Better than me.[bowers gang]

Chapter four: his flannel

  •WARNING: BLOOD, VULGAR LANGUAGE•

Their arms continued to bleed. Henry tried to stop the bleeding of his but without the others noticing. He always acted tough when in reality he was just a crybaby. Patrick didn't care about pain, if anything he liked it. Pretty sure he was a masochist. He was sort of a closed book, the only one who really knew his secrets was Henry. all four of the boys just goofed around and make jokes per usual, Victor had left about half an hour ago because of curfew and being bored. Belch was the next to leave. "Guys I think I'm gonna head out.. I can give you two a ride home if you want but if you wanna stay out here for a bit then that's chill too." Belch said as he took out his keys. "I'm staying out here for a bit." Patrick added. "I don't expect you to stay Henry so leave if you want."

Henry wanted to hang out with Patrick more but didn't want him to bring up more stuff about Henry's sexuality. "I'll just.. I'll stay too." Henry gave into the urge of staying. "Alright, see you two tomorrow then." After that belch got into his 1989 Trans Am and drove off. This left Henry and Patrick alone yet again. Henry began to regret staying alone with Patrick. "You wanna admit you it or not?" Patrick cocked an eyebrow as the smirk formed on his lips again. "What?.." Henry tilted his head a bit, he didn't know what Patrick meant. "Are you gonna admit that you like boys or what?? Don't play dumb with me." Patrick bit his lip a bit as he stared at his shorter best friend. Henry knew what Patrick meant now, he didn't wanna tell him. So he kept playing dumb. "I have no clue what you're talking about." Henry huffed and crossed his arms, breaking his gaze from Patrick.  "yes you do. You liked what happened in the junkyard. You like boys. Cmon just say it." Patrick tried to persuade him further. He kept pushing on him until the wall finally broke. "If you admit it, we don't ever have to talk about the quarry again. We don't have to talk about what happened in the junkyard or anything related to it, all you have to do is admit you like boys." That last sentence pushed Henry over. He hated when Patrick talked about it so this was a great deal to him. Henry sighs and his expression turned angry. "Fine." Through clenched teeth Henry admittedly told Patrick. "I'm into guys. It's whatever." Patrick wanted to get under his skin further so he added on. "What was that?? Couldn't hear you." He smirked more. Henry's eyes darted around as he tried to find words. He uncrossed his arms and looked like he was about to slap Patrick but he restrained himself. He slowly lowered his hand. "I said.. I'm into guys." This time Henry said it slightly louder. "Huh?? I can't hear you! You gotta speak up. Quit being a little princess and use your outside voice." Patrick knew what he was doing. He had a plan. Oh and it worked. Henry took a deep breath and yelled at Patrick. "I LIKE GUYS. IM FUCKING GAY OKAY?!"

Henry fell silent after that. He realized someone could have heard him. The guilt hit him hard and quick. His face went pale and his eyes went to the ground. Patrick just laughed. "I finally did it!!" He snickers. "Please shut up about this. If you tell anyone I'll spill your secret about the fridge." Henry believed this would scare Patrick. Instead, Patrick's face was blank and cold. He stared at Henry and proceeded to make his own point. "You think people don't know? That sounded threatening the first time but not this time. You're just a brat. A brat with wild daddy issues and an obsession with a switchblade. That's all you are. You're pathetic." His smirk appeared again. Henry's stomach dropped as he knew Patrick wasn't wrong. He was getting under Henry's skin and he wouldn't stop. Henry looked as if he was going to break into tears. He refused to let out his emotions in front of Patrick. He couldn't see him cry. If Patrick saw Henry cry, then he knew he'd be able to manipulate his feelings. Henry swallowed the lump in his throat and shakily began to speak. "Shut.. your dumbass up. Shut up. I don't care about what you say." He snapped at him. Patrick wasn't affected by Henry's nonsense attempt of being scary. "You don't care? Do you? hm. I know you do." He teased Henry. He wouldn't stop if he didn't want to. He had Henry in a clutch and he wouldn't let go. He could manipulate his mind and get him to say anything. The sun started to set and the air got colder. Henry shivered a bit and turned his head away from the lanky boy with dark hair.  It was like that for a few minutes. Just complete silence other than the bugs and the wind. "You look cold." Patrick mumbled to him. "I.. I'm not. I'm fine." He stuttered again. Henry tried not to stutter but it slipped when he was embarrassed. "I know you're just being stubborn, here. Just take my flannel." Patrick suggested as he took off the navy blue flannel and tossed it at Henry. Henry caught it but held it away from him. "I don't need it! Take it back." "Henry, just take it. I don't care, you're cold and you need it more than I do. End of discussion." Henry rolled his eyes and scoffed at that. Yet he still held onto the flannel, He clung to it with dear life. The sun was setting faster and Patrick needed to be home before his parents began to worry. "I'm gonna go. I'll see you later." He began walking away from Henry and soon he was out of sight. Henry stood there, frozen. Once he knew Patrick was out of sight, he slowly put on his best friend's flannel. He stood there for a bit again. Still trying to process the thing he was just given. Henry never got affection. His father didn't love him and his mother was a runaway. Patrick's flannel made Henry feel.. safe. It was a safe thing. He didn't know why it was a safe place for him but the warmth of it just made him crack a soft smile. A good one. Not a menacing one or an evil one. This one was.. happy.

The boy began rushing home. He ended up getting home before dark and rushed inside. He slowly walked in and quietly shut the door behind him. His father was on the chair in front of the television, asleep. Still in his police uniform. Henry snuck past trying not to wake his sleeping father, he didn't wanna wake him up ever. He simply wished his father would never ever wake up again. He wished he could get out of here. This fucking prison of a home. It wasn't a safe place for Henry. Henry didn't have a safe spot, except for now. That flannel was a safe item for him and that was all he had. He clutched the sleeves so hard as he walked into his bedroom. Henry slowly laid down onto his side on his bed. He stared blankly at the wall. The numbness rooted in him was starting to feel again, the spark was there. Henry shut it down before it could blossom though, he didn't want to feel. At all.