strings attached ; firstprince

chapter five

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Over the next two days, Alex plans the perfect date. Well... Apology. Although he feels that Henry has since moved past it he still thinks Henry deserves this. He deserves so much more.

Alex gives the second last book to Henry Friday morning, with a knock at the door and a wordless handing over of the book. Inside Austen's 'Northanger Abbey', Alex left a note that said "Don't be a crabby abbey and Northanger out with me tomorrow? x". Alex hears Henry choke on a laugh when he's halfway down the corridor.

Then on Saturday morning, the nerves kick in. Alex doesn't know what possessed him to go all the way through with this very calculated and prolonged plan to prove to Henry he is more than just someone to flirt with. So much more.

Early that morning Alex had left 'Mansfield Park' at Henry's door, wrapped—as neatly as he possibly could—in blue ribbon and an envelope wrapped to the cover with a message inside that reads:

Dear Henry,

Let me give this last note to you in person. I'm going to take a leaf (well, title) out of these books.

Come meet me at the park? 12:30?

- A xx

P.S. The one opposite campus, on the left-hand side of the lake. You'll see a (very tall) idiot there ready with an apology.

Alex paces in front of the picnic blanket he has sprawled out on the grass. He has a basket with an assortment of fruit, sweets and treats. It's probably an overkill amount of options just to make sure there's something that Henry likes in there.

And of course, a letter, held between his fingers as he reads over the lines over and over again. He really hopes Henry shows up soon because he really will look like an idiot with a very over-the-top picnic for himself.

While engrossed in his own letter, a voice warm and sweet curls around his ears and he almost feels like he's imagining some sleep-deprived hallucination of Henry's voice but when he looks up, there he is. Standing with a warm smile on his lips and a tint of pink in his cheeks.

"Alex..." Henry had said, his voice gentle like fresh snowfall. Alex feels his voice gets stuck in his throat for a moment.

"Henry... I just want to say... Well, I wrote it down..." Alex murmurs sheepishly, handing the letter to Henry hesitantly. He feels so vulnerable and small, all his feelings about Henry written on a piece of paper, a glimpse inside Alex's head that Henry is about to read. Henry opens him up, revealing himself to him.

Henry,

When I first met you, I hated you. I hated the thought of you, your perfect hair, and your beautiful smile. Most importantly, I hated the way you made me feel, even if I didn't know what you made me feel. Then you spilt your stupid Lemon, Lime and Bitters all down my shirt and I had a real reason to resent you. But that didn't last long. Henry, you are sweet, funny and below-average height. Sometimes, on the odd occasion, you can be funny too. You really are a full package.

I think I could listen to you talk forever, honestly. Your smile got me at first. Then, I got to know the rest of you too. I wish the other night had gone differently. I've been wanting to kiss you since I first saw you (although I would never admit that), and I don't know what I wanted for our first kiss but I didn't want it to be a drunken mistake for you. Not when I wanted you like this. I wanted you to want to kiss me, not because of the one too many drinks in your system.

Now, I can't match you for prose, but I hope my attempt at poetry at least made you smile over the last week. I can't guarantee it'll happen again.