Hollow Creek /Finney Blake X Male Oc/

Chapter fifteen: Afternoon Farewell

Chapter 15: Afternoon Farewell

The final bell rang, echoing through the hallways of Hollow's Creek Middle School. Students surged into the corridors, laughter and chatter filling the air as they celebrated the end of another school day. Ethan gathered his things, glancing around for Finney.

He spotted him near their lockers, exchanging jokes with a couple of classmates. Ethan couldn't help but smile at the way Finney lit up the room with his energy.

"Hey, Finney!" Ethan called out, waving as he approached.

"Ready for the weekend?" Finney asked, a grin spreading across his face.

"Definitely! Got any plans?"

"Just hanging out, maybe playing some baseball with the guys," Finney replied, adjusting the strap of his backpack. "You should come! Bring your glove."

Ethan hesitated, the thought of joining them stirring excitement and anxiety in equal measure. "I'll think about it," he said, trying to keep his tone casual.

"Cool! Just let me know," Finney said, his eyes bright.

As they stepped outside, the warm afternoon sun bathed the school in golden light. Ethan spotted his mom's car pulling up to the curb, and his heart sank just a little.

"Guess I better go," he said, glancing back at Finney.

"Yeah, see you on Monday!" Finney replied, his smile lingering.

Ethan felt a flicker of reluctance as he started to walk away. "Hey, Finney?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for being a great friend." The words came out before he could think too much about them.

Finney's grin widened, and a hint of pink dusted his cheeks. "Anytime, Ethan. See you!"

As Ethan climbed into the car, he turned back one last time. Finney was still standing there, waving. Ethan waved back, feeling a warmth spread in his chest.

As Ethan settled into the passenger seat, his mom glanced over with a smile. "How was school today?"

"Pretty good! Just a normal day," he replied, though his thoughts lingered on Finney.

As they drove home, Ethan noticed something unusual. His dad's car was parked in the driveway, which was a rare sight. "Dad's home early," he said, curiosity piqued.

When they stepped inside, Ethan was greeted by the comforting aroma of his mom's baking wafting from the kitchen. But it was the sight of his father in the living room, poring over some papers, that made his heart skip a beat.

"Hey, champ!" his dad called, looking up with a tired but genuine smile. "How was your day?"

"Good! Just finished up my last classes," Ethan replied, unable to hide his excitement. "What about you?"

"I managed to wrap up some paperwork and thought I'd get a head start on dinner," his dad said, ruffling Ethan's hair affectionately. "It's nice to have a little time to relax for once."

"Cool!" Ethan beamed. He headed to his room, grateful for the rare moment of family time.

Once inside, he tossed his backpack onto his bed and pulled out his homework. But instead of diving into it right away, he found himself drawn to his guitar, propped up against the wall.

Ethan sat down on the floor, opening his songbook to the last unfinished melody he'd worked on. The upcoming festival was fast approaching, and he wanted to make sure he was ready. With a deep breath, he began strumming, letting the notes flow through him.