Henry Parker finds Love 2

Petty Proposal I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. The golden framed mirror reflected a different me. A different Lainie. Maybe it had to do with the fact I was wearing a dress. I hadn't worn a dress in years. For prom, I hadn't even attended due to the utter horror of wearing a dress and dancing. Oh, and I didn't have many friends or a guy who admired me enough to take me. But I knew if I was to be able to have enough money for college, I would have to become Henry's fake girlfriend/ fiancée and I would have to deal with everything which came along with that. I fixed my dress and carefully took the crystal pendant April had lent me. I put it on, tousled my curled hair and slipped on my new strappy heels. I was going to die in these. They were nearly six inches! I stood up too quickly which resulted in nearly falling flat on my face. "Ow," I whimpered. I pushed myself from the ground and smiled because my nose wasn't bleeding or broken. Imagine showing up for dinner with a bloodied nose! Steve would throw a fit. "Lainie, hurry up!" Steve called from downstairs. Speak of the devil! I bit my lip. Checking my reflection one last time and making sure nothing was out of place, I decided I would finally leave the security of my room. See what dresses did to me? They made me plain nervous. I grabbed my Chanel clutch and slowly walked down the stairs, my heels clicking on the marble. "Oh Lainie, you look beautiful," Steve complimented. He hugged me and I laughed nervously. "Thanks." I turned to Henry, who was leaning against the wall and staring at me. He was in a classic black tuxedo and wow, did he look … yummy! His shoulders looked extra broad and I could imagine folding myself in his arms and … no! Lainie, stop it! I blinked and forced snapped out of my stupid thoughts. Henry was a jerk. A complete jerk! I could never be attracted to him. "You two better get going," Steve said, interrupting my thoughts. Henry led the way so I followed him out the door. Steve was behind me and locking up the mansion with his own set of keys. I watched silently as he headed towards his Mercedes parked right in front of the porch to go home … and work most likely because that was just how he was. "Bye!" I called to him. "Good luck!" I waved until he was out of the iron gates and waited impatiently for Henry to bring the car around from the garage. Why was he taking so long? I sighed irritably and tapped my foot. When he finally arrived in his Ferrari, I hopped in and questioned, "What took you so long?" Henry glared ahead as he drove. "Well, someone thought it would be funny to put fruit in my McLaren's exhaust pipe." My eyes bulged. I had forgotten about that little but very efficient prank. "I wonder who it was." Henry turned to stare at me and I knew my innocent look wasn't working. "Pretend all you want, I know it was you." I sighed in defeat and looked out the window. From then on, it was a silent ride. Too silent. I reached out my hand to turn on the radio but Henry's hand had outstretched to turn on the radio too. "Sorry," I mumbled, drawing my hand away. Henry grunted and flicked through different stations, finally landing on a station playing Stuck on You by Lionel Richie. I grinned to myself and I sang along in my head because it was one of my favourites. When I felt as if someone was staring at me, I turned towards Henry and it turned out that is was him. I flushed under his incredulous stare.

"What?" I asked, slightly defensive.

"You know this song?"

I nodded slowly, trying to see where this

was heading. "Yeah …"

He smiled to himself. "I love this song

too."

"Wait, how did you know I if I even

knew this song?" I asked, confused.

"Well, you were singing pancake," Henry

answered, rolling his eyes. "There's a big

give away."

"I was?!" Horrified, I covered my face. I

never realised I had been singing aloud!

Why hadn't he told me?! Or complained I

was tone deaf?!

"Calm down, it's not like I haven't heard

your singing before," Henry said. He

smirked and then started snorting with

laughter. "Now that was hilarious!"

Huh? I frowned and tried to remember

when he had heard me sing. I suddenly

had a flashback of myself singing 1234

by Plain White T's in the shower and

Henry watching me.

"Hey! Stop thinking about that!" I yelled.

Henry laughed harder. "But you just

looked so yummy, pancake …"

I shook my head repeatedly and covered

my ears to block him out. "NO! NO! STOP

IT!"

I had no idea how Henry managed to

drive properly while laughing so hard. I

hung my head.

"So I never knew you were into music

like Lionel Richie." I was trying to change

the course of our conversation.

Henry smiled, knowing what I was up to.

"I like all sorts of oldies. The first time I

picked up a guitar, I learned to play a

Lionel Richie song."

"You play guitar?" I asked, surprised. He

didn't look like a musician. He looked like

those guys who just care about looks,

money, and hot girls (which he was

anyway).

Henry nodded. "Haven't played it in a

while though. I'll play you a song

sometime." He glanced at me out of the

corner of his eye to see if it was ok with

me. I nodded and grinned. I couldn't

wait for that one. It was silent then and I

decided I wanted to ask him another

question.

"Hey Henry," I said. "Do you get along

with your sister?" I knew it was random

but I was curious.

"Nope. We fight heaps," he answered

with a laugh. "She's such a baby."

"She's not a baby," I added, rolling my

eyes. I studied him as he talked about

his fights with his sister. I watched as

his brown eyes were soft when he

talked about April. Then I had a

revelation.

"You care for her," I observed. Then I

giggled. My face, I knew, was

incredulous. Henry Parker, the jerk king

of all jerks cared for someone!

"I do not," Henry scoffed.

I stared at him in disbelief and started

laughing like uncontrollably, making

Henry squirm slightly.

"What?" Henry asked irritably.

Once I finally stopped laughing and

clapping like a retarded seal, I said, "I

know you care for her." Henry rolled his

eyes while I continued to cackle with

laughter.

* * *

Lights twinkled inside and outside the

restaurant of the Wilshire restaurant. It

was a cozy place – people were chatting,

having a good time and the staff looked

friendly. Meanwhile, I stood at the

entrance, awed. The place seriously

looked like a fairytale. I wouldn't mind

coming back here just to admire the

place!

"Hello, I reserved a table for two under

the name -"

"Henry Parker, I know."

I turned towards the voices where the

receptionist was trying to contain her

excitement that she was talking to Henry

Parker.