The morning of their departure was brisk and bright, the kind of day that promised adventure, but Harper couldn't shake the nagging feeling in her stomach as she stood in front of her overflowing suitcase. "How did I end up packing a million bags for a few days?" she muttered to herself, frowning at the sheer volume of her belongings.
Determined not to be late, she quickly threw on a warm sweater and comfortable jeans, grabbed her bags, and headed out the door. The air outside was crisp, invigorating, and it filled her with a sense of anticipation. She had a plan today: she would ask Noah if she could catch a ride with him and the other hockey boys heading back to Boston.
As she approached the school parking lot, the sound of laughter and playful shouts filled the air, mixing with the bright winter sun shining overhead. Harper spotted Noah chatting with Connor and a couple of other teammates by Noah's car, their banter light and cheerful. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for the conversation ahead.
"Hey, Noah!" she called, waving as she approached. "Do you mind if I ride with you guys to Boston?"
Noah turned around, his face lighting up with a grin. "Of course not! We'd love to have you. Just hop in!"
As Harper got closer, however, she caught sight of Connor leaning against the car, arms crossed, his expression a mixture of amusement and annoyance. Her heart raced at the thought of being in such close quarters with him.
"Great," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just what I wanted—an extra dose of Connor for two hours."
Connor raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, come on, Sweetheart. You know you love it," he teased, unfazed by her attitude.
"More like I tolerate it," she shot back, but the smile tugging at her lips gave her away.
Noah, sensing the playful tension, clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's get those bags loaded up. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can start the fun!"
As they all began to load Harper's seemingly endless luggage into the trunk, one of the boys joked, "Seriously, Harper, how much stuff do you need for a few days?"
"Enough to survive the holiday season," she shot back, a playful grin on her face. "You never know when a festive sweater emergency might arise!"
The laughter continued as the boys struggled to fit her bags into the already full trunk. Finally, after a bit of maneuvering, they managed to squeeze everything in. "Alright, we're all set! Wait... how many seats do we have?" one of the guys suddenly exclaimed, looking around.
"Uh-oh," Noah said, glancing back at the car. "We might have a slight problem."
As it turned out, they had an extra bag but not an extra seat. The group started debating their options, and after a brief discussion, it became clear that someone would have to sit on someone's lap.
"Looks like it's down to you two," one of the guys said, grinning at Harper and Connor. "Harper, you can sit on Connor's lap!"
"Not a chance!" Harper exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. "I'm not doing that!"
"Aw, come on! It'll be fun!" Noah chimed in, clearly enjoying the moment. "You two are practically best friends now. You can handle it!"
"Yeah, it'll be a blast!" another teammate added, winking at them.
"I'd rather take my chances sitting in the trunk," Harper huffed, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Noah, what are you waiting for? Just vote!" Connor interjected, his voice teasing.
YOU ARE READING
Forever Chasing
Ficção Adolescente"Chasing Forever" is a contemporary romance that follows the intense, complicated relationship between Harper Westwood and Connor Cooper. Set against the backdrop of their senior year at an elite high school, the story explores their journey from ac...
