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“Do you miss it?”

She shook her head, that cotton candy bubblegu into me even harder

“No, I don’t miss it”

I nodded again and clearedabout her I wanted to knohat her favorite food hat her favorite band was Did she like one of those boy bands? Or maybe she liked the old rock music my dad listened to It was kind of cool I didn’t much care for country, but if she liked it, I’d listen to it with her

“Are you liking it here so far?” I should’ve left her alone She see her with my questions But the truth was, I couldn’t helpthere was about her

She looked over at ave me this little smile “Yeah, it’s really nice here”

The teacher started talking, unfortunately, and I was pulled away fro to be obvious, and definitely not wanting the teacher to call irl But I couldn’t helpover at her several ti more of her incredible scent

“Are youany friends?” I whispered She shook her head, and that broke lanced atblue eyes ide “I’ll be your best friend” And the sht to my heart

Whatever it was about this girl… it was permanent for me

Chapter Two

Abigail

Five years later

I stared atbut trepidation I’d opted to skip fall classes and took those months to save up some money for books It was also a leave to help with h at tie for the first time made me a nervous wreck

But as I looked at Max, I felt that stress start to slowly fade He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in close My head barely reached his shoulder, his lean, athletic swiainst my much softer one

Over the last five years, we’d become inseparable, the best of friends Just like he said we’d be ere thirteen years old

And in the passing years, he’d grown into the man he was today… the hteen, he was so e, had plans and aspirations for his future

Heto school with me, but he did have a duplex his uncle let hi as he did the upkeep and maintenance for both units, and he was only twenty minutes from the university He also worked full-time at his uncle’s mechanic shop I looked up to him in more ways than one