#2hollisfluff

I KNOW A PLACE

classmate!hollis x fem!reader fluff

about: the heat is unbearable. the air won’t move, everyone is half asleep and you’re pretty sure your brain gave up an hour ago. then a folded note lands on your desk:

let’s disappear, i know a place :)

it’s from hollis. your classmate, your friend and maybe… the guy you started to have a little crush on. so ditching school with him sounds a thousand times better than slowly melting away in this classroom.

authors note: have fun falling in love ☀️

-

the heat was unbearable. the air inside the classroom had gone completely still and you were practically melting into your chair.

it had only gotten hotter over the past few days. with every morning came the tiny bit of hope that classes would get canceled because of the heat. because honestly, who was supposed to remember anything in temperatures like these? every new piece of information seemed to leave your body together with the sweat the second you learned it.

but your college insisted on keeping classes. especially now with finals just around the corner, every lecture suddenly mattered more than ever. even if none of it actually stuck.

so here you were.

the classroom was bathed in a warm golden light, the heat refused to move, the old fan rattled uselessly in the corner, and your professor stood at the whiteboard explaining how different precious metals behaved chemically. the entire room looked equally miserable, everyone just handled the heat differently.

the guys in the back row had completely given up, talking over each other, cracking stupid jokes and trying to laugh their way through. the girls sitting closest to the front all had little handheld fans, diligently taking notes while doing their absolute best to stay on the professors good side.

you sat by the window with your best friend beside you, who had already accepted her fate. her head rested on her folded arms as they lay across the desk, occasionally lifting it just enough to catch a sentence before giving up again.

you absentmindedly doodled along the edges of your notebook, trying to pay attention. it was hopeless. your eyes drifted toward the clock. 11:23. god. lunch break wasn't until 12:30 and after that there were still afternoon lectures until 4. by then this place would probably feel even more like an oven. but whatever.

if you showed up home early or even mentioned skipping class, your parents would lose it. so there was only one option. push through.

-

the only distraction you had within these suffocating four walls sat on the other side of the classroom, one row in front of you.

he was leaning back lazily in his chair, legs spread comfortably, occasionally throwing a fake look of interest toward the whiteboard. from where you sat, you could clearly see the phone hidden beneath his desk. you had to bite back a smile.

he wore loose gray shorts and an oversized white tshirt. his light blond hair was tied back into a ponytail, though most of the strands at the front had already escaped. every minute or so he blew the loose strands out of his face before looking back down at his phone again. it was kind of cute.

you'd known him for a while now. you shared a handful of classes together. his name was hollis. you weren't exactly close but he always ended up at your table during breaks, talking to you until the bell rang.

every now and then he secretly stole one of your pens or highlighters, only for you to realize it was missing once class started again. and every single time you looked over at him already knowing what you´d find. that stupid little smirk. he loved messing with you.

at first it had gotten on your nerves. now it had somehow become part of your day. in fact, you were almost offended whenever he spent the entire break hanging out with the other guys instead of coming over to you. you'd gotten used to having him around.

and lately something had changed. ever since last week your stomach had started doing this weird little flip whenever he smiled at you. whenever he said your name. whenever he glanced at you across the classroom only to quickly look away the second your eyes met.

if your last lecture happened to be the same, he sometimes drove you home afterward. other days he spent his lunch break with you instead. it never felt forced.

maybe it was just the boredom or maybe the heat had completely fried your brain over the past few days, but there was definitely something there. a crush. butterflies. you liked him a little more than you were supposed to like a friend.

-

apparently he'd noticed you staring because a few moments later he turned around. his hazel eyes studied your face for a second before realizing you were suffering just as much as everyone else.

he gave you a knowing nod, then dragged his thumb across his throat in an exaggerated kill me now gesture. you couldn't help but smile. his lips mirrored yours almost instantly. then he tilted his head, looking like he was thinking about something. you raised an eyebrow. what?

he turned back around, slipped the phone that had still been resting loosely in his hand into his pocket and started scribbling something down.

oh, had the professor just said something important? you hadn't been listening at all. not when he was looking at you.

your eyes quickly darted around the classroom, but nobody else was writing anything down. not even the nerds. okay. so whatever he was doing definitely wasn't classrelated.

a moment later he raised his hand. your professor was still writing something on the whiteboard before turning around to look at him.

"yes, hollis?" - "can i use the bathroom?" she gave him a playfully disappointed look. "for a second i thought you were finally going to contribute something to todays lecture." he shrugged. "maybe next time mrs. foster." a quiet laugh spread across the room. she shook her head, trying not to smile. "go ahead." he gave her a small nod before getting to his feet.

while she continued explaining chemical reactions, hollis walked toward the door. except... he didn't. instead he took a small detour, casually passing your row of desks. as he walked by, he shot you a quick wink before discreetly placing a tiny folded note on the edge of the desk. right beside where your best friend was practically asleep. and then he was gone.

your heart immediately started racing. you suddenly felt wide awake. honestly, this was the most exciting thing that had happened all day. making sure nobody was looking, you quickly leaned across the desk, reaching past your best friend before grabbing the little piece of paper.

so that was what he'd been writing so frantically. it had to be important. your fingers felt slightly sticky from the heat as you unfolded the note.

let's disappear, i know a place :)

without thinking you grabbed your best friend's arm, gently shaking her awake. "kira!" you whispered urgently. "look." she slowly opened one eye before turning her head toward you. "hm?" she sounded mildly annoyed that you'd interrupted her classroom nap. but the second you slid the folded note across the desk, she was wide awake.

"what?" she whispered "right now? where are we going?" you quickly shook your head. "no, the note is from hollis." - "WHAT?" her voice came out just a little too loud. immediately your professor looked up.

"everything alright over there girls?" mrs. foster asked. "care to share whatever's so exciting with the rest of the class?" you gave her an apologetic smile. "sorry, mrs. foster." she sighed before turning back toward the whiteboard.

the second her back was facing the class again, your eyes snapped back to kira. she was already grinning at you. of course she was. she was your best friend. she knew exactly how you felt about hollis.

she'd watched your little crush grow over the past few weeks, watched the way he'd constantly looked for excuses to talk to you, how he'd tell the dumbest jokes just to hear you laugh, how he somehow always ended up sitting next to you during lunch.

she also noticed something you hadn't. the way he looked at you across the classroom whenever you weren't paying attention. honestly it was almost painful how oblivious the two of you were. you were so obviously into each other.

you looked back down at the note. "i don't know what to do." - "yes, you do." she whispered immediately. "you're absolutely going." - "what if we get caught?"

kira rolled her eyes. "nobody in here is paying attention. and i'm pretty sure mrs. foster wants this day to be over just as much as we do." you still looked unsure. "just tell her you don't feel well. hollis can drive you home." you bit your lip. "she's never gonna believe that."

before kira could answer, the classroom door opened again. hollis walked back inside. your heart immediately sped up. he casually made his way back to his seat before glancing over his shoulder. his eyebrows lifted. well? you gave him a tiny nod before silently mouthing: how?

from beside you kira let out the quietest sigh. "you two are hopeless." she muttered. before you could stop her, she raised her hand. you turned toward her so fast your neck almost hurt. "what are you doing?" even hollis looked confused. without looking at you, she whispered: "look miserable." - "...what?" - "trust me."

before you could ask another question, mrs. foster called on her. "yes, kira?" - "y/n isn't feeling well. could i take her outside for a minute? i think the heat's getting to her." mrs. foster studied you for a second. you immediately did your best to look as exhausted as possible. after a moment she nodded. "of course. make sure she gets some water." - "will do." before you even had time to react, kira grabbed your wrist. "thank you."

and just like that she pulled you out of the classroom. on your way out you glanced back one last time. hollis was already watching you. his expression had changed. he looked confused, almost disappointed that you hadn't immediately gone along with his plan. but underneath that he looked worried. he didn't know this was all an act.

the second the classroom door closed behind you, you turned toward kira. "what was that?" she smiled like she had been waiting for you to ask. "relax." she leaned against the wall.

"we'll stay out here for ten minutes. then we'll go back in. you'll tell her you're still feeling awful." she held up another finger. "i'll say you should go home." another. "then i'll mention that you probably shouldn't go alone because of the heat." she smiled. "and i guarantee hollis will be the first one to volunteer to drive you home." you stared at her for a second. "...have you done this before?" she bumped your shoulder with hers. "a thank you would've been enough."

-

and just like that everything went exactly according to kiras plan. ten minutes later the two of you walked back into the classroom. for the sake of appearances you actually grabbed a bottle of water and now you returned with it in one hand and your best attempt at looking absolutely miserable.

mrs. foster looked at you with immediate concern. "well?" you let out a quiet sigh. "i don't really feel any better." kira nodded beside you. "i honestly think it'd be best if someone took y/n home. i don't think she should be taking the bus in this heat." as she spoke she shot hollis a quick look. do something. he blinked, looking between you and mrs. foster.

"i-" he cleared his throat. "i can drive her home." mrs. foster looked between the two of you. clearly exhausted by both the heat and the day itself, she didn't seem interested in questioning it any further. "alright." she gave you a sympathetic smile. "get some rest y/n." then she looked at hollis. "and thank you for helping her." - "of course mrs. foster."

within seconds he was already packing up his things, which didn't take long considering he had barely taken anything out besides his phone. you stuffed your notebook and pens into your bag before slinging it over your shoulder.

before leaving, you wrapped your arms around kira for a quick hug. "you're the best." she flashed you a teasing grin. "have funnn." you rolled your eyes, already feeling your cheeks warm.

hollis was waiting by the door. before you could even adjust your bag, he reached over and effortlessly lifted it off your shoulder. "bye!" the two of you called back toward the classroom. he held the door open for you, following you into the hallway. once it closed behind you, he glanced over.

"you okay?" his voice was noticeably quieter now. "anything i can do for you?" you couldn't hold it in anymore. a laugh escaped you. he frowned. "...what?" - "i'm perfectly fine." you looked over at him, smiling. "this was all kiras idea."

he stopped walking. "what?" - "well..." you shrugged. "your note said you knew a place." you smiled a little "and i'd really like to see it."

for a second he just stared at you. then he laughed. "you two are unbelievable." he shook his head. "tell kira i owe her one." you smiled. "honestly i would've had no idea how to get out of there." - "i would've figured something out." he said it so confidently it almost made you believe him.

you reached toward him. "you can give me my bag back now by the way." it was a fairly big faux leather shoulder bag, just large enough to fit everything you needed for college. 

instead of handing it over he simply adjusted the strap higher onto his own shoulder. "what?" he struck an exaggerated pose. "you don't think it suits me?" he even put on the most dramatic, overly girly voice he could manage. you burst out laughing. "you're such an idiot."

-

once you´d left the college building behind, the two of you found yourselves walking down the familiar path toward the parking lot. it was the same route you had taken every time hollis had driven you home after your last lecture together. but the closer you got, the more confused you became. where was his car?

he noticed the way your eyes scanned the parking lot and couldn't help but grin. without saying a word, he pulled his keys from his pocket and pressed the unlock button.

a shiny black convertible parked a few spaces ahead responded immediately. with a soft mechanical whir, the roof slowly folded back. you stopped walking. "no way." he looked far too pleased with himself. "you like it?"

you stared at the car for another second before looking back at him. "what happened to your other car?" he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking a little embarrassed. "uh..." he laughed quietly "...that one was actually my moms..." his hand landed proudly on the hood of the convertible. "...but this baby?" he grinned "she's all mine."

you felt your cheeks warm. cute. why had he lied about the other car though? to seem cooler? or had he just been messing with you? knowing hollis, probably the second one. still, you couldn't imagine a more perfect car for a day like this.

he walked around to the passenger side, opened the door for you and carefully placed your bag inside before stepping back. "after you m'lady." you giggled "oh, thank you sir." he laughed, shaking his head as he once again blew a loose strand of blond hair out of his face.

a moment later he slid into the drivers seat beside you, pulled the door shut and reached into the compartment between the seats. he pulled out a pair of slightly oversized sunglasses and casually slipped them on. then he turned toward you with the biggest grin. "ready?" you nodded immediately "yes."

a second later the two of you rolled out of the parking lot. the moment you picked up speed, the warm breeze rushed through the open car, tugging at your hair and carrying the scent of hot asphalt and freshly cut grass.

it was still unbearably warm. but somehow it felt completely different now. no suffocating classroom, no rattling fan, no chemistry lecture. just the road stretching out ahead of you.

your stomach was overflowing with butterflies. here you were, alone with hollis. skipping class together. driving toward somewhere completely unknown. it almost didn't feel real. 

you'd always enjoyed spending time with him. but being alone with him like this, with nowhere to be and the entire afternoon ahead of you, made you realize just how much you actually liked him. and somehow that thought only made you even more nervous.

-

it was strange how quickly the world seemed to change. the warm wind drifted through your hair while music played softly in the background. every now and then, hollis glanced over at you. smiling. happy. 

somewhere along the way you had completely forgotten that the two of you were supposed to be sitting in chemistry right now.

the sun beat down relentlessly. you tipped your head back for a second, squinting against the brightness before lifting a hand to shield your eyes. "no sunglasses?" hollis glanced at you for a moment before looking back at the road. "if i'd known you were planning on kidnapping me today, i would've brought them." you pouted dramatically. he grinned.

a few moments later he slowed down at an intersection before turning onto a narrow coastal road. the ocean stretched endlessly beside you. your heart instantly felt lighter.

as if the view alone wasn't enough, hollis took one hand off the steering wheel and slipped off his sunglasses. keeping his eyes on the road as best he could, he reached over and gently placed them on your face.

you laughed, helping him adjust them before settling them properly on your nose. he stole another quick glance your way. "kinda suits you." - "that's so much better."

you smiled as you leaned toward the passenger side mirror to get a better look. the sunglasses looked even bigger on you than they did on him. but knowing they had been sitting on his face just seconds ago made them feel even more special.

a few minutes later a small gas station appeared by the side of the road. hollis pulled in. "let's grab some snacks." you looked over at him. "and something to drink." he added.

this day just kept getting better.

he parked the car and the two of you climbed out. on the way to the entrance he walked just a little closer to you than he needed to. at one point your hands almost brushed. almost. but it was enough to send a tiny spark racing through your entire body.

"so," he said as the two of you stopped in front of the colorful drinks fridge. "see anything you like?" there were way too many options. god. how badly you wanted to answer: you.

unfortunately, just like kira had already pointed out, you were still far too oblivious to realize that hearing exactly that would've probably made his entire day.

you scanned the shelves. "hm." you hummed "definitely water, it's way too hot." you looked over the rows of bottles. "...and something fruity."

before you could keep looking, hollis reached into the fridge and pulled out two smoothies. one pink. one orange. "how about these?" your face lit up immediately. he loved that look. "yes!" he smiled to himself before taking the bottle of water from your hands. "i'll carry that."

the snack aisle took a little longer. in the end the two of you settled on a bag of salty chips, a box of strawberries and a bar of chocolate. "hollis..." you looked at the chocolate then at him. "it's gonna melt." - "exactly." he grinned. "then we can dip the strawberries in it." you stared at him for a second. "that's actually genius." he gave you the most smug smile imaginable. "i know."

the more time you spent with him, the more you found yourself wondering how it was even possible for one person to be this easy to like.

-

on the way to the checkout, the two of you wandered through the little aisle filled with all the random things gas stations somehow always sold. magazines, soap bubbles, cheap souvenirs, tiny stuffed animals.

hollis suddenly stopped in front of a little plush bunny. he picked it up and held it next to your face, his eyes moving back and forth between the two of you as if he were making a very serious comparison. you let out an exaggerated sigh.

"...what?" he tilted his head. "you two look alike." - "stop it." you snatched the bunny out of his hands and held it up, inspecting it from every angle. hollis stepped a little closer so he could look too. you could feel the warmth radiating off him.

"look." he pointed at the bunnys face. "small." his finger tapped one of its floppy ears. "cute." then he looked at you with the tiniest grin. "...and it kinda looks offended."

your heart skipped a beat. cute. he'd just called you cute. you tried your absolute hardest not to blush. you failed miserably. desperate to change the subject, you reached toward a shelf nearby and grabbed one of the little rubber dinosaurs.

"then this one reminds me of your sense of humor." he raised an eyebrow. "oh yeah? how?" you held the dinosaur a little higher. "loud, annoying." then, after a dramatic pause: "...and at least sixty five million years out of date."

"wow." he stared at you for a second. then nudged your side with his elbow. "you're gonna regret that." already laughing, you started walking toward the register. you glanced back over your shoulder. "i seriously doubt it."

of course he paid for everything. even though you'd insisted more than once that you were perfectly fine paying for your own things. he wouldn't hear it.

neither of you had said it out loud but ever since your little teasing match back in the store, something had shifted between you. there was something in the air now. a quiet kind of tension. the good kind. it felt wonderful. and for the first time in a long while you wished a day could last forever.

-

the two of you were back on the coastal road. you watched the endless blue water beside you, sunlight danced across the waves, making them shimmer like thousands of tiny diamonds.

every now and then you could feel hollis looking at you. eventually you turned your head. "eyes on the road." - "they are." he answered a little too casually. you smiled. "liar." he shrugged. "if i hadn't given you my sunglasses, i probably could've hidden it better." you laughed, shaking your head.

he pressed a little harder on the gas pedal. the loose strands of blond hair that had escaped his ponytail kept falling back into his face. you'd watched him blow them away all day. without really thinking about it you finally did what you'd been wanting to do for hours.

your hand trembled ever so slightly as you leaned a little closer. carefully you tucked the loose strand behind his ear. for a split second, he looked over at you, surprised. then he simply let you.

your fingertips brushed softly against his skin before you pulled your hand away again. he smiled to himself. "...thanks." his voice was quieter this time. you settled back into your seat hoping he couldn't hear how fast your heart was beating.

"are we almost there?" he glanced at you for just a second before looking back at the road. "not much longer." he gave you a quick wink. "promise."

-

a few minutes later the car rolled to a stop on a small sandy parking lot. the ocean stretched out right in front of you. bright cliffs and scattered rocks framed the shoreline, creating little hidden coves along the coast.

there were only a handful of people. just the sound of the waves. warm sand. and endless blue. it felt like paradise.

"we're here." there was a quiet hint of pride in his voice. the two of you packed the snacks into your bag, leaving your college stuff on the back seat. before you could reach for it hollis casually swung your bag over his own shoulder again. then he grabbed a large beach towel from the back seat, closed the roof of the convertible and locked the car.

"so..." you looked around. "this is the place?" he smiled. "told you."

the walk took another seven minutes. neither of you talked much. you were far too busy taking everything in. how had you lived here for so long without ever finding this place? it was beautiful.

hollis noticed the way your eyes wandered over every little detail. for once he didn't interrupt the silence with one of his teasing comments. he simply let you enjoy it.

finally the path opened up onto a small stretch of beach tucked between pale rock formations. it felt hidden away from the rest of the world. quiet. peaceful. almost romantic.

hollis spread the towel across the sand before placing your bag on one corner so it wouldn't blow away. then he sat down and patted the spot beside him. you smiled before sitting down next to him. for a while the two of you simply watched the waves roll onto the shore.

"so?" he asked, turning toward you. "what do you think?" you smiled without taking your eyes off the ocean. "...i'm really glad i came." he grinned. "better than chemistry?" you laughed. "seriously?" you looked over at him. "i would've much rather stayed with mrs. foster." he placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "wow. guess her lectures really are more exciting than i am."

you rolled your eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "you're annoying." he smiled. "yeah..." his eyes drifted back toward the water "but you still came with me."

-

the two of you stayed there a little longer, watching the waves until the sun started burning against your skin. the perfect solution was right in front of you.

"i don't know about you," you smiled, looking over at hollis "but i seriously need to cool off." you tilted your head toward the ocean. "you coming?" he nodded without hesitation. "that was always part of the plan."

you got to your feet. without thinking much about it, hollis pulled off his tshirt and shorts until he was standing there in nothing but his boxers. you glanced down at yourself. right. you hadn't exactly packed a bikini for today.

after a brief moment of hesitation, you realized how comfortable you had become around him over the course of the afternoon. you took off your clothes too, leaving yourself in your underwear. when you looked back up he was staring. completely caught off guard. his cheeks had turned the faintest shade of pink. you couldn't help but smile.

"you gonna keep staring..." you raised an eyebrow "...or are we actually getting in?" he bit back a grin. caught. without another word he took off running, as if diving into the ocean could somehow save him from the embarrassment. a second later - splash. you laughed to yourself before making your own way into the water. 

up to your knees, it wasn't too bad. but every step farther made the water feel colder. "what?" hollis called from farther out. "too cold?" you shot him an unimpressed look. "not everyone can make such a graceful entrance." he blinked "...graceful?" you nodded. "yeah, a full on belly flop. very elegant."

he stared at you for a second before a mischievous grin spread across his face. "oh, you're gonna regret that." before you even had time to react, he splashed a wave of water straight at you. "hollis!" you laughed, shielding your face. "stop!" - "you're way too cocky for someone who can't handle a little payback." - "hollis..." you warned, trying to sound serious. "don't."

he only smiled wider. the next wave was even bigger. by the time you finally gave up fighting it, you were submerged all the way to your shoulders. once the initial shock wore off the water felt incredible.

the two of you floated around for what felt like forever, letting the gentle waves carry you wherever they pleased. eventually you let out a sigh. "i want strawberries."

neither of you had eaten lunch. the cafeteria was probably wondering where you'd disappeared to by now. oh well.

"good thing we bought some." hollis nodded toward the beach before turning to head back. "wait." he stopped immediately and looked back over his shoulder. without saying another word you swam over to him before gently wrapping your arms around his neck from behind.

instinctively his hands found your forearms, holding them loosely against his chest. "too lazy to swim?" he asked, smiling. you rested your chin against his shoulder. "mhm." the answer earned a quiet laugh, because both of you knew you could've made it back on your own.

-

by the time you made it back to shore, the sun had already dried most of the water from your skin.

the snacks were spread out across the towel in front of you. you picked up a strawberry dragged it through the now completely melted chocolate and took a bite. it was sweet. the chocolate melted on your tongue. across from you hollis seemed just as pleased with his idea as you were. maybe even more.

you leaned back on your hands, tilted your head toward the sky and closed your eyes, letting yourself get lost in the sound of the waves. as long as your eyes stayed closed, his never left you. he took in every little detail. the way the breeze gently moved your hair. the way the sunlight made your skin glow. your long dark lashes. your lips... wait.

"uh..." you turned your head toward him, opening your eyes. "what?" he scratched the back of his neck for a second. "you've got a little chocolate..." his finger absentmindedly pointed toward the corner of his own mouth. "...right here."

you laughed softly and wiped at the corner of your lips with your finger. "got it?" he shook his head. "no, a little more to the left." you tried again. "now?" - "still there."

the two of you fell quiet. your eyes met. for a moment neither of you looked away. he let out a small breath, almost like he was trying to gather the courage to ask. "...can i?" you smiled. "of course." as far as you were concerned, he never would've had to ask.

slowly, carefully, he leaned a little closer. his hand lifted until his thumb gently brushed against the corner of your mouth, wiping away the small smear of melted chocolate. his touch was warm. gentle. your heart skipped.

then, without really thinking about it, he glanced down at the chocolate on his thumb and brought it to his lips. your eyes followed the movement automatically. your pulse quickened.

"th-thanks." he smiled like it hadn't been a big deal at all. "no problem." then he leaned back again reaching for another strawberry. if only you knew how much selfcontrol that simple moment had taken.

-

the rest of the afternoon passed quietly. neither of you looked at the time. neither of you wanted the day to end. but the sun slowly sinking lower in the sky made it impossible to ignore. the blue above you gradually faded into shades of orange and pink, soon to be painted in soft purples as evening settled in.

"when do you actually wanna head back?" hollis asked after a while. you smiled faintly. "never." he laughed quietly. he knew you couldn't stay forever. the drive back would still take a while.

"well..." he got to his feet. "wanna go in one last time before we leave?" you nodded. he held out his hand to help you up. you took it. but once you were both standing, neither of you let go. it wasn't intentional. your grip wasn't even tight. somehow your fingers had simply stayed tangled together. neither of you acknowledged it. you just walked toward the water like that.

this time he didn't sprint ahead. he stayed beside you. the cool water felt just as refreshing the second time around. eventually your hands slipped apart as hollis wandered a little farther in than you did. this time he didn't splash you.

you lingered a few steps behind. he looked back over his shoulder. "come on..." he smiled. "again?" you smiled back. "i just need a minute." he shook his head. "nope."

before you could protest, he walked back toward you. his hands settled gently on your waist as he pulled you closer. your foot slipped against the wet sand. for a second you lost your balance. his grip tightened instinctively. catching you before you could fall.

suddenly you were standing right in front of him. the water reached both of your upper arms. his hands were still resting around your waist. without even thinking about it, your arms had wrapped themselves around his neck to steady yourself. neither of you was smiling anymore. you'd never been this close before.

his eyes drifted down to your lips. then back to your eyes. your heart felt like it might burst out of your chest. was this the moment?

his voice came out quieter than before. slightly shaky. "you know..." he swallowed. "...when you-" you shook your head with the smallest smile. "shut up."

before he could finish, your hands gently cupped his face and you kissed him. softly. the second your lips met, he melted into the kiss. he kissed you back without hesitation, his arms tightening around your waist ever so slightly.

the butterflies in your stomach had never felt this overwhelming. it was gentle. warm. the kind of kiss that somehow said more than words ever could.

when you finally pulled away, he was already looking at you again. his eyes shimmered. maybe it was the reflection of the ocean. maybe it wasn't. a slow grin spread across his face. like he was only just realizing it had actually happened.

then he leaned in again. this time without asking. stealing another kiss. it felt more familiar somehow. more certain. but it made your knees feel just as weak as the first one.

he smiled against your lips. "you know..." he looked at you for another second before letting out the quietest laugh "...i think i might like you." you couldn't help smiling. "only think?" he laughed softly "okay..." he pretended to think about it. "i like you."

your cheeks warmed immediately. you looked down for a second before meeting his eyes again. "...i like you too." you paused on purpose "...maybe." he narrowed his eyes. "maybe?" you nodded with the tiniest grin. "i'm still deciding." he laughed. "good." you tilted your head. "good?" - "means i've still got a chance to impress you." you rolled your eyes, even though your smile refused to disappear.

before you could come up with a reply, he leaned in once more. this kiss was shorter, lighter. almost like a promise. when he pulled away neither of you said anything. you simply smiled at each other.

hollis stepped back first and held out both hands toward you. "come on." you slipped your hands into his. he carefully pulled you through the water until your feet found solid ground again. once you reached the shore the two of you dried off beneath the last warm rays of sunlight.

together you packed everything back into your bag. just like before, hollis threw it over his shoulder. he tucked the beach towel underneath his arm. then he looked down at everything he was carrying. 

"perfect." you frowned. "what?" he shifted the bag slightly before holding one hand out toward you. "left this one free." confused, you looked at him. "why?" instead of answering, he simply intertwined his fingers with yours. his smile was almost shy this time. "felt like a waste not to." your heart melted.

without another word the two of you started walking back toward the car, hand in hand, while the sky slowly turned shades of pink, orange and purple above you.

-

the drive back was quiet. the sky had been painted in the prettiest shades of pink and purple. the evening breeze had turned pleasantly warm, gently drifting through your hair.

hollis hand rested loosely on your thigh. yours rested on top of his. it all felt so much more natural than it had on the way there.

every now and then he'd glance over at you, giving your leg the smallest squeeze. like a message he didn't have to say out loud.

you pulled out your phone. first you took a picture of the ocean disappearing behind you beneath the pink sky. then, when he wasn't looking, you quickly snapped another one. this time of his hand resting on your thigh.

"what are you doing?" his voice made you jump. you looked over, cheeks already warming. "i just... wanted proof this wasn't a dream." he looked at you for a second. then gently squeezed your thigh again. your heart melted.

the drive home passed far too quickly. before long, the streets started looking familiar again. the little cafes. the houses. the intersections you knew by heart. and then he pulled into your street.

"here we are." you turned toward him. your hand was still resting on his, you held onto it. "i don't wanna go." a small smile tugged at his lips. his free hand came up to your face, gently brushing his thumb across your cheek.

"you know what's the best part?" - "hm?" - "i get to see you again tomorrow." you smiled. right. tomorrow. college. real life.

"will you pick me up?" you asked quietly. "so we can drive there together?" - "of course." his thumb brushed your cheek once more. "and i'd be more than happy to drive you home again."

you smiled before leaning toward him. your lips met once more. soft. unhurried. another kiss that somehow said everything neither of you quite knew how to put into words.

when you pulled away, you finally reached for your bag. your eyes wandered to the back seat. his hoodie. the one he wore to class all the time. "hollis?" - "hm?" he looked at you immediately. you nodded toward the back seat. "i heard it's supposed to get really cold tonight." he frowned. "what do you mean? it's still rea-" his eyes followed yours. then he smiled.

"...you want my hoodie." you bit your lip, trying not to smile too hard. "...maybe." he laughed quietly before reaching behind him. a second later he dropped the hoodie into your lap. "thank you." - "anything for you." he said it so casually. as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. you looked down at the hoodie for a second. it smelled like him.

when you looked back up he was already smiling at you. one last kiss. a little longer this time. the kind neither of you really wanted to end.

eventually you climbed out of the car with your bag over one shoulder and his hoodie tucked safely in your arms. as you walked toward your front door you kept looking back. once. twice. five times. ten. 

every single time he was still there. still watching you. still smiling.

when you finally reached your front door you turned around one last time. you blew him a kiss. he laughed to himself, shook his head and caught it with one hand before pressing it dramatically against his chest. your laugh echoed down the quiet street. only then did he start the engine again. you watched the taillights disappear around the corner before finally unlocking the front door.

standing there for another second, you looked down at the hoodie in your arms and smiled to yourself. all because of one unbearably hot summer day. you'd never been happier that your college's air conditioning barely worked.

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