Perfectly Hopeless

He shook his head. He wasn’t sure how this growing attraction happened, or the significance. But now he hardly spent a waking hour without Maven’s smile or giggle coming to the surface, blotting out the days and making his life harder. It wasn’t a bad thing. It just wasn’t what someone close to their demise needed to dive into—for the sake of the living.

Fly

Henri looked up from the Styrofoam cups. “Ok.”

Fly

Henri shook his head. “No.”

Fly

Henri sighed, untying his apron, he wanted to ignore Fly

Fly

The night his mother told them all that Henri was sick he put his fist through his closet door. He didn’t like to see his mother crying—or even his aunt.

Henri and Fly

Fly

“Fine. As long as you’re doing something worthwhile,” Fly

But judging by the look on Henri’s face he didn’t think so.

“I forgot how much of a bigot you were,” Henri said.

“Years ago you had your moments too, Henri.” Fly

“Yeah, well.” He hopped up on the counter not worried about customers. It was going to rain. “Once you know you’re dying you don’t worry about getting laid so much anymore.”

Henri watched Fly

“I don’t think I would ever be able to forget about sex. It’s the best part about girls.” He gri

Henri refused to smirk at the thought of it. He didn’t want to join in on the sex talk with Fly

“Are you going to the Hop?” Henri asked, changing the subject so Fly

Fly

“Good. Because I’m taking Maven and it would be nice to see a familiar face in the crowd.”

Fly

Henri dropped from the counter. “Her name is Maven. And I doubt that. And if it was, you would be the last person I told.” Suddenly, he grabbed the doorknob, stumbling into the counter.

Fly

“Just a little lightheaded, I stood up too fast.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I got to go.”

Fly

“Better get those umbrellas down, storm is rolling in.” He twisted the knob, taking off before Fly

Maven jumped at the loud boom right outside her bedroom window. She closed her book, pulling back the curtain. The rain was falling in a steady rhythm. The sun was gone and the sidewalk outside was busy collecting puddles.

Her phone chirped. She grabbed it from the nightstand and flopped down on the bed. Ever since Jake had shown up she had been in a bad mood. She didn’t want to leave her house for fear he would show up again.

Jake and Tatiana weren’t together anymore. At one time it would have been the happiest moment of her life. Because at one time she prayed they would break up and that Jake would see what he had been missing and come back to her. And somehow she would forgive him and move on. But not anymore, now she was angry.

And now there was Henri. She didn’t know exactly how he felt about her, but she knew the way he made her feel. And she wasn’t willing to accept Jake’s crummy attempt at getting her back any longer. Henri had shown her that nice guys did exist. And she didn’t want to go back to Jake after meeting someone like Henri.

She pushed the button on her phone.

Raining like cats and dogs. I’m down at the beach sitting under that tree we first sat under. Care to join me?

It was Henri.

She stared off, debating on going or staying put. Jake couldn’t get to her from her room.

You could come here.

But this is such better scenery. I can’t believe you don’t like watching thunderstorms.

I do. I guess I’m a bit down today, Henri.

That’s a perfect reason to watch the storm with me. Cheer up, buttercup, there is always sunshine after the rain. :)

Maven burst into tears. She dropped down on her bed, clutching her pillow. The phone sliding to the floor, it chirped again.

She gathered her calm and flipped her hair over her shoulder. Lifting the phone from the floor, she gently wiped at her eyes with one hand while reading the text with the other.

Sorry you’re having a bad day. Hope it gets better. If you change your mind I’ll be down by the water.

That’s all it took. She wasn’t going to leave Henri alone because of her own selfish sadness. She slipped into her favorite yellow sundress, shoving on her sandals and hustled down the stairs.