so much jocenry (jocelyn + henry) fluff this chapter i love it

song for the chapter - how would you feel (paean) by ed sheeran

It had been two days since the conversation in the Man Cave. I hadn't spoken to Henry in those two days and I skipped school today. My dad had yet to come back from his business trip and Jackson left early this morning to head back to college.

Charlotte had tried to get me to talk to her but I refused. Henry was right. All I had done was cause him trouble these past few weeks. I had been a crappy friend and put my priorities over his. I got him in trouble with Ray. I shouldn't have said anything.

Now, I was in my bedroom curled under three or four blankets. I managed to get myself sick with all the crying and lack of food the past 48 hours. My chest hurt and my eyes were burning. All I wanted was everything to go back to normal. Before I knew my mom was back, before I knew Henry was Kid Danger, before that stupid project and definitely before my mom changed.

I don't know what made her act differently. She was always the nicest person, not only to me but to anyone she met. My friends loved coming to my house because she always treated them like family. We rarely argued and if we did, she always comforted me afterwards. She was my best friend for the longest time.

Then, something changed. She started coming home late, barely spoke to any of us. Every night was a new argument that ended with something breaking and bottles of alcohol consumed. She stopped letting me have friends over and began lashing out for no reason. My dad and brother took the hint and started distancing themselves from her.

As soon as I didn't think it could get worse, it did. I remember every detail clearly. I had come home from school and I was so excited to tell her about the movie Henry, Charlotte, Jasper, and I wanted to go see. She was sitting on the couch staring at the tv as the news played. A bottle of vodka rested on the table by her feet. Before I could even tell her the title of the movie, she made her move on me.

Never in my life would I imagine my mother abusing me, physically and mentally. It went on for weeks and at one point, it was so bad. I couldn't move, it was hard to breathe and there wasn't a bit of me that didn't want to give up. My brother came down to the basement to get his laundry out and found me there. Mom had taken me down after school so Dad wouldn't wake up from me screaming. He was in the middle of asking me what happened when she came back. At that point, he hid and called the cops who I guess, got Captain Man involved. It made sense when Ray told me he helped. I had pushed that whole night behind me that I almost forgot about Captain Man being there in the first place.

We later found out that my mom had been working with a villain of Captain Man. Whatever world she had gotten herself caught up in, wasn't good. It changed her. And because of it, I lost my best friend, my own mom.

My dad and brother rarely spoke of her since then. They hit overprotective mode and wouldn't leave me alone for more than 10 minutes. I guess they wanted to make up for what they didn't see. Jackson, my brother, became my outlet. He offered his arms when I had countless nightmares.

Three years later, I still had nightmares every now and then. I never told Henry & Co. for fear of them changing how they thought of me or talked to me. I didn't want pity, I wanted honesty. That's why I wasn't mad when Henry yelled at me in the Man Cave. He was being honest about his feelings. He was angry, and I caused that. So I deserved the words thrown at me.

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. "Go away," I mumbled, shoving my face into my pillow and tugging the blankets over my head. My door opened regardless, earning a groan from me.

"Jocelyn."

I pulled my lips in tight and took a deep breath. Henry.

"Jocelyn, please. Let me explain."

I felt my bed dip right behind me as he sat down. His hand landed on my arm and he pushed down lightly, causing me to face towards him. I pushed the blankets from my face, revealing my tear streaked cheeks and messy hair.

"There's nothing to explain. You were being honest and there isn't anything wrong with that," I commented before tucking myself back under the blankets.

"No, no, no," Henry pulled the blankets down, "I wasn't being honest. I was upset and I took that out on you. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Henry, you don't have to lie to fix this-"

"No. I'm not lying. I'm being completely honest. That's what you want, right? Honesty? Then here. I wasn't angry at you, not at all. I need to show Ray I can handle more than he thinks. Swellview needs Captain Man and he needs a good sidekick. I have a reputation to uphold. I can't disappoint him or Swellview. I'm scared he'll fire me and get someone who can deal with everything I struggle with. I can't imagine not being Kid Danger," He admitted.

I sat up against my wall now, tugging my arms around myself as I shivered. Stupid fever. Henry looked over at me, a forced smile on his lips. He grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together.

"I know what I said was wrong. And I hope you don't hate me Joce, because I can't do any of this without you. Your smile brightens my day, your laugh makes me happy. Your eyes completely mesmerize me. I love the way you tuck your hair behind your ear when you get nervous or how you tangle your fingers up. The way you look when I suggest movie night or the fact that you love to cuddle when you're sick or cold. I love every little detail about you. I'm absolutely crazy for you. In every single way." Henry pulled himself on my bed fully, sitting cross legged. He looked down at his lap but didn't let go of my hand.

"Henry?"

"Yeah?" He looked back up.

"Took you long enough."