Only, Always, and Forever You

24 - New Friend

Cole's POV:

I'm outside Amara's apartment building at 7 A.M., just like we agreed, and as per usual, she's walking up to my car door right on time. Today, she's wearing a white dress with small, embroidered flowers at the hem. It reaches her mid thigh, and it's contrasted by the dark green knitted sweater she has on. Her hair is in two adorable low buns, and as always, her earbuds are in her ears.

I'll have to get her AirPods— her earbuds look like they're on their last life.

She opens the car door and I'm immediately met with the elegant, sweet scent of her perfume. If that was the only thing I could smell for the rest of my life, I wouldn't complain. I'm met with a smile as she sits down, throwing her bag over her shoulder and into my backseat.

I'm about to make some smart-ass comment to tease her, but instead, I'm wrapped up in a warm hug. Without having to think about it, I immediately hug her back, wrapping my arms around her waist and taking the opportunity to hold her as close as I can. Who knows when I'll get to hold her again?

We finally pull apart, and I can feel the warmth of her hug slowly dissipate but not completely. As long as she's still here with me it will never be fully gone.

"Good morning to you, too" I drawl, a playful tone lacing my voice.

"Thank you for the gift," she smiles softly.

"Are you going to thank me for something every time we talk?" I tease again.

"Stop being nice to me, and I'll stop saying thank you," she plays back, shrugging her shoulders in a nonchalant façade.

"When Hell freezes over, princess," I respond calmly, and I can tell she's blushing from the way she lightly giggles and then turns to the window, hiding her face from me.

I've notice how she blushes every time I call her princess. So, I'll never stop saying it.

* * *

The rest of the ride to school was calm, and we talked about a couple random things here and there, but I didn't bring up anything about yesterday. She'll talk to me about it when she's ready. Plus, the time for that conversation is not right before school.

We get out of my car once I find a parking space, and I grab my bag, as well as hers, from the backseat. I carry both of our bags until she's complained enough about how 'she can carry her own things' and how 'I've already done enough'.

Like I said, I'll stop doing nice things for her when Hell freezes over.

We enter the building and I'm met with a throng of unintelligible conversation and obnoxious teenagers. I push my way through the crowd, making sure that Amara stays behind me so that she can walk in the space I'm creating.

I don't understand how these people actually like each other. I cant even look at them without grimacing, so I don't know how they even interact enjoyably.

But, hey, I've never exactly been a 'people person,' if you couldn't already tell...

My first class today is Biology, but Amara isn't in it, so I think I'll just skip and go to the library instead. The Biology teacher, Mr. Clarke, pisses me off anyway, so I don't really feel like sitting through a class, drowning in rage and misery. I wish I were being dramatic.

I say goodbye to Amara, and she goes off to her first class, which is AP Psychology. She's in almost all AP classes, and I am in a couple too, but I'm no where near as smart as she is.