Us, In Another Ending

pale gold lines across his desk, his sketchpad, and the

't slep

layed in his head l

key

ke it hadn't meant

aybe she was dreaming. May

re thinking about i

hoodie, and stepped out just

. "Jesus. St

ive two doors away," he said,

usual. No paintbrushes tucked in this time. No loud colors. Just

iner near the corner," s

you'd n

liar. Mikey matched her steps, not too fast, not too slow. Their

d in newspapers. The air smelled like butter and old coffee. They slipped into a

er drink without looking

re quie

rked. "

asked, "Did I say anyt

nked. "Li

I don't know. I think I was

ai

Can't say I heard an

eyebrows raised. "So y

d. "You sai

her face in her hands. "G

d quickly. "It was

m through her fi

u were thin

ands away slowly

art stutte

ea

ike something unspoken hovered in the space

d at the table with a loud clatter, a

said, "My dad texted me this morn

d. "That's g

ze the apartment, ask about my grades, and pre

ill not

s I'm playing pretend. Like I'll wake u

s on the table. "But

sharp. Then she sighed. "

said gently. "You're

I wish I could fast-forward. Just skip to t

ssy middle parts where we eat questionable cafete

gh out of her.

a moment. "You're g

ibly caught off gu

t meant

dn't take

ou're talented, and you've got more fi

and for once, she di

ed and whispe

higher now, heating the pavement, filling the air

r dorm, Crizzle stoppe

" she

ea

uth, then back to his eyes

nod

more like, more than this frie

st tightene

O

I felt

his gaze.

ned hi

close

mind. Her laugh. Her trust. Her

ed to s

him was scream

held hi

t all up. Of losi

said softly, "I

faltered, just a

used, then added, "See

he wa