I stare him in the eyes, the moment heavy, intense, so palpable that I can feel the truth in his words, the meaning behind them. “Well then, shall we never be apart again.” I say, lifting his hand to my mouth, where I place a kiss on his knuckles. I look up at him, and our foreheads move in, touching, our noses move closer, and then . . . The bell sounds off, signaling the end of class. Collectively, everyone shouts, “Nooooooo.” Chuckie, in the nightgown still, for God knows what reason, says, “Kiss, kiss, kiss.” Laughing, I glance up at Arlo, and he cups my chin. Everyone joins in the chant
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