Hey, how's it going! I wanted to apologize for not uploading chapters, but honestly, I had a bit of writer's block and couldn't make any progress. On top of that, I had to destroy my empire (clean my room) and I've been a little busy. Writing chapters every day is a bit tiring, so I might set up a schedule for the fanfic.So I'd like to know—would you prefer a daily chapter or 3 chapters every other day? That way I'll have a sense of what's more comfortable for you.I hope you have a wonderful day, afternoon, or night, and that you enjoy the chapter.
Reporting here, EternalWriter
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The school bell rang. My eyes kept drifting back to the last row where Felicia Hardy was sitting. She was alone, a wooden pencil between her long fingers, scribbling something in her notebook. The contrast between the quiet student I saw now and the predator from the previous night left me breathless.
The teacher, Mr. Harrison, continued his monologue about World War II, but my mind could only think about the night before. My mind clung to the only thing that mattered: the punch that had knocked me down and the condescending look on Felicia's father's face. I had been humiliated. I had felt like a child, an amateur. That wound to my pride was far more painful than any physical blow. The Butterbeer had healed my body, but not my ego.
"All right, Damon," I heard Harry's voice beside me. "I'm heading to the next class. See you at lunch, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," I said, forcing a smile.
Harry gave me a curious look, as if he had noticed something odd about me, but he didn't ask anything. With a wave of his hand, he disappeared into the crowd of students flooding the hallways.
I took a deep breath and walked to my next class: chemistry. The moment I walked in, I saw her.
Felicia was there. Again.
She was in the middle row, resting her chin on her hand with a casual air. When our eyes met, a faint smile appeared on her lips, as if she had been waiting for me.
My heart skipped a beat.
I took a seat in the row next to hers, trying to act normal. The teacher walked in—a man with a scruffy beard and thick glasses—and immediately made an announcement: "Attention, please! I have an announcement for chemistry class."
A collective sigh filled the room. Mr. Evans, an older man with a gentle voice, cleared his throat.
"I know nobody likes doing this, but we have a chemistry project. It will be done in pairs, and your task is to create a compound that demonstrates a chemical reaction to present at the science fair."
People started murmuring, looking for their friends to pair up with. I, on the other hand, glanced at Felicia from the corner of my eye. She met my gaze, raising an eyebrow and lifting her hand slightly, as if inviting me over. I stood up from my seat and walked to her.
"Want to team up with me?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Felicia smiled.
"I thought you'd never ask, sweetheart," she replied.
I sat down beside her while the teacher began explaining the project guidelines. He talked about chemical reactions, presentations, and reports, but I barely listened. I could feel Felicia's presence, her soft and sweet perfume, and every word that left her lips held my attention more than any lesson.
"So, are we doing this at your place or mine?" she asked, twirling her pencil between her fingers.
My mind froze for a second at the double meaning.
"At mine, if you don't mind," I answered.
Felicia tilted her head, as if assessing me.
"Perfect. That way I get to know you a little better." She winked.
I didn't know if she meant it or if she just enjoyed seeing me nervous, but I felt caught in her game.
The rest of the class flew by. Every time we exchanged words, I noticed that flirty tone in her voice, that way of looking at me like she knew exactly what effect she had on me.
When the bell rang, we agreed to meet at my house after school to organize the project. I got up from my seat with a goofy smile I couldn't wipe off.
The morning went on, with classes that seemed endless. My mind was torn between the memory of the previous night, the pain still lingering in my body, and the anticipation of spending time with Felicia.
When lunchtime came, I looked for Harry and Peter. They were sitting at one of the cafeteria tables, chatting animatedly. I sat with them, placing my tray on the table.
"So the coach told me something I didn't expect! He said I was ready to start in the next game," Harry said proudly.
"That's great, Harry," Peter replied. "Though it sounds like you're going to have to train twice as hard."
"That's what I'm here for, Parker." Harry turned to me. "What about you, Damon? You're awfully quiet."
I realized I hadn't heard much of their conversation. I had been staring at my tray, not touching my food.
"Nothing, just… thinking about the chemistry project," I answered.
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Chemistry project? Since when do you care so much about chemistry?"
I shrugged, knowing what was coming.
"It's just… I got paired up with Felicia."
The silence lasted barely a second. Then Harry and Peter looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Oooh!" Peter exclaimed, nudging my arm. "So that's why you've been daydreaming!"
"That explains everything," added Harry with a grin. "You couldn't take your eyes off her in class, could you?"
I felt my cheeks heat up.
"It's not what you think. We're just… working together, that's all."
"Yeah, sure," Peter said, laughing. "I can already imagine something like: Oh baby, I want you to take my electron."
Harry laughed too, and though I tried to stay serious, I ended up bursting into laughter. It was impossible not to get carried away with them.
"Seriously, it's no big deal," I insisted. "We're just doing the project at my house after school."
"At your house?" Harry asked, exaggerating his surprise. "That sounds more serious than I thought!"
"Relax," I said, though I was smiling. "It's just a project."
We spent the rest of lunch joking and teasing, most of the comments coming from Peter as "payback," according to him. But deep down, I didn't mind. Part of me actually enjoyed it, even if I couldn't admit it out loud.
The school day ended, but my thoughts kept spinning in my head. Felicia. Her smile, her voice. The way she had agreed to come to my house as if it were the most natural thing in the world.