star-crossed

vii. in which henry's friends disapprove of his decisions

Even as Henry's friends dragged him to the door, he still scanned the room for Viola. He hadn't seen her since her mother called for her about fifteen minutes earlier, and the idea of not saying goodbye to her tore him to pieces. But Nick and Angelo each had their hands clamped around one of his arms, and they had no time for romance.

"But Viola," Henry whined as Angelo yanked the door open.

"But your mother's going to kill us if we're not back by midnight, so come on. You've got her phone number. You'll be fine. Now get in the car," Angelo said, shoving him into the back seat and slamming the door closed. "Nick, you get shotgun because you're not being annoying right now."

"Since when have you cared about your curfew?" Nick asked, climbing into the passenger seat.

"I never said I did. But I don't want Henry's mom to hate me," Angelo said as he cranked the car. It sputtered for a few seconds. Henry's gaze flickered from Angelo to the ignition and back again. "Oh, come on, Buttercup! You've got this, old girl." He slapped the dashboard and turned the key again. The car rumbled to life, shaking their seats.

"God, Angelo," Henry said, leaning his head back against the headrest and letting Buttercup scramble his brains. "You've got to get a new car. I'm going to get concussed just sitting here."

Angelo backed out of the Sinclairs' driveway without even looking behind him as he said, "Slander Buttercup one more time and I'll put you out right here."

"He'll just get his girlfriend to drive him home," Nick said. "Won't ya, Henry?"

"Shut up," Henry muttered.

"On that note," Angelo started, "what was going on between you and the little Sinclair? I saw you off in the corner with her. And last we heard from you, you hated her."

Henry shrugged. "Things changed, I guess. I saw her come down the stairs and wondered how I hadn't noticed how beautiful she was before. And then we talked for a little while, and we really hit it off. So I'm gonna ask her out. There's not really much to explain." Henry saw Angelo's eyebrow quirk up from his reflection in the rearview mirror.

"So let me get this straight. You're choosing Viola Sinclair over Miranda Wilson? Dude. Did someone spike your drink or something?" Angelo asked, his tone tainted by disbelief.

Nick turned around and grinned at him. "Told ya this party would help you get over Miranda." Henry frowned and rolled his eyes. "Fine, don't thank me." He twisted back around in his seat.

"I just can't believe he went for Viola. I mean, let's compare her to all his ex-girlfriends, shall we?" Angelo asked. "She's smart, which checks out, I guess, since he dated his tutor." Nick snickered. Henry glared at him. "And she didn't like him, which is interesting this early on. Usually they start hating him after the breakup."

"Look, I know you guys don't really like Viola. But come on, give her a chance for me. I think you'll be surprised. I know I was," Henry said. "She's actually very sweet, and she's funny, and she's got a personality, which I know was your complaint about some of my other girlfriends."

"Yeah, but said personality sucks," Angelo replied.

"You're just mad because she's a Sinclair," Henry snapped. Angelo's eyes went wide. "And if me and Viola become a thing, then you'll have to see Olivia again, and that'll damage your ever-so-fragile ego, won't it?"

"Henry—" Nick began. He cleared his throat. "Henry, I know it hurts that we—Angelo, mainly—aren't the biggest fans of Viola right now. But remember, she doesn't really like us all that much either. Angelo broke her sister's heart—"