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“Co that needs to be done in person”

I ring his doorbell again before checking the ti a yawn, I rise on hts of his front door Knowing Nick, he probably got sidetracked or ran out for burritos and got caught up in conversation with someone he knows

Then again … he was pretty insistent about talking toI can’t iine he’d space this off

All night, I tossed and turned, trying to wrap my head around what this could possibly be, how I could know soet a read on them

Growing up, Nick lived next door, and the two of us were inseparable frohborhood and I found his—which I promptly forced him to set free By the end of the day, we both realized our bedrooned on the second floors of our houses, and by the end of the week, he gave me a walkie-talkie and told me I was his best friend

When ere ten, he gave ive to other girls He gave me the half that said “best” and wore the “friend” half but always tucked it under his shirt so no one would give him any shit—not that anyone would

Everyone loved Nick

It wasn’t until the surowth spurt and everything changed

His voice got deeper

His legs got longer

Even his features became more chiseled and defined

It was like he aged several years over the course of a couple ofat hiht, I foundabout what it’d be like if he kissed me

Al next door with aon an extra coat of Dr Pepper Lip Shto see him

Suddenly I couldn’t look at hi

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who noticed Nick’s head-turning transformation

Nick’s door swings open with a quick creak and I don’t have ti before he sweeps s alow