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We dash below an awning and squint through the rain, across an intersection, at its curious stone facade Over a century ago, a wealthy n the building Its grandiose structure is ht line of construction It was the horave;’s family, as well as several renters, but most of the locals despised it as an eyesore – exactly how the saeneration of Parisians felt about their own recently built Eiffel Tower

I wonder hoould have felt about it back then I’d like to think I would have been one of the people who understood that it was special That being singular is the exact thing that

"Nice roof," Josh says "But your Treehouse is better"

I nudge hies me back La Pedrera’s rooftop terrace is fae, bulky chiiant soft-serve ice-cream cones, others like soldiers in medieval helmets Tourists march up and down Escher-esque staircases, around and around the chi umbrellas They’re like boats adrift at sea

"It’s like an ocean" Josh’s voice is filled with ads" And the balconies look like twists of tentacles and seaweed Though it’s possible that the weather is adding to our overall perception Our eyes travel towards the unsheltered line of people waiting to get inside

"That’s, uh, soive a tentative shrug "Next?"

He grins with relief "I don’t want to waste a singleat his dimples

Kurt’s map walks us down the street towards a second Gaudí-designed house We affix ourselves to the sides of buildings for protection from the rain, but it doesn’t matter It soaks us anyway "It’s your turn," Josh says "Tell me about your friends Sanjita What happened there?"

"So…you remember"

"I remember that you were friends with her our freshman year Did you split because she wanted to be popular? I asked Rashmi once, but she said her sister refused to talk about you"

The stab to irlfriend about my friendship with her sister?"

"Whoa No Not recently While ere dating"

"Oh" Though I’reen cross, the sheltered entrance of a farrave;cia "Isla I would never do that to you I’ve had exactly one exchange with her since school began About three weeks ago, she texted reat, because I’ soe wasn’t as welcome as it is I try not to think about Rashmi I try not to think about her and Josh in my room last year I try not to think about how they probably had sex in my bed And maybe my shower And maybe my floor, too

I try

Josh interprets my silence as a need for further explanation "I spent so out, and I could tell she was depressed That’s why I asked Rashuys So what happened?"

I’ve never told anyone this story before It takes e "She’s the only female friend that I’ve ever had, apart from my sisters When I showed up at our school…I didn’t even kno to make friends"

Josh removes my hands from my coat pockets He pulls me closer