Page 102 of Best Friends for Never

“That’s the plan. I promise.”

Promise.The word stings on my tongue, but I can’t take it back. Not with him looking at me like he is—his eyes lit up and a smile stretched across his face.

It’s easily the most excited I’ve ever seen him, so why does it hurt so much? Why does it feel like my world is about to implode?

“Good. You’ll come out there and fall in love with it, and I’ll become an actor, and you can work on sets, and we’ll get to be together forever. It’s going to be amazing.”

“So amazing,” I agree. “I can’t wait.”

And Ican’twait. I want that too. I really do.

But something feels wrong. Off. My chest feels heavy, and not with elation. It’s something else I can’t quite put my finger on.

“Fuck, me neither, Peter.”

Then he’s kissing me again, and it’s just as incredible as before.

No. It’sbetter.

I lift my hand to touch him, to pull him closer, but it never connects.Why doesn’t it connect?

I pull away, opening my eyes.

Noel’s still there, but he’s fading by the second.

What’s happening? Where is he going?

“Noel?” I call out to him, but he doesn’t answer. “Noel?”

Again, no answer.

“Noel? Noel?Noel?” I yell, each call of his name becoming more frantic.

But it’s pointless.

He’s gone.

And I’m left standing on the stage alone, still calling out his name, tears rolling down my cheeks as sobs begin to rack my body.

He’s gone. He’s gone, and he’s never coming back.

“Parker?”

I hear his voice. It’s clear and loud. I whirl around, looking for him, but he’s not there.

“Parker?” he says again, and the stage shakes.

What’s happening? Is this an earthquake?

“Parker!”

More shaking.

“Peter!”

I wrench my eyes open, gulp in a big breath of air, and sit straight up.

I blink, looking around the room, expecting to see the Goodman Theater, but it’s not there.

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