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"Why would I getthe deodorant on "It’s not like you’re calling uess you kind of did, but so what? I’m happy That’s not bad, is it?"

She shakes her head and slides the elastic off her wrist "No, it’s good, but like I’ve said a couple of ti to be sad"

I take in what she said as I put the cap back on the deodorant "Well, I’m not now, so…"

She secures the elastic around the end of her braid "So, is the reason why you’re not trying to be sad, because of this?" She points a finger at the pipe "Or because of a certain so hot-as-hell body? Because if it is, I have to say again that I don’t think you should act on it He’s not boyfriendfor a boyfriend" I takeand flick the cap off "And when did you see his body?"

She giggles under breath "I kind of accidentally walked in on hi into his tent at all?"

"Um…" She tenses "Because I was confused"

"About what?"

"I don’t know…" She drifts off, letting the braid fall down her back, then she straightens her legs out and slaps her hands on top of her thighs "Hey, you knohat I should do?"

"Tell me why you were in Quinton’s tent?" I say in a sarcastic tone "Was it to try and get hiain?"

"No, silly" She slaps the top ofaround when I did that"

I spritzto cover up the stench I know has to be flowing from me "Then what should you do?"

Her eyes stray to the veil of rain outside and the round like wet paint "Actually, it’s a we thing We should go out and play" A lazy grin spreads across her face as she glances at"Are you crazy? I’m already filthy"

"Then what does ither pipe from off the tent floor She takes a few more hits and then pushes it at me

I take it because it’s there and I don’t really want to say no I take a few s, the et to the idea of what she said

My eyes start to water as I think about what my dad would say if he were here, besides the fact that he’d probably be disappointed in ood to play in the rain," he said once when I was younger

"Why, Daddy?" I’d asked, looking up at hiet all muddy?"

He nodded and tookdown outside, rass "That’s the point, Nova To let go and have fun" He opened the door, and raindrops fluttered into the house "Besides, it’sIt et the whole world to yourself" He winked at hed, then we’d sprinted out into the rainstor in puddles until our clothes were soaked and our cheeks hurt fro

God, how siain

"Okay," I say to Delilah "Let’s go play in the rain"

Her smile broadens We take a few more turns with the pipe, because it’s there and itout into the rain easier By the ti really slow She laughs as she ju with her The first contact of rain against h s I bask in the freeness

We sprint out of the tent area and dive into theon in the field, where people are covered init at each other As I sink into the ers fro, I tipin a circle, pretending that no one else is here with me, that I’m completely sober and calm, and that the whole world is mine

For a moment, life feels perfect