herohemmovedastheyfacedeachother.

    Hehadntsaidanything,hismusclesseemedfrozen,andforasedshethoughthedidntreizeher.Suddenlyshefeltguiltyaboutshowingupthisway,withoutwarning,andthismadeitharder.Shehadthoughtitwouldbeeasiersomehow,thatshewouldknowwhattosay.Butshedidnt.Everythingthatcameintoherheadseemedinappropriate,somehowlag.

    Thoughtsofthesummertheydsharedcamebacktoher,andasshestaredathim,shenoticedhowlittlehedgedsinceshedlastseenhim.Helookedgood,shethought.Withhisshirttuckedlooselyintooldfadedjeans,shecouldseethesamebroadshoulderssheremembered,taperingdowntonarrowhipsandaflatstomach.Hewastan,too,asifhedworkedoutsideallsummer,andthoughhishairwasalittlethinnerandlighterthansheremembered,helookedthesameashehadwhenshedknownhimlast.

    Whenshewasfinallyready,shetookadeepbreathandsmiled.

    "Hello,Noah.Itsgoodtoseeyouagain."Herentstartledhim,andhelookedatherwithamazementinhiseyes.Then,aftershakinghisheadslightly,heslowlybegantosmile.

    "Youtoo?"Hestammered.Hebroughthishandtohis,aicedhehadntshaved."Itsreallyyou,isntit?Itbelieveit."

    Sheheardtheshohisvoiceashespoke,andsurprisiallcametogether-beinghere,seeinghim.Shefeltsomethingtwitside,somethingdeepandold,somethingthatmadeherdizzyforjustased.

    Shecaughtherselffightingfortrol.Shehadntexpectedthistohappen,didntwantittohappen.Shewasengagednow.Shehadntehereforthis..,yet...Yet...Yetthefeelioeherself,andforabriefmomefifteenagaiasshehadntinyears,asifallherdreamscouldsti