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"It’s kind of French, you know? Not the hurting-people’s-feelings thing Only s when it’s sincere Americans will smile at anyone, for any reason"

"You don’t" The words leave my mouth before I can stop theather his thoughts "Yeah, I’ve been told that I have a hard ti my displeasure"

"I know" I hesitate "I like that about you"

His eyebrows shoot up "You do?"

I stare at the bench’s wooden slats Somehow, the two feet between our bodies has halved into one "It means that when you do s to make me" – I shake my head, and my hair bounces – "whos And can’t see"

His h "Like that"

"What else?"

I tilt my head "What else what?"

"What else do I need to know about Kurt?"

His phrasing iether The happy tightness returns to my chest "Notsavant or aHe’s brilliant But those stereotypes are the worst Though he does love routine"

Josh suess Sushi?"

"Same day, same time, same restaurant" Kurt and I meet after his weekly therapy session, but Josh doesn’t need to know that

"Saet the special, whatever it is I ask the server to surprise me"

The bells of Notre-Da our ears and laughing The bells are loud – a cacophony of chi over one another Fro and ring and ring, and we’re helpless, cohter, until they cease their clattering

The distance between us has disappeared

His jeans rub softly against s I’m too aware ofAll five senses are overloading I jerk my head towards the cathedral "That was my cue"

"Mind if I ith you?" Josh’s question sounds anxious, like he’s trying to catch his breath "I need to pick up a brush At Graphigro" It’s an art supply store a few blocks away from the restaurant I don’t knohether he really does need a new brush or whether this is an excuse to spend a few more minutes withhas been surreal We cross another bridge, the Pont d’Arcole, onto the Right Bank The scent of metal and urine wafts up froisters We’re in a two-person bubble The noises that I should be hearing – cars speeding, pedestrians rushing, construction clattering – are e Josh’s steady footsteps against the paveainst each other

Ask me out I chant it like a mantra Askthis weekend?" It ruptures from my mouth, far less casual than I’d hoped "I mean, you don’t have detention, do you?"

Aaaaaand way to lances at me with a smile "The head called et off to the right start’ this year But she didn’t give me detention Not yet"