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She chuckles. “Oh don’t bother with all that ma’am stuff, you can call me Lindy.”

“Yes ma’am- I mean Lindy.” I stutter out as i blush again in embarrassment.

“You’re just precious.” she turns to Willow. “Go ahead and clock in dear, I have to put the new releases on the shelf we just got.”

“You got it.” she says and walks around to the register.

She punches in some things before I note that the name of the bookstore was on her cropped t-shirt.

“Raven.” she says.

“Yeah?” I say, looking up.

“Did you just move here?” she asks, leaning over the counter.

I shake my head no. “I’m just visiting for the summer. My dad lives here.”

A slight look of disappointment crosses over her face. “That sucks.”

I just shrug because what could I say?

I just nod because now that I was here, I felt a little awkward and was ready to just do what I needed to do. I liked Willow, but I still just met her.

“Go take a look around. Lindy always chooses the best books to have here.” Willow says. It’s like she noticed that I looked a bit off or something.

I couldn’t help that I was awkward most of the time. But, she seemed to not mind.

I sighed, grateful I didn’t have to say anything.

“That sounds great, thank you.” I say and walk around the shop.

Dang, I didn’t realize how big it actually was from the outside.

Books were everywhere, and I knew if I could, I would spend hours in here. But, I needed to get back before Ryan misses me.

“Raven!” I hear Willow call from the front, and I walk back up.

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing later tonight?”

Surprise feels me as I think of what to say. Was she going to ask if I wanted to do something? That was going to be first for me. If you can’t tell, back at home I didn’t have many friends.

I try to think if my father said anything about tonight. But, even if he did, would I really care?

“Uh- I don’t think so. Why?”

Her face lights up as she reaches behind the counter and pulls out a piece of paper.

“You’re coming with me.”

I pick up the paper she slides it on the counter and look down at it.

“The Summers End Fair and Circus” it read.

Fair and Circus? I don’t think I ever heard of that before.

I look back up at Willow.