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The truth is, Erin and Todd have known each other since they were in kindergarten but Todd was always focused on something else instead of Erin. Meanwhile, Erin had always been standing in the background, waiting to be noticed. Essentially, they grew up next to one another without being with one another.

Now, as Erin continued to walk down the path that led to the main road, still a little pissed her mother didn’t tell her about Todd, “of all the phone calls,” she muttered, kicking a stone to the side of the path, “she could’ve mentioned, ‘oh honey, I forgot to tell you, I’ve hired Todd to help out around the farm,’ nope, not a thing.” As she reached the main road, an ice cream truck slowly cruised back, the song, Silent Night, was blasting from its speakers like a lullaby. Immediately, Erin was transported to the day when her class went to the beach for field trip.

It was near the end of 5th grade, the beach was a whopping 3 hours drive south, but the school decided the trip would be a celebration for the graduating class. Several parents chaperoned, include Erin’s mother, but she followed behind in her car. On the school bus, Erin and Todd sat in the same row but on the opposite side of the aisle. During the journey, Erin found herself staring at him, mesmerized, while he talked and laughed with his friends in the next row and paid absolutely no attention to her.

While the trip was supposed to be for the students’ enjoyment, the school managed to squeeze in an educational tour of a seaside castle. As she entered the castle, her best friend, Leila, elbowed her, “Why don’t you go talk to him already?”

“I can’t, I…” Erin said, unable to further explain. Around everybody else, she would have no problem speaking but around Todd, she’s tongue-tied.

Before Erin could register the fact that she was touring a castle, the tour was over and she was back out in the sunshine, lining at an ice cream truck for a treat. Erin looked over at Todd, licking his Popsicle while chatting with his friends, and sighed, I should just give up on that guy.

Now, as she watched the ice cream truck turn the corner, Erin felt nothing but resignation and resolution. She turned her attention to the sky, “You want me work with him, mother? All right, I’ll work with him.”

Potentially to be continued…

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