗𝜚

vii. baby i'm falling...

❨ WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER❩
CHAPTER SEVEN:
BABY I'M FALLING

‧ : *: ‧ °✧

"you're kidding, right?" (y/n) is aghast, her eyes wide as she walks with henry through the woods. "they're not staying with us for the rest of the week. absolutely not."

"you don't really have a say in this, cos'. maybe if you hadn't gone and tried to fuck em all you wouldn't have to worry about things being awkward."

"eat my shorts." she scoffs, ignoring the pang of hurt in chest at her cousin's words.

henry glances over at the shorter female with guilt, immediately noticing her eyes dullen. he quickens his pace until he's walking in front of her, turning around and making faces in an attempt to cheer her up.

she rolls her eyes, the hint of a smile beginning to show, but as she thinks back to everything that's happened in only three days of their break, her pouty lips turn to a frown.

the mullet wearing boy groans to himself, abruptly stopping his footsteps. (y/n) bumps into his hard chest seconds after, but instead of pulling away she wraps her arms around his waist, her shoulders beginning to shake.

"oh—oh come on, (n/n). you know i was just messing with you." the taller of the two whispers, pulling his cousin closer to him.

"even if you were, others are probably thinkin' the same thing. they all think i'm a slut, that i'm easy to get with! i ain't even lost my virginity yet, hen!" though the topic caused the air to be tense, henry couldn't help but sympathize for the female, "i didn't mean to kiss reginald... it's just patrick, he—"

"you don't have to explain yourself. we're young and dumb, we fall for people we don't mean to fall for, we make stupid decisions." he grips her cheeks and forces her to look in his eyes, "nobody's ever gonna hurt you. that's a promise, alright, bambi? cause you've got me to look out for you."

(y/n) lets out a sad giggle at the old nickname, a cozy feeling spreading throughout her body.

henry was home to her.

even on the days he swore he hated her, if she were in trouble he'd come running right to her side to protect her.

she nods, allowing him to wipe away her fallen tears. the two hug one last time before continuing their journey to ryan's, where they would meet the rest of the gang.

☆

the bar hums with the low murmur of conversations blending together like a symphony of voices. behind the counter, bottles of various shapes and colors stand like sentinels, their labels catching the light in a kaleidoscope of reflections.

the air is tinged with the scent of aged oak from the barrels and the faint aroma of whiskey and weed.

the little bell at the top of the door tinkles melodiously as the two teens enter.

(y/n) waves happily at ryan, the bar owner's son, before following henry to where the boys are seated.

"when i said take your time i didn't mean take a whole damn year." patrick grumbles, scooting further into the booth so that henry can sit.

(y/n) sits beside belch on the other side.

"can it, blockstetter."

victor and belch give the mullet wearing boy an amused expression, always being entertained by the vast amount of nicknames he had for the flame fixated boy.

"some sierra nevadas, please, mancini!" (y/n) suddenly calls, smiling widely at the dark haired boy resting peacefully behind the counter.

he nods at her.