The rooftop had become your place. Whenever the walls of Split River felt too tight, you and Wally would sneak up there, just the two of you, sitting on the cool concrete ledge while the town below slept.

That night, the sky stretched wide and clear above you. Stars freckled the darkness, faint but steady, and the air carried a quiet that made it feel like the whole world belonged to the two of you.

Wally was stretched out beside you, lying flat on his back with his hands folded behind his head. His letterman jacket was draped over your shoulders, still holding a bit of his warmth.

“Crazy how we can still see the stars,” you murmured, tilting your head back.

“Yeah.” His voice was soft, thoughtful. “Makes you feel small, but… not in a bad way.”

You smiled, watching him instead of the sky. His curls brushed across his forehead, his profile calm and boyish in the moonlight. Something swelled in your chest, warm and certain.

“Wally?”

He hummed in response, eyes still fixed on the stars.

“Do you ever wonder if this… us… is real? I mean, we’re—” You hesitated, gesturing vaguely at yourself. “We’re not exactly alive anymore.”

That made him turn, rolling onto his side to face you. His expression was earnest, a little nervous, but steady. “I don’t care what label you put on it. I just know that every time I see you, my day feels brighter. And when you’re not around, everything feels… empty.”

Your breath caught, your heart aching in the best way.

“So,” he went on, his hand inching closer until his fingers brushed yours, “if this is the part where I’m supposed to, you know, ask you to be my girlfriend, then…” He chuckled softly, suddenly shy. “Will you?”

You blinked at him, stunned, and then the smile spread across your face before you could stop it. “Of course I will.”

Relief washed over his features, quickly replaced by pure joy. He laughed, pulling you into a hug so tight you nearly toppled over. You both laughed against each other’s shoulders, the sound echoing softly into the night.

When he finally pulled back, Wally pressed a quick, nervous kiss to your lips—just a brush, just enough to leave you both grinning like fools.

And on that rooftop, under a sky that seemed endless, the two of you became something official. Not just two spirits stuck in the same limbo, but something real. Something yours.