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"You are going to have to earn it, wo It’s dark near the top, so I slon a little to e doesn’t break at all, and she gains on et to the bridge before her, and I can hear her heavy boots pounding on the wobbling wood and metal, so I stop and lifte shake It trips Paige up, and it also pisses her off

"You were that kid on the playground, weren’t you? Oh, that’s it," she says, standing facing e In tift motions, she reaches for each foot and pulls her boots fro them over the side into the woodchips beloatch them fall into the darkness

"You better re your ass find the, because enes," she says, darting inthe skirt of her dress in her hand As dark as it is out, the smile on her face is un, and before I can get ainst me as ork our way up the last few steps to the top of the slide

"Houston, don’t you dare!" she shouts through the hter My arto loosen hther pass, I spin quickly so ainst the tunnel entry to the slide My hands find her cheeks, and I bring hereither of us a chance to think, to breathe I kiss her two stories up, under a perfectly clear Oklahoross It’s the best kiss ofmy sweater as she lifts to the tops of her bare toes to reach ainst ainst herthe back of her head while the other finds the s her closer to rab, any part ofthis But then there’s the thought ofair, I leanapart as we both inhale as if waking up fro put under This close, I can see all of her, theoff the white lace of her dress, the creaolden hair blowing loosely behind her in the breeze I honestly never believed I would be so lucky to find soain, let alone who made me feel more

"I used to steal your order tickets, and then I’d wait for you to show up And when I knew you were coinning of the year, to the tiirl who ca "I’m super lame Ahhhh, I can’t believe I told you that"

"I used to order sandwiches, then throw them away, because I don’t eat sandwiches," she says I crack open one eyelid to see the right side of her lip raise while her eyelashes flutter as she looks down at our feet "Every tiain But then I’d miss you…"

My hands cup her face, and I letthe way she looks when she’s honest, when she’s humbled

"That’s terribly wasteful," I joke She lets out a breathy laugh as her palainst my chest I catch it and hold it there; I like how it feels, and I want her to feel ether "Casey would be so mad at you Don’t ever let him know you did that; he lives forShe rolls her eyes, but pauses when they s fill, and she does the same We just stand there and look at each other, two paths that missed their mark and somehow ended up connected We both turn e hear the sound of a train’s whistle in the distance, I think both worried that soive up being alone I watch her for a few long seconds before she turns back to look atIt’s like I can see her think

"Last one down buys lunch at Nate’s gaently, then in a flash, she pulls herself down into the darkness of the tunneled slide I follow quickly,sound of our bodies rubbing along the hard plastic of the winding slide We’re both pushing with our hands, and I laugh because there’s literally no way forI’ain I’ to it