THE SPACE BETWEEN US

Chapter One

The sun dipped behind the hills surrounding Ogmok, painting the sky in soft shades of amber and violet. Evening settled over the quiet town, and the chirping of crickets slowly replaced the laughter of children walking home. Nestled between thick forests and rolling fields,

Ogmok was the kind of place where everyone knew each other's names—and almost everyone's secrets.

On the worn stone steps of the local library sat Sarah.

One leg swung carelessly while she balanced a carton of chocolate milk on her knee. Her thick curls bounced every time she laughed, and at that moment, she was laughing harder than anyone else.

"Did you see Mr. Ramos' face when Kevin answered that math problem?" she asked between giggles. "I swear he looked like he wanted to disappear."

Ace, sitting beside her with his backpack resting against his feet, looked up from his phone. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips despite himself.

"He was nervous," he said. "I'd probably forget everything too if the whole class was staring at me."

Sarah nudged his shoulder. "You're too nice."

"And you're too mean."

She placed a dramatic hand over her chest. "Mean? Excuse me? I simply appreciate good entertainment."

Ace chuckled.

"No," he corrected. "You enjoy making fun of people."

"I do not."

"You absolutely do."

"Fine..." She grinned. "Only a little."

Ace shook his head, unable to hide his smile. Moments like these were his favorite. Sarah could brighten even the dullest afternoon without realizing it.

She leaned back on her hands and stared at the fading sunset.

"So..." she said. "Do you think Kevin's cute?" Ace blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"No, I heard you." He frowned. "I just don't know why you're asking me."

"Because you notice things."

"I really don't."

"You do."He sighed.

"I think he's just... Kevin."

Sarah laughed so loudly that two students leaving the library glanced their way.

"That's the most boring answer you've ever given."

"You asked."

She bumped his shoulder again before letting her smile soften.

"You know," she murmured, "sometimes I wonder if people really get happy endings."

Ace followed her gaze toward the orange sky.

"What makes you ask that?"

"I don't know."

Her voice lost its playful edge.

"Maybe because real life isn't like the books inside that library."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

A cool breeze drifted between them, carrying the scent of old paper and freshly cut grass.

Ace stole a glance at her.

Most people only noticed Sarah's laughter. They didn't notice the moments after she stopped laughing—the quiet moments when her eyes wandered somewhere far away.

He noticed.

He always did.

"I think..." Ace said carefully, "happy endings aren't something you find." Sarah looked at him.

"I think they're something you build."

She smiled, but it wasn't the carefree smile she'd worn a few moments earlier.

"I hope you're right." Ace smiled back.

"So do I."

Neither of them realized that this ordinary evening would become the beginning of a story neither of them had planned to write.