𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵

Right away, Winter could tell Paige was empathetic and kind in how she responded to his admission. “It…sucks, to say the least,” Winter said with a laugh, though it wasn’t really funny. “I guess I just wish I could have picked what I forgot, you know? But I guess that’s not really how it works though, is it?” Otherwise everyone would be trying to get selective amnesia like Winter had. Looking in the mirror at Paige’s hair, Winter smiled - it did look good. “I’m in very capable hands then,” he remarked. “I don’t think people really understand how complicated cutting hair can be. It’s precise work.” That was something Winter could appreciate. “I do kind of something similar,” he told Paige. “I’m a seamster.”

Paige wished she had more memory to fill in for what was missing of his own. Unfortunately, most of her time there had been laser-focused on the boy who ended up being her downfall, only imagining what she could’ve provided him in another life. The blonde hummed in thought before giving in with a shake of her head. There was no use reaching for what wasn’t present in the first place, grasping at invisible straws. “I don’t think anyone had a great time in high school,” Paige eventually landed on. In her experience, those who did turned out worse than the others; she was almost one of those disrupted by what other people thought. “Between the tests and scrutiny, none of us had a good time.” That much she could be sure of.

Lucas kissed her back and smiled. "You're welcome. I'm glad you like it," he said. He hoped that she would but one could never be sure. Truthfully he didn't have much experience shopping for women outside of his mother and she had a habit of liking whatever he got her just because it came from him. Women he was seeing were a much different type of person to give gifts to. "I will," Lucas promised. His mother didn't know about Paige yet but he had a feeling she knew someone had entered his life again. It wasn't like him to ask for jewelry of hers after all.

Lucas laughed and nodded his head. "Yeah, I made a cake. It's nothing special. Just uh funfetti from a box," he explained. He wasn't an amazing cook by any means but he was competent enough to be able to follow some directions on the back of a cake mix without difficulty. Luke took her hand as he got up from the couch and walked them into his kitchen. "Have a seat," he said as he pulled out a seat at his kitchen table for her before he walked over to his fridge where the cake was chilling. He'd frosted it with premade icing and had already stuck some candles in it and he set it on his counter to light them before he turned off the lights. As he started to bring the cake over to her he realized he should probably be singing.

Illuminated by the light of her birthday candles he began the song. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Penny, happy birthday to you." Lucas set the cake in front of her as he waited for her to blow out the candles.

Paige knew next to nothing about wood, preferring flowers to the trees they grew on, but would listen to anything that came out of his mouth. It'd been that way for as long as she could remember. Not all of it sank further than her skin, but she would hang on each word, nodding where appropriate, and try her best not to get distracted by the way his lips moved. Now that she'd remembered their taste, even sewing herself back into his life, it made listening a little easier, knowing a kiss could be captured at any given moment. In high school, the blonde never knew when the other shoe would drop as they stood on opposite sides of the football field and pretended they hadn't been out together until the sun came out the night before. "Makes sense, it's way prettier than anything we have around here," Paige eventually agreed with a firm nod. "Where did you even find it?"

This might've been the first actual opportunity the duo had to get each other birthday gifts. While Paige had been planning their getaway for him since she started spending more nights at his place than her own, she never expected him to have gone to all that trouble. Sure, he'd given her trinkets before, but this was different. Her fingertips traced the memory of his mother and the days she spent in her classroom. All Paige wanted was to feel close to him, still finding ways she didn't know that she could love the boy she'd wanted since drawing hearts around their names in middle school. Their lives have intertwined since their youth, but only now have they grown into feelings for one another.

"My favorite," the blonde mused with a hum to mask the growl of her stomach. While dinner had been filling, nothing sounded quite as good as a freshly baked cake. Not to mention Paige had to try something made by Lucas, surprised he'd gone out of his way for her, but enthralled by the gesture. She trotted at his heels into the kitchen and took her spot at the table when it was presented. "And they say chivalry is dead." A joke based on truth, though any of the men she dated had only been second best to Lucas Callahan. With her chin sitting happily in her palm, she watched him, she could forever if given the chance. It felt like this moment had been snatched from a movie and she'd play it on repeat once they went to bed. Her cheeks warmed, the candles illuminating her features but hiding the tears that welled in her eyes. Paige couldn't remember the last time she felt cared for like this.

Her eyes clasp shut to blow out the candles and make her wish, also giving a moment to push back the wattering that she refused to let get in the way of her festivities. Once the flames had subsided, the blonde reached out for a quick swipe of the frosting before slipping the rogue index finger into her mouth for a taste. "I'm going to need a slice like pronto." Lucas wouldn't have presented as much to many, but she saw him in a light no other could measure, and she'd look straight into his sun every time. "This is perfect, all of it," she reiterated, wanting to make sure he knew she meant it too. "I might have to give you a gift of your own when we go upstairs." Though it was no secret that Paige would be retiring naked in his bed, while it was their usual routine, tonight was ever-so-slightly more special than most. "Thank you," she turned serious again for a moment, sincere and warm, before falling back into their normal banter.

No matter what Louise had gone through, and ashamedly done without Paige by her side, she realised more and more, with every passing moment that she spent with her best friend, that she had always needed her in her life. No one could lift her up in the same way that Paige did, and for someone as insecure and as desperate for validation as Louise was, to be lifted up was exactly what she needed. If it weren't for the dirty little secret that she was keeping from her best friend, Louise would have felt so wholeheartedly at peace in that moment. "I think it's the nicer weather. I always start feeling so... bleh at the end of the colder seasons."

It was like the girls hadn't missed a beat. In fact, for a moment, Paige felt as if not all that much had changed since they were last at each other's side. While they'd grown up, the duo were still the girls from their childhood. This felt right. After all these years of running away from Cardinal Hill, a piece clicked into place when she returned, as if it was where she was always meant to be. No matter how hard Paige tried to forget, the town was far too intertwined to be removed. "No kidding, it's just like... not the same. You know me and layers," she shivered at the thought. "I'm only me when I'm showing at least my shoulders." That had been the truth since childhood. Paige lived for the sunshine and preferred when it could kiss her bare skin. Fashion followed them throughout their journey back to one another, still bringing them together now.

"Oh, love a sister moment," the blonde commented as her friend continued to expand on her latest suitor. As far as Paige was concerned, no man would be enough for her Louise, but that was besides the point. "Sounds like he could be a catch. He'd better keep it up." So far, he sounded nice, yet it would be his coming actions that she paid the most attention to. The first date was an important one. "As if! You literally always look good, Lou. It's like not possible for you not to look amazing." She wasn't worried in the slightest about her friend's appearance while understanding the concern Louise had for looking her best. If it'd been Lucas, she'd be thinking the same thing, still hoping to impress him even now that he'd made his intentions clear. "Um, absolutely you should. I have to see this on you now," Paige replied, holding out the garment for her friend to take.

There was an elephant in the room now, or at least for Winter, and he wasn’t going to relax until he brought it up. “I sort of had an accident, and now I don’t remember a lot. You looked familiar, but sometimes that happens even if I didn’t know the person. So I guess in this case, I do. I’m Winter, in case you didn’t remember.” He looked at Paige in the mirror, a flash of memory coming to him then, and he smiled genuinely now. “I actually think I do remember the brown hair,” he told Paige. “I like the blonde. It suits you.”

Paige didn't mind his lack of remembrance, not that hers seemed to be any better. In fact, her high school years were tucked deep enough in her brain that sometimes she forgot they existed. If only it had been that easy when returning to the town where it all happened. Whatever Winter didn't know, didn't bother her. What Paige hoped for now was that he'd remember the great haircut she gave and make sure to return for another whenever he needed it. The now was what mattered to her, not what she'd left behind. "You aren't missin' out on anything but drama if you don't," she tried to brush off with a laugh and a wave of her hand to clear the air.

His explanation wasn't necessary, but Paige's smile softened as he spoke. She appreciated his openness, though it hadn't been requested. The girl took a moment from examining his hair to look at him through the mirror and offer a glance of understanding. "That's fine, I try to forget those years anyway, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to me if someone else did," she explained genuinely. Maybe later on in the cut, she'd dive into why, but she couldn't scare him off that quickly if Winter could be a returning client. "Nice to meet you or see you again, Winter." Her grin grew at her pseudo-greeting, unsure if this was truly their first meeting or just a reintroduction. Paige moved her hair so that it sat comfortably in front of her shoulders; she preferred the blonde, too. "And I did it all myself, so you know you're in good hands."

She hadn’t expected anything for her birthday, at least not from Lucas. They were still finding their footing, and Paige could tell the couple was off-kilter, unsure where they stood between friends and something more. After the last time things got to this place, the blonde was concerned it’d end the same way, but made sure to put those thoughts to the farthest corner of her mind. There, they were safe from her self-sabotage and tendency to ask questions he wanted nothing more than to avoid. They were like oil and water in some ways, fuel on a flame in others.

Paige took the package in her hands to consider the weight, not that it would give her much insight into the contents, but she couldn’t help herself. His words gave a glimpse; her gaze searched for more of an idea, leaving her more uncertain than before. “You really didn’t need to get me anything.” A lie, a little one, but a lie nonetheless. She’d hoped he might, as it gave her a sign things weren’t going how they did all those summers ago. Gently, the girl tore back the wrapping to reveal the box that he’d crafted with her in mind. “Luke,” she paused as the breath in her lungs vanished. It’d been more than Paige even imagined, her fingers tracing the edges of the object, imagining his hands working the wood just for her. “It’s beautiful, way better than my other one...” The girl was opening the compartments to start deciphering where her jewelry would be stored and found another addition. The bracelet was slipped on her wrist without another thought, the reference to the nickname she wore proudly making her beam even now. “Did you make this, too?” Her eyes scanned the item for hints as to how he might’ve made this creation or when it came into existence.

He smiled as he watched her unwrap the present. He'd hoped she'd like the present. Luke had tried to think of something practical to make her instead of just giving her something he might've whittled like he had back when they were going about this the first go around. "I thought you'd like it," he said as he reached out to run his finger across some of the Purpleheart inlays he'd put in the jewelry box. "That purple's not a stain or anything. The wood really looks like that," he commented. That was personally his favorite part. He'd been lucky to have gotten quite a lot of Purpleheart from the hardware store and this was the perfect project to use it in his mind.

He shook his head when asked about the bracelet. While Luke was probably capable of creating something like that he didn't solder much and honestly never would've thought about making a penny bracelet had he not spotted it at his mother's house. "No, I didn't. It's my mom's actually. I don't know where she got it," he confessed. She hadn't told him the bracelet's origin story when Lucas asked to have it so he figured where it came from wasn't all that important but Paige could put new meaning to it.

"I also, uhh made you a cake," he explained. "But we don't have to have any tonight or anything," he added. Paige had already talked about all the treats she'd had that day with her family and friends so the box cake Lucas made didn't really need to get eaten right away. It had just been a gesture he felt obligated to put forward.

The gift was a clear upgrade from the wittled wood creatures he'd given her in their youth. Not that they hadn't meant the world to her, still saved in a shoebox full of their memories that gathered dust in the closet while she'd spend the last nine years trying to forget. That'd been the problem with Lucas, she could never erase him, and the truth beneath the wish was she didn't really want to. If he reserved a part of her mind forever, there was a chance she hadn't lost him, not entirely, but upon returning to Cardinal Hill, they seemed to start where they left off. In her mind, it made the years of missing him and pretending someone could take his place all worth it for moments like these.

Her cheeks were rosy, somewhere between flattered and embarrassed at her own joy. After knowing her for this long, it might've been assumed that she didn't experience embarrassment around him, but somehow, what made her the most shy was just how much she cared about him. A finger followed the flow of purple wood with a smile inlaid on her features. "What kind of tree is it from? I've never seen a purple tree before." She knew nothing about woodworking, but only because of his knowledge did she feel comfortable asking questions. Paige's gaze moved back to the man she'd once drawn hearts around his name and pined over the chance for him to drive her home from a party. Now, his own handywork sat in her hands, and she gifted him a kiss of thankfulness. "I love it," she confirmed. "Thank you."

The bracelet was a happy surprise, even if he didn't need to do anything else for her. Once Paige learned it came from his mother, even the way she held the item shifted as if it'd become far more delicate. Before replying, she slipped the jewelry onto her bare wrist and held it out for both of them to observe. "You'll have to thank her for letting me take it." With her wrist outstretched, she gave a wiggle to let the pennies shine. "Perfect for a Penny." What he said next caught her off guard, and suddenly she was turned to face him, expression painted with awe yet surprise. "You... make a cake? You baked?" Paige almost couldn't believe it. The last thing she'd expect from Lucas was a baked good, but that most certainly couldn't wait another day. "What? It's my birthday, we have to eat cake." The blonde got to her feet, a hand held out for him to take. "Care to join me for a slice?"

To a stranger, her story meant nothing. She was just a girl at the diner with a sad tale to tell, not the head cheerleader or shoo-in for prom queen until she fell pregnant. The life she imagined she'd lead disappeared like sand in an hourglass. Maybe in another life, Paige had done all the things that she promised herself she would, but in this one, she'd come back to the scene of the crime. At least in this conversation, the truth didn't taste quite so bitter. "They haven't been too happy with the idea of me meeting her," she started. This being the first time she spoke about this to anyone, a sense of relief washed over her when she finally did. Here, the words were nothing more than that. "I'm just hoping they cave." With the events around town, it was looking like the exact opposite. The shift to his own children was welcome, and Paige even scooted closer ever so slightly as if to tune in to the details. In whatever life of hers she might've had without the mistakes of her youth, maybe she'd have a family that size. "They must keep you busy," the blonde mused with a smile coming into view. "Did you always want a big family?" She hadn't, not until she realized the one she lost.

Despite her newfound knowledge, the sight still caught her off guard, and she found herself stopping in her tracks as the two of them kissed right in front of her. Paige's reaction made Eden shake her head. "Paige, please, it's really not a big deal. Still getting used to it, but really." All of this felt more awkward because of the way Lucas and Eden fell out of contact. She didn't understand if it was something she had done wrong or if he had just grown out of her company. The horrible, anxious part of her wondered if he had even wanted to be her friend and instead just had a crush on her little sister the whole time. Shaking that thought away, she did her best to smile. "I umm...I'm happy for you both, really. I want both of you to be happy."

Lucas honestly didn't know how much Eden knew about him and Paige. He knew that their past had been shared with her but outside of that he didn't know what all Eden knew about their present situation. Paige and Lucas had made it official amongst themselves that they were dating but he didn't know who all Paige had told about them being together now. Their relationship was no secret this go around but they weren't exactly boasting about being getting back together.

Lucas felt caught in between the conversation between the two sisters and he didn't feel like he should interject so he simply stood there trying not to appear as awkward as he felt. Outside of running into Eden at the video store he hadn't crossed paths with her since and now didn't really feel like an opportune time to check in or apologize for his behavior and the complicated dynamic he had with her sister that only was getting messier. @pilferedpromqueen

Paige didn't want this to be like the time before. There couldn't be secrets between her boyfriend and her sisters. It wouldn't work like that. Still, the knot her stomach was tied in didn't care if this was the right thing to do or not. All she wanted to do was explain, but struggled to find any of the words when they both stood in her vicinity. There were some things meant for only the ears of her lover and others for those of her sister. "I — I don't want it to be weird or anything," the blonde started. If only it were that simple. Her history with Lucas had been complicated, but Eden had her own woes with the man. Now, all Paige wanted was for these two parts of her life to intertwine once again. "I want you to be happy too." Even that could've been worded better, unlike her to trip over thoughts as they came out, but Paige struggled to find the median of the conversation.

A hand stayed laced in Lucas's as a desperate attempt to tether her to the conversation she'd been fearing. It had to happen eventually, just not like this. Maybe there would never be a perfect time to announce you were seeing the boy who got you pregnant, that no one knew about, so it might as well be now. "You wouldn't want to like... hang out with us, would you?" A perfect opportunity for them to all bond, according to Paige, with a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon. She could at least try to be hopeful that they could all enjoy spending time together again. @bitethvhand

Was I hurt too bad? Can I show you daylight? How could I be sad When I know that you might Look out for my love, look out for my love

"You think I'm looking tan?" Louise asked, clearly feeling pleased with the fact. She was a naturally pale person, but she liked to do her best to build up a tan for the summertime, feeling as though it made her fit in with all of the other beautiful and tanned women she knew and admired - much like Paige. It wasn't something that she openly spoke about, but Louise spent a lot of her time trying to figure out how she could make herself look as attractive as possible. "Alright, warm tones, I'll start looking there," she nodded, taking Paige's word as gospel.

Paige paused as if surprised her friend was asking. A hand referenced her from head to toe with a tight-lipped furrow in place, committed to convincing Louise of the truth she saw. "Look at the material, you're looking hot as fuck." Whoever this guy was should consider himself lucky to be able to take her out, according to the blonde. Paige didn't need to meet him or even hear anything to know that he wasn't good enough for her best friend. Besides her sisters, Louise had been the only person she kept in contact with during her time in Los Angeles. It wouldn't go unnoticed or unappreciated that even with a pregnant belly her friend hadn't left her side.

It felt like no time had passed, and they could've been two girls in high school preparing for a party that weekend. Times seemed to be much simpler then, but Paige hadn't appreciated the simplicity when she had the chance. Life had caught up to her now. "Who is he? What do we know about him?" The blonde nodded in understanding of the explanation given. Though to some it might've been convoluted, the vision Louise saw painted in her friend's head. "Oh, absolutely. A dress says, I have a job, I pay the bills, I don't need you, but you need me." Just then, she plucked a daffodil and a jade sundress from the rack for the other to consider. "I kind of think this green would look so perfect on you."

It was happening again. Winter was sitting in the chair at Serene Scissors waiting to get a haircut, and it was happening. Normally Winter went to Main Street Barber Shop for his haircut, not for any particular reason, just because he'd been going there for a long time (and actually remembered going there for a long time), so it was familiar, comforting in its own way. People tended to take familiarity for granted, Winter had learned, and he'd been the same. Not anymore though - now Winter understood the value of it. But they'd been really busy when he went today, and Winter was so busy the next few days, so he decided to stop in Serene Scissors for a cut instead. And now he was sitting in the chair, looking at the stylist and realizing he knew her but couldn't actually remember how. This was a common occurrence for Winter, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it.

As the stylist put the cape across his front, Winter wondered if he should say anything. What if she remembered him too and thought it was weird he wasn't mentioning it? Though Winter supposed that could go both ways - she could bring it up too. Still, Winter felt rude not addressing it, so finally he cleared his throat and asked tentatively, "Sorry, but...do we know each other? Like did we maybe go to school together or something? I know it hasn't been that long, but...I can't quite remember."

Paige couldn't shake the feeling of being the new girl again. Even if she grew up in Cardinal Hill, it wasn't the same town, and she wasn't the same girl. Some things she felt like she was relearning, while others were first-time experiences. Doing hair in California was different, never worrying that a client would recognize her from high school as the girl who got knocked up. That truth came with the territory, and she'd been prepared this time around to answer questions of that variety. In fact, Paige somewhat expected them, word traveling fast in a community as tightly knit as theirs.

She was happy to take the walk-in, never saying no to a potential client, especially when the other stylists were busy. The blonde hadn't stared at him, not yet, focusing on getting things together and the cape being the cherry on top. Paige clasped it together at the base of his neck before shooting up a furrowed brow, examining his features instead of his hair. Maybe they had known each other. "You were a year below me, weren't you?" She couldn't put her finger on his name and decided to introduce herself to see if it sparked any other memories lost to time. "I'm Paige Prior. Oh, and I was also a brunette in high school. The blonde came later," the girl explained with a laugh to brush past any awkwardness that might occur.

It was the couple's second time returning to the fair that year. With Paige spending more and more time over at Lucas's place it seemed that they wound up doing things more on a whim than planning their outings. After having dinner together at home they decided to come out to the fairgrounds to grab dessert and kill time together.

After sharing a cup of soft serve ice cream and wandering past the various booths they found themselves waiting in line for the ferris wheel. Conversation came easily and they found themselves talking about nothing in particular as they waited their turn. The ride was a popular one but Lucas didn't mind waiting. Even though he wasn't usually one to show much PDA in relationships he felt more relaxed about it that night and had his hands slipped into Paige's back pockets as he finally found a break in their conversation to lean in and give her a kiss. It wasn't any more than a peck but had been a very obvious sign of affection and one he hadn't realized there'd been an audience for. Even as he pulled away he had no premonition to turn around to check who was approaching them as he continued their conversation. "I really don't think that it could've been that bad," he went on unaware he was about to be interrupted.

Things were actually going right for once. Not that Paige wasn't able to go with the flow, she'd just gotten tired of guessing her next move or wondering when her Jenga tower would finally fall apart. That being said, she still had the secrets of a life she'd left behind. Her sisters were slowly beginning to see the truth that the blonde had kept to herself for the last ten years. This was a new start, though laced with the one she'd abandoned first chance she got. Lucas' return to her life was a surprise but not unwelcome. In fact, she was convinced that she couldn't have loved anyone else properly without closing that door that had now been opened completely. More nights were spent at his home than her own, all the plans she had to renovate her space becoming less and less of a consideration.

The carnival in town gave the perfect excuse to get out, do something new, instead of the usual dinner and hang out at Lucas' place. She'd been ranting about her day at work in line for the ferris wheel, a different background for the daily update she gave her boyfriend. His kiss calmed down the blonde, who got heated over the fact that one of her co-workers didn't turn off the hair steamer. "She literally could've started a fire," the girl argued before being cut short. Paige was transported back to high school, watching the figure of her sister approach, and the blonde being caught red-handed. This situation was a bit different than stealing one of Eden's cardigans or dessert before dinner. "Fuck," she muttered, pulling back as if that could save her now. "Hi E..." Paige put on her best smile and sent up a prayer that she hadn't started another fire between the most important people in her life. @bitethvhand

As her younger sister went on, Eden couldn't help but look puzzled, her brows furrowed as she did her best to not jump to conclusions. Still, her head was reeling at how Paige could be involved in any of this. "Wait, what do you mean? Wait, don't tell me here..." Trailing off, she took her sister's wrist and led her to the kitchen. The staff wasn't currently serving anything, so the normally busy environment was now calm. The lingering cooks could easily tell that by the look on Eden's face, the situation required none of their presence, and they ended up going out the back door without a word.

Dropping Paige's wrist from her warm palms, Eden turned around to look her in the eyes. "Paige, what do you mean it's your fault?"

It’d been a conversation Paige had avoided since their first kiss. While her sister knew about her physical attraction to Lucas, the fact that it ever turned into anything real had been conveniently left out. Once they stopped seeing each other, she assumed it could’ve stayed a summer secret forever. That was until she missed her period and was anxiously chewing at her lip in their shared bathroom when she realized things got much more complicated. One lie turned into another until she’d developed a whole new narrative to protect the boy she loved from what neither of them was ready for. Today, Paige would pay the piper.

The kitchen provided some sanctuary from unwelcome ears, though the person she feared telling the most had been the one to bring her there. It’s been long overdue, but the blonde finally bit the bullet. “We, well, we kind of had a thing summer my junior year,” Paige started to unravel the rug tightly wound by time. The bomb hadn’t even dropped, and she’d already averted her gaze to keep herself from chickening out. “There wasn’t a footballer from an out-of-state team…” Though she didn’t find the courage to say the words outright, she hoped that Eden would be able to follow her sister’s skewed explanations to the truth.

"Here you go," Lucas said as he set the jewelry box in her lap for her to open. For as often as Lucas gave gifts, especially things he made he still didn't know how to act as he waited for people's reactions. That was why he often gave things at random and without much fanfare but today was Paige's birthday and he would be remiss if he hadn't wrapped it for her. "I hope you like it. I know you've already got one but-" Lucas began but he cut himself off before he downplayed his gift or explain his reasoning any further and let her just open it.

She hadn’t expected anything for her birthday, at least not from Lucas. They were still finding their footing, and Paige could tell the couple was off-kilter, unsure where they stood between friends and something more. After the last time things got to this place, the blonde was concerned it’d end the same way, but made sure to put those thoughts to the farthest corner of her mind. There, they were safe from her self-sabotage and tendency to ask questions he wanted nothing more than to avoid. They were like oil and water in some ways, fuel on a flame in others.

Paige took the package in her hands to consider the weight, not that it would give her much insight into the contents, but she couldn’t help herself. His words gave a glimpse; her gaze searched for more of an idea, leaving her more uncertain than before. “You really didn’t need to get me anything.” A lie, a little one, but a lie nonetheless. She’d hoped he might, as it gave her a sign things weren’t going how they did all those summers ago. Gently, the girl tore back the wrapping to reveal the box that he’d crafted with her in mind. “Luke,” she paused as the breath in her lungs vanished. It’d been more than Paige even imagined, her fingers tracing the edges of the object, imagining his hands working the wood just for her. “It’s beautiful, way better than my other one...” The girl was opening the compartments to start deciphering where her jewelry would be stored and found another addition. The bracelet was slipped on her wrist without another thought, the reference to the nickname she wore proudly making her beam even now. “Did you make this, too?” Her eyes scanned the item for hints as to how he might’ve made this creation or when it came into existence.