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I race to my room and reach inside the gift bag. There's a handwritten card tucked inside along with a silver paper box. I go for the card first.

Dear Bella,

So this is what it feels like to write a letter.

The last time you wrote yours, I was at sleep-away camp. I was so happy to be there, away from home - from the noise - but I was also so upset to be away from you for so long. I never told you this, but it was during that time that I knew that what I felt for you was so much more than just best friends. Even though I was busy running around, playing sports and causing trouble at camp, it wasn't enough to stop my mind from thinking about one thing and one thing only: you. I wanted to know how your first summer without me was going. If you were liking camp. If you had met another guy who you were spending time. The latter boiled my blood, but it was the question that I thought the longest and hardest about.

I'm not sure if you ever wondered why I never wrote back. I was going to, and I wanted to. But I didn't know what to say. I was feeling all of these emotions that I had never felt before, and if I ended up writing back to you, I would've confessed what I was feeling, and I wasn't ready to do that just yet. I guess a part of me was afraid.

This letter might be too late, but do know that my intention with you is anything but that. You deserve to know exactly how I felt about you when I was younger. You deserve to know exactly how I feel about you now.

Meet me at the dock at 8 o'clock tonight, and I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything.

Love always,

Nico

P.s. I made this necklace for you when I was at camp, but kept it in my desk ever since. I was too scared to give it to you at the time, not knowing how you felt about me. I had to sneak into the girls' arts and crafts session, but it was worth me almost getting kicked out of camp for. It's not from Italy, but I tried my hardest to make it seem like it was.

I gently place the card back in its envelope and set it to the side. Then I go for the box. Inside is a necklace...but not just any necklace.

Bella, Age 7 / Nico, Age 8

It's been a month since I first met Nico, but it doesn't feel that long. I guess that's what happens when you're having fun.

But being with Nico has been more than just fun. It's been spectacular.

We're in his backyard - me, Nico, and Brooks - playing tag. It's Brooks turn to chase after us, which annoys me because he's a fast runner, and I'm not.

Dammit, I hate this game. But leave it to the boys to want to play. When I suggested baking instead, they laughed in my face like hyenas.

Nico's faster than Brooks, so he's able to get far away from him. I, on the other hand - well, I'm struggling.

Brooks finally catches up to me and tugs at my shirt. "Tag, you're it!" he shouts.

He unintentionally pulls at my shirt too hard, grabbing the necklace that my mom just bought me along with it.

"My necklace!" I shriek once I notice that the string has ripped. I immediately drop to the floor to try and salvage the pink, purple, and floral beads. I'm able to collect all of them, but the string is fully destroyed.

"BC, you okay?" Nico races over to me and asks.

"I'm so sorry, B," Brooks apologetically remarks.

Nico looks between the both of us. "What happened?"

"My necklace, the one my mom bought for me when she was away...it's broken."

"I'm going to hurt you," Nico glares at Brooks and states, but Brooks holds his palms up.

"I didn't mean, too. I'm so sorry, Bella."

"It's fine," I stand up and sigh. It's not like he intentionally tried to break my necklace.

"BC, maybe we can try and glue it back together," Nico proposes, which makes me chuckle. He's so cute...and serious about the glue.

"I appreciate that, Nico, but it won't work." I notice Brooks' guilt, so I try to act nonchalant about the whole thing. "It's fine; it's just a necklace that I'm sure didn't cost too much. Don't worry about it."

But, really, it's not fine. The necklace did mean a lot to me. I don't want to make Brooks feel any worse than he already does, though, so I brush it off like it's not a big deal.

"Brooks!" Hayley opens the sliding door and calls out from inside. "Your mom's here."

Brooks looks at me, checking to make sure that I'm okay. "I'm sorry again, Bella," he says.

"It's okay, Brooks," I pat his shoulder and say.

"Do you need a ride home?"

"Bella's staying for dinner," Nico answers. Mom and Grandma Ruby are out running errands for the house, so they can't get me until later.

"Okay," Brooks says. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

He takes off, so I allow myself more time to weep over what just happened. Nico notices my sadness and wraps his arm around my back, hugging me and leaning his head against mine.

"We can find you another one, BC," he tells me.

"I don't think so," I say. "My mom got me this necklace from Italy."

"Oh," he states.

"It's okay. I promise it is. I'll get over it."

"You sure?" he asks.

"Yeah," I fake smile. "I'm sure."

This necklace that I'm holding from Nico is an exact replica of the one that my mom got me. Obviously the quality of the beads are different, but the colors are the same. And it's the thought that counts.

I dangle it in the air, staring at it like it's the most beautiful piece of jewelry that I've ever seen. Because, to me, it is.

I don't text or call Nico once I'm done admiring the gift. Instead, I wait. I wait 4 more hours until I get to see him at the dock. 4 more hours until he tells me everything.