That same day after school, Charlotte went to her new job at the Swell Café. It had been almost a week since she'd been working there and the curly-haired girl was pleased to admit she was glad she got the job.
She enjoyed the bittersweet aroma of coffee and sweets, and she appreciated the short distance between the café and her house that only called for a ten minute walk. And the job itself wasn't too difficult. While she sometimes grew tiresome of running around the kitchen and brewing the same order of caramel mochas (she swore she got at least twenty orders of those a day), she loved being able to experience some responsibility outside of school. And getting her homework done and keeping up with being class president were simple when it came to someone as organized as herself.
Plus, she loved getting discounts off of vanilla lattes.
With Jasper's busy schedule and Henry's job, she had begun to feel left out. Having a job to attend to after school made her feel more included, and, to be frank, a lot less lonely. Before she had been working, she would've went home and buried herself in homework or watch TV, hoping to get a call or text. Now, she could say she was occupying herself in a better way.
The bells to the door of Swell Café jingled as a group of customers left. It was 8:30pm, half an hour before closing time, and only a few customers remained in the shop. A few occupied the tables, typing away on their laptops while taking a sip of their coffee every now and then. The shop remained fairly peaceful with only the sound of a few girls talking at a table and the soft buzz of the lit fridge containing cupcakes and brownies. If during earlier hours, like right after school, the café would be loud and restless with rambunctious teenagers huddling over the tables and a line going almost out the door. Now, preparing for closing, Charlotte wiped down the counter with a rag as a blonde woman came up behind her.
"Don't work too hard," the blonde joked. "You'll crack the counter." Charlotte laughed.
"You can never tell me to work less, Liz," the petite girl replied. "Will only make me work harder."
"Aren't you a tough one?" she responded. "Your momma taught you that?"
"She'd be the one." Charlotte smiled. She loved and looked up to her mother more than anyone else. If she saw her right now, she'd be scolding her that she missed a spot on the counter.
Charlotte swung the rag over her shoulder and turned towards her coworker.
"Leaving already?" she asked after she noticed her out of uniform and holding her bag.
"Yeah, I asked Stacy if I could check out early today. It's Tony and I's one year anniversary." Liz grinned. Stacy was the manager of Swell Café and their boss.
"Aw, Liz, I'm so happy for you!" Charlotte replied, bringing her hands out to hold Liz's hands. "And I hate you for leaving me here by myself." Her grin dropped to a frown, and her eyes narrowed into a glare. Liz laughed. The two coworkers had become friends almost instantly and became quite close in the short span they had been working together. With only about four employees and six hour shifts daily, it was pretty hard not to become friends with each other.
"Sorry, sugar," Liz replied, walking around to the front of the counter.
"What are you guys doing, anyway?" Charlotte asked, leaning her elbows across the counter and resting her chin over her fists.
"Tony got us reservations at Montego's," Liz said with a smirk. Charlotte's jaw dropped.
"Montego's? The famous steakhouse? How'd he manage to pull that off?" she asked.
"Don't ask me!" Liz replied. "Anyways, I gotta run. I'll miss you!"
"Yeah, right, you'll definitely be thinking of me as you're eating your fancy steak while I'm here closing up shop alone." Charlotte playfully rolled her eyes as she finished wiping the counter.
"You'll be fine! Get your boyfriend to help you!" Liz waved goodbye as she walked out the jingling door.
"My boyfriend?" Charlotte said to herself. She turned around to see Henry walking towards her with a brown bag and a grin.
"Henry!" she exclaimed happily, hugging him over the counter. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd bring you some frozen yogurt cause, well, who doesn't love frozen yogurt?" He smiled as he slid the bag to her.
"Aw, you're sweet," she gushed, opening up the bag. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she pulled out two spoons from the bag. "Two spoons?"
"I mean, I love frozen yogurt too," he said, taking a spoon from her hand. The two laughed as two more customers left the shop, leaving one.
"So how much longer?" he asked, taking the yogurt out of the bag.
"Not long," she replied taking a bite out of the cookie-dough flavored treat. "Everything's clean and no one else is coming in. After that guy leaves I'll be locking up."
"Well aren't you just so responsible?" he joked, tapping her nose with his spoon. Charlotte rolled her eyes as they continued to take bites of the frozen yogurt.
"So you like your new job, huh?" he said.
"Yeah, I do," she responded. "And nothing you say's gonna make me quit so don't even try." She wagged her spoon at him assertively.
"Alright, alright," he said defensively. "I won't. I'm glad you're happy."
Charlotte smiled. "Thank you."
"Plus, that uniform looks good on you," he said with a wink. Her uniform consisted of a simple olive-green colored collared shirt, with an apron tied around her waist and a visor wrapped around her head. Charlotte raised her eyebrows.
"That's pretty bold of you, don't you think?" she asked.
"Just stating facts."
"So what are the facts?" she asked leaning forward across the counter, her chin over her fist. "What are we, Henry?"
"You tell me," he challenged, mimicking her moves and leaning forward from the other side of the counter so that they were face-to-face.
"You bump into me, force me to talk to you, hold me hostage after class," he listed off his fingers. "Seems like you can't get enough of me." Charlotte's mouth fell open and she punched his arm in defense as Henry started laughing.
"Oh please," she scoffed. "You take me out on a date-"
"-just one-"
"-bring me donuts-"
"-technically that was for both you and Jasper-"
"-and you bring me frozen yogurt at my job." Henry opened his mouth to retaliate, then closed his mouth, earning a laugh from the girl in front of him.
"You got me there," he admitted. Charlotte smiled as she moved so she was standing straight, her arms crossed in front of her chest while Henry grinned up at her leaning on his elbow on the counter. Just then the last customer, a tall man holding a laptop case, stood up and made his way to the door.
"Have a good night," he nodded towards the two.
"Thank you, sir, you too," Charlotte responded while Henry casually bid him goodbye with a two-finger salute. As the door shut behind the customer, Charlotte silently fist-bumped the air as Henry mouthed finally.
"Let me just wipe down his table," she spoke as she moved around the counter to where the customer had been sitting.
"Anything I can do?" the blond asked.
"Grab my coat and bag from the back?" she responded as she wiped the table clean. Henry nodded as he swiftly moved behind the counter towards the back to grab her things. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he did.
He was so glad he didn't listen to Ray.
As he came back, her coat and bag in tow, Charlotte raised her eyebrows. "What are you smiling about?"
Henry smiled as he set her bag on the counter and held her coat out for her to put her arms through. "Nothing." Charlotte felt her heart skip a beat at the gesture as she slipped her arms through the sleeves while Henry held her jacket for her.
She turned as she buttoned it to face him. They were standing pretty close to each other, his face towering above her as she met his gaze.
"Thanks," she breathed. It was then they both realized their close proximity. She couldn't tell if she was hallucinating or if Henry was leaning in towards her, but when he brought his hand up to cup her face her breath hitched in her throat and it felt like her heart was going to burst. He continued to lean in as his thumb slightly grazed over her cheek. She felt her eyelids begin to flutter and her pulse beating through her veins until he pulled back suddenly, moving away.
"You had an eyelash," he said casually as he looked at his thumb. He then moved his thumb holding the eyelash in front of her with a grin. "Make a wish." Charlotte's jaw dropped for the second time that night.
"I hate you," she tried to say seriously as she picked up her bag from the counter and walked out the door, flipping the sign on the door from OPEN to CLOSED on the way. She smiled once she knew he couldn't see her face.
"But you didn't make your wish!" he called back. Henry grinned before grabbing their finished frozen yogurt off the counter to put in the trash, running after her. He was surprised to see her right outside the door.
"I thought you would've been running by now," he joked.
"I would, but I have to lock up shop." Charlotte shrugged as she held up the keys.
"Ah." Charlotte laughed as she locked the door. Then she tucked the keys into her coat pocket and slowly started towards her house.
"So, where to?" the blond asked, trailing beside her.
"I'm going home, Henry," she said as if it was obvious. "I'm tired."
"Gotcha." He continued to walk beside her.
"You don't have to walk me home."
"I know." Charlotte looked up to meet his kind gaze before looking down, a smile spreading across her face. She then felt his hand capture hers in a swift move, intertwining their fingers together.
She hoped he couldn't feel her racing pulse through her wrist.
Charlotte cleared her throat before speaking. "So how was work?"
"Uh, good, yeah," he answered casually. "The usual."
"Wouldn't you normally still be working right now?" she asked.
"Yeah, but I guess they didn't need me today," he responded. Charlotte merely nodded, pressing her lips together. She trusts me, he assured to himself.
"Ready for that pre-calc test tomorrow?" he asked to change subject. Charlotte stopped in her tracks.
"We have a pre-calc test tomorrow?" she questioned, worry in her voice. "But I thought it was next week."
"No, Mrs. Johnston said tomorrow," he answered, continuing walking. "I specifically heard her say that today in class."
"You're kidding me." Charlotte released her hand from his grip, her feet planted on the pavement.
"No. It's true."
"Oh my God," she started, walking at a faster pace towards her house than before. "I told my mom that my job wouldn't interfere with school and that I'll keep my grades up but I didn't study and now I'm screwed-"
"Char."
"What?"
"I was kidding." Charlotte's mouth fell agape once again as Henry covered his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I know how much these things matter to you but seriously if you saw your face right now you'd know that that was so worth it," the blond spoke quickly between fits of laughter.
"You think that was funny, huh?" she asked as she started to walk towards him. Henry started to back away.
"Whoa, chill out, it was just a joke, I'm sorry," he apologized, his smirk falling.
"You better run, Hart."
Charlotte made a run for it towards the blond and Henry was almost actually scared for a second because he had never seen anyone run that fast in his life- especially not anyone her size. It was so unexpected he tripped over his own feet before running away from the girl and the two started laughing in a race through the night that was both exhilarating and slightly frightening. It wasn't until they passed through a few blocks that Henry realized: what could she do if she caught him? So he spun around to her surprise and caught her himself, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her up off her feet in the midst of laughter and catching their breaths.
"Hey!" she exclaimed as he lifted her off the ground. "I was supposed to catch you!"
"And what were you gonna do?" he laughed as he continued walking down the sidewalk. "Revoke my friend discount to the Swell Café?"
"Well now that you mention it," she said as he put her down. "I might just do that."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Mhm."
"Okay, come on."
"What? It's only fair."
"Charlotte, I'm serious."
"So am I!"
"Really?"
"Henry, that's not even a thing," she laughed at him. "There's no friend discount." This time it was Henry's turn to drop his jaw. He then jokingly placed a hand over his heart.
"Ouch, that was cold," he said to her. Charlotte laughed again.
"Good." And with that, she took his hand this time and laced their fingers together for the rest of the short walk to her house.
They enjoyed the rest of the walk in comfortable silence. Swellview was chilly that night, typical for early October. The streets were dark besides the dimly lit lampposts and the bright moon perched high above them. Their neighborhood was silent, but in a way that was relaxing; it would be odd if it wasn't. Most of the houses had their porch lights on, casting a welcoming glow across the town.
Henry took a deep breath, soaking it all in. He was never out- like this- at this time of night. Sure, he'd be out late fighting crime, but he never got to really appreciate his hometown at night. He looked down at the girl beside him, and he felt a sense of happiness that brought life to his step in way that he never felt before.
"There's my house," she pointed with her right unoccupied hand.
"Aw, already?" he complained with a grin. Charlotte smiled.
"So," she dragged, gently swinging their entwined hands as they climbed the steps to her front porch. "We never got to finish our conversation in the shop."
"You were the one who ran out," he responded as they came to a stop in front of the door. "I was waiting for you to make a wish."
"Not that one!" she replied. Henry chuckled as Charlotte rolled her eyes. "The one about us."
"What about us?" Henry asked, earning a glare from the petite girl in front of him. Henry laughed quietly as Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"I want us to be together, Henry," she said suddenly. Henry stopped laughing to look at her, slightly in shock. He hadn't expected her to come out so blatantly and say it first.
"Well that was pretty bold of you," he stated, mocking her from earlier.
"I mean, you weren't saying anything and it's getting pretty late and I don't have all night so-"
Henry interrupted her by bringing both his hands to cup her face and kiss her lips. Charlotte was stiff with shock at first, but soon melted into the kiss as she slowly brought her hands to his sides.
He kissed her once, soft and slowly, as he gently pulled her closer. His lips lingered onto hers as he moved to kiss her again, his lips capturing hers perfectly while his hands moved down to the sides of her neck. Charlotte couldn't help but fall flush against him, her hands moving from grazing the sides of his hoodie to encircling around his waist. They seemed to have fallen in sync as the blond kissed her again. And again.
And again.
While it would be a while before she admitted it, Henry was Charlotte's first kiss. Of course, like most girls her age, she had imagined it a countless number of times. Sometimes it'd be during a slow dance, or after some grand gesture with everyone watching wishing they were them.
But this was even better.
They were both tired and she was in her uniform and no one could give a damn as to what they were doing. (Except, perhaps her mother who was somewhere behind the front door, but Charlotte didn't think of this.) But in the cold air, he was her warmth, and the golden porch light made the boy in front of her glow in a way that made her heart flip as he spoke, and his hands on her neck sent goosebumps down her arms but she could feel the energy down to her toes. It was perfect.
Henry had to admit that he's kissed his fair share of girls in his short lifetime, and he thought this in the least arrogant way possible. But never had they felt like this.
He knew she would have set out on another ramble of a lecture if he didn't shut her up, so he did the only logical thing he could think of. After capturing her soft, full lips with his he suddenly felt drawn to the girl in front of him and couldn't bear to move away. Her arms tightly wound around his waist sent a chill down his spine as her lips followed his, not fast but slow enough in a way that was perfect to them.
And they both tasted of cookie dough flavored frozen yogurt.
After a few moments, they both separated for air, but neither moved to detangle themselves from each other. They both breathed heavily as Henry pressed his forehead against hers, each of them looking down and neither eager to move away from the other.
"Char," Henry whispered in between breaths. "I want to be with you, too." Charlotte let out a laugh before looking up to match Henry's smile. She then moved her head into his chest, tightening her arms around his waist in an embrace as Henry did the same. The tall blond buried his chin into her hair and they stayed like that for a few moments until a loud thud jolted them apart.
"What was that?" he asked in a whisper, so as not to be heard by her family. Charlotte moved her gaze to behind him to where she must've dropped her bag, as it lay over the wooden boards. Henry followed her gaze, before meeting her eyes and they both tried to hold in their laughter.
"Charlotte, honey?" they heard her mother call from inside. "Is that you?" The two looked at each other with wide eyes and goofy grins before Charlotte started to shoo him off her porch.
"Yes, mom! I'm coming!" she called back to her mom. "Go!" she whisper-yelled at the blond.
Henry turned to leave, then turned back around and pressed his palms to her cheeks again to peck her lips softly.
He smiled down at her and whispered, "Goodnight, Charlotte." He then gently pressed his lips to her forehead as she hummed in content.
"Charlotte?" they heard her mother call again.
"Goodnight, Henry," she whispered back. "Now go!" She laughed as Henry scrambled off her front porch and jogged away towards his house a few blocks away. When he was finally out of sight, the petite girl picked up her bag and opened the door.
"Hi mom," she singsonged to her mother before shutting the door behind her. She pressed her back against the door almost immediately, slightly in a daze.
"You okay, honey?" her mother asked as she approached her to plant a kiss in her hair. "Tired from work?"
"Maybe a little," Charlotte admitted. Her mom patted her cheek lovingly in response before telling her to wash up for dinner as she walked into the kitchen. Charlotte mindlessly hummed happily in response, lingering against the door.
She could still feel his lips on hers.
♡
Hey guys! If you made it this far, I seriously appreciate your existence. This was my longest one so far, which surprised me. I wanted to finally make a chapter completely centered on Henry and Charlotte's relationship. Hopefully it was worthwhile!
Let me know what you thought or what you'd want to read about next! Thanks for reading! :)