"You were good.

You were amazing.

You took my fucking breath away."

His eyes skewer hers.

"But it wasn't enough, was it?

No, you had to be famous.

You had to be famous yesterday.

You couldn't wait until we were older,

when you could handle it.

You were just a kid,

a stupid kid."

Mickey's face crumples,

red with rage

and something else.

He clutches his hands

in his thick brown hair,

like he could tear it out.

"And now you'll never be older.

You'll never be

anything,

ever,

but a stupid kid."

As I stare at Mickey,

feeling twelve years old again,

a whimper comes from my right.

I turn,

and Mickey turns,

to see Krista,

her eyes wide and wet,

lower lip trembling-

classic

girl

pre-cry