During the weeks following Christmas, I turned fifteen. I spent a lot of time walking past Scotty’s house hoping to get a glimpse of him. I started attending church regularly, hoping he would be there. I watched for his car on my street every day. I learned his work schedule, and I waited on my porch each night to see his car go by on the way home. My days were full of anticipation.

 

Scotty started showing up at the bus stop on my way home from school. I was too naïve to figure out that he was there to see me. To me, it was sheer coincidence that he happened to be driving by at the same time the bus pulled up. I had no idea that he was hanging out at the church waiting to see my bus go by, and he would then follow it to the corner where I was dropped off. I also had no idea that he drove past my house intentionally day after day hoping that I would be sitting on the front porch. It didn’t matter that my house was entirely out of the way from any destination he would be going. He always took the “long” way, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up, so I refused to believe that he did it on purpose.

 

Throughout all of this, I didn’t know whether Scotty liked me or not. The only communication we had regularly were the waves we shared. Him from his car. Me from my porch, window, or the sidewalk. Like I said, Scotty wasn’t forward with girls.

 

When Valentines Day came, Melinda and I made Scotty a silly, little valentine. We signed it from both of us and dropped it off at his house the day before the holiday. Scotty had been working on dry walling the basement, and when he came to the door, he acted funny. He didn’t seem to want to talk to us. He took the Valentine, thanked us, and went back to his work. I felt embarrassed. I regretted showing up at his house randomly like that. I assumed he thought I was a stupid, little girl with nothing better to do than crush on an older guy. Many thoughts ran through my head. Maybe Scotty had a girlfriend. Maybe he thought I was annoying. Whatever it was, I was sure that he didn’t want me bothering him anymore.

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The Valentine I gave Scotty. He and I had often joked that if I became a millionaire, I would buy him a Viper. Apparently adding Melinda’s name to the card was an afterthought. I imagine she made me do it in exchange for her company in delivering it.

 

Valentine’s Day was on a Sunday that year. That morning I awoke to my step-dad’s voice. “Britt! There’s something on the porch for you.”

 

I rolled out of bed anticipating a Valentine from my dad. He used to leave little treats or balloons on our front porch for my brother and I. When I walked out the front door, I looked down and saw a red rose. I bent down and picked it up. As I turned it over, I found a note.

 

To: Brittany

From: Scotty

To be continued…