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Chapter 83

Last year took a toll on me
But I made it with you next to me
Around the world and back again
I hope you're waiting at the end

– Troye Sivan & Martin Garrix, There For You

. . . .

Harry's POV

"It's your first day!" Violet stands behind me as I'm tucking my shirt into my pants. "Are you nervous? Excited? So terrified that you might pass out? Do you need water?"

"I think I'll be alright."

She pulls me into a tight embrace and every slight ounce of doubt and panic is disintegrated as I'm groped into her arms. Resting her head on my chest, she exhales dramatically then grins up at me. She has been nothing but supportive throughout this whole journey of my unemployment and the intense job searches. I owe her more than I could ever imagine.

"What time will you be home?"

"Around one. Do you want me to pick up some lunch on the way home?"

"You already know I'm not going to cook," she says. "And Lilly wants to bake cupcakes with me, and I'm going to destroy them."

"All I ask is that you don't burn the house down."

"With my cooking skills, it's very possible that I might."

"Just try," I grab my keys from the dresser along with my wallet and papers. "Alright, I have to go. I love you."

"Love you too."

I kiss her then walk out, peaking my head into Lilly's room to see her still asleep in her bed under her purple blankets. The ride to the new school is maybe ten minutes longer than my route to Carnell used to be, but it wasn't that difficult to find. The school's well-kept from what I can tell as I'm walking through the lobby. The office lights are shining bright, a young woman with dark roots sitting in a chair behind the oak desk stares at a computer screen as I approach her.

"Good morning. I'm Harry Styles. I'm the new tutor."

She looks at me briefly then types something onto her keyboard. Finally, she stands up and gathers a few pieces of paper and a pen from her pencil cup.

"I'll need you to sign a few things first."

She shows me which lines to fill out and the forms I need to turn in as soon as possible to be on the payroll. The signing process takes much longer than I would have preferred, but I'm led back to the classroom soon enough.

It's simple, I'll put it at that. Rows of desks face a whiteboard and a desk is off to the side for me. The blinds on the windows are open, giving the room much more light than the hallways had. Several students are already in their seats either on their phones, flipping through a book, or talking amongst themselves.

Tina, the secretary, shows me where the supplies are, the prep books, along with directions to the bathrooms and other minor details I'll need to know. When she leaves, I stack the test prep books on my desk then ask a boy nearby to help me distribute them to each desk. He agrees politely and begins placing a yellow and black book on every desk.

When I see the majority of the seats filled, I introduce myself:  "Hi, I'm Mr. Styles. I'll be your test prep tutor for the English portion of the exam. I was a teacher at Carnell Academy and I will do my best to help prepare each and every one of you for this exam."

Someone in the back raises his hand and asks, "Isn't that the school with the Horan guy dating his student?"

Jesus Christ, more of this Horan shit.