She sat down on the bench outside of the museum. Henri leaned against the old pillar.  Maven studied the cracked paint trying to come up with something to say.

“How come you didn’t go to the same school as Sandra?” He wasn’t more than a year older than her. If they were related it only made sense.

“I lived in Tennessee with my parents.” Henri pushed off the pillar, taking a seat next to her. “I’ve only been here a couple years.”

Maven did the math in her head. Henri knew what was coming next. “Then where did you go to school?”

“Home schooled senior year.” He scratched at his forearm. “I finished halfway through my senior year.”

Maven nodded impressed. “What was the reason you chose homeschooling?”

Henri could feel his heart beating out of his chest. There was no getting out of this one. He started to panic. He had to do something fast. He leaned in, gently kissing her on the cheek.

When he pulled away he was surprised to see the huge smile pinned to her face. Maven’s eyes softened, she touched his face in response, her fingers playing with his hair. Henri closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her hands against his skin. His heartbeat slowed down and returned to a regular speed.

He touched her hair, pushing it behind her ear like she did when she was nervous. He warily touched her lips enjoying the feel of them against his fingertips. The corners of her mouth igniting in a smile.

He loved how blue her eyes were. And the way all her emotions exuded from them all the time. “I think you’re beautiful.”

“You do?”

Henri nodded, giving her a smile.

The door to the museum opened, thudding against the bench. Henri pulled away, ending the moment. The older woman gave them both a nod as she hurried down the museum steps.

 

MYSTERIOUS

HENRI LAUNCHED A ROCK across the water of the creek near his aunt and uncle’s home. He watched the stone skip three times before it disappeared. Tiny ripples ringing outward, a few lazy dragonflies skidding to the surface and then away.

“Nice one,” Flynn, his older cousin said, chucking a rock of his own at the water.

“Yeah some things never change,” Henri said with a shrug. He took a seat in the grass drawing his knees up and resting his arms. He gazed at the water.

Flynn sat down. “Dinner soon.” He made a point to keep Henri in the moment when he seemed to be drifting off.  When Henri forgot about eating he was always there to point him to the nearest kitchen, Flynn was just three years older than he was, but he made it a point to hound him.

“Yeah yeah I hear you. The last appointment I had she said I was keeping up.” He lied. It was the appointment before that she had told him he gained five pounds.

Flynn ignored his tone, choosing to change the subject rather than get into another argument. He knew it would just end with him angry and Henri finding another reason to stay far away from home.

“Ma says you’ve been hanging around some girl with blonde hair. One of them Wilder girls, she said.” Flynn looked over at Henri. “Does she know about you?”

Henri plucked a large strand of grass from the ground. He twisted it between his fingers.

“Does she know what? There are so many things to tell.” He smirked. “My mother always said I was an extraordinary boy.”

Flynn shook his head at Henri’s goofy approach. He was the only person he knew that could make light of such a situation as his. “You know what I mean. Does she know that you’re not well?”

“I figure she suspects it. Or maybe she doesn’t and that’s why she’s still hanging around.” Henri broke the blade of grass, letting the two pieces sail to the ground.

“She could be hanging around because she likes you. And if that’s the case you need to let her in on your little secret.” Flynn sighed.

“What do I say?”

“I don’t know the answer to that. Whatever you want to say. We all promised to keep our lips zipped, so that’s all on you.” Flynn stood, dusting off the back of his jeans. He offered Henri a hand, but like usual he waved him away, choosing to help himself.

Henri followed him back up to the old house

“Good to see you at dinner, Henri.” Henri’s uncle said around a mouthful of mashed potatoes and gravy. Henri nodded, shoveling his own into his mouth, the smell of the food made him even queasier. He hung his head, doing his best to clean his plate so he could take off to his room or someplace in town.

“So Henri, how are things going with Maven Wilder?” His aunt asked. She spooned another helping of carrots on his plate.

“She wants to hang out again.” He poked at the steamed carrots.

“That’s nice. She is a very nice girl.”

Sandra and April both agreed. Henri knew that would be the case for April until she was dumped by her brother. And Sandra was only being polite around her parents. He had heard the things she said about Maven with her friends.

“I think I am going to paint her.” Everyone’s eyes filled with delight at the mention of painting.

“Oh that’s wonderful, Henri. You were always so good at painting.” His aunt smiled, she hurried to fill his glass with another round of iced tea. He shooed her away.

“You’re going to make me sick.” They all laughed and the doorbell rang. His uncle went to the door, his heavy boots thumping across the wood.

Everyone listened. “Well hello there.” Henri shot his aunt a confused look. She was in view of the hallway. The smile on her face told him it was for him. He dropped his fork to his plate twisting around in his seat.

There she stood with a big smile on her face, a bundle of pencils in her hand, and a sketchpad.

“Hey there, Maven.” His aunt stood up. “Are you hungry?”

Maven shook her head. “No ma’am, I just ate dinner. Henri promised me an art session. I came to take him up on that offer.”

Everyone smiled at Henri and the girl willing to take what she wanted. Henri rose from the table with his plate. He took it into the kitchen gesturing for Maven to join him.

“Hi.” She whispered, looking at his family all around the dining room table. Henri quickly scraped his food into the trash and placed his dish in the dishwater.

“Hi.” He whispered back, amused she was being so cautious, as if she snuck in. He leaned in, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Her hair grazing his nose, she smelled of lilac shampoo.

“Where do you want to do this?”

“Wow, how forward of you.” They both laughed. “I prefer the bedroom, but wherever you like.”

Maven’s cheeks were hot from his flirty intimation. She followed Henri up the old staircase, looking at all the family photos that lined the green wallpaper, the floor beneath them beautiful wood. He opened the first door on the left, switching on a light.

Maven looked around at the average sized bedroom. A bed in one corner with tousled sheets, the comforter practically on the floor, hanging on for dear life, in another corner sat a wooden writing table with a pile of books on top of it. On the other side of the room was a big window with a window seat, and an assortment of pillows situated on top of the bench. She stared at the walls, a number of posters showcased Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, and The Doors.

Henri opened the closet next to his desk. He pulled out a suitcase. Inside were a few blank canvases. He took one out as well as some black paint and a paintbrush.

“Sit over there.” He told her, pointing to the window seat. She did as he asked. Watching him gather his supplies and sit down across from her at the opposite end. He drew up one knee, resting his back against the pillows. And quickly he went to work.

“Should I pose?”

Henri shook his head. “Do whatever you want.”

She stayed still, only moving her eyes to get a better look at Henri’s bedroom. His personal space, the place he probably stored all his memories in. “What’s that on your dresser?”