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I hit him playfully "Shut up Let me tell o on, he kisses ht end there, but he pulls back and says, "Go ahead"

I forget for a second where I was, because for a moment I fall out of the story and back into now Then I remember: My mom The fashion show

"So I had my wannabe prom dress," I say "And then it was Mom’s turn She surprised me, because she went for the dresses, too I’d never really seen her all dressed up before And I think that was theto me: It wasn’t me as Cinderella It was her

"After we picked out our clothes, they putto flip, but she was actually enjoying it They didn’t really do much with her--just a little more color And that was all it took She was pretty I know it’s hard to believe, knowing her now But that day, she was like aher And when it was time for the actual shoe paraded out there and people applauded Mo, and it was real, you know?"

Real like this is real--Justin listening next to me, the sky above, the sand underneath It is real in such an intense way that it feels unreal, too Like I had no idea it was possible to feel so et to keep the dresses or anything," I go on "But I rereat I was When we got back to our house, Dad looked at us like ere aliens, but the cool thing is, he decided to play along Instead of getting all weird, he kept calling us his super roo so much And that was it The day ended I’m not sure Mom’s worn makeup since And it’s not like I turned out to be a supermodel But that day re, wasn’t it?"

"It sounds like it," Justin says And the way he looks at me--it’s like he’s finally realized how real I am, how here I am What I’ve just said isn’t worth that Which means I must be worth that

"I can’t believe I just told you that," I say It’s like I’e his mind

"Why?"

"Because I don’t know It just sounds so silly"

"No," he says, "it sounds like a good day"

"How about you?" I ask I know I’ for him to listen It’s another to have hihter fashion show," he says

Ha ha Sothis seriously after all I hit him on the shoulder and say, "No Tellabout it At first, I think he’s debating whether or not to tellto coood answer