Her heart flipped and sank. And then she screamed.

“Henri!”

She jumped on the bed, shaking him forcefully until his eyes opened and he was looking at her. He touched his nose as soon as he saw the sheer panic in her eyes.

“It’s a nose bleed.” He promised. “And I’m a really heavy sleeper.”

Maven clutched her chest, happy to see him alive and moving. He pulled off his t-shirt balling it up and holding it against his face, his back to Maven.

Aunt Janet barged into the room. Her hair a mess, but she didn’t care. Her only concern was the scream she had heard coming from Henri’s bedroom.

“I’m fine. It’s a nose bleed.” Henri wrenched himself out of her reach. He wanted nothing to do with anyone.

“Just let me see.” Aunt Janet tried once more to pry Henri’s bloodied t-shirt from his face.

Maven backed away, feeling sorry for him. He looked miserable. But she didn’t know what to do. She stared down at the blood on her hands, trying to stay out of it.

Flynn knocked before coming into the room. He was carrying a wet washcloth. He pushed past his mother and without any fight got the t-shirt away from Henri. He helped him clean up his face. “Awesome. At least now you don’t look like a bludgeoned victim from one of those horror movies.” They laughed.

Aunt Janet sighed, leaving the two of them alone.

Maven couldn’t help but notice how great Flynn was with Henri. She could tell Henri and Flynn were close.

“I’ll let you get cleaned up. And I’ll take your friend downstairs for some tea.”

Maven, without any delay, followed Flynn from the bedroom. Everything had happened so quickly she barely had time to process.

Flynn led her to the kitchen. He pulled two glasses from the cabinet.

“You want to grab that pitcher of tea for me out of the refrigerator?”

Maven started moving, opening the refrigerator in a hurry to do as he asked. He was a no-bull kind of guy, she could tell.

“Thank you.” He poured two glasses and took them to the table, dragging one seat out and gesturing her to sit.

She stared at her bloody hands. “Could I wash my hands first?”

Flynn chuckled. “Of course. I wouldn’t want you wearing Henri’s blood while we share a drink.”

Flynn took a seat, watching her attentively wash away the blood. He could imagine how horrified and upset with himself Henri was. He wondered if it was better to just take her home and leave it at that. He wasn’t even sure Henri would show his face after what happened.

“Better?” Flynn asked. She nodded, taking a sip of the tea.

“Is he okay?” That’s the only thing she was thinking about. She had to know.

“I’m sure he’s fine.” Flynn took a sip of his tea studying Maven closely. Blonde hair, blonder than most, he wondered if it were fake or natural. “Is that your real hair color?”

“Yes.” She touched her hair feeling insecure. Flynn was a great looking guy. And he wasn’t afraid to say what he was thinking.

“A lot of girls would kill to have hair like that. Is that why half the girls in this town talk about you so much?” He leaned back in his chair.

Maven was stunned he would be so uncouth “I doubt my hair has anything to do with it.”

“What then?” She didn’t act like the kind of girl who ran around stealing other girl’s boyfriends. He knew those types—he loved those types. And he also knew Henri would never waste his breath on those types.

Maven raised her eyebrows. “People are the way they are because of my old boyfriend and his new girlfriend.”

This made Flynn nod. “Your hotter than her is that what it is?”

Maven didn’t know how to respond to that statement. Tatiana and she were nothing alike.

“If people are talking about you it’s probably because they’re jealous of you. You’re a beautiful girl, but I’m sure you know that.” Flynn grabbed hold of his glass.

“Well, thanks, I think. But I think it’s more than envy. I think it’s because people are cruel.”

“That wasn’t a compliment it was an observation. I have a girlfriend and believe me she would cut my balls off if she heard me complimenting another girl.” Flynn smiled. “Am I freaking you out?”

Maven pushed her hair behind her ear. “A little.”

“Well, I don’t bite, only if they ask for it. So don’t freak out on me.”

Maven finally smiled.

“Do you like him?” Flynn asked. “My cousin.”

Maven nodded. “He’s great. He seems like a great person.”

“He is great. He’s amazing. He’s everything any girl could want in a guy. Shit, I’m surprised my girlfriend hasn’t dumped me yet to have a chance at Henri.” Flynn smirked.

She didn’t know what to say to that either.

“Did he tell you how amazing he was at baseball back at home? Or how many girls were chasing after him?” He took a swig of his tea. “Or about the mega bitch that dumped him?”

Maven started to feel uncomfortable. Henri’s cousin was sharing things with her that Henri never mentioned or seemed to want to bring up.

“He had a girlfriend?”

Flynn nodded. “He did everything for this girl. And she just up and deserted him.”

Maven’s heart dropped. “That’s sad.”

“It is, because Henri deserves someone who cares about him. Most girls just want to take advantage of him because he is so damn nice. He doesn’t deserve that.”

Maven nodded. “Nobody does. And I totally know the feeling.”

Henri appeared in the doorway. “Flynn, you can go now.” Flynn hopped up from the chair. He gave a wave and headed out of the room, patting Henri hard on the chest in passing.

Henri put Flynn’s half empty tea in the sink. He turned around leaned against the counter.

“I should probably walk you home.”

Maven looked at him. He had a fresh t-shirt on and a new pair of shorts. His face was a bit pale, but other than that he looked normal.

“Are you okay?”

Henri crossed his arms. “I’m fine.”

“I can walk home by myself if you’re not feeling good.”

Henri pushed off the counter. “Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t let you walk home in the dark alone.”

“I can call my dad.”

“I said I’m fine.” Henri said again. Maven left it alone.

Henri shut the front door. And they began their walk to Maven’s place. The stars sparkled in the sky. The sound of crickets and bullfrogs echoed through the trees, it was a beautiful night.

“Henri, is there anything you would like to tell me that you haven’t?”

Henri looked at Maven. “Like what?”

“Anything at all, I’m a great listener.” She smiled at him.

“I think that kiss was amazing.” He snagged her fingertips, taking hold of her hand as they walked the path to her house. She laced her fingers with his, holding on tight.

“It was the best kiss ever, hands down.” She squeezed his fingers even tighter.

It didn’t bother her that Henri wasn’t ready to share everything with her. They barely knew each other. But she couldn’t help thinking there was a lot more to him. A person with a lot going on, on the inside, like sadness and hardship, she just didn’t know why.

 

ISN’T IT OBVIOUS?

HENRI CONCENTRATED on the ceiling in the doctor’s office. His fingers drumming a beat on his abdomen as he waited for the doctor. He couldn’t help but think about how redundant his life had become over the last several years. Appointment after appointment, and it never made any difference how many doctors he saw, nothing ever changed. He wasn’t sure if it ever would. He had begun to accept that life didn’t always go on for everyone. Some people were meant to have it a little harder than others.

The doctor tapped on the door. Henri sat up. It wasn’t who he expected.

“Henri. Nice to see you again.”

Henri felt a bit awkward. This was Maven’s mother. The girl he was kissing in his bedroom and spending a lot of time with lately. He didn’t know how it happened. He never liked to get close to people. But she had found a way past the wall he built to keep people out.