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prologue • myles

I was in 3rd grade when I fell in love.

Riley Campbell was absolutely beautiful, and in my tiny 8 year old mind, she was "the one." The first time I saw her, I was lost in my own little world, until my best friend Noah spoke 5 words that turned it upside down.

"Myles, look at that girl!"

That was all it took for my breath to be taken away.

She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin. Even at 8 years old, she had all the boys drooling. She still does to this very day--trust me, I would know. We've been going to school together for 9 years now, and I know that she knows that I'm desperately in love with her, but there has always been something holding me back from finally asking her out.

Or rather, someone.

Screw you Max Carter.

Max and his sister Evann moved to Cardiff when we were in 7th grade. Riley and I had been friends for a while now, and I was slowly building up the courage to ask her out. But as soon as Max and Riley met, everyone knew that they were meant to be together. Even I had to admit that they had an undeniable chemistry that was one in a million. But still, I always held that tiny sliver of hope that one day, Riley would pick me over Max. Maybe that's why I never really looked at any other girls--I would always compare them to Riley, and I would never look at them again. When I was with her, I felt complete. Whole. Like she understood me in a way that no one ever could or would.

When Max and Riley (finally) made it official at the end of our junior year at Cardiff High, all hope was lost. I knew that once she was attached to him for good, there was no going back. Although I knew that we would still be really good friends, it would always feel like a tiny piece of my heart shattered whenever I saw them together.

I felt like there would always be something missing.

Like I would never find my other half.

That is, until I did.

Picture of Riley to the side!