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Prologue

Ava

Five Years Ago

Racing across the back yard, I chase after Vance He’s always faster, and of course rass ticklesit just by a hair I’ ahead ofat ht, his brown hair looks as if it could use a good cutting, or at least that is what Mom says

“You’re so slow, Ava The Ice Age could beat you to the treehouse,” he teases, just as he always does Mom says it’s because he likes me, but I don’t think Vance likes me, at least notis gross Reaching the treehouse, I put aze It’s hard to see this far away froust of wind blows through my damp hair

“Not all of us were born with daddy long leg, legs” Being the jerk that he is, he doesn’t even respond Instead, he places one foot in front of the other and races up the wooden planks and into the treehouse, his body disappearing from view a second later

Shaking my head, I climb up the wooden planks as well The very first ti, andlike someone had punched me in it Now, I race up the steps like it’s second nature Popping h the square cut-out in the floor, I find Vance sitting Indian style in his usual spot He’s staring out the giantthat overlooks the yard

This high up, I like to think we can see everything, the toe live in, eventhat is Cli up and into the small space, I take a seat in a similar fashion

As soon as I’reen eyes are soft and re tall and proud even in the worst of circule fills my belly, and I don’t understand why it does that It happens often though, alle time he smiles at me

My eyes roaed pair of jeans and a plain cotton t-shirt My dad says his parents don’t have a lot of money because Vance’s father lost his job and that he can’t afford new clothes right now so I shouldn’t tease him or be mean, but I think his clothes look just fine This is also why his fa with us for a feeeks, just until his dad finds a new job Either way, I’s, and I like having Vance here to hang out hen he isn’t being a jerk, or beating me to the treehouse

With theinto the treehouse, it’s easy to see Vance’s face He rubs at his jaw and scrunches his eyebrows together, the look is one I’ve seen grace his face before Anyti deep inside his head to try and coame we play a lot, and by a lot, I mean nearly every day Truth or Dare Or as Vance always says, truth, since that’s usually all I ever choose

Tonight, however, I chose dare I don’t knohy I did it I guess I’ adventurous Or it could be because I’ truth

When a huge grin spreads across his face, I know he’s thought of soame I’e et the chance, his

“I dare you to…sneak into your parents’ bedroom”

“My parents’ bedrooet into so much trouble if my mom catches me!” I whisper-yell My dad is at work, so it’s only ht and I’m supposed to be in bed and asleep, but instead I’ Truth or Dare We’ll both be in big trouble if our parents find out we’re out here instead of in bed

“Aw, are you chickening out on me?” he teases, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes My lips set into a fir into my cheeks at his statement