Soukoku Cats!

Soukoku cats!

⭐️senior year sucks⭐️

Henry Bowers x FEM!Reader

Chapter summery: you have a hard conversation with Kevin. You meet a new friend and she’s so easy to love. You have a little run in with Henry.

Word count: 2,854

Estimated read time: 13 minutes

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Chapter 8

The babysitter and the psycho

You and Bev stopped dancing a few minutes ago. You now laid wait for Kevin to come pick you up and the losers rode off homeward on their bikes. Kevin was late. Strange. He was usually always on time. The front of the school was slowly bidding goodbye to students as you waited. Until only you and maybe 5 others were left standing.

The Bowers gang was still watching you. You felt eyes on you and could totally guess who it was, but didn’t feel like turning around. You park yourself onto a bench in front of the oncoming cars lane that headed into the student parking. Fuck. You really don’t wanna be here alone with them looking at you. You sigh heavily and take your headphones out of your bag. You connect them to your phone and put on some music.

Henry stood watching. The guys didn’t notice his little obsession with you yet. And they wouldn’t, they were morons. He watched the way your hair wisped in the gentle breeze. You were listening to something in your headphones. Maybe he should go to your work after belch dropped the other guys home. He had to go shopping in town for some shit for his dad then walk home. Why not check out the record store while he was out?

While Henry was zoned out Kevin had pulled in front of you. You quickly hopped in the truck with him and shut the door. To exit the school entrance road Kevin flipped a (very illegal) bitch and went down the exit road with no problem. When Henry came to, you were gone. He wrinkled his eyes in confusion. Quickly after you left the boys were ready to go too. Stop list was Patrick, Vic, then Belch would drop Henry at the store on his way home,

Kevin and you were currently in the truck waiting for a green light. You bent at the hips to grab your clothes from your bag in the passenger floor. The seatbelt did you no favors as you got dressed in the truck. Your top was fine today. You just needed to put on your jeans and put your hair up. Because your skirt was so long you were able to take off your undershorts and put on your jeans without having to let Kevin see your underwear. Not that it would be a problem. You grew up with him. You’ve gotten dressed in the same room. What real best friends haven’t?

Once the jeans are on you slide the dirty skirt off and toss it behind your seat. Kevin side eyes you.

“Why’s yer skirt so dirty?”

You try to quickly think of an excuse that he’ll believe.

“My friend gave me a ride to get some food on his bike and we fell.” You explain. It’s not exactly a lie. It’s just missing a couple key parts. He looks skeptical.

“I worry about you sometimes, kid.”

“No need to, I’m fine.”

“… you’re doing okay here. Right? You made friends? People aren’t bothering you?”

“Kevin, I'm fine. I made friends, you saw them this morning. No one is bothering me. It’s just highschool kids being highschool kids, they roughhouse and fuck with each other a little bit. I’m not gonna die.”

“If that’s the case why are you still hiding your arm? Monsoons are over soon. It’s gonna get hotter then balls. You won’t be able to hide it.”

“I hide it more because of the town then the people. I don’t want to be the only one walking around with a big fucking target that says ‘look at me! Look at me!’” You were beginning to get frustrated with this conversation.

“So why not show it now? You’re already the center of attention because you are new. Why not show the arm and let people get used to it? They’ll stop looking at you eventually. Let them know you. Be the nice girl with the tattoo that everyone in town knows. Don’t sit with your fuckin tail between your legs. They’ll get used to you. They did it with me.”

“Did they though?” You didn’t mean to snap. This conversation was just so frustrating. You didn’t want to hide but you didn’t want to fuck up what you had. Right now things are fine. Yes some people suck, but you would rather just some teenage boys suck than everyone in town suck. “It doesn’t look like anyone is used to you from what I hear.” ….

Oh shit.

“What do you hear?…”

“Uh…nothing. Sorry…. I’m being dramatic. I’m sorry….” You look at your shoes on the floor. He probably knows what people call him. Especially now that you are here. Creepy. Freak. Weirdo from the record store. He’s kind. But the children here are cruel. He gets along just fine with all the adults that come into the store. But to all the kids and their judgemental ass parents, he’s creepy. He’s never ever been creepy. He’s just…. Different. A tall, objectively attractive man, covered in tattoos with no wife in sight suddenly has a barely legal girl living in his home. People talk. And around towns like this, talk moves fast. Kids just wanted something to talk about. But that dosnt mean it won’t hurt Kevin’s feelings. He may be grown but he thinks just like a teenager does, he's emotional, caring, sensitive. You feel bad for hurting him.

“Iss fine.” He mumbles.

“You know what…?” You try to say kindly.

“Hmm?”

“How about you pull up here.” You point to a fast food restaurant. “Get some nasty ass burgers and ice cream? Last one in pays?” That evokes a smile from him. There he was.

“….fine. You’re on, loser.” He speeds into the parking lot and the both of you unbuckle your seatbelts and put your hands on your door handle.

You count.

“1.”

“2.”

“…3!” You yell. You open your door and then quickly press the lock all button on your door. It didn’t slow him down much but it did give you a few seconds to get out and start running. He catches up and pushes you into some bushes decorating the front of the restaurant. Safe to say you lost.

You two got the food and left. Onward! To the store! The two of you unlocked the store and set up to re-open. The routine is so easy to fall into. You sit front desk, Kevin organizes, some days you’ll switch, but since you only just started working you haven’t yet. You don’t feel like playing the guitar today. You just want to listen to music while you sit.

No real time passes before someone enters. A younger man, but older than you. About Kevin’s age maybe? He comes in with a little girl hiding behind his leg slightly peeking out behind him.

“Ey Kevin! Get yer ass in ere’!” The man yells and you jump a little.

Kevin walks onto the floor from the back room and smiles at the man. “Doug!” He yells happily as they fist bump. “When did you get back in town?” Kevin asks.

Doug sighs and rubs his head. “A few days ago but we have been so busy. Haven’t we Stella?” He looks down to the little girl and she hides a little more as she stares at you.

“I hear that” Kevin replies.

“And this must be the famous new girl?” Doug says giving you a wave.

“Oh shit” Kevin laughs as he swears. “Doug this is my friend. ____ this Doug and his daughter Stella.”

“Hi there!” You wave kindly and smile at the little girl.

“I came by to discuss renovations along with some gig I may need ya for.” Doug sighs at Kevin.

“No problem man, ____ why don’t you and Stella hang out?” Kevin looks to you.

“Only if it’s okay with her dad.” You comment.

“Go ahead. She could use a friend.” Doug laughs and Stella blushes of embarrassment.

You come out from around the counter and walk over. You bend down in front of Stella and offer her a smile then crinkle your eyes.

“What do you say to some shopping?” You offer. As if a light illuminates her face, she beams a big childish smile and your heart warms. You wave goodbye to Kevin and Doug and take hold of Stella’s hand as you begin your adventure to the store on foot.

She was little. A cute little girl with curly blonde hair and blue eyes. She reminds you of Shirley Temple.

“So Stella.” You begin. “How old are you?” You look down at her as answers.

“Four.”

“Wow! Four! That’s so big! You are so old now. You must have dentures and gross Carmel candies weighing you down girl!” You exhaderrated.

She laughs. “Noooo~! I’m only four! I’m not growed up yet.”

“You aren’t?! But I swear I saw you in the nursing home harassing nurses for an extra blanket while you knit!”

She laughs again. Her laugh is so happy and childish you can’t help but laugh too. After a while she tells you her arm hurts from holding it up to hold your hand. You decide to pick her up and carry her to the store.

It was only a few more minutes away.

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You and Stella got to the store a few steps ago. She was so light you carried her on your hip like a baby with little to no issue. To make her laugh you pretend you were a wizard making the automatic doors open. She bursts out in a fit of giggles. She was so easy to make laugh.

“You want down?” You look to her and ask.

“….noo.. I like it here…” she whined embarrassed. You smiled and picked up a little basket before handing it to her.

“Hold this. Tell me if it gets to heavy.”

She nods in understanding and the pair of you begin to shop for nothing in particular. You were on a mission toward the candy isle when you turned a corner and bumped into a brick wall. Luckily with the way you were turning Stella wasn’t hurt but dear god who put that wall there? You open your eyes when you retrieve the breath that was viciously knocked from your chest. It looks as if the wall was doing the same. Henry Bowers. Of course.

You couldn’t escape him.

“Fuckin watch iiii-……” Henry trailed off when he noticed you. You…and a little girl on your hip who looked scared of him as she hid her face in your hair. He trailed his eyes back up to yours and you looked pissed. You huff and walk around him without a word. If he told you that he was confused on why you acted like that, you would laugh in his face. He treats you like shit. Throws a cigarette at you. Almost runs you over, and now that he wants to be all fucking friendly, he’s confused? This guy is something else.

He follows you and you try to ignore him and focus on Stella. “Here.” You say. Handing Stella some animal crackers to put in her basket. “Do you want any candy hun?” Stella nods frantically and sets her eyes on something. You set her down to let her go get what she wanted and follow her. Halfway to her an arm gently slides around your waist to stop you.

“Why did you walk away?”

You click your tongue in annoyance. How the fuck does he not understand.

“Gee I don’t know Henry. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you tried to run me over then told me to and I quote “stay the fuck out of my town’.” You hiss in a mock thinking voice.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” He grunts.

“Yeah I’m sure. And you totally didn’t throw a lit cigarette at me either?” You laugh from how utterly preposterous that sounds. “Look I’m busy, leave me alone.” With that you turn and walk toward Stella. But he didn’t leave you alone. He followed you to her and before you stop in front of her, he beats you there and crouched to her level.

“Henry, stop it.” You huff.

He ignores you completely. “What’s your name?” He asks the blonde little girl. Her cheeks redden in embarrassment and she looks at you. You nod letting her know she can answer.

“S…Stella.” She answers then runs around him to hide behind your legs. He looked up at you and smiled. He gently takes the basket from Stella and stands. Henry wanders back to the candy as if he himself is shopping. He dramatically scratches his head with one finger to feign stupidity.

“Stella, can you help me pick one out? I don’t really eat sugar so I have no idea.” Oh my god. he’s trying to get to you through the kid you are watching? What a psycho.

Her shyness dissipates and she stops hiding behind you. She meekly walks to him and starts pointing to a few things she likes. Henry picks up the few bags she points at and drops them in her basket. He looks bsck to you with expectation as the 2 slowly begin walking to the check out line. You let out a dramatic groan and lightly jog to pick Stella up.

At the checkout line Henry and Stella mix both of their items and the cashier scans everything y’all got and a says the total.

Fuck. You were 10$ short. You weren’t expecting to pay for Henry too. You look around at the items and start asking the cashier to take off your snacks and drink. Before you could even get a word out Henry pulls out all the money in his wallet and pays. The casheir takes the money with an obnoxious pop of her gum. Henry picks up all the bags. Stella follows him out the door while you tail behind them, sulking.

You all saunter out of the store and Stella looks at you like she has a question.

“Yes hon?” You prompt her.

“Can I walk ahead to the spot? I wanna get there first before anyone else!” She explained. You had told her before you got to the store that you would have a picnic with her by the park playground so when she was done eating she could play while you watched her.

You smile kindly. “How about you walk just a little ahead of us. Not too far, but you’ll get there first. Maybe… 6 feet ahead of us.” You negotiate.

She nods with determination and starts to walk with purpose. You giggle gently and follow her. A couple minutes into walking, you look at Henry. He’s still walking with you. He’s not talking or anything. Just still walking.

“Why are you still here Henry?” You say, hushed so Stella won't. hear from not too far ahead

“…I wanted to talk to you…”

“What about?” You ask with a feigned indifference, almost bored voice.

“…I didn’t mean to throw my cig at you..it really was just for Mike.”

Is this his idea of an apology? It’s a pretty shitty one if it is.

“I don’t believe you.” You state stubbornly. Henry looks to you and your eyes meet. He tries to say something but you hold your hand up. “But I also don’t have to believe you for something to be true. You could have really not thought about me while you did any of that. And I still not believe you. At the end of the day I was still involved.”

He looks confused.

You put your eyes back on Stella and continue walking. “You told me last night that we weren’t friends and I understood that. But friends or not I won’t let you go around terrorizing my friends for no fucking reason. You either are targeting me with them. Or you target none of us. I’m not a fucking bystander. If you fuck with them with your little raggedy ass friends I have every right to push back. Whether you are nice to me in private or not.”

Henry blinked at you. You were right. There was no room for arguing, he understood everything you said. He couldn’t explain that you were different, because in literally every category you weren’t. The two of you continued on silently to the park with Stella. Henry opted for a more secluded bench where you could still see Stella but no one could really see you. You knew it was because he didn’t want to be seen with you. You couldn’t help it when that realization shot sorrow and insecurity down your spine.

You, Stella and Henry sit down at a park bench and table and you spread out all the food and snacks. Stella had the most adorable smile on her face. You made all of her food first before you even touched yours and Henry’s food. As fast as she sat down, she ate half her sandwich and went to play. You begin on Henry’s while he silently watches over her on the playground to make sure she’s okay while you are destracted.

This was nice. You couldn’t think of one word to explain it. It was… cozy, warm, and weirdly peaceful. A kid, a babysitter and a psycho. Who could think of a better Friday afternoon?

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