Page 2

Chapter 2

Nine Years Earlier - Julia, 7 years old

I’m sitting under the tree that marks the line between our yard and Graham’s. He plops himself beside me, trying to read what I was writing, and says, “Whatcha doing?”

I quickly cover my paper. “Nothing.” My face turns red.

“Can I see your paper? Please? My mom says I have eyes that are hard to say no to.”

“Uhm. Well. Can you keep a secret?” I say, worrying my bottom lip.

“Absolutely. I’m the best at it.”

“It’s a list. One day, I’m going to fall in love with a boy that does all these things.” I hand the lined, yellow paper to him.

“Bring me a treat every day. Hug me when I’m scared. Hey! I could do these things. Let me be your boyfriend!”

“Oh Graham.” I giggle. “Do you mean it?”

“Well, yeah! That list seems…”

“Graham! Wanna throw the baseball with me?” Nathan runs to the tree, tossing a baseball from hand to hand.

“Sure! Don’t worry, Julia. I’ll bring you a lollipop tomorrow.”

***

I sit at the base of the tree the entire next day, doodling on my paper and coming up with more items for the list. I wait the entire day for Graham to bring me a lollipop. He doesn’t ever come. I hug my knees to my chest and try to convince myself it doesn’t matter and that I don’t care. But I do care. It does matter. My heart is breaking for the first time. I feel the tears pricking at my eyes. I take a minute to hug myself, hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe, Graham will show up.

“Julia! Dinner!” my mom calls. I take a deep breath and wipe my face.

He didn’t mean it when he said he'd be my boyfriend. He got distracted. This is why I need the list. If a boy will do all these things, there’s no way they don’t mean it.