Chapter 7: Having Henry
His smile was so contagious that it’s irritating.
“Oh this? Nothing, just some dried sage and thyme leaves. Some salt too.” I said, rummaging the brown bag’s contents. I honestly wanted this conversation to end even before it started. Why didn’t I just watch where I was going so I could’ve avoided bumping in to the prick?
“Those are pretty weird.” He commented. “What are you up to?” He asked.
“Um, nothing. Hey I really need to go. I guess I’ll see you around.” I said as I started to walk towards my apartment that’s still twenty minutes of brisk walk away.
“You know, I was just wondering.” He said and I instinctively turned around to face him. “You know my cousin went back to Ireland for a vacation just this afternoon and I think he accidentally brought the keys to my apartment with him. He’d be back after a week. I asked Lady Brigit if she has a spare key but she doesn’t.” He said, walking towards me.
“Oh that’s awful. So where are you staying?” I asked in sincere concern.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I left my wallet inside so I can’t just go and hire a lock picker. That’s why I was wondering if I could stay in your apartment for just a night and maybe borrow some cash for my lock picker. I promise I’ll pay you the moment my apartment’s open.” He said, practically begging.
I didn’t want anything to do with this guy. But who am I to say no and let him wander around at this time.
It’s getting dark and gloomy. A faint sound of thunder came into my auditory and this signals rain. It was then that I remembered what Madame Moreaux has told me before I left her shop. 'Find a friend in your apartment area or school, you need an outlet for all these crazy new adventure that you’re in.’
Maybe this is it. I don’t have a lot of friends in the University. Not even in my apartment where I lived for two years. Maybe we can be friends. He doesn’t seem to be a horrible person after all.
“Sure. Of course you can.” I said while patting him in the back. “I know this old guy from a watch repair shop and his son picked my lock before when I left my keys inside my car. We can go there tomorrow.” I offered.
“Wow geez, thanks. But don’t you have class tomorrow?” He asked.
“Yes but I have my medical certificate signed so I don’t have to go to school until Wednesday. Have you had dinner already?” I asked, wanting to treat him for dinner.
“No, I haven’t but I don't wa...”
“Great, there’s this new burger stall and they have the best fries and onion rings. It’s just there around the corner. You’d love it, there’s beer too.” I said, holding his elbow so I don’t lose him in the crowd.
“That’s really racist.” He said, giggling.
And then again, seeing him like that makes me mimic what he’s doing. “No, I just mentioned that they serve beer and you might like it.” We started walking and I can see the burger stall from afar.
“Nahh, you think I drink a lot of beer because I’m Irish.”
“No. So do you think I only eat tacos because I’m Mexican?”
“You’re Mexican? You don’t look like one.” He said in surprise.
“Well I’m half. My mom is Mexican.”
“Oh I see it now. That’s why you have black hair and brown eyes while your dad is blond and has blue eyes.” He said and I wonder where he met my dad.
“Like you’ve met my dad…”
“I haven’t met him. I just saw a picture of your mom and dad at your place. You three looked so happy. How old were you back there?”
“Ten years old.” I replied with a sigh. He might have noticed this and he immediately changed the conversation, asking me what I would order.
The girl on the stall looks at me, while she waits for our order. She chews her gum very impolitely and spits it just inches beside 308. Talk about Rude!
“I’ll just have fries. Can we have it in your place? It kinda looks like it’s gonna be raining cats and dogs.” He said and I looked up at the sky. Dark and starless as usual.
“Sure.” I told him and then turned to the girl on the stall. “I’ll have a cheese burger, two regular sized coke and two large fries with sour cream dips. Oh and some coleslaw. All to go.”
She was quick to serve my order in a really cute ‘to go box’ that is really handy. I handed the French Fries to 308 but he told me he’ll eat it later so I placed them back in the boxy thingy.
We walked towards our apartment building with my hand on his elbow and I can’t just help but notice this contagious smile that's plastered on his face. If it’s a sin to not want a person to be happy then I’m guilty because it’s like there’s a connection between his smile to the butterflies on my stomach, wanting to come out of my mouth. And it feels ... different.
“What?” He asked.
“Stop smiling.” I said, keeping a straight face to keep my butterflies at bay.
“Wha… Is that a crime nigh?” He said and laughed. He laughed. And don’t judge me if this sounds cheesy but it sounded beautiful. Like Gerard Way’s laugh but ten times cuter. Like an innocent angel that you just want to grab and cuddle.
I didn’t have control as my cheeks heat up like a campfire. I can’t even cover my face because I was holding the take outs and the brown bag full of leaves. And that’s it, I laughed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know why I said that.” I said and laughed again.
“That’s just the most absurd house rule I ever heard.” He said as we entered the building and climbed up the stairs.
“That’s not a house rule. You were just too cute so…” I stopped. What the fuck brain? Why did you let mouth say that? “I mean your smile was contagious.” I added and turned away from him to jam my keys on the door.
“Did you just say I’m cute?” He said, hiding what seemed to me like pure bliss.
“Yes and don’t be so cocky about it. Come in.” I opened the door for him and he got in. “You can stay on the couch. It’s designed to be a bed too actually.” I said as I closed the door.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay? I mean your boyfriend might come here in the morning. He might think otherwise.” He said, setting the curtains aside and looking outside the window.
“Harvey? No, he’s not my boyfriend.” I raised my voice for him to hear as I was on the kitchen heating up my burger and mixing the fries in a bowl.
“Well, with all the flowers an’ perfume. I bet he thinks he is.” He said, making his way to the sofa which is going to be his bed for the night. “He’s ‘uge. I bet he works out lashings. Do you fancy guys loike that?” He asked as I laid down the coke with the cup holder and the bowl of fries on the living room table.
“Yeah he’s huge. But I don’t know, I mean he’s nice and sweet but I don’t know.” I honestly didn’t know.
308 sat beside me, laying his back on the reclined sofa. “He seems to really loike yer.” He said and I turned to answer him. But as I did I was left to study him for the first time in two years of having him as a passerby in my everyday routine.
His eyes were blue with little pecks of green surrounding his pupils. His eyelashes were also a bit blonde to match his hair. There were freckles on his face, signifying youth. “How old are you?” I asked.
“Do yer really tend to ask ‘oyt av nowhere’ questions?” He asked, quoting his fingers on the air and laughed at me again. Now I wasn’t depriving myself of happiness. I freaking love his accent. I laughed at my own weirdness. “I just turned 20.” He said, messing up my hair.
“Oh really? When?” I asked.
“Two weeks ago. And I can’t believe you knew my age before you knew my name.” He said and laughed again. I like this guy, he can make me laugh. I might sound really odd but I don’t usually laugh. I may even have three straight days without even smiling. Now I feel great. Having him around is like therapy.
“Oh my gosh, you’re right. I’m just so used at calling you three O eight. What’s your name?” I asked, reaching for a pillow that rested on his far side, my breast accidentally gracing his chest. But no big deal. He froze for a while though.
“It’s Henry. Henry Quinn.” He said.
“Well my name is Carmen Scotch. It’s nice to meet you Mr. Henry Quinn.” I stood up and curtseyed, mimicking his Irish accent of course. I was about to sit down but he stood up and bowed gracefully.
“The pleasure is mine Miss Scotch.” He said as he offered his hand for me to shake. We shook hands and he seems to have a strong grip. We sat down and started eating.
“You know, I didn’t know you have an accent.” I said, munching in my almost finished cheese burger.
“Oi normally don’t ‘av an accent when Oi talk to random people.” He said.
“So I’m not one of the random people? Because your accent was just thick back there.” I said, in between chews. Which was so ill-mannered of me.
“Now you’re making me conscious of my words. But yeah, you’re not one of the random people.” He smiled and for one second there, I think I saw his eyes sparkle. He’s just adorable.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I said and he messed up my hair. I laughed but then I realized I spent time on making this perfect bun. “No, not the hair. Stop!” I laughed again because I knew it was really time to let go of my little masterpiece.
He stopped and I finally got the chance for vengeance. I reached for his hair, but he was strong enough grab my hand as my weight paved way for my fall. He still haven’t let go of my hand so He ended up falling from the sofa as well.
Our laughter died out when we both realized how awkward the situation was. I saw his eyes darken as I gaze up upon his beautiful face. My face was burning hot again and I hope he doesn’t notice this as he stares down my face. It was a magic moment that lasted for a few seconds.
“Are you okay? Did your stitch hurt?” He asked, worry laced his expression.
“I’m fine Henry.” I said. Smiling at him so he won’t think I was hurt. Which is actually true but not too much.
“You spoke my name.” He said in a low serious tone with a very low volume that sounded almost like a whisper.
“Why?” I asked, a bit quizzical about what he means.
“Oh, n… nothing. It’s just, it sounds good when you say it.” He said, immediately turning away from me as I gather the empty bowl and the coleslaw container.
I was about to say something but I noticed that his coke was still full. “Um, you didn’t like your coke?”
“Um yeah, it tasted quite off.” He said and I quite agree. Coke tastes better cold.
I threw it away and checked the time. It’s already 10:45 in the evening. Time surely flies fast with this guy around. I grabbed a few thyme leaves and went inside to my room, bringing him a comforter and extra pillows. “Is this enough?” I asked, arranging the pillows in the sofa in the image of my bed.
“Yes, it’s actually more than enough. Thanks Carmen.” He said and I stopped fluffing his pillow. Say it again. Say it again! I don’t know why but my old school name sounds really special when he’s the one saying it. I kept my goofy smile at bay.
“You’re welcome. Actually you can stay until your cousin comes home.” I told him, and before he could even say anything about how weird that statement just sounded I said my goodnights and shut my door.
The moment I turned the lock, I slapped myself for being so stupid. Why did I say that? Why did I say that? Fuck you brain! I let myself fall into the heavenly softness of my flowery silk sheets that smells like chamomile. And before I finally drift to sleep I placed the thyme leaves under my pillow to end this very long day.
Hello! Please do vote and comment. Henry or Harvey?