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“Dreould,” he said matter-of-factly “He’d call me a pansy” He chuckled

“Drew calls everyone that”

He laughed again

I turned my head and looked at him “I don’t think you’re a pansy”

Travis tilted his head and looked intowent serious I watched his throathard He licked his lips and ainst my skin made me so nervous, I instinctively turned my head

“Are you excited about going into high school?” I spit out, trying to change the subject, looking back up at the stars I could’ve sworn Travis was about to kiss me It would’ve been my first kiss

Mouess It’ll be nice getting back into basketball season and staying late for practices and games”

I knehat he was i the words Less time at home

“Why do you think she puts up with it?” Curiosity got the best of er keep it in “Can’t she leave him?” I asked

He shrugged I supposed it wasn’t that simple for adults, but to me it just sounded like common sense Why would anyone want to be with someone that treated them like crap?

That wasn’t the last time Travis snuck up the rooftop and sat with me under the stars We shared details with each other that we hadn’t shared with anyone else before It was our secret little spot where we could talk or just sit and stare up at the sky

It was easy

He wasn’t my brother’s best friend

I wasn’t his best friend’s little sister

And the lines between us weren’t blurred

I was only twelve years old, so I truly believed prince charrew older, I came to realize he never really did Because if he did, he most certainly wouldn’t be available And he irl likethat because I want anyone to tell me otherwise, but if such a man existed, he’d have no chance with me anyway Because for some only-God-knohy reason, my heart only beats for one man My pulse only increases when he walks into the room My cheeks flush and my body hums when he looks at me I feel the blood in my veins as my skin heats from his very existence He’s the epitome of perfection