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 ———༺✵༻———
The final bell rings, and I grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder as I make my way through the halls. My heart races a little faster than usual, knowing that the rest of the day is finally over and I'm just moments away from seeing Catherine again. The thought of spending time with her—just the two of us, no school, no students, no interruptions—makes the corners of my mouth lift into an involuntary smile.
I hurry to my car, tossing my bag into the passenger seat before sliding behind the wheel. The familiar hum of the engine settles me, but anticipation is still buzzing under my skin. Catherine and I made plans for today—our boxing sessions, something I've been looking forward to since the last one.
Pulling out of the school parking lot, I try to keep my thoughts focused on the road, but it's impossible not to replay the way her eyes softened when we kissed on Monday, the way her hand lingered on my waist as if she didn't want to let go. I grip the steering wheel a little tighter, knowing I'll be seeing that same look soon, and the butterflies in my stomach flutter in response.
The drive is quick—my house isn't far from school, after all—and before I know it, I'm pulling into the driveway. Max is waiting by the door, his tail wagging wildly as he watches me from the window.
"Hey, buddy," I call out as I unlock the door and step inside. Max greets me with his usual enthusiasm, his golden tail thumping against my leg as he circles around me.
I set my keys on the counter and bend down to give him a good scratch behind the ears. "I know, I know. You missed me, didn't you?"
He gives a little bark in response, and I chuckle, standing up to head toward the backyard. "Come on, let's get you out there for a bit."
I open the sliding door, letting him run out onto the grass. He bounds off, tail wagging furiously, and I take a moment to watch him chase a few birds that have landed near the fence. Max always has this way of calming me, of grounding me in the present moment.
After a few minutes, I call Max back inside, giving him some water and a couple of treats before heading upstairs to change. I make quick work of it, pulling off my school clothes and replacing them with my workout gear—black leggings and a fitted tank top. Comfortable, but enough to move in. I glance at myself in the mirror, smoothing down my hair into a ponytail before grabbing my boxing gloves from the corner of my room.
With one last check to make sure Max is settled, I head outside. Catherine's house is only next door, a quick walk across my driveway, and I feel a familiar rush of excitement as I step out onto the pavement.
As I reach her driveway, I glance up and see her door already open, the screen door keeping out the bugs but letting in the fresh air. My heart skips a beat, knowing that behind that door is the woman who's been occupying my thoughts all day. The late afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the neighborhood, the smell of fresh-cut grass lingering in the air as I take the final steps up to her house.
