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Static on the other side Crap Maybe I went too far

"I don’t know," he says "It grew over ti was up when I wanted to scratch out Stephen’s nale, totally unashahYou wrote me a letter back before school started and I took it withtrips At the top of the rock, I read your letter and realized you were the one person I wished I could share the vieith"

My lips tilt up with his words

"What was the letter about?"

He chuckles "Nothing That’s the strange part You’ve sent me letters about Echo and Stephen and Grace and your family and Florida and I loved those letters I knew you were sharing your soul within your backyard and watching the leaves in the trees blow When I was done reading, I found a four-leaf clover tucked into the envelope I knew then that I wanted to share the big moments with you, but more important the small I want to climb rocks with you, Lila, then spend quiet ti the vieith you"

War "I sent you the clover so you’d have good luck with your adain"

"So I have to find you another clover?" I tease

"Nope I still have the first one tucked safely infrom you close to me"

Overwhelave him In his wallet That is unbelievably sweet

"How about you?" he asks hesitantly "When did you know?"

"The night of the meteor shower," I answer automatically "And then the letter you sent after it" I think of the hundreds of lights dancing across the night sky "I knew you atching I know it sounds stupid, but I felt you with ht" I drop off, unable to find the right words to explain the emotion

Lincoln rescues me "I know Me too"

We sit in silence for a few seconds, both of us absorbing the moment Finally, I clear my throat and ask, "How ain?" We’re going to take turns driving back and forth to visit on the weekends and we’ll talk on the phone and we’ll Skype and, of course, write letters

"About four if I stick to the recommended posted liet-a-ticket-if-you-break-it type of law"

"A suggestion," he responds

Before I can coh the radio "Incohtens They’re here My eyes sweep the yard around ins to beat in my ears

I wipe my hands on the side of round Move to hitch Three forainst the side of the house One of the for the other two to head toward the front porch

The lone stray shadow creeps to my bedroomAsshole This has to be Stephen

I ready the paintball gun, the tank tucked into ainst the shoes, ai for the heart Let’s see how he feels after I sink a couple of balls into it

Lincoln’s under strict instructions--he’ll shoot only after I fire, and Stephen is mine

After a few seconds, Stephen raises his hand and rakes his fingers down ht, I was terrified Now, I feel eure yelps and bends over as each ball pummels his body Shouts from the front of the house tell me that Lincoln has hit his prey

"They’re on the move On the move" Lincoln’s voice crackles on the radio

His silhouette swings down froround he takes off for the front of the house I refocus on Stephen His head whips back and forth, looking for his attacker in the bushes "Who’s out there?"

I drift up froround Still hidden by the rain of branches froround, right near his feet

"Hey!" he yells as he dances away froht and aim it at his face He places his hand above his eyes in an effort to see who approaches Paint smears his favorite shirt and jeans Good I aih, and barely stained his two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar athletic shoes

I toss the flashlight in his direction on the ground He blinks then he recognizes me "Lila?" Shock widens his eyes "I can explain"

This tiht blue bleeds over his ex-white sneakers "I’ to Florida, Stephen Do you have a problehts flash near the driveway "Stephen!" yells Luke froo"