Perfectly Hopeless

by Hood, Holly

“Not as great as you.” He lifted her hand, kissing the top of it ever so gently, a small grin creeping up on his face. Formal events made him a bit silly.

  Flynn cleared his throat, slinging a hand around Tori, his girlfriend. “I think it’s safe to say we all look amazing.”

  They introduced the girls before heading to the hop.

  Walking through town, through a swarm of fellow townspeople, Henri had to admit he was nervous. His parents and Flynn’s weren’t there of course, but that didn’t mean someone else wouldn’t recognize him being there. Flynn had to keep reassuring him that anyone who saw him wouldn’t break the news until the weekday once business resumed. It took a lot of reminders from Flynn for Henri to believe it and just enjoy the night.

  As the four of them approached it was very obvious a gathering was happening. A lively trumpet medley sounded, flowing through the streets. Kids and adults of all sizes and shapes laughed and danced, everyone was full of summer bliss. It always reminded Maven of a time long before any of the kids her age, when people danced to songs with no words, songs fueled by instruments and nothing more and just had plain old fun. Maybe that was why everyone enjoyed it so much—it was simple and easy.

  Just as Ms. Lisa had promised tiny twinkle lights hung from the willows making a beautiful canopy of lighting overhead. Candles perched in windows, turquoise and black balloons swayed in the breeze as they got closer. It was perfect.

  Henri stole Maven’s hand as they slipped into the crowd. It wasn’t hard to see that soon they were an insignificant part of the community. There were too many people to pick Henri out. And the only thing that mattered to anyone was the music.

  “Do you want to dance?” Maven said in his ear, talking louder than usual so he could hear her.

  “Let’s get it over with.” Henri joked, taking hold of her waist. He kept telling himself not to step on her toes. He smiled, watching Maven smile back showing him just how to enjoy himself as they began dancing, she held on to his neck as they circled the floor—which was a task with so many people in the way.

  “See...fun right?” Maven asked him. She poked his bowtie. “You’re light on your feet, Henri.”

  Henri smirked. “I might know a thing or two about the art of slow dancing. Just don’t ask me to break dance.” He took her hand, securing his other hand on her back and dipped her. Maven giggled, her hair spilling down across her shoulders when he set her on two legs again.

  They spun in a circle, a little too fast and a little to playful, but neither of them cared. It wasn’t about the music it was about the moment and they both were in one together.

  As the song ended and another one began Maven noticed this one had lyrics. She raised an eyebrow. Henri smiled even bigger then he was already smiling at her. “Sound familiar,” he said.

  Maven kissed his cheek. “How did you?”

  Henri nodded. “If you look to the left you will see my cousin. He is responsible for the song choice.” Henri guided Maven in the direction of Flynn. Flynn waved.

  Days after knowing Henri he told her about the song. How it spoke to him. How for weeks on end he played it on repeat. It meant a lot to him, more then she understood she was sure. And because it meant so much to Henri it meant a lot to her too.

  “Good choice,” Maven said, Henri dipped her once more and as soon as she gained her footing he raised her hand, twirling her in a circle. The night and the lights made her more adorable then she already was to him as he stared into her eyes.

  “I’m glad we’re here together,” he said in her ear, holding her close. He was tired and a little too hot, but being part of the night, being with Maven, it kept him going.

  Flynn watched Henri and Maven dancing the night away, a big grin on his face. It was great to see Henri enjoy himself for once.

  Tori, his girlfriend, elbowed him in the side. She hoped he didn’t think she hadn’t noticed his sudden disappearing act. “Where did you run off to? I was standing with the old people. I looked like an idiot, Flynn.”

  Flynn took Tori’s hand. “Don’t be mad at me. I was doing good things.”

  Tori sighed. “What kind of good things?” But she was only met with a childlike smirk.

  Flynn pushed through the crowd. Tori coming up the rear, he was hot and growing a bit concerned that the high temperature and all the dancing was going to take its toll on Henri.

  “Henri, my man,” Flynn said once he located him in the crowd.

  Henri and Maven slowed their dancing. “What’s up?” Maven’s golden hair stuck to the side of her face, her cheeks flushed with color. Henri was just as flushed, but more spent then any of them.

  “Have you had your fill for the hop?” Flynn asked, touching Henri’s forehead. His eyes filled with concern. “You’re tired. You got to know when to quit. Maven knows when to quit.” He shot a look at Maven giving her the opening to bail Henri out of his commitment of dancing the night away.

  “Of course.” Maven’s eyes were filled with distress, she shook her head. She cursed herself for not noticing how tired Henri was. “We can go right now. It’s not a problem.”

  Flynn smiled, pleased there was no argument. But as soon as they escaped the throng of dancers Henri put on the brakes.

  “I promised Maven we would sit by the water.” Henri told them. Maven waved a hand trying to object. “Sitting is a good thing. I promise I’ll be home in no time.”

  Flynn sighed. “Tori and I will hang out for a little while longer, Henri. You give me a call when you’re ready to go.” Flynn squeezed Henri tightly as if he was a proud father sending his son to school for the first time.

  “What was that all about?” Henri asked as they broke apart, he looked skeptically at Flynn who offered no reason behind his weird disposition.

  Flynn blew him off. “Nothing. Just make some memories you old stud you.” He slapped his back and left Henri to it.

  “I left a blanket by the tree.” Henri told her as they walked down the hill to the water below. A moth swooped past his face as they hurried to their secret place.

  Maven squeezed his hand. “Did you have a good time?”

  “Of course.”

  “Promise?” She looked at him, hoping he was being honest because for her it was the best time she ever had at the hop.

  Henri shook his head, tracing a finger across his chest as a form of a promise.

  Maven gasped, bringing her hands to her face in shock at the sight in front of her. “Henri!”

  Henri was shocked himself. “Flynn.” He said under his breath. All along the grass were candles in protective glass lanterns. A radio sat nestled in the grass playing soft music. Maven dropped to her knees.

  “This is beautiful.” She kissed his cheek. “Henri this is amazing.” She looked back and forth between the candles to the picnic basket. Flynn had snuck away without a word and set the entire thing up. Henri had no idea, but it meant a lot, and it answered the question of why Flynn was acting so odd.

  He opened the picnic basket. “Water or soda?”

  “Water,” Maven said, accepting the bottle.

  He took a swig of his own and then set it down next to him. It was time to tell her why the night meant so much to him. He took her hand, she scooted closer. Searching his eyes, she suddenly felt nervous. She laid down, staring through the willows at the star lit sky. Henri laid down beside her, their hands blindly finding one another all over again.

  “I have something to tell you.” Her grip tightened on his. He wondered if she was thinking the worst.

  Maven squeezed her eyes shut. She knew it, he was about to tell her that he had gotten worse. She held her breath—waiting.

  Henri turned over, stroking her hair. It was now or never. “What would you say if I told you they found a way to fix me?”

  Maven sat up. She was confused, his words didn’t make sense. So she just looked at him.

  Henri stayed where he was taking in the stars. “I found out yesterday that they think they can fix me. Y
our mother told us all about it at my last appointment. Tomorrow morning I will be admitted to start the procedure.”

  Maven smiled and then burst into tears. Henri sat up, wrapping his arms around her. “Isn’t this good news?”

  She nodded. “It’s the best news I have ever heard. I was just so afraid you were going to tell me something awful. This is great, Henri. How do you feel?” She touched his face. “Are you okay? Scared? Nervous?”

  Henri was all of that and then some. “I’m happy to try. What more can I say?” He had plenty more to say, but he didn’t want to seem weak to the one person that meant so much to him.

  “That’s the best news. I am so happy for you.” She smiled, wiping at her eyes. She giggled feeling silly for crying. “I shouldn’t be crying. We should be celebrating.” She closed her eyes at Henri’s kiss.

  He carefully maneuvered the two of them down onto the blanket. His fingers tangling with her hair, he pressed his mouth against hers more adamantly then anytime before. Maven pulled him closer, her hands running down his back. She lifted her head, giving Henri access to her neck.

  Henri pulled away, staring down at her, the moonlight made her look like she had a golden aura all around her. “I want you to know that I really like you. And I really care about you. This summer has meant a lot to me.”

  She pulled him close, softly kissing him. “I really like you too, Henri.” She kissed him again.

  “I might be falling for you.” He admitted, smiling sheepishly, breaking the intense moment up. “And I’m not saying that because we are here right now. I just wanted to say it out loud.”

  He kissed her again. Maven couldn’t have dreamt a better moment.

  “Well I hate to disappoint you, Henri. But I have already fallen for you.” She giggled as Henri tickled her for joking with him.

  “Swear it?” He said, raising an eyebrow. “You have fallen for me? Henri Levitt?” His expression grew serious. He ran a hand up her leg, watching her face at his forward touch. Finally it didn’t feel wrong or too soon. It felt right. She smiled, nodding her head without a sound.

  His hands created a thousand welcomed goose bumps up and down her leg. She tugged his bowtie loose, working on the buttons of his shirt. Henri kissed her neck, his hand journeying up the length of her body. He enjoyed the feel of her skin, the scent of her perfume and the warmth of her skin.

  ***

  Jake Summit was dressed in a bright red v neck t-shirt and black dress slacks. He ignored his friends as they talked about pointless things. He was only fixated on one thing—why Flynn was running around with all those candles earlier. And why Henri and Maven had taken off so fast.

  “Did anyone see Maven?” He asked his buddies. Everyone fell silent. “I take that as a no.”

  Arnold Jones—Jake’s long time friend elbowed him. “Drink, loosen up and forget about girls for one night.” He handed over a small flask of liquor. They were all wasted as it was, but whatever it took to get Jake back in the moment and away from whining about Maven Wilder all night.

  They all had heard the story of Maven to many times to count. How she all but made him a fool the day she refused to take him back. And how he suddenly realized after running around with Tatiana that Maven was the girl he wanted. Everyone knew Jake only wanted what he couldn’t have. Girls were a game to him. And he was the type of guy who thought they all should worship the ground he walked on.

  Flynn wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Tori pulled him from the dance floor. They found the punchbowl. But as Tori filled two solo cups with punch she noticed Flynn watching a group of boys across the way.

  “Who are they?” She kissed his cheek offering him the drink. “And why are you staring at them like that?”

  Flynn took a sip of the watered down punch, his eyes not leaving Jake Summit and his buddies. “I just don’t like that kid.”

  “Who cares about some teenagers with James Dean hair? What’s it to you?” Tori asked, growing annoyed with Flynn’s interest in the young guy and his friends. She was beginning to think her trip was a waste of time.

  “It’s nothing. You want to dance?” He forced a smile, sitting his drink on the table. But Tori crossed her arms in her usual sulk.

  “I just want to go back to the house.” She raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to tell her no.

  Flynn ran a hand down the back of his neck. He winced at the idea of saying no to her. “I kind of told Henri we would stick around.” He hoped she would have a heart for once.

  “Henri is a big boy. Besides he’s probably off doing things that don’t involve his cousin sticking around for. When he is ready to come home he will.” She yanked him by the collar through the crowd.

  ***

  Maven exhaled. Staring at Henri. The radio playing softly in the background, the candles had gone out and now the only light remaining was the moonlight right above them.

  Henri smoothed her messy hair. “You have bed head. Or is it more blanket head?”

  Maven laughed. “So do you.” She touched his hair, running her fingertips through it. Henri watched her focus on his hair, a smile hanging around after the moment they had together.

  He didn’t want to move. Or think about anything else but her. He wanted to stay under the stars and the willow, to listen to the water and the music and Maven’s voice forever. That was how amazing he felt. It had been years since he was close enough to anyone to want to sleep with them. The idea of sex just slipped his mind anymore. It wasn’t important. Nothing was important anymore. But then came Maven and with her she brought hope back into his life. He had something to look forward to. Someone to laugh with, someone who made his days seem meaningful, he wasn’t moving through life trying to survive until the next any longer.

  “All because of you.” It took Henri a moment to realize he had said that last part out loud.

  “What do you mean?” Maven asked.

  “Ever since I met you I feel real again. I don’t feel like I am living in some nightmare. I felt like I was living in some weird nightmare that wasn’t my own. You brought me back to reality.”

  Maven smiled. “I’m glad.”

  They kissed.

  “And now that we are clothed and looking halfway decent I have to break some more news to you,” Henri said, fidgeting with his bowtie. “I snuck out tonight so I could tell you the news and take you to the hop. Nobody but Flynn knows that I’m gone.”

  Maven gasped. “Henri!”

  “I know, but it was worth it. Morning is still hours away.” He wrapped an arm around her. “But I’d much rather sleep under the stars with you.”

  Maven sat up. “You have to be admitted tomorrow. What if you weren’t supposed to be doing any of this?”

  “I wasn’t, but I did it for you.”

  Maven dropped her gaze. “And it was sweet, but a little foolish. You need to go home and get rest. We have all the time in the world for more nights like this.”

  Henri shook his head, but his eyes said something totally different. “I’m glad I met you.”

  Maven touched Henri’s arm. “Me too.” She was alarmed.

  “So, I will walk you home and then go home and get some sleep,” Henri said, they packed up the candles throwing them in the picnic basket. Henri folded the blanket and grabbed the radio.

  “I am a big girl. I can walk myself home for one night. Just get home so I can stop worrying about you.” Henri pulled her close, his fingers gripping her waist as they kissed in the moonlight.

  “Will you visit me?”

  “Of course, as soon as I am able.” She crossed her heart, promising there was no place she would rather be. “Now go on, Henri. I’ll text you when I am home.”

  Maven watched Henri reluctantly leave her by their willow. As soon as he disappeared over the hill she collected her shoes, walking barefoot, her shoes dangling from her hand as she headed back to her house.

  She could still smell Henri. Still feel his lips against
hers. The way he made her feel, it was all precisely how she imagined it being.

  And as soon as she was home she would tell him just that before she slipped off to sleep.

  Tactics

  A flutter of leaves raced across the ground. The wind howled in Henri’s ears. He swore he could hear the relentless howling of an owl overhead every step he took to get home. The buzz of a motorbike swished past him, followed by another and another. Things were out of sorts tonight, things were making him jumpy.