Black & White (Colorful Sequel | H.S)|✔️

55

"When are we leaving?" I trace Harry's bare chest with my nail.

"Whenever you want," he mumbles into my hair before kissing me there.

"Sunday, then. That way I can make amends with everyone here."

He pulls away slightly to look at my flushed face. I'm sure I look as wild as I feel. Let's just say Harry and I spent our Thanksgiving night christening the entire hotel room. He doesn't look any better than me, but he sure looks sexier.

"Everyone? Who else?"

"Oh, you know. Noah, of course. And Audrey told me Drew was down here so maybe..."

After my conversation with my mother last night, I took her words to heart. She said I had to fix things, and she was right. Nothing's going to happen if I sit around and not even try. Maybe they'll hate me but I have to try.

He stretches, completely letting go of my body. Immediately I miss the warmth of his body but I stop complaining when I look at the extent of his naked body. Yum.

"We'll have a quick shower and hop on over to Noah's cafe, then?"

I blink at him. "You'd come with?"

"Well, yeah... Unless you don't want me to?"

"No!" I quickly yelp. "I mean, no–I want you to come. God knows how he'll react, if at all. Maybe he won't remember me. If he does, he'll be pissed at me."

He kisses my forehead before sitting up. "Like I've said a million times, no one could ever hate you."

I'd beg to differ but I can't. Almost everyone who I've reconciled with has forgiven me without any reason to. I've barely had to defend myself. Something tells me Noah will be the exception. He's always been as stubborn as a mule. He used to get offended if we didn't talk for days, and he was so pissed after we had our whole argument before The Great Drift that we didn't speak for half a year.

After getting ready and eating a French toast breakfast–insisted by Harry–from room service, we head on out to the coffee shop. The weather is dark and gloomy even though hurricane season is over. The weather's cool, but not cold. Florida never gets cold.

We pull into the lot and excitement bubbles through me. After having such a positive experience with my mother, I'm determined to set everything right. 

In fact, I'm so excited that I don't pay attention to my surroundings. I don't pay attention to Harry calling out my name or the empty parking lot.

I freeze when I see the paper on the front door.

For Sale

Then only do I notice the other details. The inside of the cafe is dark and empty, even mildly demolished. The name of the shop has been pried off of the storefront. In one of the windows hangs another sign: Closed Forever. I take a confused step back and look at the storefront as a whole. It resembles something straight out of a ghost town.

I feel a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Ellie."

I don't look at Harry. I keep my eyes locked on the sign, reading and rereading as if doing so will vanish the words from reality. It doesn't, unfortunately, so I'm forced to deal with my emotions.

What am I feeling? Shock, mostly. The sadness of the situation hasn't hit yet. Maybe a little relief as well, simply because I don't have to deal with his annoyance. But just the thought of not seeing him washes the relief away in seconds and I'm back to my rut.

"I never thought it would close down," I whisper. My mind begins to spiral. Noah had once told me that this cafe was given to him by his rich parents to take care of, even though they wanted to sell. He loved this shop. What happened to it? Did it fail? That would absolutely crush him.