In the Henry Way
There he was. Henry Hart. he was at his locker, which wasn't very far from Charlotte's and he actually didn't look as tired as usual… but then again, school had just started. Piper rushed up and slammed herself against the locker next to him, and began talking to him, excitedly. He smiled at her, but wasn't responding very much. It seemed more like he was a venting board for whatever she was speaking about. Charlotte watched the two of them for a moment. Piper, looking extremely animated and passionate and Henry just listening, sometimes making a face, but for the most part, smiling down at her. Then, whenever he closed the locker, she perched herself onto his arm and they began walking away. Charlotte wished she had a sibling in moments like that. There wasn't a person that she could be that way with, except for Jasper, and that wasn't QUITE the same because she couldn't even go to his house. It was just cute to see the sibling love. They were sort of like parent/child, sort of like besties. She didn't GET it, but she loved to see it.
Next day, whenever she saw Henry at his locker, she went over. "Hi, Henry." He froze whenever he heard her voice, a thing that didn't escape her notice, but he glanced at her and just nodded his head once in acknowledgment. "So, I wanted to touch base with you. I'm sure that Piper told you that I'm her student mentor for the program this year, so that means that I'll probably be around your house some, for tutoring or whatever else. Wanted to see how you felt about that…"
"Because of what happened with us?" He wondered. "I'm fine. I'm over it. Just… don't do that to her. She's really a lot better than me and she deserves for somebody to invest some faith in her."
"I… had faith in you…" Charlotte said, realizing that she didn't even believe it when she said it at that moment.
"You had faith in yourself to change me, and when you couldn't, it was because you didn't have any in me. But, that's okay. I've realized since then that I didn't need to change. My surroundings needed to. And they kinda have, so… hooray for me. Don't… use my sister for your transcript, Charlotte. I love you, but I would have to protect her if you seem to be doing something that might hurt her,"
Charlotte laughed, "You love me? Okay, Henry." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Henry narrowed his and looked at her curiously, "Well, love is a choice and it is an action word. It isn't a feeling. You were good to me in the best way that you knew how to be and I, being a grateful person who appreciates the good that is given me, have chosen to love you for it. I mean… nobody picks on you like they used to. Creeps stay away. If anybody does try anything, I've got your back. Love doesn't have to be flowers and serenades, Dude. I love you in the Henry way. So, deal with that however you're gonna, and consider it when you handle Piper. Because with her, love is a choice AND a feeling, and I just don't play when it comes to that kinda love."
"I'm not gonna do anything to hurt Piper!" Charlotte said, flustered. By the suggestion and by that whole weird love confession that honestly sounded more like, "Charlotte, I consider you a valued friend." But, was worded in a way that made her face hot and her hands fidgety.
"Better not," Henry said and winked at her. "See you 'round." He gave her a friendly punch to the shoulder and walked off, leaving her warm faced and sweaty palmed. What TF just happened?