Page 165 of The Friend Scheme
“You might be the smartest person I’ve ever met,” I say.
“You need to meet more people then. But thank you. You’re very sweet.”
Silence falls.
“I’m guessing this is still it for us, though?” he asks. “You aren’t going to see me again after this, are you?”
“I mean, never say never, but…”
He is still linked with the cops. This is so risky.
“Well,” he says. “Then I’m hoping for a kiss goodbye…? Maybe it’d help with closure. One last kiss, and then…”
“You don’t need to explain,” I say. “I get it.”
I lean across and put my hand on his chest. The material of his shirt feels silky, and I can feel his firm muscles underneath. I close my eyes and kiss him like my life depends on it.
Honestly?
It is, by far, the best kiss we’ve ever had. It feels so good. I know I need to stop right now, or I’m never going to be able to stop myself from seeing him.
I move away.
“There you go,” he says, smiling. “Was that cinematic enough for you?”
“Definitely.”
“One last thing,” he says. “I got you something, actually.”
“Oh, okay.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a leather wristband.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“It’s a bracelet. I bought it a while ago, because I thought you’d like it. Then I realized I never gave it to you. I thought I’d give it to you now, as, like, a thanks-for-the-memories thing.”
I take it from him. My first thought is that it might have some sort of recording tech in it. It’s thin, just a strip of leather. But still.
“This is a friendship bracelet,” I say.
“Exactly. I knew you’d get it.”
“Well, thank you. I love it. But, dude, I really need to go. The longer I stay here, the more I want to keep you around. But I can’t. If my dad finds out…”
“I know. I don’t want to be sappy or anything, but I want you to know something.”
“What?” I ask.
“I think we’re always going to be friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“We got so close and have gone through so much together. That’s never going away. So, like… no matter what, we’re going to be friends. Till the end.”
I want to believe him. The thought gives me a strange comfort. Friends till the end.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
