THE SINGER AND THE SIDEKICK
CHAPTER FOUR

MOLLY COULDN'T contain her laughter as she walked alongside Charlotte, the buzz of morning chatter filling the school hallway. "Okay, wait," she said, stifling a giggle. "Who's Chloe, again?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated by the tangled web of Henry Hart's romantic history. "Chloe is Henry's ex-girlfriend. She left him to go film Kids in the Woods."

The blonde snorted at the mention of the show, muttering under her breath, "Such a stupid show."

Her friend smirked but pressed on. "And Bianca is his most recent ex-girlfriend. Henry was trying to get back together with her, but then Chloe showed up and scrambled his brain like eggs."

"Wow." Molly snorted again, shaking her head. "I really wish I'd been there to see that shit show. So, did he end up with Bianca again?"

"Yep," Charlotte confirmed, folding her arms as they approached the blonde's locker. "And now he's taking her to the Meat Ball. But get this—he has to follow her three-foot rule."

Molly tilted her head, visibly confused. "What the hell is a three-foot rule?"

The curly haired teen let out a groan, the irritation evident in her voice. "It means Henry has to stay at least three feet away from any girl who might possibly like him—that isn't Bianca."

Molly scoffed, rolling her eyes. She could understand why Charlotte was annoyed. Sure, Henry had a history of being a flirt, but if you couldn't trust the person you were dating, what was the point? Her thoughts flickered to a conversation she'd had more than once with Jade back in Hollywood.

She wondered briefly if Beck had ever stopped letting girls hang all over him. Then again, knowing Beck, probably not.

As they reached her locker, Charlotte waved goodbye. "See you in class," she called out, heading off to find Henry and Jasper.

Molly opened her locker, humming softly to herself as she swapped out her books. She was mentally preparing for another hour of Miss Shapen's grating voice, when a sudden presence behind her made her jump.

"Whoa," the boy chuckled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

Molly turned, clutching her locker door. "It's fine," she said, flashing a polite—albeit slightly forced—smile.

The boy smiled back, looking a little nervous. "You're Molly Jensen, right? The girl who fought The Mad Granny?"

"Uh, yeah, that's me," she replied, her tone awkward. She didn't exactly love being recognized for tackling an umbrella-wielding criminal in public.

"Cool, I was wondering if—"

Before he could finish, a sharp, commanding voice rang out from the school entrance. "MOLLY JENSEN!"

The sound froze her mid-sentence, and she turned her head so fast her ponytail whipped over her shoulder. Her ocean-blue eyes widened, and a grin stretched across her face, so wide it made her cheeks ache.

There, standing at the entrance of the school, was a pale girl with black hair streaked with green. She was dressed head-to-toe in black, her piercing gaze softened by a sly smile. Surrounding her were six more familiar faces—five, if you didn't count the puppet.

Molly abandoned the conversation without a second thought. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed, sprinting toward the group. She practically launched herself into their arms, laughing so brightly it echoed through the hallway.

The group embraced her, their excitement mirroring her own. Molly's heart swelled. She hadn't seen them in months, and their sudden appearance here felt surreal.

"What the hell, you guys?!" She laughed, pulling back and looking at them with a mix of joy and disbelief. She adjusted the strap of her bag, her grin still intact. "You ghost me for weeks just to show up at my school?"

Beck shrugged casually, his arm draped lazily over Jade's shoulders. "We had to convince Sikowitz," he stated, as if that explained everything.

Jade smirked, crossing her arms. "And bribe him with coconut milk."

Molly laughed, shaking her head. "I can't believe you're all here."

Robbie grinned, Rex perched on his hand. "We couldn't let you have too much fun without us."

"Besides," Cat chimed in, bouncing on her heels, "we missed you!"

For the first time in weeks, the girl felt a genuine warmth spread through her chest. She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed her old friends until now. Whatever brought them to Swellview didn't matter. They were here, and that was enough.

Molly was so caught up in the joy of seeing her old friends that she didn't notice the trio standing a few feet behind her until a familiar voice broke through the noise.

"You part of a gang or something?" Henry asked, his tone dripping with confusion.

The girl rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her smile as she turned to face them. "No, dumbass. These are my friends from Hollywood." She gestured toward the group behind her. "Everyone, meet Henry, Charlotte, and Jasper. And this is Jade, Beck, Tori, Cat, Andre, Robbie... and Rex."

His brown eyes landed on Rex, and he blinked in disbelief. "That's a puppet."

Rex's head snapped toward Henry, his tone offended. "The hell you just call me?"

The boy instinctively raised his hands in surrender, his confusion deepening as he studied the group. Andre, with an easy confidence, slung an arm around Molly's shoulders, making her laugh. The way her smile seemed to brighten even further made something twist in Henry's chest. Were they... dating?

Wait, why did he care? He's with Bianca, and doesn't even trust Molly.

Charlotte raised a brow at her friend, noticing his expression but deciding not to comment. Jasper, meanwhile, leaned closer and whispered, "Is... the puppet alive, or...?"

"I'd rather not ask," Henry muttered, still focused on Andre's arm around their shared acquaintance.

Molly sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she turned back to her friends. "Okay, guys, I have to get to class, but we can hang at my place after school." Her eyes locked onto Robbie, and her tone sharpened. "But leave Rex behind. Or don't come at all."

Robbie gasped dramatically, lifting the dummy toward her. "And here I thought you missed me!"

The girl narrowed her ocean blue eyes, crossing her arms. "I'd throw you in a wood chipper if Robbie's hand wasn't up your ass."

The group burst into laughter, though Henry's eyes remained fixed on Molly. There was something about the ease with which she fit in with her old friends, her natural confidence shining through. It was a side of her he didn't see often—kind, vibrant, and fiercely witty. Did she just leave that part of her in Hollywood? Because the Molly he'd been around was sarcastic and judgmental.

As she walked off toward class, her Hollywood crew exiting the school, he couldn't help but watch her go. Charlotte elbowed him lightly.

"You're staring."

"No, I'm not," Henry denied, tearing his eyes away. "Gross."

"Uh-huh," Charlotte replied with a smirk.

She didn't like Bianca, and she was aware of Molly and Henry's indifference toward each other. She hoped that the two would get past whatever weird distance had taken form the first time they'd hung out, but knew it would definitely take time.

Jasper leaned closer. "So... do you think she's the guy that had his arm around her?"

Henry groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Let's just get to class."

✰

The hours slipped away effortlessly, the group consumed by waves of laughter and joy. As they caught up on each other's lives, the room buzzed with an energy that Molly had missed dearly. Her voice grew animated as she retold the story of her fight with The Mad Granny, complete with reenactments.

"Wait, you tackled her?" Andre asked, his brows raised in disbelief.

"Tackled her and probably broke her nose," Molly smirked, pulling up a video on her phone that someone had captured during the incident. "See for yourselves."

The group leaned in as the video played, laughter erupting at the sight of Molly headbutting the woman. Jade, always one to appreciate a bit of violence, gave her an approving nod. "Nice work, MJ. You're finally learning how to handle yourself."

"I've always known how to handle myself," the girl retorted with a grin, returning her friend's high-five.

Tori's gaze drifted toward the corner of the room where the entrance of Molly's small recording setup stood. "Is that your studio?"

"Yeah," she nodded, following the brunette's line of sight. "It's not much, but it does the job. I've been working on some new songs when I can."

Cat's face lit up like a firework. "We have to record something before we leave! Oh, please, please, please?"

Molly's face fell, her brow furrowing as the redhead's words sank in. "Wait a second... you're leaving already? When?"

Robbie shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Tomorrow. We could only talk Sikowitz into letting us miss two days. It's a miracle we even got that."

Her stomach sank. The thought of saying goodbye to them so soon was like a sucker punch. Before she could dwell on it, Andre was on his feet, taking her hand and tugging her into the center of the room.

"Come on, Shortcake," he said, his signature smile returning. "Don't waste the night sulking."

He pulled her into a twirl as music poured from the speaker, her laughter cutting through the bittersweetness of their looming departure.

Tori leaned in toward Beck, Jade, and Robbie, speaking just loud enough for them to hear over the music. "Do you think he's actually going to make a move?"

Beck shrugged. "I'm calling it. Tonight's the night."

Robbie scoffed, shaking his head. "Not a chance. He's too scared."

Cat, who hadn't been following, piped up. "Do what? Finally kiss her?"

The brunette smirked, watching Molly laugh as Andre dipped her dramatically. "Yeah, Cat. That's exactly what we're talking about."

Jade, ever the schemer, grabbed Molly's camcorder from her dresser and started recording. "Just in case," she whispered with a mischievous grin.

Soon, the infectious energy pulled everyone onto their feet. Beck and Jade swayed together, the girl rolling her eyes as her boyfriend whispered something that made her smile despite herself. Cat and Tori danced like maniacs, their wild moves prompting Robbie to join in with his usual comedic flair. Even little Alana was part of the action, spinning around with Jade's hands in hers, giggling loudly.

The camcorder captured it all—every laugh, every ridiculous move, every glowing smile.

As the music swelled, Molly and Andre found themselves leaning against the wall, catching their breath. The room seemed to dim, the voices and laughter fading into the background as their eyes met.

"I'm really glad I'm here," the boy said softly, his voice low but sincere.

"Me too," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

And then, almost without thinking, Andre leaned in. His lips met hers, and for a moment, the world stopped. Molly's heart raced, her mind scrambling to process what was happening until cheers from across the room snapped her back to reality.

The kiss broke, and her face flushed a deep red as she laughed nervously. "Oh, fuck off!" she yelled, laughing as she grabbed a pillow and hurled it toward her cheering friends.

That single pillow launched an all-out war, projectiles flying as laughter filled the room once again.

By the time the night wound down, Molly's friends began filing out with hugs and promises to visit again soon. At the door, Andre lingered for a moment. He leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.

"Night, Shortcake," he said, his smile soft and genuine.

"Night," she murmured, closing the door behind him.

Heart still racing, Molly turned off her camcorder and threw herself onto her bed. A tired smile tugged at her lips as she stared up at the ceiling, her mind replaying the events of the night.

✰

Molly was grateful she had skipped the school dance. It seemed like a mess from the moment the rumors started circulating. Jasper had shown up the next Monday with blisters on his face after trying to bob for meatballs in boiling water. As if that wasn't enough, Chloe and Bianca had somehow gotten locked in the janitor's closet together, a topic everyone was talking about. Captain Man had made a surprise appearance at the dance, but his night was far from smooth. He'd escorted some masked weirdo out of the school, only for it to be revealed that same person jumped Henry in the parking lot when he'd first arrived.

She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of how much drama the night had involved, glad she hadn't been part of it. Now, she sat at the top of the bleachers, leaning against the railing, watching Henry attempt—poorly—to coach the basketball team. It was one of the most chaotic things she'd seen in a while, with only Piper and Alana managing to stay on their feet while the rest of the players flopped around on the gym floor within the first few seconds of the whistle being blown.

Molly shook her head with a chuckle, cupping her hands around her mouth to call down to Henry. "Hart, watch your seat! Taco salad!"

The boy barely looked up. "Thanks, Molly."

She could hear the irritation in his voice, knowing full well he didn't want to be here, and honestly, neither did she. The basketball team—if it could even be called that—was a trainwreck, and Henry was struggling to keep it together.

Molly glanced over at her sister, who was grinning mischievously, a look Molly knew all too well. She had picked it up from Piper, that's for sure. "MJ, why would you warn him?" Alana teased, calling her out from near the hoop.

The older blonde shrugged nonchalantly, walking down a few steps of the bleachers to stand beside her acquaintance. "Because no one wants taco butt," she quipped, her lips curling into a grin. "Besides, he already doesn't want to be here. Why make it worse?"

Piper, standing at the edge of the court, chimed in. "Because it's funny to watch him suffer!"

"Yeah, yeah," Henry muttered, blowing into the whistle with an exasperated sigh as he tried to regain some semblance of control over the chaos in front of him.

Molly snorted, shaking her head. She shot a playful look at her sister, then turned her attention back to the brown eyed boy. His frustration was palpable, but it also seemed like he was doing his best to push through it, even if the odds were stacked against him.

But that wasn't what was bothering her.

She noticed that Henry's attention had shifted briefly from the game to her, and it wasn't hard to figure out why. Molly had been glued to her phone ever since she sat down. Every time she glanced down at the screen, disappointment flooded her face when there were no new messages. No texts, no calls. Not from Andre.

She had tried to stay calm about it, but the silence had become unbearable. Everyone had told her that he was just busy with school, that things were hectic, but Molly couldn't help but wonder why no one else seemed to be getting the same treatment. Why had Andre suddenly stopped talking to her? Was he avoiding her?

"Hey, you good?" Henry asked suddenly, breaking her out of her thoughts.

Molly blinked and looked up at him. For a split second, she almost didn't recognize the slight concern in his voice. Her signature smile, the one she always wore to mask her emotions, immediately returned to her face. "What? Yeah, sorry. Just... haven't heard from my friends in a while." She shrugged, trying to pass it off as nothing.

Henry, not fully convinced, raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just talk to Jade?"

The girl laughed lightly, though it was more a reflex than anything else. "Okay, fine. I haven't heard from one of my friends in a while." She shifted her weight on her feet, trying to hide the disappointment that still gnawed at her.

He gave a small nod, though he seemed to sense there was more to it. But instead of pushing, he simply turned his attention back to the ongoing trainwreck that was their sisters' basketball team. "I'm sure Andre will come around," he said softly, as though trying to offer some reassurance.

Molly forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. The truth was, she wasn't sure about anything anymore. She glanced at her phone again, but the screen still read no new messages.

Just as she was about to sigh and check again, her phone buzzed in her hand. She looked down at the screen, and her heart skipped when she saw Andre's name pop up. She answered almost immediately, running out of the gym, but her voice was sharp, the frustration she had been holding back slipping through.

"What the hell, Dre?"

"Molly—"

"Since when have you called me Molly?" Her words were sharp, cutting through the air. She hadn't realized how hurt she was until she said it.

There was a long pause on the other end. She could almost hear Andre wincing as he struggled to figure out how to explain himself.

"I... got a girlfriend."

Her breath caught in her throat. She stared at the gym door, though she wasn't seeing anything. The sounds of the gym faded as the words echoed in her mind. He got a girlfriend? She struggled to process it.

"What?" She finally whispered, feeling as though the ground had shifted beneath her.

Andre sighed, as if he knew what she was about to say. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know what to say, so I just—"

Her heart sank, the weight of his words crashing over her. "Ghosted me?" She dryly laughed, her voice shaky with disbelief. She didn't know what else to say. The tears threatened to spill, but she didn't let them. Instead, she hung up without another word.

Her chest ached, but she quickly wiped away the sting. She wouldn't cry, not now, not here. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, before walking back into the gym.

Henry was watching her as she re-entered, his brow furrowing at the sadness etched into her face. But Molly kept her emotions in check. She couldn't let anyone see how much Andre's words had shattered her.

After practice, Alana and Piper left to walk to Henry's house. The gym was empty now, the noise from practice long gone. Molly remained seated at the top of the bleachers, her eyes glazed. She wasn't sure what to do next, but she knew she needed to be alone for a while.

Henry, lingering at the base of the bleachers, glanced over at her. His brow furrowed, unsure if he should approach. He knew Bianca's three-foot rule still applied, but she was also somewhat his friend.

"Molly," he called, picking up a basketball. She didn't react. "Yo, Jensen!" He called again.

Her eyes drifted to him, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. He'd never realized how fake that smile was until now.

"Up for some one-on-one?" He asked, holding the ball out to her with a small smile.

A spark of competitiveness flickered in her eyes as she straightened, her body already in motion. "Sure you can handle losing again?"

"This isn't Mortal Kombat," he said, a slight smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

Molly tossed her jacket aside, her expression shifting into something more playful. "We'll see."

As she jogged down the bleachers, the weight of Andre's words still clung to her heart, but for now, the game was a welcome distraction. She wasn't sure where things stood with Andre, but she could at least focus on something she knew she was good at. Beating Henry at basketball seemed like a solid start.

✰

After the game ended, Molly bent down to pick up her jacket. "Thanks for that. Honestly, I needed it." She straightened and offered him a genuine smile. "You provided the best distraction."

He shrugged casually, trying to play it cool, but there was a softness to his expression as he gave her a quick nod. "No problem."

There was an awkward pause as she stood there for a moment, her smile fading slightly as she glanced at her phone. No messages, not even a one-sentence apology from the others for lying to her. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she'd gotten used to being disappointed by it.

Henry, sensing the change in her mood, tilted his head. "What's up with you?"

Molly hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to open up about it. But after the game, after the distraction and the laughs, it felt like maybe it was time to talk about it. "It's... Andre," she started, her voice quieter now. "He kissed me. At my place, in front of everyone... and then, just like that, he gets a girlfriend." She paused, the bitterness of it settling in. "He's been avoiding me ever since. Won't even talk to me. Not a single word. Just... nothing." Her gaze dropped to the ground as the weight of her frustration resurfaced. "I guess he just didn't care that much after all."

The boy's eyes softened, but before he could say anything, his phone rang, cutting him off. He glanced at it, his expression changing to one of slight panic. "Uh, hang on," he muttered, quickly answering the call. "Hey, Char.... yeah, I'm on my way, sorry... I'm late."

He sighed deeply into the phone before turning back to Molly, his face a mix of frustration and apology. "I gotta go. Work." He stepped back, clearly trying to avoid getting any closer, and with an awkward glance, he added, "You know... the three-foot rule and all."

She felt the familiar irritation bubble up, the sting of his and Charlotte's random work disappearances always leaving her with a bitter aftertaste. But she let it go with a shrug. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She waved a hand dismissively. "I'll see you later, Hart."

"Sorry. See you around," he muttered, his tone sincere but awkward as he backed away, keeping the distance between them.

Molly nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she watched him jog off. She hadn't expected to enjoy hanging around him today, but it didn't stop her from feeling a little... let down. Still, there was something about that game, something about the way it had distracted her for a while, that made her feel a little better.

As she turned and walked off the court, her mind briefly flickered back to Andre—and the pain he'd left her with. But for now, she pushed it aside, focusing instead on the fleeting moment of peace she'd found in an unexpected game of basketball with Henry Hart, of all people.

— b speaks!
i love andre, don't get me wrong, but it's for the plot