9.

Tuesday morning, I remember it clearly, arriving to school a half hour early. It's only a few days after the day I met Judy for the first time. I sometimes come across as a little obsessed but that is what it was, it is what it is, even back then. I wanted to get into the library before class would begin. It definitely was my go-to place. I was lucky for as long as the school doors where open and I had no particular class to be in, I could go be in the library.

Yeah, I did have friends and as I say I was lucky. For the most part my friends at school would come to me in the library, time permitting of course. I guess I could be easily found; if anyone was looking for me, well they probably could find me in the ... yeah well, you know.

It amazed me most mornings, generally I would be this early or earlier, it amazed me how quiet the place would be. The closer it got to first period the louder things would get, students and teachers alike leaving it to the last minute or last few minutes to arrive.

Some may indeed comment on my 'obsession' with the place, and that place being the library, it is more than that. There is an attraction to the place and that spreads to more than just me. My friends, not so unusually, were happy to come to me there and then there is the spot where Judy liked to rest and read. That spot was just outside the library and down in a little kind of alcove, and I knew she liked it there. Sure, the day after that first day, just four days before this particular Tuesday I met her at that spot and from within the library I could see her there again that morning in that spot of hers.

She was prettier than she knew. She doesn't have to be so lonely either, maybe she needed to go on a journey to find that out and this is why our paths were to cross. I could provide her with the journey. I did not know back then that it all would go so far. I may have provided the journey, or at least the destination, maybe a bit hastily too, that would make me responsible, so I needed to be the one to bring her back.

I still need to bring her back. I just had no clue as to how exactly to do that. I can't admit defeat to it being too late to do anything, time will hopefully tell. Still, I believed that book was the right fit. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't.

***

Out on the football field, Steve is training away by himself running laps, nothing too strenuous, just some light work by himself while he has some time. Having reached the far end of the field for a third time he sees an arrival to the bleachers of a familiar face. Continuing on along his running line, Steve only alters his run when he comes close towards that stand.

'Enjoying the view?' he calls out from the base of the stand.

'What view? I ain't here for no view' responds Ellie from her position a little more than halfway up. 'Hey, yo, you manage to catch up with your friends the other day?'

'Yeah ... eventually' he says while slightly surprised by the curve ball thrown his way. 'You know, We've got a home game this Saturday if you ... well if you would like to catch a real view?'

'Will you be playing?'

'Of course ... I am the team captain.'

'Cool.'

'So, is that a yes?'

'Maybe.'

'Maybe?'

Steve is taken aback somewhat. After a moment or so of silence Steve begins to continue on with his run and once he has got on with it, Ellie takes a moment to watch. Steve isn't all that bad, is he?

Judy looks up from her read and takes a moment of her own to look out into the open space before her. She feels good, she feels as if there may be some hope out there for her. That last line she read, it sticks with her for a moment or two. Is it a question as much meant for Judy, as it is for Ellie? As if two stories really are converging ... from inside the library, Oliver takes a moment where he can still see Judy from his position inside.

'Yeah, maybe that book is a right fit.'

10.

'So, bowling huh?'

'Yeah, but I am not so sure I should go, mom. I don't know anything about this Suzie person, and I know even less about those other girls, actually I don't know what other girls are going, not that I really know of anyone else.'

'You'll be fine love, and if for some reason it does go pear shaped, I am right here, I will always be right here for you.'

'Have I ever told you I love you mom?'

'I know sweetie. Love you too.'

There is a hug between mother and daughter before Judy heads outside to meet Suzie.

'Have fun you, guys.'

That was the intension, to have fun and the short trip to the bowling alley with Suzie was indeed pleasant, as pleasant as can be though once at the bowling alley things began to go downhill. Upon seeing her friends, Suzie quickly moved up ahead to be with them. Judy stops dead where she stands and is within hearing distance of those ahead of her.

'Who is she?'

'What's she doing here?'

'Who invited her?'

'I did' responds Suzie trying to keep her voice down. 'I thought it was the nice thing to do.'

'Yeah, well, you should have cleared it with us first.'

Suzie calls Judy over so introductions can be made. Judy remains as pleasant as she can be and the responses to her are less than pleasant, if anything coldness is shown to her. Safe to say that this does little for the confidence of one who already feels uncomfortable in the presence of others.

Regular footwear is swapped for bowling shoes and names are entered into the computer screen. All the other five girls including Suzie get nicknames and Judy is entered into the computer just as 'Judy' and on top of that she is entered last.

The other girls score eights and nines in the first frame, one manages to make a spare. Judy knocks down three pins with her first ball and her second ball goes in the gutter long before it can get anywhere near the pins. As the others high five each other at the end of each turn, Judy only receives tuts and groans as she returns to her seat. As the game goes on there are Strikes and Spares and Judy's frames do not improve much on that first one.

Only Suzie interacts with Judy and by frame five, comments directed at Judy stop coming. By the end of the first game Judy is ready to go home. If anything, she probably was ready to go home the moment she arrived. She makes her way towards the toilets and is ready to cry though she tries her best not to cry in front of the others or anyone else. She phones her mum to come pick her up. Suzie hears the call having followed Judy.

'I'm Sorry; I didn't know they would react like that.'

'That's alright, I know you meant well.'

Tears are still there though not because of Suzie. In that book Ellie got herself somewhat of a friend in a girl names Alison, in the real world perhaps Suzie is as close to an Alison as Ellie is going to get.

'Is your mum coming?'

'Yeah, she said she won't be long.'

'Good, well I better get back. Sorry for ... you know.'

'... Yeah.'

There is a momentary pause then Suzie offers a hug, a moment of hope for Judy. Suzie does head back to the game and Judy is soon on her way home. Mum being mum has ice-cream ready and waiting in the freezer at home.