𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒

𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄
NOVEMBER 3RD, 1984

The trio sat in Steve's BMW, the rumble of the engine mingling with the soaring vocals of Queen's Hammer to Fall blaring from the speakers. The music filled the quiet spaces, but for Henry, it was just background noise. His head bobbed along to the rhythm, more out of habit than any real engagement, his thoughts miles away. As he stared out the window, his eyes traced the familiar, comforting blur of the passing trees, framed by the midnight sky that felt as vast and distant as the things swirling in his mind.

It was always there, that underlying current of thought—Scarlette. Her name drifted uninvited into his mind, but now it stayed, settling in as if it had always belonged there. He could never seem to keep her out, especially now. He'd been wrestling with his thoughts for days, unsure if the tightness in his chest when he thought of her was guilt, anger, or something more dangerous. He felt restless, like his own skin had become too tight, like the car was too small, too stifling. He was done with silence.

"Hey, Harrington?" Henry's voice cut through the Queen song, though he immediately felt a twinge of nervousness lacing his words. He wasn't sure why talking about her always made him tense. Maybe because it made everything real. Steve glanced at him through the rearview mirror, eyebrow raised in response.

"What's up?" Steve's tone was casual, easy, but Henry's nerves were buzzing. He fiddled with the worn leather strap of his watch, fingers working out the nervous energy he didn't want to show. He even let his hair fall loose from the ponytail, as though the simple action could bring him some ease.

"Have you heard from Scarlette?" The question came out fast, maybe too fast. He regretted it the moment it left his lips, as if voicing his concern would somehow make it obvious to everyone that he was thinking about her far too often.

Steve didn't seem to notice. "Nope. She went to Will's the other day with Mike." He paused, glancing briefly at Henry through the mirror again.

Mike. His name struck Henry like a sour note. There was something about how close Mike and Scarlette had gotten that gnawed at him. It wasn't just jealousy—it was the way Mike had wormed his way into her world when Henry still felt on the outside looking in. And worse, Mike and Scarlette had been fighting recently, and yet, they still seemed too comfortable around each other for Henry's liking. He nodded at Steve's words but offered no real reply, returning his gaze to the window as Steve and Dustin began their usual back-and-forth.

He half-listened as Steve's voice rose above the music, asking, "Wait a sec. How big?" The topic had shifted back to Dustin's bizarre pet, Dart. Henry had heard it all before, but it never stopped Dustin from explaining, for what felt like the hundredth time, how enormous Dart had grown. Steve was visibly freaking out, but Henry just tuned them out. There was no room left in his head for anything but his growing exhaustion and the nagging desire to get home. Calling Dustin had been a mistake—tonight had started as a distraction, but now all he could think about was how he'd rather be anywhere else.