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"Be right back Chuck," I say, and toss my book onto the counter

I chase after hi, I reet over this obsession He may be the sweetest boy I’ve everto break my heart I return to the store and make my purchases

Saturday proves to be harder to sit through than I thought The books are just not doing it forso out to search for Elliott today but even I know that’s a lie I push my books from my lap and onto the bed and head to my dad's study

"Pop? Want to walk into toith me?"

"I would schnitzel but I’ave o to Sadie’s shop then Take a look around See if there’s anything good on the shelves today"

"You know your mother hates it when you shop at the thrift store"

"Yeah, but it’s the only place I can find pre-loved jeans the way I like theht, have fun" I've been dismissed

I walk to Sadie’s and open her door

"Sadie?"

Sadie is in her early thirties, never beenabout her being in love with a boy froe he proic I can't see this in Sadie though She's too independent and strong in her self-worth I bet it was more like she refused to wait and ended up alone anyway She never brought it up and I never asked Everyone has their secrets

"Yes, darlin’ I’m back here"

I head in the direction of her voice and stop sharply in front of a wicked dark orange velveteen floor length fitted jacket I pick it up and toss it over my shoulders in front of the asp It is the cutest thing ever and it fits me like it was tailored forthis today"

Sadie appears from behind a rack I love Sadie She’s a kindred spirit

"I ondering when you were going to pick that up Had a little bet going on with hs "Had to pry it out of soirl’s hands last week, probably one of those Bluefield girls trying to be you"

Sadie holds this delusional notion that since I ah school and she was popular therefore it is safe to assume that I am popular as well

"Sure Sadie Apparently you haven’t heard, so I’ll enlighten you The name Julia Jacobs is synonymous with ‘Bluefield Pariah’"

"Nonsense"

"Sadie, Sadie, Sadie It’s true"

"He the subject

"Do you know the Gray fae Julia You numb skull

"Mark and Shelby? Wasn’t their boy Elliott your best friend growing up?"

That hit too close to hoins to ache

"Yeah"

"Well? What about the, just curious to know if you knew them or not"

"Ohhh, I see You’re smitten with Elliott Gray"

"I a that?"

"I can just tell, always had a feeling about you two kids This is good Julia"

"No, it’s not," I say

Did I just ad smitten with Elliott Gray? To Sadie? Out loud?

"Yes, it is Now come over here I have some awesome new jeans that just came in"

I follow Sadie

"I saw him yesterday," I whisper

"Who?" She teases

"You knoho Sadie! Sheesh"

"Where?"

"The grocery store He did so extraordinary"

"What? Did he use paper instead of plastic?"

"Hardy, har, har" I s "He helped a woman in need"

"I’enerous boy"

"She ith her baby and he bought them food and supplies to last them awhile"

"That’s incredibly sweet Julia"

"I know," I adnity intact I’ve never seen anything like it" A lu ain

I stick around Sadie’s shop for about an hour I lounge on the dark purple settee she has in her , people watching and chatting with Sadie about nothing in particular That’s when I see him I jump up and crouch behind the settee, my head just above the tufted back He walks over to the newly renovated old fashioned train station and sits on the bench just outside it What are you up to now Elliott gray?

"What are you doing Julia?"

"Shh, get down" I grab her sleeve and pull "I’ on Elliott Gray"

Sadie crouches down beside ?" She asks

"He’s just sitting there Wait! So!"

"Isn’t that Robyn Larson?"

I accidentally growl through gritted teeth Oops Sadie laughs Robyn Larson is an incredibly sweet girl but she’s rather popular with the boys at school I tried once our sophoht it would help her self-estee for but it wasn’t happening She knehat she wanted I tried, at least

"I don’t like him I don’t want hirowls It’s a natural part of everyday conversation right?"