strings attached ; firstprince

chapter six

"Why?" Pez says with a raise of his eyebrows.

"I haven't told him yet..." Alex winces. "I've been meaning to, but I've just been putting it off. Like, badly."

"Oh," Pez says, his expression unreadable. He inhales deeply before he says, "I honestly think I'll be in more trouble than you will."

"I don't know, Pez... I just don't want to be Connor."

"Alex," Pez sighs. "You are not and never will be Connor. Henry knows that. I've never heard Henry talk so highly about someone."

Which is exactly why Alex doesn't want to disappoint him.

Alex smiles sadly, wanting to believe him. Wanting Pez to be right. Alex goes to say more but the sound of Henry's door handle clicking open quickly silences him. Both Pez and Alex turn their heads, following the sound.

Henry walks out, phone in hand and only wearing grey sweatpants that hang loosely on his hips. Alex finds himself staring a little too long. Henry glances up and sees Alex, which instantly stops him in his tracks as his face turns pale.

"I need to meet him," A muffled voice says from Henry's phone. Presumably Bea. "He's made you such a-"

"Bea, I have to go," Henry interjects hurriedly, a muffled and exasperated huff comes from his phone. "Alex is here."

Bea gasps. "The Alex? Oh my god. Hello, Alex! My brother hasn't stopped talking about-" Henry hangs up, cutting her off with a sheepish smile.

"Um, hello," Henry says, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Yeah, sorry," Alex says. "I just came from rehearsals with June and Nora."

"For the ball?" Henry asks.

Alex nods. "That's the one."

"Coming together nicely, I hope?"

"Very much so," Alex smiles. A rush of nervousness hits him as he realises, he really has to tell him now. "But I was hoping I could talk to you."

"Oh... Well, did you want to come in my room?" Henry asks, gesturing to the room behind him. Alex nods, silently following Henry into his room. He tries not to overthink the fact that he's never been in it before and he's about to see more of Henry.

When they enter, they sit on Henry's bed, both their feet touching the carpet and their sides almost touching. Alex hasn't been in Henry's room before and he takes a moment to just take it all in. There's a bookshelf with books grouped by theme, a rim of where Henry has left his earl gray on his desk and on his bedside table is a stack of books with tabs and notes. In the corner is a record player, with a collection of vinyls slotted in a shelf underneath it and a keyboard with a disarray of music sheets. And of course, the Jane Austen books in a pile front and center of Henry's desk. It's so Henry that Alex couldn't imagine anything else and it makes his heart ache.

"I've been thinking of getting a plant," Henry says without any preamble. Alex suddenly realizes how long he's just been silently looking around Henry's room.

"Why don't you get one?" Alex asks, grinning.

Henry shrugs. "I feel like I would kill it somehow. I'd be a terrible plant dad."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alex laughs, which causes Henry to smile widely. "Do not give Henry a plant."

"It's for the greater good."

"Saving plants one step at a time."

There's a break in the conversation, just the two of them and the sound of the ceiling fan whirling. Alex feels like the sound of his heart pounding is almost audible. Alex should tell him. He scrambles inside his head a list of things he has to say; confess about the favor, apologize for it and ask him to be his date for the ball. That's if the conversation goes past the first thing on the list.