A/N: Hey there…ok, this was originally ended, but my friend DD (get used to hearing the name a lot. My N2N buddy…) wanted me to add more. So…I was on Facebook talking to my friend (not DD…my other friend) and she came up with a plot. And I love it! AND I WON'T SPOIL IT! So…this section has been split into two parts.
I had a need to get into Henry's head because it seemed like all the other chapters are about Natalie…and I love Henry…So enjoy!
Disclaimer:
DD: Hey, what do you want for Christmas?
Me: *sung* All I want for Christmas is the rights to Next to Normal. Which sadly, I don't own, because I'm just a fan. All I want for Christmas is the rights to Next to Normal, but seeing the show would suffice enough!
DD: Um…ok?
Me: OOH! Also, I'd like to be Jennifer Damiano for a day…
DD: Um-
Me: And then I'd get married to Aaron Tveit! Ahhhh!
DD: Yeah…
Anyway…enjoy!
Summer couldn't have gone by any slower, Natalie thought, returning for her last year of high school. The past year had been rough on her. Her mother went incredibly insane, seeing visions of her dead brother who was obviously, well, dead. She went through two different doctors and ended up leaving treatment…and her husband. Natalie was having a breakthrough herself. She had taken her relationship with Henry to a whole new level. At first it was just a simple' we're just friends' thing, one spring dance later and it's 'we're getting pretty serious.'
She didn't even know why she liked to be with him. They were so different…but he loved her and she loved him. That's all she cared about. She stumbled into the small building, trying not to make it noticeable that she was coming back from a few months of withdrawal. She had a little stint with drug abuse the previous year. She noticed how strong her mother was, leaving treatment, the man she loved, and just everything to pursue what made her happy. Natalie took advantage of the time and did the same, and every step, every painfully hard step, she took, she saw Henry right next to her.
"Hey." a voice said, as Natalie reached her new locker.
Her head flew around to see who the voice belonged to. But before she could see, a pair of hands placed themselves in front of her eyes. "Guess who?" the voice came again.
Natalie smirked and responded, "Ok, Henry, I know it's you. Get your hands out of my face before I smack you."
He quickly did as she commanded. They quickly kissed, only to run into Julie, who was looking a lot more rushed than usual. "God, no PDA in the halls…" Henry rolled his eyes at her as they ventured off into their first classes of the last year.
The bell rang…the weekend…finally! Henry came to visit Natalie at her locked again. "So…you got any plans?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh…no reason…"
He smirked and continued to watch her bend over to force her giant history book into the dingy book bag she always carried.
"Well, actually…" She began, throwing her history book down to look at Henry. "You know Julie's having that party tonight…."
"No!"
She glared at him. She remembered when they first met. She was the one that told him that taking drugs was wrong…and they suddenly switched places…She knew he only wanted what was best for her, but he wasn't her father. She could do what she wanted to do.
"Come on, Henry! It's one night! I'm not gonna relapse after one night…"
"How do you know? You had a bad problem! It could happen all over again…"
She continued to shake her head at him. "Please? Just for one night? That's it I swear!"
He took a moment to think about it. "Fine. But I swear if you relapse-"
"I won't. I promise." She kissed him, smiling.
The party was wild. Music was blasting, people were shouting. Henry sat alone, waiting for Natalie to return from whatever it was she was doing. Julie noticed him antisocially detaching himself from the commotion, so she strolled over to him and sat beside him.
"Hey. What's up?"
He shrugged. "Nothing…"
"C'mon, Henry, I've known you since you were six. I know when something's bothering you."
Once again, he shrugged. "I don't wanna talk about it…"
She shrugged her shoulders as well, for lack of conversation. She drummed her fingers on her leg out of pure boredom until it came to her. "It's about Natalie, isn't it?"
He nodded, refusing to meet her gaze, staring blankly at the wall across the room.
"You know…" Julie began, trying to be optimistic, which she clearly wasn't. "I'm worried about her too. She's my best friend, but…I can't help but feel…well, jealous."
Henry turned his head towards her and looked her in the eyes for the first time. "Jealous?"
She nodded, laughing at herself. "I…I shouldn't have said that…God, I feel so stupid…"
"No. Go on."
She let out a sigh of relief and continued. "Look, you're one of my best friends, you know that, right?"
"Yeah…so?"
"So…I can tell you anything and you won't judge me?"
"Not at all."
She inhaled deeply, moving slightly closer to him.
"Henry, I…I'm in love with you."
He was silent. Not a sound came out from him. He was having an internal conflict. One little voice was telling him that he shouldn't be falling for his best friend. He had Natalie. And only God knows what she'd do if he left her…Then another voice fought back saying that he'd been going out with Natalie for over a year and that it's time to move on. But if he stayed with Natalie, would he lose his friendship with Julie? And if he went with Julie, would he destroy his relationship with Natalie?
"Um…Henry? You ok?"
He snapped back into reality. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry…just a little, um, shocked…"
Julie giggled uncomfortably. "Yeah…I thought you would be…But, I mean, I've always felt this way. And when you and Natalie hooked up last year, it just was sort of bugging me…"
"Uh, well…that's great that you're getting it all out, but I'm with-"
He never finished his sentence. Julie's lips were meeting with his. He didn't want to hurt her, so he let her do it. But inside he knew nothing good would come of it. All of the sudden he just heard a shout that startled him out of the conflict.
"HENRY? WHAT THE FUCK?!
He quickly pushed Julie away from him. There, standing angrily in front of him was Natalie.
