"Henry"... Isn't How You Spell "His" Name

Chapter by Hellexia

"It's short for Henrietta." Luna whispered. You scoffed. What? Luna was obviously wrong, right? Henry was Henry. "Ask her, I swear-"

"Her?! What are you talking about?" You shouted, shaking your head. "Henry, you won't believe what Luna..." You trailed off as you looked back at Henry. He was sitting there, looking up at you. You could see bandages under his shirt through his shirt's neck hole. "Henry? Why's your chest wrapped up? Did you get hurt?"

"Uh..." Henry murmured, his cheeks getting red as his hands shot up to his chest. He did it in a very, very feminine way. There was no way. It was impossible. Sure, he never changed in the locker room during gym. Sure, he'd always wear a shirt whenever he'd go swimming. And, sure, it was weird that he got out of swim class. Sure, his room had an awful lot of pink. Sure, he... he was always an asshole around once a month, for a few days. But it was impossible. It had to be.

"Henry?" You asked, taking your arms off of Luna and Ava. "You're a guy, right? There's no way-"

"C-Can we drop it?" Henry asked, his voice cracking. Come to think of it, his voice never was that deep. Why'd he want to drop it? He should've just laughed it off. But he was embarrassed, asking to drop it. Was he really...

"Dude, if you're... uh... that way, I don't judge. I-"

"It's not like that." Luna interrupted, her voice still quiet. "I just thought you should know, it..."

"It's complicated." Ava whispered, her tone sad. "Henri, do we have permission to tell him?"

"N-No, I should probably..." Henry, or... Henri stammered, clearing her throat...

You couldn't believe it, it was insane. But you listened, sitting back down as they explained it all. Turns out, when Ava and Luna were stalking you, Henri had caught them. And confronted them. But not as a friend, as someone who had a crush on you too. Although Henri wasn't a stalker, just someone who was trapped in the friendzone, with you thinking she was a guy.

As it turned out, when Henri was younger, her parents interpreted tomboy behavior as something it wasn't. Henri became Henry, and she didn't think to question it. And you, an oblivious asshole, never realized. She was just always Henry, the guy who was a bit weird sometimes. At some point, she just... woke up one day and realized she had feelings for you. But she didn't think she could act on them. So she woke up everyday, never telling you, devastated whenever you, not knowing the truth, talked about other women in front of her.

"I... I bind my chest. That's why the bandages are there." Henri finished, her cheeks red and her eyes watery.

"Sorry. But we felt like we had to tell you. Before you hurt her more by bragging about your new girlfriends or something." Luna apologized, rubbing the back of Henri's hand. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Feels good to get it off my chest." Henri sighed, forcing a smile as she looked at you. "Friends still? I-"

"No. You're allowed to be friends with Nick." Ava said, earning three glares. Immediately, Ava flinched, her cheeks reddening as she cleared her throat. "I didn't mean it like... Luna, helllllllp..."

"Oh. You mean..." Luna trailed off, her brow furrowing. "Yeah. I'd be okay with that."

"Okay with what?" You asked, gulping as your two goth girlfriends turned to you with a smile on their faces. "What's going on?"

"Henri'll be dating you too from now on." Luna said casually, giggling as Henri sputtered and coughed, her cheeks reddening in an instant.

"H-Hold on, I-" Henri started, turning to you for help before squeaking and looking away. "They're j-joking, right?"

"Nope." Luna answered for you, grinning like a madman. "You're coming on our little mall date too! We're gonna get you an actual bra and maybe a few skirts and-"

"I'M FINE WITH THE CLOTHES I HAVE NOW!" Henri bellowed, her voice high-pitched and whiny.

"But don't you want some cute undies to show off for Nick?" Luna asked, giggling as Henri buried her face in her hands. "Maybe a bikini! Ooh, Ava, what about-"

"Don't rope me into this!" Ava shouted, hiding her face in your shoulder as Luna giggled.

"Um..." You cleared your throat. "Sorry. They can be a bit much. But uh... I'm okay with it. If you are, I mean. It's weird thinking of you as a woman, but..." You paused, your face growing hot as Henri peeked out through her fingers. To think she was a she, the whole time. "You uh... you okay with it?" You asked, actually hoping that Henri said yes...

Suggestions:

1. Henri Doesn't Decline. But She Doesn't Agree Either.
2. Henri Runs Off As She Opens Her Mouth. You Give Chase, With The Ring's Power
3. Henri Gives A Different Answer