Perfectly Hopeless

by Hood, Holly

  “I could think of better things to talk about then Jake Summit.” He told her. “Like the hop.”

  Maven looked away. “About the hop. I was thinking since you were never to keen on the idea that we just do something else.”

  Henri squeezed the bridge of his nose in frustration. “You’re bailing. Why are you bailing?”

  “I feel so bad for the other day. I acted like an idiot. You don’t deserve to be treated that way. You deserve answers and to not feel like I like someone else.” She moved closer, taking Henri’s hand. He thought for certain she was about to break the news, that she and Jake found their way back to each other.

  “Maven—” he said, trying to object.

  “Henri. I don’t have feelings for Jake Summit. It was never about Jake. I have feelings for someone else.” She smiled artfully. Henri was relieved.

  “I knew it.” He dropped his head dramatically. “John at the Barber shop. You have a thing for old men with knee high socks don’t you?”

  Maven laughed. “Absolutely, the older the better, I really dig false teeth.”

  They both stopped laughing and grew serious. Henri’s expression remained frozen as he waited for Maven to hand over a real answer.

  “He’s charming. And sweet. Thoughtful. Caring. Cute as a button. He makes me laugh, a lot.” She moved closer. “He has brown hair and matching brown eyes. The best smile I have ever seen. And when he kisses me…my heart beats so fast I think it’s going to come right out of my chest.” She looked at Henri. He was smiling.

  “Does this guy have a name because I am starting to get the feeling I know him.” His fingers traced the length of her face. Her eyes softening at his touch, as he looked at her.

  “Don’t be foolish. It’s you.” She leaned in, placing a kiss on his cheek. “I was afraid to tell you this.”

  “Why?”

  Maven rested her head on his shoulder so she wouldn’t have to look at him. She touched his chest with her hand. “Because you have to deal with something that I can’t even begin to imagine and I didn’t want to burden you with my feelings.”

  “Because I’m going to die.” His word hit her like a ton of bricks, but Henri didn’t allow her to pull away. “I would rather deal with a beautiful girl having feelings for me then just sitting around waiting on death, Maven.”

  “I didn’t know that. I didn’t know what was right or wrong. I was starting to feel bad all the time because I like you and the more I like you the worse I feel. And I hate to admit that.”

  Henri pursed his lips. Maven sat up, looking into his eyes. He hadn’t said anything back.

  “You think I’m awful.” She stood up. “I am so sorry.”

  “Maven.” Henri jumped up. “I don’t. Calm down. I think you’re normal. You’re not the first person in my life to freak out about the thought of me dying. Why do you think I keep to myself? My family treats me like a fragile piece of china everyday because of it. I can handle it.”

  “Ok.” Was all she could push out.

  Henri could see the alarm on her face. “You’re the only person who treats me normal.”

  She shook her head, tears nipping at her eyes. “But I don’t. I just go around acting like it’s not there.”

  “I like that.” He smiled. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’m still Henri, I’m just…dying.” Henri walked across the room, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s okay to admit that, because even after I say it, I realize I’m still me.”

  Maven held tight, her fingers squeezing his t-shirt, holding on for dear life. It was relieving to hear him say something about it.

  “I don’t want to go to the hop because it wasn’t something you wanted to do.”

  Henri shook his head. “I want to go.”

  “No, you’re going because I want to go.” She argued.

  “Just forget about everything that has you upset and let’s have a good night.” He pulled away waiting for her to agree. “I have a lot planned for us. So don’t ditch me on my night.”

  Maven laughed. “Oh, so now it’s your night.”

  “It’s got to be someone’s.” He smirked. He knew tonight was going to be something special. It was going to be the night he told her that there was hope for him. That he was about to have a second chance at life, and that he wanted her in it.

  “Okay. So we will go.” She kissed his cheek. “I feel better.”

  “I’m glad.” They both were still, finally their mouths met up for a soft kiss. Henri pulled her closer. She could feel the heat from his skin through the light material of her dress. She kissed his neck, not worrying anymore that things were happening to fast. Henri squeezed her arm, enjoying her lips. He pulled away, and took a seat on his bed. Maven followed. They both fell backward. Maven kissed him again, pressing herself against him, running her hands up his arms, down his chest. He slid a hand through her hair, down the back of her legs, his kisses growing stronger. She trailed her fingers down his chest. Henri pressed his forehead against hers ending their connection.

  “Don’t you have to be getting ready for tonight?” He smiled as she pressed her lips into his once more, giggling at the realization that if they didn’t pull it together they probably would miss the hop.

  “I.” She kissed him. “Do.” She kissed him again. “But…I’d rather lay here with you.”

  “I promise tonight we can do whatever you want.” He kissed her cheek, staring into her eyes.

  “Even lay down by the water under the willow?” It was her favorite place to be with Henri.

  “Even there.” He sat up. “I’ll bring a blanket.”

  “Then fine. I will go home and get ready.”

  Henri felt a twinge of panic setting into his system. “Didn’t you say your parents go to this thing too?”

  Maven fixed her hair, smoothing her dress. “Yeah. But my mother said something came up with work so she won’t be going. She said she has to be up early. She will probably be in bed before this evening if I know her.”

  “What about your dad?”

  Maven gave Henri a strange look. “He’s working a long shift at the hospital for Mr. Summit. He rarely goes to the hop. And Maggie refuses ever since my mother told her she couldn’t wear converse with a dress.”

  Henri felt a little relieved.

  As soon as Maven was safely on her way home Henri searched for Flynn. He found him outside about to mow the lawn.

  “Flynn. Hey can I talk to you for a second?” He looked around for any sign of his parents.

  Flynn slung his shirt over his shoulder, beads of sweat already collecting along his brow. “What can I do for ya’?”

  Henri raised an eyebrow. He already was feeling guilty and he hadn’t even asked Flynn to help him out.

  “If you’re wondering where your parents are they are with mine. They all went up to check out the yogurt hut and do a little window shopping. So what’s got you looking two shades of gray?” Flynn took a seat on the porch steps. He left a hand on the lawnmower waiting for Henri to cough it up.

  “I need your help getting out of the house tonight.” Right away he could sense Flynn’s hesitation. “Just listen before you flip out.”

  Flynn raised a single eyebrow. His golden brown hair fluttering in the breeze, he rolled his eyes. “You are being admitted in the hospital bright and early tomorrow morning. Super early, I think mom said five in the morning early.”

  “That’s why it’s perfect. I can be back in no time.”

  Flynn chuckled, shaking his head. “Do you really think the clones are going to allow you to walk out of this house tonight when you’re this close?” He held up two fingers, demonstrating the closeness. “You’re crazy, it’s not possible.”

  Henri sat down beside Flynn. “You used to say anything was possible back when we were younger. We used to sneak out all the time. I thought you had balls, Flynn.”

  Flynn shoved Henri playfully nearly knocking him off the porch steps. “Oh, I have balls. And I als
o like you, and am thrilled by the news.”

  Henri nodded. He was sure Flynn was. He knew he had a hard time dealing with the thought of losing him. “So you’re in?”

  Flynn sighed and then nodded. “Sure, fine. Tori and I will be there anyways in case something happens.”

  Henri grinned. “So what’s the plan?”

  They started discussing different options for getting Henri safely out of the home without anyone knowing that he was gone. They both knew it would not be happening if anyone found out. Flynn’s mother and Henri’s would never let Henri leave the house knowing he was close to dying, knowing that his body was slowly fading away as everyone sat and waited for a miracle.

  What ifs

  Henri took a nap before the hop. And upon waking he lay in his bed, the room was dark. He stared up at his ceiling. He had an awful dream, so much so he wrote it down.

  He was in that stupid hospital gown again lying in a hospital bed, but nobody was there. And there was such a horrible presence in the room that it scared him. That was the part that woke him out of his sleep. He was surprised he hadn’t aroused suspicion that something was not right and had his entire family in his room. Or maybe the scream was part of the dream too. He wasn’t sure.

  He remembered the hospital staff coming into his room. They weren’t ordinary staff. They all wore dark cloaks all the way to the floor. Henri couldn’t see their feet. They just looked to be floating all around him.

  And no matter what he said nobody would listen. He worried this was his minds idea of death. And for some reason even after he was awake it soured his feelings about the surgery.

  What if things didn’t turn out the way they thought they would? What if he didn’t make it?

  He sat up. Taking his phone from his nightstand, he started the video camera and turned it to face him. He ran his hand down his face and then through his hair trying to look halfway decent on film.

  “I really have no idea what to say. But I figured I would say something.” He dropped his feet to the floor. Staring across his room trying to bring the right words to the rather eerie calm that was all around him, finally he looked at the camera again. “I’m Henri Levitt. And if these are my last days on earth…well, I say goodbye to everyone I cared about. And I say hello to the unknown.” He stood up, crossing the floor to get to his window. He took a seat. “I just hope there is something else.” He made a face. “Who am I kidding? The only way you find out is by dying, the part that sucks about that, I can’t come back and tell anyone if the theory was right or not.” He smirked. “To all of you who worried about me…thanks for that, but if I’m gone now please stop and just be happy for once.” He scribbled a little note on a scrap of paper telling his Aunt Janet or Flynn—whoever went through his room first that he left them a message on his phone. It wasn’t a lot, he didn’t know how to say goodbye, but at least it would give them some kind of peace if by some horrible turn of events he didn’t make it out of the surgery.

  He sighed. Opening his closet and taking out his black dress shirt.

  It was now or never. He had to get going or he would never make it out of the house. Just as he was about to head for the shower Flynn came bustling into the room. He sanded his hands together. A big grin pinned on his face. “This is kind of exciting.”

  Henri raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Yeah, maybe a little.” Flynn tossed him the dark gray dress slacks that were in his hand. “Picked these up for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Flynn plopped down on Henri’s bed. He was already decked out head to toe in black dress pants and a dark red dress shirt. The first couple buttons open exposing his bare chest.

  “I’m going to grab a shower,” Henri informed Flynn. “I’ll leave the clothes in here so nobody notices I’m about to head anywhere.”

  Flynn nodded in agreement. “Sandra and April already left with their dates.” He told him.

  “Great.” Henri rubbed the back of his neck. He was nervous.

  Flynn could tell. “Just relax. I won’t let anything happen to you. You want this to be an amazing night then it will be. That’s what I’m here for.” Flynn reached into his pocket pulling something out. He waved his hand.

  Henri studied him closely, a look of embarrassment revealing itself on his face. “Flynn. I have my own condoms.”

  Flynn shrugged, pocketing them. “It’s been a while I wasn’t sure. Do you need any tips?”

  Henri shook his head. “I’m not thinking about sex right now. I am more worried about sneaking out of the house.” Besides if that happened he wanted it to be spontaneous and impulsive.

  Flynn ignored him and decided to throw him a few pointers. “Make sure you make it about her if you know what I’m saying. Girls these days hate guys that rush to the finish line.”

  Henri didn’t have a rap sheet as long as Flynn’s arm, but he knew enough to know better than that.

  “And don’t get to creative. Girls don’t like being turned into pretzels.” Flynn wiped the scuff from the toe of his dress shoe. “And be careful. You’re the only person I know who could die while making love to a girl. Your mother would kill me.” Flynn stood, worried. “Maybe sex should wait. Or you let her do all the work or something.”

  Henri laughed. “Don’t worry about my sexual endeavors. No matter what happens I’ll be fine. I’m not an idiot.”

  Henri left to shower while Flynn fashioned a ladder out of bed sheets to stealthily sneak Henri from the house. They had it all set up perfectly. After Henri showered he would tell them all goodnight. Say he was going to get some much needed rest for the big day tomorrow and more or less tell them all to back off for the night because he needed to get in the zone. As long as his mother and Flynn’s bought into it he was pretty sure he could manage a night out with Maven without anyone noticing he was gone. And he could be back by morning.

  Maven anxiously spritzed herself with one finishing puff of perfume. She turned her head in the mirror, admiring her black earrings. They swayed with ever movement she made.

  Nick tapped on her door. He was already decked out in all black. Black dress slacks and a black dress shirt and tie. His hair perfectly styled, looking nothing less than messy and like he just rolled out of bed into a bunch of hair product.

  “Could you do us a favor?” Nick said. He handed over a camera before Maven agreed to any favors. April appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a pencil dress with a shiny white belt around her tiny waist. Her hair swept up in soft waves, fashioning into a messy bun at the back of her head.

  “Let me guess. A picture?” Maven waited for them to pose themselves. April looked Maven up and down, admiring her turquoise dress and soft makeup. She was a little concerned why Maven was going when Henri wasn’t going to be there, but before she could say anything she was blinded by the flash of the camera. She straightened up. Slipping one hand behind Nick’s back, pressing her cheek against his. In her heels she was the same height as him.

  “One more,” Nick instructed. Maven pushed the button on the camera again and then handed it back to her brother.

  “Nice dress,” April said, quietly slipping out of Maven’s room before Maven could offer her the same kind word. Nick lingered for a moment.

  “What?” Maven asked, he was acting strange.

  Nick shrugged. “Nothing, I just wanted to say you look beautiful, Maven.” He headed down the stairs.

  Maven raised an eyebrow. She fluffed her shiny waves, eyeing her makeup. She was trying for natural yet chic. She wanted Henri to smile at the sight of her.

  Her phone chirped. It was Henri. Fifteen minutes.

  She couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. The dance had started twenty minutes ago and Henri and Flynn were just showing up. She stood on the porch hands on hips wondering what the holdup was. But that just as soon was forgotten when she saw Henri.

  Her mouth fell open. Flynn grinned. He shoved Henri forward. He apprehensively stared at the ground, looking a bit shy yet pleased to
be on her porch step she thought.

  “A bow tie.” She touched his neck a big smile filling her face. “Henri you look really great.”

  “I’ve always wanted to try a bowtie,” Henri said, causing everyone to laugh. He was wearing a black dress shirt, with a dark gray bow tie and matching gray slacks. At the compliment he smiled, but quickly pushed it aside to compliment her now.