we stood in the hallway again, high fiving over and over, the way we do every time, but then i would take his hand in mine for a moment, and he wouldn't pull away. and we would talk.
"i'll see you in five days," i said.
"five days!? oh yeah, you're going to see your sister."
"yeah."
"i'll miss you." and then he pulled me into a hug and i didn't want him to let go. we stood like that for a minute, and then we were pulling away. his friend bounded up, yelled "group hug!" and all three of us smooshed together for a few seconds. later i watched him from my bus window far away, marvelling at his beauty.