The Vow || Harry Styles

Chapter 9: Some Things Never Change

Chapter 9: Some Things Never Change

"Miss Richardson?" One of my students came up to my desk with their worksheet in their hands.

"Hey, Anya," I looked up at her and gave her a tiny smile.

"Are you okay?" She asked genuinely concerned with the ends of her mouth frowned downwards and her eyes were full of worry.

"Yes, I'm okay. I just hurt my ankle a bit and it is still pretty sore, but I'll be okay." To be honest, the pain from my ankle was nothing compared to the pain of my heart. Every passing second of the day, I was constantly reminded that Devon, my cheating, pathetic excuse of an ex-boyfriend, cheated on me. And it fucking hurt.

"Do you want me to go to the office to grab some ice for you?"

I had the sudden urge to burst into tears from how sweet my kids are. I raised my hands to my chest, honestly touched by how much they cared for me. When I came in this morning after being away for a day, they all greeted me by giving me a poster-sized get well soon card. They made the card the day before, with the substitute teacher. Each student drew something on the cover and wrote a sweet comment on the inside with their names. I was so shocked and touched that I literally had tears in my eyes.

"Thank you, sweetie. But I'm okay," I gave her a genuine smile this time.

"Okay, you're welcome. I also came to say that I finished." She handed me the worksheet and I looked over her answers to the math questions. I nodded my head when I saw she answered them perfectly.

"Great job, Anya!" I held my hand up. Anya had a huge smile on her face as she gave me a high five.

"Could I get a sticker, Miss Richardson?"

"Of course you can! Which one do you want?" I went into my drawer and pulled out my small collection of stickers. She went through the pile before pointing at a sticker of Captain America. I peeled the sticker and placed it on the top of her worksheet. "We still have a bit more time before recess. Why don't you go around the room and help your classmates with the questions?" Anya nodded her head. "Class!" I called out. "Who needs help with the questions?" A few students raise their hands up and I nodded at Anya to go around to them. I watched from my chair as she went over to Jacob sitting at the closest table.

:

The day flew by so fast that before I knew it, the final bell rang. The kids all grabbed their stuff before we went out to the yard of the school to wait for their parents. When the kids all got picked up and I went back in the school, the whole façade left my body. I limped back to my class, my whole body feeling drained and weak.

"Hey, Ben!" I looked up, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion from hearing a familiar voice. He stood near my desk with a huge smile on his face.

"Harry? What are you doing here?" Instead of replying, he simply raised his hands to show me a white carry-out plastic bag. "What's that?"

"Only one of your favourite food in the world—well at least teenage Benny's favourite."

"Fish and chips?" My face lit up.

"Yup," Harry smiled.

Even though there were many tables and chairs in the classroom, both of us sat down in the middle of the carpet area to eat the food. I winced a bit in pain from my foot as I sat down, but the pain immediately subsided when Harry opened up one of the styrofoam containers and handed it to me.

"Thank you, this looks amazing!" I haven't eaten the whole day so this golden goodness looked very appetizing right now. Just as I was about to ask Harry to grab me my sanitizer from my bag, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out his own. He handed it to me with a knowing smirk.