Behind Close Doors

Chapter Thirty-Four

HARRY'S POV

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET HER OUT OF MY HEAD since that night I spent in her bedroom. I stayed with her until she fell asleep and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head before slipping out from underneath the covers. I got dressed as quietly as possible and looked back at her one last time before I left her room. I loved the way the moonlight casted a glow over her skin, making her the prettiest thing in the dark.

I thought I would be too tired to go to school in the morning, but I was more cheerful than ever. Even my mother was surprised by my happy mood and the fact that I had kissed her on the cheek before I left for school. I hadn't done that since my primary school years back in England.

As I made the short drive to school, I drummed my fingertips along the steering wheel and sang along to the song playing on the radio.

"We're on that ultralight beam,
Ultralight beam baby
This is everything."

Out of all of the Kanye West songs I have ever heard, that one spoke to me the most. It encompassed so much hope for the future, and hope was something the world needed more of in times like the one we were living in.

"My daughter looks like Sia. You can't see her," I echoed Chance the Rapper with a smile as I entered the school parking lot. "I'm just having fun with this. You know I've been feeling so lost. I laugh in my head–I bet that my ex looking back like a pillar of salt."

As I parked my car into its usual parking space, I couldn't help but think of Alice for a fraction of a second. I would never admit this to anyone out loud, but she was the only girl who had ever broken my heart. After I found out she cheated on me, I promised myself that I would never let someone make me feel that vulnerable again. Being vulnerable is how you get your heartbroken, and I wasn't up for anymore heartbreaks senior year.

I exited my car with a somber expression on my face. Just thinking about my ex put me in a bad mood, but I forced myself to think about something I enjoyed--like football. I had to remain high-spirited since today was the team's last practice before our game on Friday. We've had an undefeated season so far, and I intended to keep it that way.

When it was time for me to go to Calculus, I was a little disappointed that I didn't see Florence at her usual seat in the back. She must've slept in. I thought to myself while grabbing my worksheet and taking my seat in the front. I made sure to take detailed notes when Mr. Harris explained the concavity of a function to the class using the second derivative test not just for my sake. I figured I'd send Florence a picture of my notes so that she wouldn't fall behind after today's class.

The school day seemed to drag on forever, but by the time the last bell rang, I was actually looking forward to practice. I grabbed my gym bag from my locker in the boys locker room and began changing into my athletic gear right then and there. More boys from the football team started to filter into the room and undress as other students rushed out of the school to get home. I had a few minutes to spare than the rest of the boys did, so I took my phone out and sent a text to Florence. The last time we texted she told me she changed my contact name from Harry to Mick Jagger Jr in her phone because she was convinced that I looked like him, so I decided to change her name as well.

Me: Missed you today. Hope all is well x

I didn't think she would respond so quickly, but I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face when I saw her text.

Florence the Machine: Everything's gucci. I just overslept :P

Me: Well, I did keep you up pretty late last night so I don't blame you ;)