𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫. 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺

𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑪𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑬𝑵

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏,

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕, 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏."

Flashback... 17 years old

Lori POV

Before my family moved to Minnesota, we lived in Hawaii. I know, a huge change of scenery. For my seventeenth birthday, I asked my parents to take me back to Honolulu.

It took me a few weeks, or months to convince them, but they eventually said yes. Now, the problem was that Paige got on her knees and begged me to bring her with me.

We would be gone for 2 weeks in the summer, and Paige implored that she would lose her mind without me. So, I did what anyone would do, and I created a slideshow presentation on why bringing Paige to the trip would be a good idea.

It obviously wouldn't be a good idea, but I love her, and it would make the experience so much better.

At first, my parents objected the idea, thinking that me and ALL of my brothers would be way too much. Until, Paige's mom suggested that they fly separately.

We still own the house I grew up in so we originally planned to stay there. It got ugly, but I did manage to convince my parents to let Paige sleep in my bed over the trip.

Paige and I were ecstatic. The week before our trip, we created long lists of we would do together. Paige, never going outside of Minnesota ever, was clueless.

I suggested to teach her how to surf, and she loved the idea. I miss surfing so much. To cope with the loss, I skateboard a lot which isn't as exciting, but still better than nothing.

I am currently laying in Paige's lap, she's playing with my hair, and I'm holding our list of activities. I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of Paige's hands in my hair. I start talking about my family that still lives in Hawaii.

"They're gonna baby you like crazy." I laugh remembering my grandma freaking out when I tell her I had a girlfriend. She's Paige and I's number one fan.

She laughs, "Wait..." Paige pauses, stopping her movements.

"Are they... do they know...?.." Paige worries, smile fading from her face. I look up at her anxious expression

"Yes, Paige they know. I talk about you all the time to my grandma. They love you." I laugh, looking down at the paper.

"Okay, so we have surfing, hiking, hula dance competition-" I read the list, holding a cheap pen in my hand.

"I love you." Paige cuts me off. Her voice sounds hesitant. I pause, deciding how to respond.

I sit up, my back facing Paige. I stay like that for a few seconds, not saying anything. Of course we've said 'I love you' before but that was before, when we were friends.

"Oh- I- Lori I'm sorry-" Paige panics, starting to get up off my bed.

I turn around, Paige is standing up of my bed. I laugh, hugging her from behind. I sit up on my knees, kissing her cheek.

She smiles, her cheeks redden. I pull her down onto my bed, hovering over her.

I lean over to the side of her face, whispering, "I love you too, Paige." I place a gentle kiss right below her ear.

She hums as I kiss down her neck. My tanned fingers run along Paige's torso, holding onto her waist.

I disconnect my lips, and look at her face. Her straightened hair is in a bun, baby hairs framing her face.