Chapter Twenty-Eight: Reasons for Love:

“Why do you like Julia?”

Wallace turned his head. “Hm?” Leslie sat next to him in one of the auditorium seats. At first, the country boy looked confused.

“Uh… Do I know you?” he asked. The redhaired girl frowned.

“I was at that meeting in the library that day,” she said. Wallace made a face at her.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“You were looking lost that day,” she said. “It was at the beginning of the semester.” It took about a minute for him to connect the dots.

“Oh yeah,” she said. Leslie perked up.

“Right?” she asked.

“I guess…” Wallace said. “Why are you asking me about Julia?” Leslie shrugged.

“Just curious,” she said.

“Why?” he asked. Leslie couldn’t think of an answer to come back with. She finally shook her head. Wallace leaned back in his chair.

“It’s a long story,” he said.

“What’s the shortened version?” she asked.

“We’re known each other since we were kids,” the country boy said. “It was at a fair. I saw her and fell in love. Then I had an allergic reaction to some strawberries.” Leslie tilted her head.

“That’s it?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Wallace said. He narrowed his eyes at her. “Were you explaining something else?” Leslie quickly shook her head.

“No!” she yelped. “It’s not like that, I swear.” She made herself calm down. The country boy was confused on where this was heading.

“Why did you ask about Julia and me?” he asked. “Why are you so interested?”

“I just was,” she said.

“What?” he asked. She shook her head again. Leslie’s face turned red and buried her face in her hands.

“Forget it!” she said. “It was stupid anyway!” Wallace stared at her with a confused look on his face.

“Huh?” he asked.

Still, he couldn’t help but think about this question. Julia had been the object of affection for many years now. The country boy stared up at the ceiling.

“Well, she did save me from that allergic reaction,” he said. Leslie lifted her head.

“What?” she asked. Wallace nodded.

“She went to go get my mom,” he added. “Mom saved me from dying. So yeah. Julia saved me.”

“That’s it?” Leslie asked again.

“Yeah,” Wallace said, nodding. He noticed her frowning.

“What?” he asked.

“That’s not enough,” she said.

“What do you mean?” Wallace asked. Leslie tossed back her braid.

“There has to be more than that,” she said. “Sure, you can admire someone for saving you but that’s not enough. There’s got to a connection and meaning.”

“Well, she did kiss me after she invited me out to a live dance show,” he said. Leslie’s eyes grew back.

“What?!” she yelled. The country boy shrugged.

“It just happened, really,” he said. Leslie’s face turned bright red.

“She kissed you?!” she asked.

“Well… yeah,” Wallace said. The girl fell back onto the floor.

“Leslie?” he asked, jumping to his feet. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” She lay on her back, shaking her head.

“I’m fine,” she said. Wallace held out his hand.

“Need some help?” he asked.

“No, just leave me here,” Leslie said. The country boy looked confused.

“Okay then…” he mumbled. Wallace looked around awkward for a moment. He turned his head when he heard the doors open. Low and behold, Julia and some of the main actors stood in the doorway. Wallace’s cheeks flushed red. Leslie sat up straight.

“Wallace,” Julia said. “You’re here early.”

“Uh… yeah,” the country boy said. “I figured that I might as well with rehearsal and all. I don’t have any other classes today anyway.” The director clapped her hands hard.

“See people?” she asked. “This is what dedication looks like! Watch and learn!” Julia narrowed her eyes when she noticed Leslie sitting on the floor.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Leslie lied. “I was just leaving.” She jumped up to her feet and walked past the cast and director the double doors.

“Bye,” Wallace mumbled with a wave. The director cleared her throat.

“Anyway, moving on,” she said. “We have to get started. Places, everyone!” The directors scattered around to get to their places on stage. Wallace stared at the door as he took slow steps backwards. He still couldn’t figure out what that was all about. Was she trying to hint something to him? He had no clue…