HARRY'S POV

I WAS SURPRISED when I received a text from Florence out of the blue yesterday. She usually only texted me about stuff related to the library, and I didn't know what to think when she offered to help me write my book report. I mean, no one's ever volunteered to help me with my school work before–not even my parents.

I spent an extra ten minutes in the locker rooms just thinking about it as I packed my gym bag and changed into my regular clothing after practice. I was the last player to leave the school which was no surprise and ended up crossing paths with Coach Ford on my way to the parking lot. He had nothing but kind words to say in regards to my performance today in practice.

"Keep playing like you are, and you're going to make it big one day," Coach Ford promised as we walked to the school exit. "I'm sure of it."

I smiled at the thought and looked straight ahead. "Thank you, coach. I wouldn't be as good of a quarterback without you though," I told him truthfully.

Ever since Coach Ford replaced Coach Matthews a year and a half ago, my hand-eye coordination has improved under his instruction, and I'm more confident in my abilities now. If our football team does end up going to the state championship this year, we'll be bringing back that trophy for him.

Coach Ford gripped my left shoulder in his hand tightly and patted my back with the other hand once we reached the exit. He stared down at me with an unreadable expression in his eyes for a few seconds before dropping his hands to his side.

"Have a good night, son," He whispered, leaving me standing there frozen as I watched him descend the steps of our school.

That was the first time anyone ever addressed me using the term "son" since my father left. Robin and my mum always called me by my name–never son. I tried to push the memories of my father starting to arise to the back of my mind, convincing myself that Coach Ford's use of the word "son" was just a figure of speech. Calm down, he didn't mean you were literally his son. I repeatedly told myself as I exited the school building and looked for my car.

I clenched my jaw as I let one memory of my father leaving resurface in my mind. My face was so red from all of the crying I did, and my mum was in too much shock to comfort me. It was Gemma's arms who were wrapped around me, stroking my back to calm me down.

I shook my head and quickly unlocked my car once I found it. I popped open the trunk and threw my gym bag inside of there before making my way back to the front of the car. I swung the door open and slammed it shut, clicking the automated lock button.

After I buckled in my seatbelt, I started the car and carefully backed out of my parking space. I kept my eyes locked on the road during the fifteen minute drive it took to get to Florence's house from our school's parking lot.

Once again, her driveway was empty, so I decided to park there for the time being. Well, here goes nothing. I told myself as I stepped out my car and shut the door. I ascended the steps of her front porch and rang the doorbell.

The front door opened a few seconds later, revealing Florence with her lips slightly parted. I clasped my arms behind my back and gave her one of my lopsided smirks.

"Hi," I said after wetting my lips.

I already knew those high waisted shorts were going to be the death of me tonight.

"H-hey," Florence replied in a breath. She opened the door wider, allowing me to come inside.

My back was turned to her when I heard the sound of the door click shut, and I began walking toward the living room. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back my laughter as soon as I saw the tv program she had been watching.

Loony Tunes.

By the time Florence joined me in the living room, I was clutching my sides in laughter at the characters being displayed on the screen. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly turned the television off.

"W-why were you watching Loony Tunes?" I asked, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Because there wasn't anything good on," She reasoned, running a hand through her hair, "and besides, it's a funny show."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, when you're five," I snorted.

Florence crossed her arms. "Hey, I'll have you know that kids shows can be funny at any age," She argued. "Hell, even the best memes of our generation come from kids shows."

"Really? I beg to differ," I told her, my tone unwavering.

"Oh yeah? Well, after I show you these memes you're going to be laughing so hard that your sides hurt," She promised me, her lips quirking up in a smirk. Flicking her head to the staircase, Florence beckoned me to follow her.

"We'll see," I muttered as we jogged up the stairs.

"Hey, don't say I didn't warn ya," She shot back before opening the door to her bedroom.

§

I threw my head back in a chuckle after watching Florence scroll through the memes she had saved on her computer. The Arthur and Mr. Krabs memes were pretty funny, but I laughed the hardest at the meme of the guy with tan lines and no shirt.

Florence joined me in my laughter, keeping her eyes focused on the screen. Eventually, our laughter died down, and we spent a few minutes trying to even out our breaths. I was leaning over her shoulder still, but the close proximity of our bodies didn't seem to affect her as much as it did to me.

I took a whiff of her hair with my nose and sighed in content. Her hair smelled like strawberries with a faint trace of dough. Florence snapped her eyes in my direction, and she stared at me with her eyebrows raised questioningly.

"Did you just—" She began to say.

"Sniff your hair?" I finished for her.

I noticed the blush color her cheeks once I nodded my head. I couldn't help myself. She smelled nice. I thought to myself.

Florence dropped her gaze to her bed covers with a giggle before glancing back up at me. A sigh parted her lips when she noticed the distance between us decreasing. My face was only a few centimeters away from hers, and I could feel her warm breath fan across my lips.

As I slowly closed my eyes and leaned in to close the gap between our mouths, I heard her voice squeak out,

"Oh my god. I completely forgot about The Color Purple!"

I blinked back my surprise and stared at her brown eyes in disbelief. She was passing up the opportunity to kiss me because of The Color Purple? Who knew Alice Walker would be such a cöckblocker.

"Are you serious?" I grumbled out, slightly frustrated.

Florence breathed deeply, trying to gather her thoughts. "Yes, I promised I was going to help you with your book report, and I let myself get sidetracked." She sounded like she was apologizing. "Education first, memes later."

I dramatically rolled my eyes and let out long sigh, resting my weight on my elbows. "Whatever. Just explain the book to me, so I can bounce," I snapped back at her in a cold tone.

Florence frowned as she stood up from her bed and walked across the room to where her desk was. Her eyes scanned the items cluttering the wooden surface before she reached for The Color Purple and walked back over to me.

"There are so many different directions you can go in with this book, but I think the theme you should focus on is the power of sisterhood. Celie, the main character, got through years of abuse and misogyny from the men in her life with the support she received from her sister, Nettie, and the lifelong friendships she developed with Shug and Squeak. Sisterhood helped Celie understand her self-worth and free herself from oppression," Florence passionately explained. "I even put post-it notes on the pages that have to do with Sisterhood in the book," She showed me while flipping through the pages. "You can borrow it until you finish writing your book report if you like."

I stared down at the book in her hands before trailing my eyes back up to hers. "Thanks," I simply said, accepting the book from her. "I'll give this back to you probably at the library on Saturday."

"Looking forward to it," Florence beamed at me with a smile.

I shook my head as I stood up from her bed, fighting back a smile of my own. "Well, I guess I'll see you at school," I said, still a bit disappointed that she wouldn't let me kiss her.

"Alright, Goodbye Harry," She waved at me from the bed, sending a flirtatious smile my way.

My Adam's apple bobbed up and down in surprise, and I bit my bottom lip. That little minx.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone. Thanks for reading this chapter. I want to shoutout achhuu for leaving such sweet comments on the previous chapter and throughout the book. I'm very grateful for your support.

I think I'll make a habit out of doing shoutouts to people in the future based on their comments.

Feel free to vote, comment, follow me, or share this story with a friend.

Question for my readers: How badly do you want to see Florence and Harry kiss?

I've already written the chapter where it happens 😏

—
Kaylandia