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 school bell rings, echoing through the hallways like a liberating signal. Monday is finally over. I breathe a sigh of relief as I gather my books into my backpack, feeling the weight of the day slide off my shoulders. Math homework, English paper revisions, and some history reading await me at home, but for now, the day is done, and the hallways buzz with students eager to escape the building.
I sling my bag over my shoulder and head out of my last class, weaving my way through the crowd. Everyone seems to have somewhere urgent to be, but I'm in no rush. I'm supposed to head straight home and start studying, but there's something pulling me in a different direction. A pull toward her.
Catherine.
I slow my pace as I think about her, letting the last trickle of students flood past me. It's been a long day, but the idea of seeing her for just a few moments before I head home seems irresistible. I know I should probably just go home and start tackling the mountain of work waiting for me, but I decide that a quick visit won't hurt. I could use the distraction, even if it's only for a few minutes.
I turn on my heel and start making my way toward Catherine's classroom. The hallways are quieter now, most of the students already gone. My footsteps echo as I approach her door, feeling a faint flutter of anticipation rise in my chest. I don't even need to knock, but I do anyway, just for formality. After a few seconds, I turn the knob and slip inside, closing the door behind me quietly.
Catherine is there, standing by her desk, organizing some papers. When she looks up and sees me, a slow, familiar smile spreads across her lips.
"Hey, Ella," she says, her voice soft, inviting. "What brings you here?"
I take a couple of steps forward, feeling the warmth of her presence wash over me. "Just wanted to say hi before I head home. It's been a long day."
Her smile widens slightly as she moves toward me, each step deliberate and calm, as if we have all the time in the world. There's an energy in the room, quiet but electric. When she reaches me, her hand comes up to gently push a stray strand of hair behind my ear, her fingertips grazing my skin. My breath catches, and I meet her gaze, unable to look away.
Without a word, she closes the distance between us, her hand slipping to the small of my back as she softly pushes me against the nearest desk. The cool surface presses into me, grounding me in the moment. Her other hand comes up to my cheek, and before I can think, her lips are on mine. The kiss is soft, unhurried. Her lips are warm and familiar, and for a moment, I lose myself in the simplicity of it.
I kiss her back, letting my hands rest on her waist, feeling the pull of wanting to sink deeper into this moment. But before things can heat up, I pull back slightly, breaking the kiss but keeping my forehead resting against hers. I can feel my heart pounding, the room still humming with that same energy, but reality taps on my shoulder, reminding me that I can't stay here.
