THE SINGER AND THE SIDEKICK
CHAPTER THREE

     TWO MONTHS.

     It had been two months since Molly Jensen and her family moved to this strange little city, but adjusting to her new life still felt out of reach.

     She had spent some time with her new friends, though more often than not, Charlotte and Henry would leave halfway through their hangouts.

     Jasper, at least, had become someone Molly could count on. He was an open book—a little too open, honestly. She already knew more about him than she'd expected: his parents were neglectful, he slept with curlers in his hair, he found comfort in his beloved buckets (not in the way she'd initially assumed, thank God), and his interests extended into realms far stranger than buckets. He lacked any sense of social awareness, but despite his quirks, Jasper was shaping up to be a solid friend.

     Charlotte, on the other hand, was harder to pin down. She always came back after leaving suddenly, acting as if she'd never disappeared. Molly appreciated that she still made an effort to hang out, but she couldn't ignore the irritation that came with being ditched in the first place.

     Still, she liked Charlotte. Everyone had their secrets, and she respected that. But deep down, she couldn't shake the suspicion that the girl's disappearances weren't just about working at Junk N' Stuff.

     Then there was Henry. He was a stark contrast to the person Molly had initially met during her first week in Swellview. At first glance, he seemed laid-back, exuding an easygoing confidence that was hard to ignore. However, beneath that casual exterior was a more complex personality. Henry had a certain charm about him, the kind that could make people gravitate toward him effortlessly. He was undeniably girl-crazy, despite just getting out of a relationship—a trait Molly found both baffling and irritating. Adding to her frustration was his inability to lie; he often excused his and Charlotte's disappearances with lies that weren't even slightly believable, leaving Molly to wonder how no one else had caught on. She hadn't quite figured out how she felt about him yet. Though she wasn't fond of his behavior, for the sake of their shared friends, she chose to tolerate him—for now.

     Recently, she had seen Swellview's so-called superhero duo on the news. Their costumes were ridiculous, and she couldn't believe no one in town had figured out their identities. Seriously, what the hell were those flimsy little masks supposed to hide? She'd missed getting a good look at the sidekick or hearing his voice—her family was too busy gushing over the so-called heroes for her to stick around.

     As far as she was concerned, they were just a couple of guys in masks, trying to make something out of nothing.

     Her visits to Henry's house had also increased, thanks to Alana's friendship with his younger sister, Piper. Molly always ended up getting roped into hanging out with her friends when they were there, but it never lasted long. Before she knew it, she'd be left alone with Jasper and the two ten-year-olds.

     As for Henry Hart? He wasn't sure how he felt about Molly, either. She'd appeared out of nowhere with her pink streaks, pretty eyes, and confident demeanor—but she was also relentless. He had heard about her questioning Charlotte and Jasper, digging for answers they couldn't (or wouldn't) give. She wasn't letting it go, and it put Henry on edge.

     To avoid her interrogations, he steered clear as much as possible. There was no way he was about to let himself get cornered by a pretty girl and interrogated about his "after-school job." Did he really look that dumb?

     So, when Charlotte and Jasper dragged him to the Jensen household on a Saturday, Henry couldn't have been more annoyed. Molly had mentioned putting off unpacking her room, and their shared friends, of course, offered to help.

     The door swung open, revealing a man who exuded warmth and intelligence. He had curly brown hair, kind brown eyes, and a neat smile. His button-up shirt was tucked into dark brown slacks, completing his polished yet approachable appearance.

     "Hi, Mr. Jensen," Charlotte greeted with a friendly smile. She had met him once before while walking to school with Molly. "This is Jasper and Henry."

     "Hey there, kids," Mr. Jensen replied, stepping aside to let the trio in. "MJ's up in her room."

     "Thanks," they all said, taking a moment to admire the interior of the house. It was vibrant and colorful, but not overwhelming. The walls were adorned with family photos and paintings, giving it a cozy, lived-in feel that made it clear the Jensens had quickly turned the house into a home.

     Once they jogged upstairs, Jasper knocked on a plain white door. A voice from inside called them in, and they entered to find Molly sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a sea of cardboard boxes.

     Her room stood in stark contrast to the rest of the house—it was bare, with still packed boxes everywhere and furniture haphazardly placed. The space itself was a decent size, with two closets, one already brimming with clothes and the other completely empty. Henry couldn't help but wonder why she needed two closets.

     "Hey," Molly greeted with a bright smile, pushing her messy blonde and pink hair behind her ear. "Thanks for coming over."

     "Thank us after we make your room look awesome," Jasper quipped, grinning as he picked up a box labeled RANDOM STUFF.

     With that, they got to work. Molly and Henry started by rearranging her dresser while Charlotte and Jasper tackled her desk.

     "These bean bags are sick," Henry stated as he moved two brightly colored chairs into the corner of the room. "They look comfy as hell."

     Standing on the newly moved dresser, Molly chuckled as she strung up a set of fairy lights. "They are. You should try 'em out once we're done."

     Henry gave her a small smile. He was still on the fence about her, but she was cool so far—and, well, she was really pretty. He was just a boy, after all.

     Charlotte took charge of taping up Molly's old posters on the walls, earning the blonde girl's trust with her choices. Meanwhile, Jasper focused on organizing her trinkets, placing them carefully on her desk and setting a lamp on the nightstand.

     As Molly leaned a little too far while hanging the last of her lights, she suddenly lost her balance. Before she could hit the ground, Henry darted forward and caught her just in time.

     "Holy shit," Molly laughed as he steadied her on her feet. "Thanks for the save."

     "Y-Yeah, no problem," the boy stammered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

     She glanced back up at the dangling lights, chewing the inside of her cheek as she tried to figure out how to hang the rest. Her dad might still be home, but she didn't feel like shouting through the house. Then it hit her.

     "Lana!" She called down the hall with a grin, surprising her friends. "Can you help me?"

     Moments later, Alana came bounding into the room, her face glowing with excitement. "With?"

     Molly pointed to the string of lights. "Can you sit on my shoulders and hang the rest?"

     "Yeah!" The girl chirped, eagerly hopping onto her sister's shoulders. With precision and a little teamwork, she managed to string up the remaining lights while the older blonde held her steady.

     The three teens watched the duo with smiles, though Henry's was tinged with confusion. How was someone so nice and bubbly friends with Piper?

     "You're a hero, Lan," Molly said as she set her sister down.

     "I know, I'm awesome," Alana replied with a giggle, high-fiving her sister before dashing out of the room. "I'm gonna see if Dad will take me to get ice cream!"

     "Okay, have fun!"

     As the sound of her footsteps faded, Jasper smirked. "So, like... is it just Henry's little sister that's a demon?"

     The group burst out laughing, the lighthearted banter easing them back into the task at hand.

✰

     After placing the last trinket on Molly's shelf, the group collapsed onto her bedroom floor, utterly exhausted from hours of rearranging and unpacking.

     "Thanks again, guys," Molly said with a tired smile, glancing at her friends. "This stuff probably would've stayed packed until the day I died if you hadn't come along."

     Henry was the first to respond, smiling. "No problem."

     "Yeah," Charlotte added, giving her a nod. "That's what friends are for."

     "What now?" The girl asked, stretching her arms behind her head as she lay sprawled on her bedroom floor.

     Jasper shrugged, and Henry followed suit. Charlotte thought for a moment, but came up empty-handed.

     Molly chuckled, sitting up. "Anyone wanna get their ass kicked in Mortal Kombat?"

     "You're so on!" Jasper shouted, scrambling out of the room first. The others laughed, pulling themselves off the floor and heading downstairs.

     It didn't take long for Jasper to realize his mistake. Molly obliterated him in record time, followed by a narrow victory over Charlotte. Now, it was down to her and Henry, and the match was getting intense.

     "You're going down, Hart," the girl teased, her fingers flying over the controller.

     "Am I?" Henry challenged, landing a powerful combo that sent her character reeling. "Am I really?"

     "$20 on MJ," Charlotte declared, exchanging a confident grin with Jasper.

     "No way—Henry's got this," Jasper shot back, already pulling out his wallet in preparation for his hopeful victory.

     Seconds later, Charlotte was triumphantly pocketing a $20 bill, Molly let out a victorious cheer, and Henry flopped back onto the couch with a defeated groan. Despite his loss, he couldn't help but smile.

     "Good game, Jensen," he said, shaking his head.

     "Told you guys you'd get your asses kicked," Molly replied with a smug grin, spinning her controller in her hands.

✰

     Molly wasn't sure why she'd let Jasper drag her to Henry's house yet again. It could've been boredom, a need for distraction from the monotony of her afternoon. Or maybe it was because he had a way of breaking down walls without even realizing it, bounding into her room earlier with his curly hair bouncing and a grin that promised some new adventure. Whatever it was, Molly hadn't been able to say no.

     Still, as she found herself being practically hauled toward Henry's front door, she couldn't help but question her decision. "People really need to stop dragging me here," she thought, suppressing a sigh.

     Jasper didn't bother knocking—he never did when it came to Henry's house. He pushed the door open as though he owned the place and tugged Molly inside. She quickly tore her wrist from his grip, closing the door behind her with care.

     Her friend made a beeline for the blonde in front of the TV. Molly hung back for a moment, scanning her surroundings. It was the third or fourth time she'd been inside Henry's house, but it still felt unfamiliar. Not uncomfortable, exactly, but not a place she'd call inviting. Maybe that was because of Henry himself.

     "Henry!" Jasper's voice broke through her thoughts, brimming with excitement. "I've been thinking about your mom's chili all day!"

     Henry, who had been pacing in front of the TV, stopped and faced his friend. His dark brown eyes flicked briefly to Molly before settling on Jasper with a raised eyebrow. "Okay?"

     "Is there any left? Can I have some?"

     Henry sighed, pointing toward the kitchen. "Yeah, there's some in the fridge."

     Without hesitation, the brunette sprinted toward the kitchen, muttering the word chili like it was a sacred mantra. That left Molly standing near the door, a little behind Charlotte, who had already been there.

     "Hey, Molly," Henry greeted casually, his voice low and smooth. His eyes lingered on her a moment longer than necessary.

     "Sup," she replied with a small nod, her tone neutral.

     Henry had remained hard to read, despite his awful excuses and their awkward encounters. That secretive edge, combined with his dedication to keeping her at arm's length, left her unsure if she could truly befriend him. And if she was honest with herself, she knew he didn't exactly trust her either.

     Still, he was undeniably charming. There was just something about him. Molly wasn't blind—Henry Hart was attractive. And judging by the occasional glances he threw her way, he knew it too.

     But whatever unspoken tension hung in the air, it was quickly interrupted by him turning back to Charlotte, who looked unimpressed.

     "Y'know, I don't think you're being very fair here," he stated, his voice taking on a defensive edge.

     Charlotte crossed her arms, giving him a pointed look. "Henry, I know you. You want both girls. You want to have your cake and kiss it too."

     Molly couldn't help but laugh from her spot near the door, moving to sit on the arm of the chair. "What the hell did I just walk into?"

     Charlotte sighed, turning to her friend with an neutral expression. "Henry and Bianca broke up because he wanted to leave his options open for another girl. And now he's mad that I'm on Bianca's side."

     The pink and blonde haired girl raised an eyebrow, her interest growing. "Really? And here I thought I was in for a quiet afternoon."

     "It's not like that," Henry protested, pacing a few steps. "I just... I just wanted my freedom, cause this is America."

     "Oh my God," the girls said in unison, sharing a look of mutual irritation.

     "What? It's true!" Henry insisted, his voice rising. "And I have the right to date more than one girl! I'm pretty sure it's in the Constitution!"

     Molly scoffed, rising from her seat with her arms crossed. "That's not freedom, Hart. That's called being a fuckboy."

     "Is not!"

     "Is too!"

     "Okay, fine!" Charlotte cut in sharply, rolling her eyes. "You want your freedom from Bianca? Then she gets her freedom from you."

     Henry stopped pacing, running a hand through his hair—a gesture Molly had started to notice he did when he was frustrated. "You know what? You're right. It's good Bianca and I broke up. That way, I get my options, she gets hers, and now I have more room in my locker for sports... balls."

     The blonde and pink haired girl raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with skepticism. "I've been here almost three months, and I've never once heard you talk about sports."

     "Shut up, Molly!"

     Before she could respond, a loud explosion erupted from the kitchen, shaking the room. Molly's head snapped toward the source of the noise as smoke poured from the microwave. She barely registered falling, landing half on a bean bag, her head bouncing off the wooden floor with a dull thud.

     "What the hell was that?" She groaned, pushing herself off the floor and glancing at Henry, who had landed beside her.

     The boy looked equally disoriented but quickly turned toward the source of the commotion. Piper was by the microwave, holding shards of broken glass with a murderous look in her eyes as she slowly approached Jasper.

     "Was that a glass hat?!" Molly asked incredulously, pressing a hand to her temple. "Those aren't microwave safe!"

     "I didn't know!" The brunette shouted, sprinting out of the house as the ten year old chased him, waving the shards like weapons.

     Henry's focus shifted back to Molly, who was leaning against the counter, wincing. For a moment, the irritation between them seemed to melt away. "Hey," he asked softly, his dark eyes searching hers. "You okay?"

     She waved him off, though her voice was tinged with fatigue. "Yeah. I'll be fine."

     Charlotte frowned, stepping closer and looking to Henry. "Do you have any Tylenol?"

     "Uh, yeah," he said, already heading toward the stairs. "Be right back."

     As he disappeared, Molly glanced at her friend, who gave her a knowing look. "This town is fucking exhausting," She muttered, earning a quiet laugh from Charlotte.

✰

     Molly really needed to stop letting people drag her around town. First it had been Alana, then Jasper, and now Charlotte. She didn't understand why she kept saying yes. Was she too nice to refuse? Too bored to care? Either way, she found herself trudging through Swellview Park on a bright afternoon, her mood as sour as ever due to the long-lasting migraine she'd gotten from an exploding microwave.

     The occasion? The grand dedication ceremony of Swellview's first public bathroom. Yes, a bathroom. Molly would have rather stayed home eating brussels sprouts—her least favorite vegetable—than attend this.

     The park had been decorated with a bizarre mix of out-of-season Fourth of July banners, pastel balloons, and an arrangement of folding chairs lined up before a creaky podium. The ancient bathroom being "dedicated" stood behind the stage like an architectural joke. She cringed at the decorations. Swellview really needed to hire someone who understood aesthetics.

     The Jensen family paused near the concession stands, and Molly stuffed a single earbud into her ear, blasting music to drown out the annoying chatter and tinny voice of the event announcer. She tried to smile for Charlotte, who had insisted they tag along, but it was getting harder by the second.

     "Come on," Charlotte urged, grabbing her wrist and leading her toward a group of kids she apparently knew. Molly followed, but her attention wandered. She opened Instagram on her phone, scrolling through photos of her friends back in Hollywood.

     The sight of their smiling faces stirred an ache in her chest. It had been weeks since she'd spoken to them, each conversation cut short with excuses about preparations for some big show. Molly missed performing, missed the adrenaline of the stage.

     She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice Charlotte slipping away—nor the shadow of a certain sidekick that had pulled her away. Only when she felt her mother's hand on her shoulder did she snap back to reality.

     "Come on, sweetie, it's about to start," Gabriella Jensen said warmly.

     Molly sighed but nodded, following her mother toward their family. Her dad stood nearby with Alana perched on his back, smiling as they approached. She tried to muster a similar enthusiasm, but failed miserably.

     The ceremony began with the mayor stepping up to the podium. Molly couldn't care less. As the mayor droned on about the history of this stupid bathroom, she shoved her other earbud in, drowning out the speech entirely.

     Then Captain Man appeared. She groaned inwardly. Great, the indestructible local hero was here to soak up the attention. She leaned against a tree, hoping the event would hurry along so she could escape.

     Her disinterest shifted, however, when Captain Man fired a strange green laser into the eyes of an elderly woman in the crowd. For a brief, hilarious moment, Molly thought it was The Mad Granny—a ridiculous criminal she'd seen in news segments who made a hobby of whacking Captain Man with an umbrella. But no, this was just some poor old lady wearing suspiciously similar clothes.

     The real Mad Granny, however, wasn't far behind. The blonde spotted her in the crowd, dressed in a coral cardigan, making a beeline for the podium. Captain Man, ever the showboat, was too distracted to notice her approach.

     Molly's brow furrowed. Where was Kid Danger? Wasn't it his job to keep an eye out for things like this? And why wasn't anyone else stopping her?

     As the villain got closer, the girl groaned. She'd love nothing more than to let Captain Man get whacked—again. But Alana was watching from her dad's shoulders, and Molly didn't want her little sister to witness her new favorite superhero get pummeled by an umbrella.

     Making a snap decision, she broke into a jog toward the approaching threat.

     "Hey!" She called out, but Mad Granny ignored her.

     With no other choice, Molly tackled the woman to the ground. She barely dodged the swing of the striped umbrella as they fell, her dad's self-defense lessons kicking in as adrenaline surged through her veins.

     The Mad Granny fought hard, swinging wildly and flipping Molly over, pinning her arms to the grass. The blonde gritted her teeth, using a sudden burst of strength to slam her forehead into the woman's nose. A satisfying crunch followed, and with a yelp, the Mad Granny scrambled away.

     The blonde got to her feet, wiping blood from her busted lip and spitting onto the grass. Her smirk was triumphant. "Bet her nose is broken," she muttered to herself.

     "Thanks, little girl," Captain Man said, brushing off his suit and flashing her a broad smile.

     Molly turned to him, glaring. "Never call me that again."

     Her father rushed over, concern etched into his face. "You okay, kiddo?"

     "Never better," she replied with a shrug, still catching her breath. "You should see her face."

     As her family guided her back toward the crowd, Molly ignored the scattered applause and cheers from onlookers. She hadn't done it for them—or for Captain Man, who was indestructible and didn't even need saving. She did it for Alana, who was smiling up at her from her left.

     From a distance, Henry and Charlotte had watched the entire scene unfold. Henry, still in his Kid Danger uniform, looked mildly annoyed.

     "Holy shit," Charlotte said, grinning. "That was awesome!"

     "That was my job," the boy muttered, crossing his arms.

     His friend gave him a pointed look. "Maybe if you'd been doing your job instead of spying on your ex-girlfriend, Molly wouldn't have a busted lip right now."

     Henry grumbled something under his breath, but his gaze lingered on Molly. As much as it annoyed him to admit, watching her take down The Mad Granny was impressive. Even if it was supposed to be his responsibility.

— b speaks!
man these chapters be long af
i'm not sorry :)