The Clash, Book One

Chapter 32: Pretty in Blue, Part H

Hyperion Heights, Present Day

The next day, Roni came in from wiping down tables in one of the side rooms to find Henry sitting at the bar.

Four beer bottles were in front of him. With a worried expression, she asked him, "Are you...drunk?"

With a slight shake of his head, Henry then posed, "Why do people even fall in love anyway? It's supremely masochistic, it's a colossal waste of time, and it's stupid," gesturing with his hands.

With a disbelieving tone, Roni told him, "You don't believe that."

Henry folded his hands in front of him and leaned forward as he hummed in reply: "Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm."

With a sigh, Roni asked, "Did something happen with Jacinda?"

"More like nothing happened with Jacinda," Henry complained before he picked up one of the beer bottles and drank from it. He then chuckled humorlessly before he continued, "Mm. Maybe Lucy's right. Maybe we really are all cursed."

Just as he was about to take another sip, Roni snatched that bottle away along with the others and placed them under the bar.

Henry then protested, "Oh, hey! Hey!"

In a scolding tone, Roni then pointed out, "Enough. You know, you and Jacinda aren't the only ones who are stuck."

She paused and took a breath before she stated, "Victoria Belfry may be locked up, but," letting out a sigh, "we have bigger problems now. And we need help."

Henry grew confused as he asked, "Problems? Help? What are you talking about?"

Roni then explained, "Just trust me. I'm out of options here in Hyperion Heights, so I'm going to San Francisco."

"Okay, what the hell is in San Francisco?" Henry questioned. He was partly curious, while the other part of him still didn't know what was going on.

A smile made its way across Roni's face as she told him, "Someone Victoria Belfry pushed out of Hyperion Heights a long time ago. Someone who can help us."

"Great," Henry conceded before Roni faltered and continued, "Someone who hates me with every fiber of their being."

"Less great," Henry then interjected.

Roni then finished, "But, as I said, we're out of options." She then leaned over the bar and placed a hand on his arm before she sympathetically told him, "And you, Henry Mills, could definitely use a change of scenery."

At that, Henry tilted his head and chuckled before Roni suggested, "So, what do you say, hmm? Up for a road trip?"

Henry began with an admission of sorts: "Well, I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm pretty drunk right now, and I'm pretty sure I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

He then paused before he agreed, "But I do love the idea of leaving the Heights for a while. And I do have the perfect playlist -" as he finished, Roni offered him a bright smile, "- So yeah, let's do it. Let's hit the road."

They both chuckled lightly. A thought then crossed Roni's mind, and she suggested, "You know who else could use a change of scenery?"

Henry tilted his head in confusion as questioning look appeared on his face before Roni explained.

"I'd wager that Alena is stressed about more than just work."

Henry hummed in understanding before he surmised, "You mean because her feelings for Nick - which are apparently mutual - puts her in the middle of...whatever the hell all of this is," raking his hand through his hair.