Ellie was smart enough to delay her date with Winston until after graduation. Unfortunately, that day had come and passed. It was time, as Winston had prompted her in several Facebook messages and emails, to make good on her promise.
Her friend Sarah bent down to return a carelessly abandoned skirt to its original position on the clothing rack. “I can’t believe you’re going through with this.”
“And I can’t believe you keep bringing it up.” Ellie laughed. Sarah enjoyed giving her a hard time, but only in the spirit of fun. “It’s just one date. It’s not like I’m signing a marriage contract.”
Sarah made a face to show her disgust at the very idea. “It’s Winston Henderson. I know you were friends in chemistry or something, but it’s not too late. You can still back out.”
They had an hour left before their shift ended. Ordinarily, Ellie couldn’t wait to leave the mall. Although she and Sarah had thought it would be fun to work together in the Appearances clothing store, neither had counted on having to deal with Mrs. Rogers, their borderline bipolar boss. Ellie wasn’t sure what she dreaded more—Mrs. Rogers or the date with Winston drawing ever closer.
To make matters worse, now that school was over they found themselves spending more time working than ever. Ellie would have liked to quit, but her family was having enough financial trouble as it was, and she would have a hard time paying for college. She was thankful she could pass her time in the store with Sarah. At least they had each other.
“I can’t back out,” Ellie protested. “I promised.”
Sarah wore a mocking grin. “Oh, of course. You promised.”
Ellie wasn’t exactly the most popular girl in school, but she had plenty of friends. She and Sarah had been best friends since sixth grade. Although the two were inseparable, Sarah was the more extroverted. Ellie tended to focus on school and volunteer work, while Sarah preferred to cheerlead and party. Sarah constantly encouraged Ellie to be more outgoing, whereas Ellie tried her best to keep her friend grounded.
“Don’t laugh. You know I don’t like to break my promises.”
“Yeah, you’re the poster child for the Ten Commandments. But don’t you think Winston merits an exception to that rule?”
Ellie took the opportunity to fix her blond hair in a ponytail while they continued waiting for customers to appear.
“He’s actually not that bad.” And it was true. Winston’s problem was that his clumsiness, intelligence, and complete disregard for picking out clothes had branded him a nerd. That was a label few could recover from, whatever other qualities they possessed.
Ellie thought he was actually kind of cute if you really looked at him. Having gone through a growth spurt at the end of their junior year, Winston was now much taller, even if his face remained obscured by a pair of thick glasses.
Unfortunately, his perceived nerd status had a tendency to conceal whatever good qualities he possessed. Winston was the class valedictorian for a reason—his nose was always buried in a book. He liked to brag that he was the captain of the chess club, which he was—although he was also the only member of the club.
Sarah held up a single finger. “Tell me one good thing about Winston Henderson.”
“He’s always nice to me.”
“Everyone is nice to you, because you are the nicest girl in the world. Too nice, I’d say. Mark my words, it’ll get you in trouble one day. It’s a good thing you have me to look out for you.”
Ellie rolled her eyes and went around the counter to stock shelves in the back. Less than a minute later, the electronic bell rang as a customer stepped inside the store. As she returned to the front desk, Ellie caught Sarah looking like Christmas had arrived early.
“Speak of the devil.”
Ellie groaned inwardly. Winston Henderson loomed in the doorway.
“Winston!” Sarah excitedly beckoned him to them. “What brings you here? Can I help you pick out a new sweater vest?”
Perhaps intimidated by the raven-haired cheerleader, Winston scowled but said nothing.
Ellie playfully brushed Sarah aside. “Don’t mind her. What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to remind you about our date tonight. I sent you an email earlier, but you didn’t reply.”
“That’s because I already responded to your text.” Ellie hoped he wasn’t watching Sarah crack up behind the counter. “Yes, I’m still planning on meeting you at eight.”
“Great.” At least he was enthusiastic. “See you at the arcade.”
Sarah burst into laughter once he was gone. “He’s taking you to the arcade? Wow, Ellie, you’re so lucky! Guess that means you two can spend the night playing Pac-Man and eating crappy pizza.”
“Knock it off. You know the arcade’s not that bad. It’s one of the few places to go out around here anyway.”
She was right about that. Hazard, Kentucky, notorious for a lack of entertaining activities, listed the public library as a “fun place for teens” on its official website. Even so, Ellie enjoyed growing up there, though she was looking forward to moving away. While she hadn’t decided on a college yet, the deadline was drawing close. Her mother wanted her to attend the University of Kentucky, and her father hoped she would go to a smaller college nearby to save money. It would be easier to make a decision if she wasn’t such a people pleaser. It wasn’t easy trying to make everyone happy. That’s what had gotten her involved with Winston in the first place.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Mrs. Rogers regarded them with thinly veiled contempt.
“What do you mean, Mrs. Rogers?” Careful not to give Sarah the chance to respond in her current flippant state, Ellie kept her tone polite.
“You heard me. This store is not a place for you to mingle with your friends. As I’ve told you before, this isn’t social hour. This is what happens when I give you too much freedom.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rogers. It won’t happen again.”
“It had better not.” Mrs. Rogers wiped a strand of gray hair away from her eyes. “Or you’ll both be looking for another job.”
Ellie glanced quickly at Sarah. They both knew that wasn’t true. She would have a hard time finding replacements. Almost everyone who had ever set foot in the store knew of Mrs. Rogers’ infamous temper.
Before their employer could continue her tirade, a man somewhere in his late thirties walked into the store. Mrs. Rogers blushed, and the two girls had to force themselves not to giggle. The older woman flirted with any passably attractive individual who came into the store, never with any success.
Mrs. Rogers checked her reflection in the full-length mirror next to the sweaters. “You girls finish stacking the clothes in the back. I’ll take care of this customer.”
Half shaking with laughter, Sarah lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ll bet she will.” They girls stepped away from the counter and walked to the other side of the store.
By the time they were ready to go home, Ellie had all but forgotten about Winston Henderson. If he hadn’t sent her a third text on her way out of the mall, she might have failed to show up altogether.
After parting ways with Sarah in the parking lot, Ellie found her way to her van. Despite its age, Ellie treasured the gift from her grandmother, who gave it to Ellie when her deteriorating eyesight forced her to stop driving. If not for her grandmother’s generosity, she probably wouldn’t have been able to afford a vehicle of her own.
The drive home was pleasant. Ellie drove with the window down and found the breeze refreshing after being cooped up inside the store all day.
She caught a glimpse of her backseat, empty for a change. During the school year, textbooks and papers usually cluttered her vehicle, but now the van was clean. She enjoyed the reprieve from studying. Other than Ellie’s work at the mall, her summer was completely carefree.
A short time later, Ellie turned the van into her family’s driveway. Her father was a veterinarian, and he kept his clinic on the property. Woods within walking distan
ce bordered the barn and their house. Although looking forward to college, Ellie reluctantly admitted to herself she would miss home a lot.
When Ellie opened the door, her mother’s voice echoed from inside. “Back already?”
Ellie kicked her shoes into the hall closet and rounded the corner. “I didn’t have anything to do after work.” She appraised her mother, who watched with amusement. “You look nice.”
They resembled each other closely enough that it was often remarked on. Both had long, straight hair, brown eyes, and easy smiles. Ellie’s hair was dark blond while her mother’s was brown, and her eyes had flecks of green in them. Despite those differences, Ellie saw just how much they looked alike whenever she glanced at her mother’s old pictures. Her mother was shorter than Ellie and had put on weight since childbirth, but the similarities were still there.
“How sweet of you to say that. Your father and I are having dinner out—when he finishes up with work, that is. I understand that you’re going out too.”
“What?” Ellie stammered, shocked. How did her mother know about her date with Winston?
“Sarah called the clinic about her cat. She wanted to wish you good luck tonight.”
“Yeah, right.” It was more likely her mischievous friend wanted to tip off her mother. Sarah, when I get hold of you, I will kill you, she thought sarcastically, miffed that her friend had ratted her out.
“So, who’s the lucky guy?”
“Just someone I know from school.”
“What’s his name?”
Ellie could talk to her mother about most anything. Even more than their looks, the two shared a similar nurturing disposition. She loved her mother very much, and the bond between them was strong, but there were some things she preferred to keep to herself. Going out with Winston Henderson was one.
Ellie made a face. “You know I don’t like to talk about this kind of stuff with you guys.” She turned around and headed for her room to get ready before her mother could probe into the subject further. “Have a great time.”
“You too,” her mom called after her. “Have fun, kiddo.”
Fun wasn’t exactly what Ellie had in mind. If everything went perfectly, she would be in and out of the arcade before anyone ever knew she was there in the first place. She changed out of her uniform and grabbed a blouse from her closet.
Cheer up. Winston really isn’t that bad. Unlike Sarah, Ellie didn’t have a problem spending time with people who were a little different. But if he tries to show me his coin collection again, I’m out of there.
She giggled at the thought. At least a night out would give her the opportunity to forget about college and work for a while. After brushing her teeth, Ellie undid her ponytail and let her hair down. She didn’t wear makeup often, which saved her time getting ready. An exception would not be made for Winston Henderson.
Her reflection pleased her. Ellie preferred to dress modestly. Despite Sarah’s promptings to the contrary, some things were more important than making sure every eye in the room was drawn to her. Maybe that was old-fashioned, but she had been raised that way.
The sun began to set outside her window, and darkness followed her on the drive back into town. The waxing gibbous moon soon made its presence known. Winston was waiting for her outside the arcade. Ellie took a deep breath and walked over to meet him.
“Hi, Ellie!
“Hi. You look nice.”
Winston beamed at the compliment. It was obvious he had put a lot of effort into choosing his clothes. His usual sweater vest and plaid pants had been discarded in favor of a red polo and khaki pants. As she drew near, her nostrils almost burned at the thick smell of liberally applied cologne. Not wanting to hurt his feelings, she kept silent, but he noticed her expression.
“Do you like the scent? It’s Axe body spray. The commercial said it drives girls crazy.”
Ellie, unsure if he was making a joke, stifled a chuckle. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond to that.”
Winston laughed awkwardly in return and held the door open for her. “Well then, shall we get something to eat?”
“We shall.” Despite himself, Winston’s gentlemanly efforts were kind of sweet.
Music emanated from the surprisingly crowded arcade. Loud beeps came from gaming machines dispersed throughout the room. The smell of pizza wafted through the air.
“I hope you’re hungry.” Winston patted his large stomach, which jiggled underneath the stretched polo shirt. “I could eat a horse.”
“Absolutely.” Ellie sidestepped a couple playing air hockey, and they settled at an empty booth.
Winston propped his glasses on his nose. “You’ll like it here. There’s lots of games and dancing.” He placed a troubling amount of emphasis on the last word.
Just when Ellie started to feel comfortable, Winston managed to reinsert an element of horror into her night. Even though the arcade had a karaoke machine and a dance floor, they were rarely used. The idea of Winston dragging her alone onto the dance floor was mortifying.
“So, Winston, do you have a major picked out for college?” She decided to change the topic of conversation while searching the room for familiar faces.
“Something in the biological sciences—although it’s a shame since that means my journalistic talents will be wasted.”
Ellie didn’t respond. Her gaze settled on a stranger standing near the cash register. They locked eyes, and he looked away quickly. Ellie wondered if he had been watching her, but quickly dismissed the notion. Even so, she had trouble taking her eyes off him. Something about him drew her attention. He was approximately her age, maybe a little older. His long, curly black hair twisted in every direction. The stranger wore a new-looking black button-up shirt and dark faded jeans. The only thing that didn’t look brand new were his brown boots, which looked like they had once been expensive but were now well worn.
“And after medical school, I plan on doing my residency in a top-five medical program,” Winston finished. “Of course, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about that on our next date.”
Next date? He’s not kidding.
“Winston, I’m not sure—”
The waitress’s fortuitous appearance cut her off. “Do you know what you want?”
“A large pepperoni pizza, and two Cokes for me and the lady. And chicken wings.”
“Actually, I’d like a water if it’s not too much trouble,” Ellie interjected.
The waitress nodded before leaving with their menus.
Winston’s attention returned to her, and he spoke after an awkwardly long pause. “Now let’s talk about you. Are you looking for a long-term relationship?”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “I’ve got to go to the ladies’ room.” She pushed away from the table. It could be worse, she told herself. At least Winston was trying his best. She just needed to let herself enjoy the evening. As she’d said earlier, it wasn’t like she’d committed to marry him or anything. It was just one date with a nice guy.
All those thoughts went out the door when she spotted Malory Baker on her way back from the bathroom. Even though Ellie wasn’t the most popular girl in her school, she was one of the best liked.
Malory Baker didn’t dislike Ellie. She hated her.
It all began their sophomore year when Malory had been dating Jeremy Boyle. At the time, Jeremy was a senior—and perhaps more importantly, a star football player. He was also a tremendous jerk. In one of Cupid’s crueler machinations, at some point Jeremy decided to pursue Ellie.
This was a very bad thing for Ellie for two reasons. One, she had no use for the thuggish Jeremy Boyle, who took no hint at each and every rejection of his advances. Even after graduating high school, Jeremy still tried to get Ellie to date him.
Worse still was Malory’s reaction. Malory blamed Ellie for her eventual breakup with Jeremy. From that point on, she tried her best to make Ellie’s life miserable whenever she could, knowing Ellie was too nice to sink to her level. It was u
sually Sarah who ended up fighting fire with fire.
If Malory now saw Ellie with Winston Henderson, she’d spread the news all over Hazard. Ellie would never hear the end of it. She froze, unsure of what to do. It looked like Malory hadn’t spotted her among the crowd. How could she get away without drawing attention to herself?
Lost in thought, Ellie didn’t notice the person to her right until it was too late. She bumped into him, spilling the drink on his tray all over his shirt, and the tray landed on the floor.
“I’m so sorry.” Ellie’s face flushed a deep shade of red. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s not the end of the world.” It was the stranger with the curly black hair.
They both bent down at the same time to pick up the tray and smiled at each other.
“Your eyes. They’re so brown. With a little bit of green.” His own eyes were a deep blue.
Unsure of how to reply, she let the comment hang in the air. “I’m sorry I ruined your meal.”
“I’ll live.” He leaned over the counter to place another order.
“No, please. It’s my fault. Let me make it up to you. We ordered an entire large pepperoni pizza at my table, and there’s no way the two of us can eat it all.”
“Are you sure?” He appeared hesitant. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”
She nodded.
“Well, you did say pepperoni.” He held out a hand. “I’m Alexander Thorne, by the way.” His grip was surprisingly strong.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ellie Sullivan.” She led him back to her table. “Are you from around here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.”
“I moved here recently. I just started college up at the University of Kentucky in the spring.” When they neared the booth, Alexander sniffed the air and made a face. “What’s that smell?”
“It’s Winston’s Axe body spray.” Ellie spoke quietly so Winston wouldn’t hear her.
“Someone should tell him he doesn’t need to use the whole can at once. Sorry—I didn’t mean to insult your boyfriend.”
“We’re not together.” The response came a bit too quickly. “I mean, we are on a date, but it’s kind of a long story.”
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