Chapter 9- Henry Gets A Thing Called Courage

Henry and I became close friends, and eventually I realized I wasn't faking it. But I couldn't let myself get close to him; I knew I had to convince him to come with me to New York. But how? He was sweet, kind, and generous. You could count on him for anything.

But could he count on me?

I realized my days were running short to bring him back. I had five days. Five days! How could I convince Henry to come with me in just five days? It had never been done by anyone at headquarters. I would just have to be the first.

I knew I had to be pretending. Master Neal needed him for something, and I couldn't go against Master Neal. I had signed my contract, therefore I was his, and his forever. Nothing could ever change that.

As I was thinking all this, Mary Margaret called on me.

"Bethany? Can you please tell me what Newton's Second Law is?"

"Well," I started. But I didn't know the answer, and Mary Margaret knew that.

"Please pay more attention next time, okay, Bethany?"

She was so nice it was sickening. But I went with it, I wasn't getting in trouble anyway.

Later, in the hall, Henry wasn't as talkative as usual on our way to math.

"Did you see question 18?" I would ask.

"I don't know," he would say back.

And so on.

"Henry," I eventually said, "is there something you're not saying that needs to come out?"

"I don't know, what do you mean?" It was the most he'd said all day.

"Don't go all Justin Bieber on me, you know what I'm talking about." I responded.

He took a deep breath. Finally, I thought.

"Do you wanna go out with me?" he blurted fastly.

I was shocked. No one had ever asked me out before. Then again, there was always that kid from headquarters that asked if I could get a book from his bedchambers that he forgot, and when I went he would be there as well, but that's not the point.

"Uh, well, I don't know what to say," That was the truth. On one hand, I could get close to a really cute guy and learn all his secrets. On the other, I could actually get close to him, and kinda betray Master.

But I did only have five days, so I took that risk.

"Sure," I said.

His eyes lighted up. "Really?"

"Why not?" I said. "I mean you are kind of cute, after all."

I don't think he stopped smiling the rest of the day.

So, that night, we somehow told Emma without her half-freaking out, she only quarter freaked out, and went for a walk at the dock.

"Were you and your parents close?" he asked.

I gulped. "We were, until that day," I said. I figured I may as well be honest for that part.

"What happened?"

"Oh, well, it was family stuff about my parents not getting along with my grandparents, it was a pretty big mess."

"Similar with my family, but sort of the opposite when my dad died."

"Oh," I said. I didn't realize he thought Neal was dead. Boy, was he wrong. "I didn't know your dad was dead."

"He died trying to save my grandpa's life, because he had just sincerely apologized for something he had done in their past. It separated them for years,"

"How awful," I said, and I really meant it. He risked his life to fake his death so he could run away from his father, who apparently thought he was forgiven.

"And when it happened," he continued, "I didn't even know it was him until a week later, when my mom finally told me."

I saw the chance. I took it.

"Wow, that was kind of rude of your mom for not telling you. I mean, I would've wanted to know for myself the moment it happened."

"Well, there were… circumstances, but there was a lot of… confidential stuff I can't really say."

"Oh, well you can trust me with anything," I said.

"Except this," he said. Considering he took a lot of nerve to try to ask me out, it must have been really confidential. I mean, he looked super nervous that afternoon, so he must really like me, you'd think he really could tell me anything. Except this.

"Well, that's ok," I said. I couldn't believe how much of this stuff was true.

The night went on, and that risk I was talking about? I really shouldn't have taken it. I was, and I hate to admit it, kind of falling… here goes… in… love with Henry. There, I said it. I fell in love with Henry. I, Bethany Morrison, am in love with Henry Mills. It happened, okay? I screwed up. Master was going to kill me for that one.

What was I going to do? He was supposed to be the enemy, the one we take advantage of and laugh at as he dies, but here I am falling in freaking love with him! I couldn't do it anymore, I just couldn't. I realized that what I was doing was wrong. Master Neal was the enemy, and I needed to be free of his grasp. So I went against him. And I told Henry everything.

My story. The one I remembered. Here it is.