Chapter Text
Henry is on a walk, the day is February 2nd, 2 days before his friends birthday, Patrick Hockstetter. Henry is thinking about the day Patrick had flirted with him, drunk, at a party a couple days ago. He’s pretty pissed at him because he hates when Patrick gets all lovey with him. He doesn’t know Patrick secretly loves him, all he knows is that Patrick would do anything to stay close to Henry.
As Henry is walking in the cold snowstorm, a snowball was suddenly thrown at the back of his head, and Patrick appeared behind Henry. A smirk was plastered on the taller boy's face as he let out a bark of laughter. “Sup, Hen." He spoke, his voice quite shaky from the cold. Henry sighed and turned around, recognizing that stupid, stupid voice. “What do you want, Hockstetter.” He spoke, not bothering to turn around, his voice cold but somewhat soft. Patrick shoved his hands in his pants pockets, tilting his head to the side as he kept that ugly smirk on his face. “You seem like you're in a pissy mood. Something bothering you, sweetheart?" There is was. That stupid nickname he had called Henry at the party. “I’m not your fuckin’ sweetheart. Don’t call me that.” Henry said, his voice raising.
The taller boy let out an exaggerated sigh, pouting playfully. “Aw, but sweetheart sounds so perfect coming out of my mouth." He said, increasing his walking speed, now walking next to Henry. Henry clenched his fists, fidgeting with the gloves Patrick had gotten him. “Get a girlfriend. I don’t know, call someone else that.” He spoke. Patrick scoffed, “Why get a girlfriend, when I've already got you, Hen~?" His voice agitated Henry, that damn whiny tone he uses when he doesn’t get what he wants. Henry glared at Patrick, his icy blue eyes piercing through Patrick like a gunshot, he clenched his fists tighter, growling softly which was a sign he was going to snap. Patrick noticed the glare in Henry's eyes and for a moment he felt a little uneasy, his smirk fading slightly. “Whoa, easy there, Hen. No need to get all growly on me." He said, trying to lighten the mood but failing miserably.
“Whatever, fuck off and leave me alone.” Henry spoke, “I don’t need your bullshit right now.” Patrick frowned at that, crossing his arms over his chest. “You're not still mad about that, are you? Come on, Hen. It was just some harmless flirting at the party, plus, I was drunk.” Henry sighed and adjusted the hat Patrick had also gifted him and began walking faster. Patrick's expression turned to something softer as he watched Henry scurry away. He debated for a moment before quickly catching up to him, falling back into step beside him. “Henry, wait." He said. “Please.”
“I said stop, leave me alone.” Henry snapped. Patrick sighed, running a hand through his dark brown hair, which was already greasy as it is. “Henry, can you just... stop for a second and listen to me?” “No,” Henry spat. “Fuck off.” His small frown turned into a bigger one at the harsh words. “Henry, come on. This is stupid. You're mad because I flirted with you? You act like flirting is a crime." Henry scoffed and let out a bitter laugh, clenching his fists harder as he started to twitch. “I’m your friend, friends don’t flirt, Hockstetter.” Patrick rolled his eyes at the use of his last name. “Oh, please. Who made that rule? Friends can definitely flirt. It's harmless fun." The smaller boy clenched his fists even tighter, almost ripping the gloves. “Me. I did. Flirt with Victor or Belch, just not with me. I’m not into that queer stuff.” Patrick raised an eyebrow at that. “Seriously? You want me to flirt with Vic or Belch? You're the one I wanna flirt with, Hen."
Henry’s heart clenched at that, he wanted to smile, he really did, but he didn’t like boys, he 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 like boys. So he bit back a smile and forced a frown. “Ugh.. Hockstetter I swear-“ Patrick took a step closer, a teasing look in his eyes, he noticed Henry’s attempt to hide his smile. He thought it was adorable, but pretended to not notice. “Oh, come on, don't be like that. You know you love the attention from me." Henry punched Patrick, but Patrick was used to his ‘friends’ violence, he stumbled back, rubbing his arm where Henry had punched him. He let out a small giggle a hint of adoration in his usual teasing voice, “Damn, Hen.” He said, “You still got a mean right hook."
Henry didn’t reply, instead he just looked down at his feet, his shoes were soaked from the snow. Patrick took a step closer again, still rubbing his arm. “You know, that little punch just made you even more adorable." He teased. He knew Henry would either snap or melt at that, but he didn’t do either, instead he just smiled.. Patrick’s smile widened. Henry then quickly fixed the hat patrick had also gifted him. Patrick's smile grew as he noticed Henry adjusting his hat. “Oh, you're still wearing the hat I got you.” He said, his voice soft. “That's cute."
“Shut up, dude!” Henry said. He couldn't help but chuckle at Henry's response. “Oh, come on, Hen. You can't deny that you look good in it." Henry scoffed and tried to change the subject. “What do you want for your birthday?” Patrick had many things in mind, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, lighters, Henry tied up all for him- wait, what? Patrick shrugged casually, trying to forget about the thought about Henry, stuffing his hands into his pockets again. “I don't know. The usual stuff, I guess. Booze, cigarettes, a pretty girl." Henry let out a giggle, “Damn, Hockstetter. Didn’t know you liked girls.” He joked.
Patrick's smirk grew at the joke. “Oh, I like girls. And boys." His eyes lingered on Henry for a moment longer than necessary, a flicker of want in his usual dull grey eyes. “Cool.” Henry said, trying to break the awkward silence. Patrick took a step closer, “You know, Henry,” The taller boy spoke quietly. “I wouldn't mind a little something extra for my birthday.” Henry turned to look up at him, “what would that be?” Patrick leaned in closer, his smirk growing. “I’d love if you could be my present.." he whispered, catching poor Henry off guard. “Wh-what?!” He exclaimed. “Excuse me?!” Patrick giggled, “You heard me. I want 𝘺𝘰𝘶 as my birthday present.” “No! I’m not giving you me! I’ll just stick to your booze and cigs. Maybe a pretty girl too, just not me!” Henry said, he would like it if he gave himself to Patrick, but he knew he wasn’t allowed to be gay, he couldnt like boys the same way Patrick did.
“Awe, come on Hen. Please? It’d be the best gift ever!” He exclaimed. “No.” Henry’s voice was firm. Patrick groaned, feigning disappointment. “Ugh, fine. You're such a buzzkill. No fun..” he teased. Herny sighed and looked at his un-gloved hand, bruises all over his knuckles from punching Patrick a couple of weeks ago. “Why am I friends with you…” he mumbled. Patrick smirked and fake innocence. “Come on, you love me.” Henry went silent, he knew Patrick was right, but was he? Did Patrick know he loved him more than friends? Patrick took a small step closer, still smiling. “Don't be like that, Hen. You know you can't resist me." Henry sighed. “I like girls, Pat.” Patrick laughed at that. They both knew it wasn’t true, atleast Henry did. “Oh come on. Who says you can’t like both?” Patrick asked. “Me. You can’t choose your sexuality.” Henry said, although he did wish it was possible. He wanted to like girls, he wanted to be perceived as “normal”.
Patrick rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. Sexualities are just labels, Hen. They're not written in stone." Henry sighed and looked at Patrick, “…whatever. I don’t like boys.” He lied, he always did, he could never admit he liked boys, not in a million years. Patrick raised an eyebrow, “You sure about that?" He said, he knew damn well Henry was gay. “Yeah. I’m not some faggot like you.” Patrick let out a dry laugh. “Oh, classic Henry. Throwing around slurs like a true gentleman." Henry went silent, he was getting uncomfortable. Patrick sighed, running a hand through his already greasy hair. “You know, Hen, for someone who claims to be straight, you sure do care a lot about my sexuality."
“Dude, I swear to god I wi-“ as Henry was about to finish his protest, a big gust of cold, snowy wind hit the two boys. “Mmf!” Henry grunted, Patrick just laughed but immediately shut up as a snowball slammed into his face. “Damn, it's cold. We should head inside before we freeze our asses off." He said. “No, you do that, I’m fine.” Patrick rolled his eyes for the hundredth time. “Yeah, right. I know you're pretending to be tough, but I can see you shivering." Henry snuggled close to Patrick, if he asked, he could say it was the winds fault, when really he just wanted to be closer to Patrick. “Look at you, clingy boy.” Patrick teased. “Shut up you queer.” Henry barked. Patrick smiled softly, wrapping his arms around the shorter boy. The two boys continued bickering back and forth as they walked to a diner nearby. Henry thought of it as a date…causing his heart rate to pick up, Patrick just thought of it as shelter.