THE SINGER AND THE SIDEKICK
CHAPTER EIGHT

     EVER SINCE the infamous love muffin incident, Molly had been avoiding Henry Hart with the determination of someone dodging a life-threatening plague. She wasn't sure what she might have said or done while under the influence of whatever drug Gwen had laced the muffins with, and frankly, she was terrified to find out. If Henry invited her to hang out, she'd deftly change the subject. When their group got together, she made sure to leave with someone else. She even faked being sick for an entire weekend to avoid the possibility of being alone with him.

     Molly Jensen was embarrassed.

     Logically, she knew she shouldn't be. Everyone understood she wasn't in control of her actions, thanks to whatever chaos-inducing substance Gwen had slipped into the muffins. But embarrassment doesn't play by the rules of logic, and Molly couldn't help but feel like she'd crossed some invisible line she wasn't ready to face.

     Her evasiveness, however, was wearing on Henry's patience.

     After the incident, he had gone out of his way to keep her from Ray. He'd begged their friends—and even Schwoz—not to breathe a single word about Molly sneaking into Junk 'N Stuff to their boss. Henry knew Ray's impulsiveness, especially since he'd had already attempted to wipe his friend's memories in the past. The last thing anyone needed was for him to discover that Molly was in on their secret. Who knew if they'd be able to stop him this time?

     But now, weeks had passed. Weeks since the girl had said anything to Henry beyond a strained, "See you later" or a curt, "Sorry, I can't." They saw each other in school, in group hangouts with Charlotte and Jasper, yet she refused to even meet his gaze.

     "I don't know why she won't talk to me, Char," Henry groaned, pacing back and forth in front of the round couch in the Man Cave. His frustration bubbled over as he raked a hand through his hair. "Did I do something?"

     "You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep that up," Charlotte quipped, her tone flat as she tracked his restless movement. "Stop pacing. It's not helping."

     He ignored her, too lost in his spiraling thoughts. Had it been their almost-kiss? Did she suddenly realize being friends with Kid Danger was too much? Maybe she'd decided she wanted nothing to do with his dangerous double life. But if that were the case, why was she still hanging out with Charlotte and Jasper? If she'd wanted to end their friendship, she'd have said something, right?

     "Smoke's practically pouring out of your ears," Charlotte said dryly, stepping into his path to stop him mid-stride. Her crossed arms and the faint sympathy in her eyes suggested she'd been pondering the same questions. "Maybe she just needs time to process everything? I mean, she did get drugged right after she found out something she definitely shouldn't have—"

     "Who found out what?" Ray's cheerful voice cut through their conversation as he strolled in from the hidden door behind the auto-snacker.

     Both teens froze, their eyes snapping to him like deer caught in headlights. A silent exchange passed between them, both pleading for the other to come up with an explanation—fast. Charlotte sighed and took one for the team.

     "Henry's crush found out he likes her and has been avoiding him ever since," she said with forced nonchalance.

     Henry's jaw dropped. That was the best she could come up with? She could've pinned the drama on Piper or invented a completely fake secret. But this?

     "Ha!" Ray's laugh snapped Henry from his disbelief. He shot his boss a glare.

     "It's not funny, man."

     "What's not funny?" Jasper asked, entering just in time to catch the tail end of Ray's chuckling.

     "Henry's crush has been avoiding him," Ray explained with a grin. "And he has no idea why."

     Jasper frowned in confusion. "I thought Molly's been avoiding you since she found out you're Kid Danger—"

     "JASPER!" Henry shouted, his voice cracking in alarm.

     "SINCE SHE WHAT?!" Ray's cheerful demeanor vanished, replaced by a thunderous glare as he spun toward his sidekick. "She found out you're Kid Danger?!"

     Henry froze, panic lighting up his face like a beacon. Stupid Jasper and his stupid big mouth.

     "What? No—no!" He stammered, but his voice cracked again, betraying him.

     "Kid," the man said slowly, his voice laced with suspicion. "Are you—are you lying to me right now?""

     Defeated, Henry broke. "Fine! Yes! She found out!"

     "When?!"

      Charlotte stepped in, arms crossed. "Remember when you were all muffined up and called us here past midnight to meet Gwen?" She recalled. "Molly snuck down the elevator. Then the next day, she got muffined because she didn't trust Gwen and took the hit for Henry."

     Ray stared at the teens, his expression a storm of disbelief and fury. "She's known for a month and a half, and you didn't tell me?!"

     "Ray—" Henry began, but stopped short when the man started chewing the familiar glowing gum. His stomach dropped. "What are you doing?"

     "I'm going to handle this, since you clearly can't!" The brunette snapped, heading toward the tubes.

     "No!" the trio protested in unison. Charlotte threw her hands up like she was trying to calm a wild animal.

     "Give us time to get her here—okay?" She pleaded.

     Ray glared but relented. "Fine. You have until four."

     As soon as he left, Henry rounded on Charlotte. "How are we supposed to get her here when she's been avoiding me for weeks?"

     Charlotte sighed, glancing toward Jasper. "We'll figure something out. Maybe we fake an emergency? Like you're really hurt or something."

     "You think she'll fall for that?"

     "She has to."

✰

     Charlotte and Jasper waited anxiously in Junk 'N Stuff, glancing at the glass door every few seconds in hopes that their friend would arrive shortly.

     The door swung open, nearly shattering at the force she'd used as she stormed into the store with a panicked glint in her eyes. "What's wrong? What happened to Henry?"

     Jasper swiftly locked the door behind her before he and Charlotte dragged a very panicked and confused Molly into the elevator.

     Charlotte had called her fifteen minutes ago, begging for her to come to Junk 'N Stuff because something bad happened to Henry—she didn't specify what, and Molly didn't think to ask. If she was being called to their workplace, she knew it had to be bad.

     She gripped onto the railing in the elevator, blue eyes brimming with worry as they stayed locked onto the door. He had to be okay—right? Their friends didn't seem too panicked. Why weren't they panicking?

     The elevator jolted to a halt, the door opening soon after. Molly ran out without a second thought, eyes scanning the room for her friend; when she spotted him, he stood from the round couch in the center of the room.

     Molly rushed over, placing her hands on his shoulders as she searched him for any injuries. "Are you okay? What happened? Charlotte called me—"

     "Hey there, little girl." She froze, a glare conquering her features as she snapped her head toward the red and blue clad hero. He recognized her, surprisingly, as the girl that had fought the Mad Granny. "Oh, wow. This is awkward."

     Molly looked to her friends, irritation coursing through her veins. "What the hell, Char?"

     "It was the only way to get you here, M."

     The singer scoffed, rolling her eyes and turning to face Captain Man with her arms crossed over her chest.

     Despite her avoidance of the blond beside her, he'd noticed that she'd worn his flannel at least once a week—including today. His heart swelled.

     "Have you told anyone about what you saw that night?"

     "No, I'm not stupid." She snapped. "I haven't even brought it up to these guys—and they work for you."

     Ray nodded, fiddling with the settings on the memory eraser. He was waiting for Henry's big protest, his usual threat to quit if Ray erased the memory of someone he cared about. He knew it was coming.

     "Put the memory eraser down, Ray."

      "Y'know," the man sighed. "I was waiting for that."

     They were all surprised when he'd listened, placing his hand on his hip as he pointed at the girl before him. "You look familiar. You know, besides the whole bathroom ceremony thing."

     "My mom grew up here, so I'm not surprised."

     "Your mom?"

     Molly raised a brow, looking at the man curiously. "Gabriella Jensen, maiden name Strayer."

     "Your mom's Gabby?" Ray asked with wide eyes, his jaw dropping slightly at the information. "She's back?"

     "You know her?"

     He smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Gabby was my best friend, before she left for CSU. I didn't know she was back." Ray's gaze softened as he looked back at Molly, her resemblance to her mother unmistakable now. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, kid, you know I can't let you just skip around Swellview with this information."

     "I figured as much," Molly shrugged, crossing her arms. "But I'm not about to spill your secret. As I said, I'm not stupid. Also, why'd my mom never tell me about you?"

     The man chuckled, the nostalgia hitting him hard. "Gabby was... great. We were close, but life happens. People drift apart." His expression darkened briefly, but he quickly shook it off. "Anyway, you knowing puts us in a tricky spot."

     "So, what are you gonna do?" She asked, narrowing her eyes on the discarded memory eraser.

     Ray straightened up, his usual bravado returning. "You're working here now."

     "What?" Henry grinned, his voice brimming with surprise. He really hadn't expected this—but he was not complaining. Working with his best friend/the prettiest girl he knows? He'd like to see her try to avoid him now. "Really?"

      "You heard me," the man stated, pointing at Molly. "You're hired. And it's not an offer—it's an order. You're part of the team now. Besides, you clearly have Gabby's determination. We can use that."

     Molly blinked, stunned and slightly annoyed. "I... I didn't ask for a job."

     "Too bad!" Ray said, beaming. "Welcome to the team. Now, Henry will show you around."

     Henry smiled softly, nudging her shoulder. "C'mon."

     She glanced between them, hesitant from her still looming embarrassment. When she saw the look on her new boss' face, she knew there was no arguing with him. "Fine. If it keeps you from erasing my memory."

     "That's the spirit!" He cheered, clapping his hands together. "This is going to be great."

     Henry lead Molly through the sprocket, showing her the vast amount of rooms that Ray once had all to himself; she remained silent, her awkward demeanor bleeding under the words of his tour. She wondered why he hadn't interrogated her yet, why he hadn't questioned her clear avoidance of anything involving the two of them.

     Soon enough, the topic came to light.

     "Haven't see you in a while." He mentioned lightly, glancing briefly to her as he shoved his hands on his jean pockets. "What's been up with you?"

     Molly sighed, knowing there was no way out of this. She needed to clear the air, since they were going to be seeing each other a lot more. "I've just been... weird."

     "Weird? What d'ya mean?"

     "The whole muffin thing..." She admitted sheepishly. "I don't know what I said or did, and I've been worried."

      Henry chuckled in disbelief. He'd thought her reasons were much worse than that. "Was the great Molly Jensen embarrassed?"

     "Shut up." She rolled her eyes, a small smirk on her lips as she shoved his shoulder. "You would be too."

     The boy chuckled, playfully shoving her back. He was relieved, to say the least. Maybe now things could go back to normal for them—whatever the hell normal was. A comfortable silence overcame them, and he took the opportunity to properly look at her. She was dawning his flannel, the one he'd refused to take back. A Black Veil Brides shirt was hidden beneath it, followed by a pair of black sweats. Her hair was pulled up into a loose bun, the fading pink strands peaking out through the mess of blonde.

     "So," he spoke, clearing his throat. "How's that song coming along?"

     Molly beamed at the question, "Great! All I've gotta do is tweak it in post and shoot the video."

     "I thought you were using the stuff from your camcorder?"

     "I am!" She shrugged, "But I wanna get some dramatic footage of me singing so I can overlay the clips."

     Henry nodded, about to speak once more, when the emergency alarm started blaring through the Man Cave. He grabbed her hand and dragged her back into the main room, ignoring how right her hand felt in his.

     He really needed to find a way to silence the screaming of his heart every time she was around. They were best friends. Best friends who've almost kissed. But still best friends, despite the way he stares at her in awe—like she's an angel blessing him with her presence. He wondered how her wasn't sure of her when they met, how it took him stopping her from murdering S.T.A.B. for them to move past the uncertainty.

     Henry Hart was sure about a lot of things—but whatever this was with Molly was not one of them.

✰

     Molly and Jasper descended into the Man Cave, the contrast between their landings almost comical. The girl touched down almost effortlessly, her boots making a soft click against the floor, while her friend stumbled, arms flailing as he hit the ground with an ungraceful thud. Suppressing a laugh, she extended a hand to the brunette boy sprawled on the elevator floor.

     "Y'know, Jasp," she teased with a smirk, helping him to his feet. "You could win competitions with how long you can scream."

     Jasper's face lit up, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Really?" He asked, his voice full of hope and glee.

     "Sure," she replied with a casual shrug, already turning toward the elevator doors as they slid open with a soft ding.

     The Man Cave buzzed with quiet activity. Henry, Ray, and Schwoz were gathered near the round couch in the center of the room, their heads bent in conversation. A large gray sheet covered something bulky in the background, where Charlotte tinkered underneath it with evident focus. Molly's excitement sparked—she remembered her friend mentioning this project during their discussion on her birthday.

     "What's up, party people?" She greeted, her cheery voice cutting through the air as she strode in.

     "Is it time to see Charlotte's thing?" Jasper piped up, his eager tone carrying across the room as he stepped in beside her.

     Their arrival drew the attention of the others. Henry's gaze snapped to Molly the moment she spoke, and his heart seemed to skip a beat. She looked effortlessly stunning—her black denim skirt paired with knee-high boots and a One Direction shirt exuded her usual edgy charm. But it was the flannel she wore, his flannel, that caught his eye most. She'd taken to wearing it often lately, and it made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't quite explain. Her golden hair, streaked with pink, spilled over her shoulders, and her blue feather earrings swayed gently as she moved. They were the same earrings she'd worn the first time they met, a detail that hadn't escaped him.

     Molly, meanwhile, kept her expression calm, though her heart pounded in her chest when her eyes landed on him. Henry looked effortlessly put-together in a flannel similar to hers, though his had a slightly darker pattern. His honey-blond hair was messy in a deliberate, charming way, and his warm, hickory-brown eyes seemed to hold a softness as they met hers. She felt a quiet relief knowing their friendship had weathered her earlier attempts to keep some distance, and now, walking through this chaotic world with him felt natural.

     Their silent moment was broken when Ray's voice rang out. "Jasper! You're supposed to be upstairs in Junk 'N Stuff, working."

     Henry backed him up with a firm nod. "Yeah, dude. What if a customer walks in?"

     The boy waved off their concerns with a casual shrug. "Oh, it's okay. I left a sign saying: 'Be Right Back.'"

     The girl beside him rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. Jasper's knack for obliviousness was something she secretly admired. Unlike her, he didn't overthink every move he made. Sometimes, she envied him for it.

     Charlotte's voice broke through as she stepped forward from beneath the sheet, a proud smile lighting up her face. "And, hello! As some of you know, for the past three years at The Gizmo Show, my projects have won the second-place prize."

     The group gathered around, murmuring half-hearted encouragement. Henry lazily slung an arm over Molly's shoulder, missing the way her lips curved slightly upward and her gaze dipped briefly to the floor.

     "But this," she declared, holding up a finger for emphasis, "is the year that Charlotte goes number one."

     Ray snorted. "So... you're gonna pee?"

     The men erupted in laughter, leaving Molly and Charlotte to exchange exasperated glances. She jabbed Henry in the ribs with her elbow, causing him to yelp and stop laughing.

     "What?" He asked defensively, the ghost of his laughter still weaved into his words.

     "You're fifteen, not five," she shot back in a teasing whisper.

     He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his grin. As he glanced down at her, he noted their height difference with mild amusement. Just a year ago, they'd been the same height. Now, he stood a couple of inches taller, and he found the change surprisingly endearing.

     Charlotte cleared her throat, drawing the group's attention back. "I call my project... The Scream Machine!" With a flourish, she whipped off the gray sheet to reveal the invention beneath, her hands framing it with dramatic jazz hands.

     The contraption was an odd mix of components. Gauges of varying sizes adorned its surface, one presumably acting as a thermometer. A stiff, plastic hula girl stood on a small platform that looked repurposed from an old record player. Molly clapped lightly, her encouraging smile urging the others to join in, which they did—albeit reluctantly.

     "Now, as we all know," Charlotte began, her tone taking on a practiced cadence, "the future of our planet depends on finding new ways to create clean, renewable energy. But, where will our energy come from?"

     Henry's confident voice cut through. "France."

     Molly let out a snort, quickly covering her mouth. He flicked her temple with a grin. "Hey, don't laugh at me!"

     "No," Charlotte deadpanned, shaking her head.

     "Energy balls."

     "Wrong," she sighed.

     "Sound," Molly interjected, her tone exasperated as she shook her head at their ridiculous guesses.

     Charlotte turned, mock-glaring at her friend. "That's cheating! I already told you about this."

     The blonde shrugged innocently. "Well someone's gotta have a brain around here."

     "Hey!" The three boys protested in unison, earning nothing more than an eye roll.

✰

     Molly and Charlotte walked side by side along the quiet suburban street, their frustration simmering between them like a shared storm cloud. Each step seemed to amplify their mutual annoyance, their conversation flowing easily as they approached the Jensen household.

     After Schwoz had single-handedly managed to blow up Charlotte's carefully constructed Scream Machine—and after the two of them had successfully stopped her from throttling him—they had decided to leave the boys to clean up the mess. They figured it was the least they could do after what had just transpired.

     "I can't fucking believe them," Molly grumbled, her boots clunking against the wooden porch steps as they climbed them. "Especially Schwoz! For such a genius, he really is a—"

     "MJ!" Gabriella Jensen's cheerful voice rang out from inside, cutting her daughter off mid-rant. The front door swung open, revealing Molly's mother with a radiant smile, her arms wide in welcome. "Hi, Charlotte!"

     Charlotte returned the warm greeting with a kind smile, standing just inside as her friend stepped aside to close the door. "Hi, Mrs. J!"

     "Are you staying for dinner?" Gabriella asked, her tone bright and inviting.

     Molly shrugged, glancing at her friend with a faint smile. "It's pizza night."

     The girl didn't need any more convincing. She nodded, already reaching for her phone. "Sure. Let me just text my mom."

     With that settled, the two girls headed upstairs, their bags slipping off their shoulders and landing unceremoniously on the floor beside the doorway to Molly's studio. They flopped down onto bean bag chairs, their synchronized huffs of frustration echoing through the room.

     Molly sank further into her seat, her hands gripping the fabric of the bean bag as she glared up at the ceiling. Her blonde and pink-streaked hair tumbled over her shoulders, framing her face, which was still pinched with annoyance. She could barely contain the anger bubbling inside her.

     Schwoz. For all his brilliance, he was equally, if not more, an absolute disaster. She couldn't wrap her head around how someone so smart could simultaneously be so utterly thoughtless. No one had told him to shove Charlotte out of the way, grab an air horn, and blow it into The Scream Machine. Yet here they were—dealing with the aftermath of his antics.

     Charlotte sat beside her, equally exasperated, but more quietly stewing. She stretched her legs out, crossing them at the ankles as she scrolled absently through her phone, probably texting her mom about dinner.

     Molly let out a sharp sigh, her thoughts darkening further. She could only hope the boys managed to fix things before Henry's parents got home—or worse, before their boss found out. The last thing she wanted was to lose her job and risk getting memory-wiped because of some ridiculous chain of events that led to her murdering a coworker.

✰

     "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST THE FUCKING PLANS?!" Molly's shriek echoed through the house as she paced back and forth in the living room, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her wide, furious eyes flicked toward the window just in time to see her parents' car backing out of the driveway.

     The Gizmo Show was today, and while she'd been dying to attend, she had a responsibility to stay home and watch Alana. She felt a pang of guilt for missing it, but Charlotte had reassured her it was okay. Charlotte always understood.

     On the other end of the call, Henry flinched at her tone. He'd witnessed Molly's temper firsthand more than once and had no desire to be on the receiving end of it. "I didn't lose them—Schwoz did!" He protested, his voice defensive but tinged with nervousness.

     Her nostrils flared as she turned on her heel. "So what the hell is Char presenting today?"

     "A teleporter," Henry replied quickly, as if ripping off a Band-Aid.

     "HENRY!"

     "What?" He replied, trying to defend himself. "It was the only thing he could do for her on such short notice."

      Molly groaned, dragging her free hand down her face before pinching the bridge of her nose. She shook her head, disappointment heavy in her features. Why did I expect anything different? she thought bitterly. Schwoz and chaos were practically synonymous.

     "Just figure this shit out, okay?" She muttered, her frustration still simmering beneath her words.

     "Don't worry, we got a plan," Henry assured her, though his voice carried a hint of hesitation.

     Molly let out a sigh, her tone softening slightly as she replied, "Don't get caught, KD." There was a playful undertone to her voice, almost teasing, and it made his heart skip a beat.

     The tension in his shoulders eased as a small smile tugged at his lips. Her anger had fizzled out, and he couldn't help but wish she could be there—not just to support Charlotte or to witness their plan in action, but because he simply liked having her around.

     She was funny, smart, and unapologetically herself, and her presence always seemed to make things better.

     The realization hit him like a freight train.

     "Holy shit," Henry thought, his eyes widening as the truth settled in. "I have a crush on Molly."

— b speaks!

hey, everyone! happy (extremely belated) new year! sorry this is late, mom life waits for no one.

i haven't decided yet if i'm gonna give any further lore on ray and gabby, we'll just have to wait and see :).

reminder: don't be a silent reader.

anywho, catch ya later!