EY

ce between us. I had spent the whole evening trying to avoid him, and now I was standing right in front of him with no idea what to s

with a playful grin. "You came all th

uh...

huck

ng to think I had s

ing, I let out

look...

rma

a hand ove

irls usually

most girls,

otic

for some reason that m

s. My palms had become so sweaty that I rubbed them against my dress. Every second that passed made me feel more t

I began before my

wante

self to mee

ted to

ebrows

th

es

s a su

" I a

pretending I don't

ave

ind of

id hello

wi

more than tw

lau

three

ain I had always imagined. Standing out here away from the music, he seemed calmer, almost... normal. He was

hands into his pockets. "Wha

around

t h

toward the

't like

ok my

ake me

d of f

ere's somewh

iled

the

. The night air was cool against my skin, and the loud music slowly faded behind us. I could hear his footsteps a short distance behind me, ste

most nobody came here anymore. One small light still worked near the entrance, filling the room with a soft yellow

looked

been here

come here a

d. "I re

oward him

u d

dded

the window with a h

oticed

hrug

ore than pe

d Maddox barely knew my name. Hearing that he remembered someth

rent tonight,"

vely pulled

kno

ot a ba

oked

ly wear cloth

igur

l ridi

shoul

le enough to make

ok beau

e every though

at before. Nobody had ever said thos

..

eeks

nk y

warm, and somehow peaceful. I could hear my own heartbeat while Maddox watched me with a

d why you avoided

't avo

u d

don

ghed s

come over to your h

jus

u w

t ner

us aro

ore I could

le grew

new I was

e not

N

st.

for the r

fusi

bli

s a ne

hed qu

too many

cur

was surprised by the flow of everything happening tonight. I had

," he

aid it made

purse where my phone rested. If I texted Cassie now, she would come here.

my phone, I found myself

ready loo

?" he

thi

been s

have

r po

th la

ed through the

believable, that

't move away. I took another step, a

almost asking a question

e, I leaned forward and press

ond, everyt

to be quick, awkwa

ment, clearly surprised, but then he kissed me back just as gently. His hand lightly brushed against my arm,

ed apart, we simply

just as shocke

ispered. "Yo

kno

t expect

n't ei

ed both of us. It f

y forgot about Cassie, the dare, and every

suddenly creaked ope

ood in th

spread acro

ou are,"

ed from my body, and panic

g, I stepped aw

I have

ddox called

sor

nly words I mana

night. Tears blurred my vision as I kept running, not caring where I