Sweaty Palms and runaway Dreams

Leo's palms were sweating — like, actually dripping — as they stood next to River by the concession stand. The county fair spun around them: neon lights, the smell of deep-fried everything, and somewhere, their family's dog, Buster, barking his head off.

"You gonna say it or what?" River asked, kicking at the dirt with their combat boots. River, with their perfectly imperfect eyeliner and that hoodie Leo had borrowed like five times and "forgotten" to return.

"I—" Leo started, but then: CHAOS.

Buster came tearing across the fairgrounds like a furry missile, tennis ball launcher malfunction stuck on OVERDRIVE. And behind him? The prize-winning bull from the 4H exhibit, which apparently did NOT appreciate being chased by a thirty-pound terrier mix.

"BUSTER!" Leo screamed, taking off.

The bull, whose name was apparently Ferdinand (rude, but okay), was NOT having it. Teenagers scattered like bowling pins. Leo's crush on River? Definitely not being helped by the fact that Leo was now sprinting after their idiot dog while a TWO-THOUSAND-POUND ANIMAL charged toward the—

"THE PETTING ZOO!" someone shrieked.

Leo's palms weren't sweating anymore. They were completely, terrifyingly dry.

They tackled Buster in a glorious, dusty slide. The bull skidded to a stop, snorted, and looked at them like, seriously? And River — River was doubled over laughing, phone out, absolutely recording this for Instagram.

Later, behind the Ferris wheel, River wiped dirt off Leo's cheek.

"Your dog," they said, "is a total legend."

"My dad's gonna kill me."

"Nah." River's fingers laced with Leo's. Their palms weren't sweaty anymore. "Ferdinand's fine. Besides, I kind of like a guy who can wrestle a bull for me."

Leo's heart did that thing where it forgot how to heart. "I didn't—"

"You did." River leaned in. "Also? California sounds good. Palm trees, beaches, no bulls..."

"You'd come with me?"

"Leo." River squeezed their hand, palm to palm. "I've been waiting for you to ask since freshman year."

The fair lights spun above them like galaxies. Somewhere, Buster barked at something else. Leo finally stopped sweating.