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It was a baby crush. A thing he hadn’t fed or watered in years.

Hollis wasn’t a creep.

He knew it was probably proximity more than anything. He could have imprinted on Yulia just as much, if she wasn’t so out of his league and probably a lesbian.

Hollis still remembered what it felt like to be in elementary school and look at Annie with rose-colored glasses. To feel nervous when she put her grubby hands on him, to feel his heart jump when she giggled.

None of that happened anymore.

But there were Moments: When Annie fell asleep on his shoulder during a field trip bus ride. Or that one time they had to share an umbrella and she clung to him the whole walk home. When she said things like “I wish guys would—” and then described him perfectly. Which was so... stereotypical that it made him feel sick to even imagine volunteering.

Only the worst guys did that. Ones who lied about friendship so they could wait for a good time to pounce.

Hollis wasn’t like that. If Annie asked him out, he would have to ask her for time to think about it. Decide if it was worth destroying one of the best things he’s ever had. He might even say no, in spite of everything.

But Rose Town was... Hollis knew there would be a Moment.