ation. We spent every second together, playin

y and usually chatting, altho

r paid much mind to them. Why would they choose to sit and t

d fun. I loved it when I made him smile or laugh. I could chat his ea

ay we balanced each other out,

through his every move, while I was spontaneous and constant

well to

made me feel special and seen after years

ched him. They never hurt. In fact, they felt surprisingly pleasant

ether, despite this being a family vacation. It only became an

llowed to sleep in the same room, like a sleepover

back to my room, Ace shoved me

n Ace b

e as he snatched his hand back and looke

ay. Even as a six-year-old, h

g the second queen-size bed with me. He did the

each other during the entire cruise, except for when

s weird, even as a kid-I was secretly happy. I reall

tion. I remember watching them one afternoon while Ace and I did arts

y mom start to cry over s

ntion back to him. "I have a huge pool at my hou

live in C

es

live super far away from each other and that I would have to tak

ve into a house near mine. After our vacation, you're going to

ends with Ace, but I couldn't tell if he w

om said fro

r her chest, and her face was puffy from cryin

t's go back

"Can Ac

out of his chair and to

r own," my father responded. His

to see what had made the noise and saw that Ace's dad st

in a soothing tone. "T

ere curled into balls at his sides as he

ce," his father continued,

pression, he finally did as his father asked. He sucked in a d

ents. "We can't keep them away from each other for too lo

warily as he pulled me an

at me down on the edge of my bed be

n? Why is mom c

exchanged

been feeling," my dad said. "A

ly. "Yeah, it's been really fun. We should

ging out with Ace? You...

f my new friend. "I really like him. He's my new

at each othe

sked, thinking about having to say goodbye t

r mom aren't going to go home to Massachusetts just

rise. Ace had said th

taking my hands in hers. "I

e... You see,

sh, Dad grunted and s

explain it later, sweetheart,

You'll like Colorado. There are mountains ther

't care about mountains or snow. I loved s

a new school in Colorad

new school!" Tears of frustra

queezed my hand. "But you

friends? What

ends. And you can still call Marta any tim

uite reach her eyes. "You'll be at the same school as h

ally?" My chest

wo of you got along and thought you might like

ally. I liked Ace more than any of

I was weirdly despera

m to respond, I stood a

the other side. He looked tense, and hi

at!" I ex

t! I'm moving

e's lips turned up int

my life began: the part