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Gavin picks up the sugar packet and throws it back at me "We were here first"

"Then deal with it," I say

The table grows quiet and it’s obvious Lake and Eddie have no idea Gavin and I are only kidding around

"Personally," Gavin says, leaning forward "I thought you and Mrs Alex"She shotmy head toward Lake

Lake scoffs at the sa into the ht, due to time constraints by the perfore"

The crowd starts clapping and I slide out of the seat Lake arches her eyebrow "Time constraints?" she says

I bend down and pressWe’ll be really, really, really busy after this" I kiss her on the cheek and walk to the stage I don’t even give in my poem as soon as I reach the microphone so that I don’t waste another second "My piece is called The Gift"

If ht there

Watching me up here, with a smile on his face

He’d be proud of the man I’ve become

He’d be proud that I stepped up to take his place

Ifht me

She’d be proud of the rew up to be

But they aren’t here They haven’t been for a while

It takes ti to make sense

I still miss them every tio unnoticed

But every smile on your face seems to replace

A h, it fills a void

Each kiss heals another wound inwith you

He’d be hugging yousaying thank you

Thank you for saving ht to his world

If my mother were here, she’d be so happy

To finally have a daughter in her life

She’d love you as much as I love you

She’d make me promise to one day make you my wife

But they aren’t here They haven’t been for a while

But I can feel their pride I can feel their smiles

I can hear them say, "You’re welco you from heaven

AS SOON AS I return to the booth she’s trying to thank rab her hand and wave over uys later," I say to Gavin and Eddie I don’t even wait for theood-bye as we make our way to the door I remain two steps in front of Lake the entire way back to the car, practically dragging her along behind ht We’re never alone and I need soo crazy

When we reach the car, I practically shove her inside, then climb into the driver’s seat I crank the car, then turn toward her and grab her shirt and pull herspot

"Will, do you realize your car is lance out the rearand cut the steering wheel to the right, then turn back to her

"Yep We need to hurry You’ve got a curfew and that only gives us two ain and she shoves my forehead back with the palout with you when you’re dead"

"PULL OVER," SHE says, several houses down from my driveway

"Why?"

"Just pull over Trust me"

I pull over and park the car on the side of the street She leans across the seat and kisses nition "If my mo you to my house if we came home early She doesn’t want us alone at your house Let’s sneak in through your back door and we can coet your car later"

I stare at her in awe "I think I’m in love with your brain," I say

We both exit the car and run toward the back of the house we parked in front of We make our way behind the fence, then crouch down and run across three backyards until we reach mine I take the keys out of her hands and unlock the back door Why do I feel like I’ in? It’s hts She’ll knoe’re back," I say as I help her h the darkened doorway

"I can’t see," she says

I put s up with my other arm "Allow me"