Perfect Timing

Chapter 1: Obvious

"Henry, can I please buy you a stereo. It gets kinda depressing listening to your car die slowly." Teased Gracie. Henry just blew air through his nose to make it seem like he had laughed. In reality, he wished that Gracie would be flattered that he was the only junior to have a running car. They didn't come from a wealthy neighborhood, all the foster kids and Mexicans would come to Lincoln View High School.

"If you want to entertain yourself just sing to me. I want my own private take of the new musical you're gonna be in."

"No because you promised me a traditional Thompson casserole and I got donut holes from Demonics!" Gracie laughed to show that she was just kidding. Henry was flustered from her enchanting laugh and was brought back to earth only by Gracie.

"Dude, Slow down! Sometime you get all spaced out on me. Should I be scares to be in a car with you?"

"No, I was just  thinking.......... something you should learn to do." They two  friend laughed and Henry turned to look at her. As they got to the stop, Henry stopped abruptly because Charlie had ran across the street, disregarding the cars. Gracie's laughter stopped as she started at the boy longing to talk to him. Henry felt her tention and unmotivated jelousy comsumed him. 

"Charlie back at it with his stepmoms friends. It's funny how him and his dads really are opposites. Charlie after the mothers and Old Billy after the daughters." Henry laughed at his own joke but stopped once he noticed Gracie stay quiet. "I mean, remember when Charlie would try to peep at his sisters friend during our robotic sleepovers." This time both friends laughed.

"Ya, he would make me go and talk him up. And then he would be mad when I told them that he didn't use the potty trainer." They laughed as they parked in their usual spot. 

"Do you have that test for Spanish today, or was it history?" Gracie asked as she tied her hair up. "I can write a few sentence starters on your hand for Spanish if you want?" 

Henry excitedly searched for a pen in his backpack. His excitement was mistaken for gratitude by Gracie but to everyone else, it was only excitement. It seemed as though Gracie was the only one oblivious to the huge crush Henry had on Gracie. Henry extended his hand towards her.

"Write something that you would tell you Tita, because you know the Senora Camereno is gonna ask how I know that phrase." Henry used the time that she was distracted to stare at her. She felt his graze but though nothing of it. For her, this was normal.

"Alright, there you have three, sorry if you need more, but I have to get to class, we're gonna be late." They both rushed towards the left. "Henry you should go to class, you're gonna be late...Again. Dude it's fine just go to class." Gracie tried to persist but it was the same argument everyday. Henry would say that he's dropped her off since 5th grade and Gracie would say that that they're junior now.

"Do you really wanna argue about this..Again? It's the same conversation. Sra. Camereno already knows that I walk you to class. Now stop wasting you breath and walk faster." They get to her pre-cal class and Gracie watched Henry run towards his Spanish class. She enters the class thinking of how much she loves her white boy.

***

"What are you gonna get Guerro because Mary and Celeste want to work on the project after school and I can't have you feeling hungry because you didn't eat lunch." Gracie put a slice of pizza on her plate along side a hamburger. Gracie has argued that because Henry drove them to school, she should buy lunch. 

"I feel like I should also get macncheese, and some mini corndogs. Are you going to their house or at school? Your parents are out of town so you know they can't come over right?" Henry knew of her disobedience and rule breaking so he always felt the need to scold her. If she wasn't acting like a rebel, she would be the only girl at school to ride a high class car.

"I'm actually doing the project at my house. You know it's Friday and I'm not staying at school. Plus I feel like I should have a small get together, to make more friend and all that good stuff." They both stopped talking as they went to pay because of Perla, the school cashier. She loved herself some good chisme.

"Gigi please don't, I really want to go to Cancún. Your parents won't pay for my trip if You can't go." He tried to guilt her into changing her mind, but like every month, she had made her mind up. "Fine but at least invite Rose because she invited you to her Quinceñera." Henry knew that would hit a spot, like he had hoped. They get to their table in the middle of the cafeteria. 

"No, because then Charlie will be mad I didn't invite him. You know how he likes to be mad at me for everything. But you're right I should invite more freshm-" she stops as she notices that everyone is looking at the news on their phone. "Hey, what is everyone looking at?" Henry shrugs not caring and starts eating. 

Usually, Gracie only talked to Henry and nodded or smiled at all the people she knows. She broke her daily routine and talks to the group of senior that are seated next to her. This catches Henry's attention for a second, but he starts to play his game and eat again.

"Hey, what is everyone looking at?" She regrets asking as soon as she spoke. She expected there to be a scene or to be humiliated but Charlie spoke calmly to her for the first time. " Bayview burned down to ashes, the firemen didn't make it in time to save the whole school, but there weren't any casualties. Everyone is worried for the students and the teachers." She nodded her head and turned towards Henry. He had heard everything.