lding,

adn't touched the pencil in ten minutes. A streak of sunlight cut acro

ng him out of his trance

nner thing this Friday. He wants

. His family's expectations always arrived l

izzle said, nudging h

d on her canvas. Smudges of charcoal dusted her cheek and fingers. Her presen

at tragic artist brain

ed. "Fami

ut the silence between them felt loaded again, like they we

he said, not looking at

over. "Sc

ut seriously where do you se

in a suit. Not in

ut

w if I'll ha

urned to face him fully. "Mik

internships. He calls it 'setting me up for success,'

oftened. "What ab

usually make it pas

lock of hair from his forehead. "You ever think about

gaze. "Onl

quite reach her eyes. "The

Hall Co

y. Mikey sat on the floor, legs stretched out, a bag of gummy worms in his lap. Cri

ment could last

ummy into his

out to happen. Finals.

"I've been thinkin

ed her h

ea

pa

" she wh

ched again, sof

you I liked you... like, actually

ked slowly.

ht n

ht at him. "I'd p

th caugh

ed to know it wasn't ju

t thudding. "What if it's b

ips. "Then I'd proba

ears. He leaned in. Ju

n se

he door to open and someone's

t like magnets s

ys seen the charger-oh.

d to her feet. "

down like a bad shot of espresso. "It's

ift in air but letting it go. "Cool.

ared behin

red, "Seven se

didn't

she wa

ng – Café

thing keeping her from imploding. Mikey sat across from

uch for the fi

for everything to cha

oked up.

actually freeze it. Just stay in th

nd the mug. "I'd freeze it

ed weakl

beat

ever get our timin

. About all the almosts.

ispered, "

eyes. And

ing

ing

e air between two people sti