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I chuckled. I loved watching her squirm when I teased her.

We went back to staring at the ducks while she finished off the last of her fries and shake. “So Lan?”

“Hmm?”

“The dance this weekend?” Her fingers picked the loose thread in her cardigan over and over again.

“What about it?”

“Do you umm…” A lingering fear laced her tone. “Do you perhaps want to go with me?” she asked so quietly that I almost didn’t hear it.

I had to school my face to contain my grin. I was going to ask her anyway.

I waited because we were still young.

I waited because I wanted her to choose me.

I waited because there was a tiny fear that she would say no.

But right here, right now, I didn’t care. I wanted this.

“Not officially, like a fake date. More like an arrangement,” she said before I could say anything.

I stilled, frowning as my eyes slid to her. “Why does it have to be fake?”

Her expression looked like she was a deer caught in the headlights. “Because… because I just didn’t want to go alone. I heard everyone in our class had a date, even that stupid Sabrina has a date. And I asked because you’re my best friend….my only friend, and I thought you would help me.”

Sabrina was a sour topic for Katy. She and Katy had some beef and were always butting heads. Sabrina tried her hardest at the start of the school year to be chummy with me, but I ignored her till she finally left me alone.

“Katy.” I hooked a finger under her chin and brought her gaze to me. “Do you want me as your date because you want me there with you, or do you just want to want to rub it in Sabrina’s face that you have a date?”

She blinked. “Maybe both.”

“Pick one.” My voice cracked with emotion. “Pick the one you want more,” I whispered.

Pick me.

Pick me

Pick me.

She swallowed, fear gleaming in her eyes. Her small, soft hand slowly cupped my cheeks as she inched closer. “You,” she muttered, her voice trembling. “I want you as my date more.”

And right at that moment, I felt my heart beating for the first time in my life.

I smiled, and her eyes filled with awe. I didn’t even think as I pressed my lips to hers. I breathed in her tiny gasp as her arms wrapped around me like I was her lifeline.

She tasted like sweet roses and chocolate.

She tasted like my forever.

CHAPTER 7

KATY

Age 16

It’d been six months since Lan and I officially started to date. And I felt like the luckiest girl in town. I had to pinch myself to think that a nobody like me was dating the coolest boy in town.