A/N: Hey guys. I present to you the first chapter of my new piece. I'm really proud of this as a whole, it's the longest thing I've written to date. The other chapters are already done, I'm just in the process of editing.
There's going to be a lot of good stuff in this, I promise. And I know there are OCs, but I promise they serve plot purpose and are hopefully as minimally annoying as possible, especially by the end. Just trust me on this and stick with me. You won't regret it. Do it for the Chenryyyyy.
Disclaimer~ I don't own Henry Danger.
"So you're the frosh?"
Charlotte turned around to see a tall, Asian girl with her head cocked. Next to her was girl with curly red hair tied back in a braid, and another short (but not shorter than herself) girl with brown, cropped hair.
"Hi?" Charlotte awkwardly said, nearly cringing when she realized she had made it sound like a question. Confident. Be confident, she internally screamed. You're a freshman in a junior-level journalism class. Don't be weird.
"What's your name?"
"Charlotte." She crossed her arms defensively in front of her chest.
The Asian girl who had been speaking to her suddenly sported a grin. "I'm Emmy."
The short girl nodded, not in an unfriendly manner, in acknowledgement. "Hi, I'm Lilah."
Charlotte smiled at them, instantly feeling a bit more comfortable. If people were going to talk to her, this class may not be a total, isolated hell after all.
The redhead made no move to introduce herself however, instead staring her down. Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "What's with her?"
"Oh, this is Georgie. Don't mind her," Emmy said. "She gets crazy competitive, especially in school. She's probably wondering how you were so advanced to get into a junior class."
"Hi, Georgie," Charlotte tried to smile kindly.
Georgie scoffed. When she spoke, Charlotte immediately found her voice grating on her nerves. It was so pretentious. "I know you didn't skip two grades or anything. So how are you here?"
"I'm in LIMP, so I can join the junior electives if I want."
At this, Georgie smirked. "Yeah, I'm in LIMP, too. I'm actually a sophomore."
"Okay," Lilah said quickly, as if she were throwing water on flames to avoid a fire. "Bond over your nerdiness in your weird glaring ways later. Mr. Lim is here."
Henry and Jasper had their last period free while she had her elective, so they had promised to wait for her so they could head to Junk N' Stuff together. When Charlotte came out, she was surprised to see Henry asleep on Jasper's shoulder as the boys sat on the stairs. Jasper paid Henry no mind, instead furiously texting someone.
"Hey?" She said as she sat down on Henry's other side."What's with him?"
"Ray called him last night," Jasper replied, almost dismissively.
Charlotte frowned, taking a seat on Henry's other side. "I thought Ray said he'd stop doing that after the first couple weeks."
"You knew then, too?" Jasper finally looked up from his phone. "From the first week?"
"Well, no." Charlotte looked away. "I figured it out around then since he was always tired. After I knew for sure, it kind of all made sense, like the comically large pitcher of coffee. Anyway, I made Ray add it to the contract that he wouldn't call us at unreasonable times if it wasn't the end of the world or the weekend. I mean, the man did his job on his own for years, he can handle a few nights if Henry isn't with him."
Jasper quietly accepted her answer with a nod, before returning to his phone. This time, he didn't type on it like before, instead staring at it with a crestfallen expression. Charlotte bit her lip. She knew she had just avoided what Jasper actually wanted to talk about. And if he was going to look like kicked puppy like that, she'd be feeling guilty all day. She sighed.
"Henry did care for you, even though he didn't tell you." Charlotte said. "He does love you. I bet he wanted to tell you from the beginning. We wanted to tell you so many times, and we even pretended to date so you'd prove you can keep a secret. He was willing to give up being Kid Danger for you, and I've never seen him be so passionate about anything than this job. So it means a lot, he'd only give up the most important thing in his life for an important person. "
"Thanks, Char," Jasper looked up, clearly more cheery than before. "You always know what to say."
"Well, that's what I do," Charlotte smiled at him knowingly. "Keep all you cloudcuckoolanders down to earth."
They sat in silence for a few more moments, smiling at each other, when Jasper's eyes suddenly widened in realization.
"Wait, so you guys actually never dated?" Jasper straightened from his slouch, causing Henry to grumble and shift onto Charlotte instead.
Charlotte felt her cheeks become warm. "No, that was Ray's idea to see if you could keep a secret before we told you the real one."
"Oh," Jasper said, obviously more surprised than he allowed himself to let on.
"Oh? What 'oh'? Why 'oh'?" Charlotte rapidly fired, suddenly self-conscious.
"I figured you guys just wanted it to be a secret since he was still with Bianca and he wanted to figure out how to break up with her before you went official," Jasper said. "But this does make more sense."
Charlotte heaved a sigh of relief, glad that Jasper's only issue had been the fact that Henry was already dating someone back then. She couldn't help but wonder slightly about that. While they had pretended to be boyfriend and girlfriend, Bianca had hardly crossed her mind. At the very least, it seemed like Jasper was done.
But then the corners of his lips lifted the slightest bit. "And I thought it was real. Like, your feelings for each other."
"What?!" She shouted. Hastily, she looked down, making sure she hadn't woken Henry up. That was not a situation she wanted to get into right now.
"Yeah," Jasper said, all-knowingly. "You have that old married couple vibe. Arguing but it's because you care, appreciating each other for sticking around so long, and just looking out for each other."
Charlotte swallowed hard. "We all do that." She cringed at how strangled her voice came out.
"Not like you two."
She looked down at the blonde boy who had now curled around her left side, his head on her shoulder, a small smile curving his lips. She narrowed her eyes the slightest bit, wondering if he was actually asleep or if he had just heard everything. It wouldn't be the first time they pretended when it came came to each other.
As the first couple months of the semester went by, Charlotte found herself actually enjoying the class. Henry, of course, didn't understand why she'd burden herself like that with a higher-level additional class. But the extra work was easy to handle since she wasn't the one running around the city in a mask, saving citizens left and right.
And it definitely helped that the older girls she had met invited her into their group. As Lilah said: "You need some more female company. Those fuckbois [presumeably Henry and Jasper] got nothing on us."
They were all really nice, if not stressed over SATs. Emmy was friendly to everyone they met, and made an extra effort to be nice to people she believed were uncomfortable. Journalism had actually been her second choice (AP Psychology being her first), but wasn't sure how she actually felt about it.
"At the very least, I'll be able to learn how to write better. That could be helpful for academic papers and stuff, right?" had been her response when Charlotte had asked.
Lilah, on the other hand, was very much interested in blogging about social activism. Journalism focused on current events, and to her, the skills from the class were exactly what she needed to be more invested and aware of the media. She was sarcastic and very much a realist.
Georgie wanted acknowledgement. She was all about reaching high and the power that came with. That in itself wasn't bad. Charlotte could appreciate a big dreamer. She herself dreamt of one day coming in first in the Gizmo Show with her own invention which she wouldn't have to wreck immediately after winning. But it was annoying, how Georgie clearly didn't appreciate her presence in their little group. Apparently her competitiveness went beyond academics to popularity as well. And to her, a way to get to the top was to hang out with people at the top. That meant the older kids, i.e. Emmy and Lilah. And Charlotte being younger did not help.
But since Georgie never voiced her dissent to the group (probably out of fear of rejection), all was well. Charlotte found herself getting along with all of them, even Georgie, who was really fun during the times she stopped thinking about herself as much.
Then came the assignment.
"When it comes to journalism, you need connections." Mr. Lim paced around the room as he talked, back and forth, like a pendulum. It was both distracting and a good way to keep eyes on him. "You need to be able to talk to people, get in touch with people in high places. So as your final project, I want you to interview someone who is high profile. I don't care how you know them, through a meet-and-greet once or if you're related to them. I don't care what industry they're in. They could be a famous singer or Cosa Nostra for all I care. But they must. Be. Known. Are we clear on that? Good. This will be due at the end of January. You have over two months. Don't wait until the last week to see if Kim Kardashian is available."
"I'll be his Mary Jane Watson. His Lois Lane. His Iris West!"
"I'm pretty sure Lois Lane wasn't a journalist." Emmy awkwardly said.
"Every superhero needs a faithful newswoman reporting for and about him."
"He's more like a sidekick." Charlotte snorted.
"I even have the red hair!"
"Only Iris and Mary Jane had red hair. And that's only in the comics." Lilah pointed out.
"This is my chance! Once he sees me, talks with me, Kid Danger will fall head over heels for me. This was destined."
Georgie had not stopped to even breathe once after Mr. Lim had given the assignment. It had been non-stop chatter. She'd found her way to the top, not just in the school, but in their city: being with the one person who commanded the most respect and admiration in Swellview.
Well, actually, Captain Man was too old and it was very illegal, so his protege would do.
This was definitely the most hyped up Charlotte had ever seen her. It was a little bit scary, just how much Georgie wanted it.
And then there was that thing Georgie had brought up. Charlotte hated to admit it, but there definitely was a pattern. She never would have taken this journalism class if she had realized the major implications that came with being a journalist with a superhero (sidekick) as your friend.
"What do you even think of Kid Danger, anyway? Other than an ends to a mean?" Charlotte asked, more out of sympathy for her best friend that actual curiosity for Georgie's objective. "I mean, do you actually like him?"
"Well… he is kind of cute...right?"
Georgie looked back at the group. Charlotte thanked god that she was dark enough that a blush wasn't visible. Nonetheless, she could feel her face growing hot as blood rushed up to her cheeks. On the other hand, Emmy and Lilah looked unfazed.
"I'm super gay," Lilah decidedly said. "If you hadn't noticed with the hair and the flannel."
"I'm also super gay," Emmy chipped in. "But I do have eyes. Yeah, he's really cute. But he definitely looks younger."
"He does have a bit of a baby-face," Charlotte said.
The group stared at her, clearly confused by her remark and wanting elaboration. Charlotte shrugged.
"I'm guessing," she supplied.
"Well," Georgie said, effectively turning all eyes back to her. "His voice is a lot deeper than when he first started, and he's taller. He had a pretty obvious growth spurt about a four months after he first showed up, so he was probably about 12-14 when he started. Which means he's 14-16 now. And I'm 15. It's perfect."
"Fair enough," Lilah said. It didn't seem like she was listening anymore, though, just using filler words whenever there was a gap.
Charlotte tried not to let any emotion other than boredom show on her face. But really, she was a little impressed. Henry had just turned 15 a month ago. Although a part of her knew that given she was in the same situation as Georgie, it wouldn't have been difficult to figure out his age to as close a precision as she had, if not closer.
She must have zoned out though, because when she snapped her head up, Georgie was starrily rambling about how absolutely brave Kid Danger was for sticking by Captain Man even though he could get hurt. Huh, seemed liked the infatuation had moved beyond just social standing to something more. Charlotte ignored the panic she felt following that realization.
"So...you know your little friend, Georgeanne Finchley?" Ray asked. Charlotte winced. She could immediately tell from the sound of his voice that he wasn't happy. "Yeah, get this. There we were on this mission. It was an easy mission. All we had to do is guard a rock! Just watch the Moon or Sun or Pluto or wherever the stupid thing is from Rock! Make sure it gets to the Swellview museum safely! And you know what happens?!"
Charlotte gave a hopeful smile. "You completed it with no obstructions?"
"HAH! NOPE! Nope!" Ray's eyes were comically bugging out at this point. "Nah, your little friend, she comes up to us right while we're active! And then, oooooh, and then, she latches onto Henry! Who starts flailing to get her off! And that's when a robber tries to attack me since this fangirl is holding Kid Danger in place! And this isn't even the first time! This girl has followed us to literally every crime scene in the last two weeks and been in the way! What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Well, it's not my fault!" Charlotte said.
"C'mon, Ray, don't be so hard on her," Henry said from the side. Any authority in his voice, however, was undermined by the pack of frozen peas he was holding to his left eye. "She wasn't even there. And it's not like she can control her friends."
"That girl is the reason the stupid space rock was almost stolen in the first place!" Ray yelled.
"But it wasn't, Ray, we stopped the the robber, so calm down! It was only stupid Jeff anyway!" Henry replied.
"Okay, fine! But she also caused you to get hurt on duty, kid!"
"Actually, this," Henry deadpanned as he pointed to his eye. "This was all you."
"Oh yeah," Ray said, evidently remembering accidentally punching his own sidekick in the face.
"Okay, guys," Charlotte cut in. She knew very well that it wasn't her fault, but she should shoulder the responsibility. "I'll talk to her, but no promises."
"Fine!" Ray said, walking out.
As soon as he left, Charlotte left her seat at the computers to go to the couch which Henry was leaning against.
"Need some help with that?" she smirked.
"Please," he begged.
She indicated for him to sit down as she picked up her backpack and rummaged in it. When she found what was looking for, she plopped down beside Henry and faced him.
"Let me see," she said. He didn't hesitate to put down the bag of frozen peas and let her see his shiner in all its glorious beauty. "Yikes!"
"Is it worse than before?" Henry asked.
"Uh, no." Henry raised an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe a little."
"Good that you admitted it," he said. "It actually hurts to raise the brow, I don't know if I could have kept that up. Ow."
"Oh no," Charlotte sarcastically said, turning to the objects on her lap. "How will you use your smolder to make all the other girls swoon?"
Henry caught her wrist as she unscrewed the cap on a bottle of concealer. She looked up at him, only to find her breath caught in her throat at the intensity of his stare. What was he doing?!
He leaned in, until his forehead was a hair away from grazing hers. Charlotte couldn't tear her eyes away. She didn't know how she had never seen it before, but even despite the discoloration from the bruising around his left eye, Henry was so pretty.
"What other girls?" he whispered, his breath fanning across her face.
She harshly made a strangled choking sound.
Suddenly, he let go of her and started laughing.
"What the heck, Henry?!" Charlotte shoved at his chest, and flopped back against the seat.
"I had you going there for a second though, didn't I?" Henry gave her a cheshire grin.
"See, I was going to be nice and use this concealer to cover up your stupid bruise so you wouldn't have to go home with a black eye, but now, you're gonna go home with two."
"Wait, no!"
As Charlotte chased him around the Man Cave, she tried not to pay attention to her heart still beating a mile a minute.
"So, who's this aunt we're going to meet?" Emmy asked as Lilah weaved them between groups of adults.
They were currently in the lobby of a fancy office building in Midtown Swellview. Lilah had dragged them here after proclaiming she had someone to interview and she wanted them there with her.
"Mary Gaperman," Lilah replied with a smirk.
"No way!" Emmy exclaimed, drawing the attention of a few people nearby. "THE Mary Gaperman from the daily news? The one who completely slayed as a moderator in the debate last week for the mayoral election?"
"Nah, Mary Gaperman the janitor," Lilah replied. When she received blank looks, she sighed. "It was a joke."
While Emmy and Lilah continued to banter ahead of them, Charlotte hung back with Georgie, who seemed to be seriously contemplating something. Judging by how her eyes had lit up when she recognized Mary Gaperman's name, she was probably planning the best way to suck up and secure an internship.
"Hey, Georgie?" Charlotte hesitantly asked.
Georgie's head snapped up. "What?"
Charlotte's brow furrowed. That tone hadn't been necessary. "Nothing, just, have you gotten the assignment done yet?"
Georgie bit her lip. "Not yet. I've been following Captain Man and Kid Danger, and I always show up at scenes I know they'll be at. But I can never get a word from them."
"Probably because they're too busy fighting to keep the city safe?" Charlotte deadpanned. "Of course they won't pay attention to you, it'd be distracting."
Georgie's nostrils flared. "Are you implying that I'm an inconvenience?" she hissed.
"No!" Charlotte hastily replied, hoping to god that Emmy or Lilah would turn around to look at them and save her. "No, just- they're busy doing their job then. You should try to schedule a meeting with them when they're not, y'know, fighting crime."
Georgie put her finger to her chin. "I guess that's true. But how could I reach them? The hotline is for emergencies only."
"Well, then, show up at the scene, but wait until their job is done," Charlotte suggested helpfully. "That way, they'll be relaxed and in a good mood so they won't mind stopping to talk to you."
Georgie nodded the slightest bit. "Huh, thanks." There was an awkward silence that followed, and Georgie looked up, her brow furrowed as if she was conflicted. "So, uh, who are you interviewing?"
Charlotte was taken aback for a second. Was Georgie actually trying to be nice? It wasn't the first time this had happened, with the redhead doing a 180. Well, maybe not a complete 180, but at least a 90. She recalled all the other times Georgie had made more of an effort to get to know her, and smiled to herself.
"Well, I was thinking maybe Captain Man, since you already claimed Kid Danger," she said.
Georgie smirked, but this time, it was more teasing than haughty. "You've got that right."
As the two girls continued to talk amiably, Charlotte couldn't help but reconsider her opinion of the redhead. They definitely had some things in common. And Georgie hadn't been mean all the time, just whenever she felt challenged. Even in her small moment of selfishness of wanting to be with Kid Danger for the fame had quickly passed in favor of recognizing his heroism. Maybe Charlotte had just misunderstood her.
She only wished she had never brought up Kid Danger, as Georgie had started rambling about how even when he was trying to shake her off at the museum, he was still being a gentleman.
She gave her potential new friend a weary smile, and tried not to think about her best friend giving special consideration to other girls. After all, despite what he had said the other night in the Man Cave, she knew where she stood.
A/N: You've made it to the end of the first part! Thanks so much for reading. It's all just exposition and set-up so far. The real action starts next chapter.
Again, I have the rest already written, I just have to edit. So please favorite, follow, and most importantly to me, review! It all motivates me to work faster and get more content to you guys.