The Pearl Family

Henry

Charlie and I had finished shopping.
I hoped he would leave afterward, but.
"Why don't I walk you home," He suggested.

Well.....he paid for the groceries, I guess I could let him.
"Fine," I said.

He just smiled and walked out of the store and down the road.
"I like you; most furries would just walk away if I offered-" He didn't finish that sentence.
I put the bag I was carrying down and.

I slapped him across the face in public.

He winced. There was a perfect outline of my hand on his face.
"What was that for?" He asked sadly. Rubbing his cheek.
"You can't say that," I yelled."That's our word; you can't say that"

"Sorry," He said, looking down sadly," Didn't know."

"It's okay," I said. I picked the bag up.

"So, have any siblings?" He asked me.

"Oh, yeah," I said blankly." three brothers and a sister."
"Oh, that must be nice.," He said."I have older twin sisters and an older brother; they're at college right now."
"Yeah, that must be nice," I said. I was not caring.

"So, can I ask a stupid question?" He said.
I nodded."Do cars sold to Hybrids have holes in them for their tails or wings?"

Oh this question.
"Yeah, it's the only way that it's comfortable," I said."And thanks to that, they're costly."

"That must suck." Charlie said. "Are we there yet?"
He whined.

"Yeah, we are" I said. We walked down my street.

"Hey, this is where we met," Charlie said, standing still.

I looked around. This is the street corner.
"Why were you in this part of town anyway?" I asked."Most humans don't even bother coming here"

"Oh, well, there's a small shortcut to my school down an alleyway on this street." Charlie said," Well, at least that's what my friend Gavin said, there wasn't "

I didn't respond, I just got walking.

As we walked up to my house. I saw the sedan my dad drives in the driveway.

"That's odd," I muttered."Dad usually isn't here until dark....what happened?"
"What was that" Charlie asked
"Nothing!" I yelled. "I'm going inside, Goodnight."

I walked up to the front door and swung it open.
I was about to walk inside.
"Henry, wait," Charlie yelled
I heard footsteps, and someone grabbed my wrist. It's him.
" You said something about your dad; you seemed worried."
"Let go of me." I said with no emotion in my voice. I felt my face heat up. Probably in anger.

He let go of my wrist.
I didn't even say anything back to him.

I just walked inside and slammed the door.

I walked to the kitchen and put the bags on the counter.
I walked over to the sink and leaned over it.
I winced.
Oh.........oh God, the thoughts are coming back.
NO! Get out of my head. I don't need you.

I don't! I don't! I can't! Everyone will hate me

Then a voice threw me out of my thoughts. It's the one who caused them.

"Henry," Charlie said from the doorway to the kitchen.

I was facing away from him.
I noticed that I cried a bit. I wiped the tears away from my eyes.
"How did you get inside," I said, not even looking at him.

"When you slammed the door, it didn't close properly." Charlie said. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said."Go home; your parents are appropriately worried."

"Henry, I'm worried about you." He said.

"Go away." I muttered as confidently as I could.
I heard footsteps walking away.

I looked behind me. He was gone.

Then, I heard a masculine voice crying upstairs.

Is that Dad?