Ella Sullivan is an 18-year-old high school senior with a sharp wit and a penchant for sarcasm. Her life revolves around her close-knit group of friends and the love for her dog. But her world is thrown into disarray when she encounters Ms. Catherin...
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———༺✵༻——— POV Ella ———༺✵༻———
As the final bell rings, signaling the end of the school day, I feel the tension begin to drain from my shoulders. The noise in the hallway swells as students flood out of their classrooms, backpacks slung over their shoulders, and their voices fill the air with that familiar, chaotic buzz. Everyone's ready to escape, eager to dive into whatever awaits them after school. I should feel the same—relieved to be free of lessons and assignments, free to go home—but all I can think about is seeing Catherine.
It's been on my mind since this morning, ever since she told me about Mathew, and I've felt this slow-burning anticipation building up inside me. Relief that things with Mathew are okay. A quiet happiness that we get to be together without worrying, at least for now. And, if I'm being honest, a simmering excitement—one that's been with me ever since our relationship began, only growing stronger with time.
I don't rush to leave like everyone else. Instead, I linger by my locker, pretending to fuss with my books. The heavy textbooks feel insignificant in my hands as I push them into my bag without really paying attention. I watch as the last of the students hurry by, the noise of their footsteps and conversations gradually fading as the hallway begins to empty. My eyes flick to the clock, and I catch myself tapping my fingers against the metal of the locker door, an unconscious rhythm matching my thoughts.
Once the halls are almost clear, I sling my bag over my shoulder and head toward Catherine's classroom. My pace is steady but deliberate, each step bringing me closer. I pass by rows of empty lockers and classrooms that are already dark, my boots making soft clicks against the tile floor. The school feels quiet now, peaceful in a way that only happens after the students have left. There's a stillness that settles into the building, and I find myself breathing a little deeper as I turn the corner toward her room.
Her door is slightly ajar when I arrive, and I can hear the faint sound of her moving around inside. I stop just outside for a moment, my hand resting on the cool metal of the door. For a second, I pause, before I take a breath and push the door open.
Catherine is at her desk, her back to me, typing something into her computer. The light from the screen casts a soft glow around her, and for a second, I just watch her, taking in the familiar curve of her shoulders, the way she tucks her hair behind her ear absentmindedly as she works. There's a calmness about her that I've always admired, and even now, when I know she's busy, there's something about being near her that puts me at ease.
She hears me step inside and looks up, her eyes catching mine immediately. A slow smile spreads across her face, one that sends a warm, pleasant feeling through me, though I don't let it show. It's funny—after all this time, she still has this way of making the simplest moments feel special. I return the smile, leaning slightly against the doorframe.
"Hey," I say, my voice soft but steady, the sound filling the quiet room.
"Hey," she replies, and the warmth in her voice matches her expression. She stands up, smoothing her hands over her skirt as she walks around the desk to meet me.
