As soon as I sent the message, Steve called me back almost immediately.


    “What’s up? Someone trying to take advantage of you?” he asked bluntly.


    Iughed. “I wish! I haven’t even met the guy. How’s that supposed to work?”


    “You haven’t met him? So you’re asking me to dig him up just ‘cause you’re curious?” Steve


    sounded surprised. “Keira, you think I’ve got that much free time?”


    He’d literally just posted about entering some billiards tournament, so I knew he was busy.


    Realizing I might’ve jumped the gun, I quickly said, “If you’re swamped, forget it. I’m just curious. It’s


    not big deal.”


    “Come on, are you trying to guilt–trip me?” Steve joked, pretending to be offended.


    I chuckled. “Nah, seriously, just curiosity. If you have time, cool. If not, don’t stress.”


    “For you, I’ve always got time,” he said, reassuring me. I’ll look into it.”


    But he didn’t hang up right away. I could tell there was something else on his mind–probably about


    Jace’s post.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I stayed quiet. After a long pause, he finally said, “Forget it, never mind. Just know if you need


    anything.


    I’m here.”


    I let out a breath. Honestly, whatever he might’ve said would’ve just made things weird. It was


    probably better that he dropped it.


    “Okay,” I replied, and then, remembering his tournament, I added, “By the way, when’s your match?


    Send me a ticket–I’lle cheer you on.”


    “Haha, deal!‘ Steve said,


    After we hung up, I headed home. The weird dreams I’d hadst night still had me feeling drained,


    so I was hoping to crash for a bit. But as soon as I pulled into myplex, I saw a crowd gathered


    by the entrance.


    I parked and walked over, wondering what was going on. That’s when I saw the notice taped to the


    gate.


    Demolition.


    That word sent a wave of panic through me.


    I’d had a feeling this ce wouldn’tst much longer, but actually seeing it in writing… it hit harder


    than I


    expected.


    For most people, demolition meant excitement, a chance to cash in and get rich overnight. But for


    me, it was


    devastating. It felt like watching all my happiest, warmest memories get ripped apart


    “Two months to move out. If you leave early, you get an extra $1,000 as a bonus.”


    “I’ve been dying to get out of here forever. Finally, it’s happening.”


    “I just signed a year–long lease with my tenant! Now I have to kick them out? I’ll probably have to


    pay them to leave.”


    The crowd buzzed around me, everyone reacting differently. Some were pumped, some annoyed.


    I just slipped away quietly, deciding to walk home instead of driving..


    This ce was old, yeah, but that’s exactly why it had so much charm.


    The tall, old trees lining the streets were still lush and green. I remembered how, every spring, when


    the flowers bloomed, my mom would gather them with the neighbors and make flower pancakes


    with eggs.


    In the summer, we’d sit under those trees, cooling off, ying games. It was one of my favorite


    things to do with her.


    And then–there was the rock garden. It used to be the hangout spot for me and all the other kids.


    We climbed all over it, smoothing the stones down until they were shiny from years of y.


    As I walked through theplex, I kept taking it all in, knowing soon this ce would be ttened.


    All of this–everything that meant something to me–would be gone. The thought crushed me.


    As long as thisplex stood, my parents‘ home still felt like it was here. And as long as their home


    was here, it was like they were still close to me.


    But once it’s gone… I’m not even sure where I’ll put all my longing.