After Julia had just bumped into me she took a step back to, I guess, analyze me. She immediately afterward clung to me by wrapping her arms around my neck. I honestly don't think she has ever tried to get this close to me before.

"Oh, Elliot, what happened to you?" I thought she was referring to when I ran out of The Animal Shop.

"Well, what do you expect when someone sees the person they love in the arms of another man?"

"You love me?"

"Yes, Julia, more than anything."

"Then, would you consider going on a date with me?"

"Look Julia." I had no idea how I was going to reject her, but I knew I had to. "You obviously have feelings for Vaughn. I can't go out with you knowing that." I half expected her to jump and deny that she had any feelings for him., but she didn't. She just glared at me. Her mouth was slightly open. I sucked in my lips and nodded goodbye to Vaughn, who was just watching this entire seen. Then I looked at Julia, who hadn't changed expressions, and left.

I walked back to my house trying to keep my mind empty. I ran into the house, immediately jumped under the blanket, and fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of Natalie's voice. "Mom! Grandpa! Elliot got a letter!" It doesn't happen very often that somebody on these islands gets a letter, unless it's from somebody off the island. My whole family lives on these islands so the only time we ever got anything is when Pierre sends poems to Natalie.

"Elliot. Wake up sleepy head" Natalie said in her annoying tone. I snatched the letter from her, looked at the back, and saw it said "Julia" in big curly letters. I opened the letter, unfolded it, and started reading.

Elliot,

You're right to be mad at me. I really can't blame you for it. It's true that I have feelings for Vaughn, but they're different with you.

With him my heart races, my palms sweat, and I yearn for him to take me, but with you I'm more relaxed and comfortable. I want you to hold me and caress me.

With you I see romance rather than seduction.

I hope you take this note as a sign that I truly want to give us a chance. If you agree meet me at the cafe tomorrow at noon. My treat.

-Julia Elizabeth Deran

I couldn't decide if I liked the note or not. It was obvious she meant well in the note, but it shows that she really does have feelings for Vaughn, strong feelings.

I didn't know what to do for the rest of the day. It was almost five, the time I usually leave to go get the shipping. I grabbed my bag, got enough money, and left.

I, first, went to Chen's Shop and opened the box. Inside he had a bag, that had a hole in it, filled with turnip seeds. I got a band-aid, out of the first-aid kit my mom makes me carry in my bag, and patched up the hole. I set it down in my bag and picked up the pouch with money in it. I counted seventy-two Gs and started towards the door.

I reached the for the door when Charlie came running out with a flower in his hand. I got the door, before it shut, and walked in. It was really quiet, except for somethings hanging from the walls being blown by the wind from the door. Chen was cleaning what looked like lunch from the counter.

"Hello, Elliot, I have some leftover egg soup. I can heat it up if you want some." I was actually more hungry than I had realized.

"Sure, that would be nice."

"Okay, but I will have to bring it to the counter in case we get a customer."

He walked to the back and came out with a tray containing a bowl of the soup and a glass of hot milk. I hate milk, but I didn't say that to be nice. I sat on the stool behind the counter and started blowing on the soup.

"So, what brings you here today, Elliot?" He asked.

"I always come here to pick up the shipping."

"True, but what brings you to eating my soup and excepting the milk you hate?"

I don't know how or why he did that, but I was stunned. How is it that all the adults in this island know everything? "It's Julia"

"Aah. I should have known it would be a girl."

"The problem id I love her, and she-You know, it would be easier if I just showed you the letter she gave me." I took it out of my apron and handed it to him. He squinted his eyes while reading, then he set it back down on the counter. I quickly folded the note and put it back in my apron.

"Do you plan to meet her tomorrow?"

"I'm not really sure yet. I've always wanted to go on a date with her, but only when I knew I was the only man in her life."

"I understand, from the letter, that Julia is admitting her feelings for you, therefore she is showing you that she would rather be with you than Vaughn. I think that you should meet her halfway and show that you are still willing to be with her in her time of confusion instead of showing her you don't want to be with her anymore because of her mistake."

I sat there and really thought about that for a while. He was right. It's not like Julia and I were official. She had the right to be with whoever she wanted. I should just be happy she liked me at all. "Thanks ."

"Elliot, your over eighteen. Please, call me Chen. Oh, and you welcome." He said with a smile that I returned.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I owe you seventy two Gs." I counted the money and gave it to him. Then I left.

My next stop was The Animal Shop. I wasn't worried about running into Julia, because she's normally at Luke's Diner right now. I opened their box and it was empty.

I started to walk to Pierre's house. It's not a long walk, but it's longer than my other two stops. I opened the box and inside were three failed dishes and some vegetable juice. That all adds up to eighty three Gs. I decided to use my allowance to buy the vegetable juice for myself. I took the containers, set them in my bag, and counted out the money I needed. I walked up to Pierre's door, about to knock when I could smell he was cooking something. I like to try and guess what he's making sometimes. I guesses roasted rice cake. I knocked on the door.

"Hey, you're a little later than usual."

"Yeah, I was having a conversation with Chen before I stopped by. Hey, are you making roasted rice cakes?"

"Close. Just regular rice cakes."

"Oh, nice. Anyway here's your money."

"Thanks. I'll see you around."

With that he shut the door. My next stop is The Church on The Mystic Islands. The guy who used to run the boats was on vacation. He is considering not coming back because he didn't like the pay. I got on the boat and started paddling towards the island. I could tell I was getting stronger, because the paddling was easier.

I got off the boat and walked on the little bridge to The Church. I opened the box and pulled out two small fish, a branch, and two old rice cakes. That's one hundred and eighty three Gs. I walked into the church and Nathan wasn't there. I found Alyssa and gave her the money. We both said our goodbyes'. I got back on the boat, ready to go home and fall asleep.