I'm Arrietty Kowalski, age 16 from Pasco County, Florida. My mom died when I was 7 and my dad went away, so I was left with my older brother, Landon, and younger sister, Raegan. We live in Dad's prepaid two-story beach house in a very quiet neighborhood. That is, until last Tuesday. First day back from spring break. Outfit? White camisole, red cardigan, and red denim from Joe's 55 Colors. Black leather boots. Strawberry blonde layered hair with side bangs. Perfect. Landon's calling me down for breakfast. Yay. Bacon, YAY! I sat down on the white wicker chair in the dining room and scarfed down my breakfast. The golden sun was peeking over the ocean. It's gonna be a bee-yoo-tiful day, I thought. A blue Acura pulled into our gravel driveway. Kelsi Whitmore, my best friend, hopped out and strode into the house. Her little brother, Christian, followed her and set off to find Raegan. I grabbed my Vera Bradley bag, said bye to Landon, and went outside to Kelsi's Acura. We got in and drove off to Pasco High School, home of the Pasco Pirates. "5, 6, 7, 8! WHO DO WE APPRECIATE? NOT THE QUEEN, NOT THE KING, BUT OUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM! GOOOOOOO PIRATES!!!! WOO!" Oh the average football cheer. Pasco isn't really a big school. Well, yes it is. But to me, it's just an average Joe school. Whatever. I jogged over to Coach Lowery, coach (obviously) of the Pasco cross country team. I told her I wouldn't be able to make it to the next meet, Landon was taking me to Margaritaville to see Jimmy Buffett. She nodded and jotted something down on her ever-present clipboard. Then I went away for Lit class. Blech.
Athens, Georgia, 13 years earlier "Oh, we have only a week left! I don't even have a name for him!" cried Mrs. Lawson. She was 9 months pregnant, but still had one week left until delivery. She and Mr. Lawson had looked up millions of baby names, but just couldn't find the right one! Levvita (Leh-vee-ta) {Mrs. Lawson} was going to a baby counselor that would help her with a name. *Thirty minutes later, at the counselor's office* "Mrs. Lawson, I have scanned a dozen websites, and I think I found a name you might like." The counselor, Mr. Renold, looked through a stack of papers and pulled out a blue index card. He read off two names. "Xavier Noah" Levvita shook her head. "Colton Dean" Nope. Levvita thought this appointment was just a waste of time. Finally, Mr. Renold read a name with potential. "Riley Dawson." Levvita gasped. This was the name that had that little spark! This was her baby's name! She could almost jump for joy, but her baby bump restricted that action. Smiling would have to do for now. Pasco County, Florida, present-day Arrietty gasped when she saw the dark haired, tan, brown eyed boy playing basketball next door to her house. This..new boy..was actually kinda cute... "No, NO!"
"No. NO!" I shouted in my head. This can't be happening... Flashback (3rd grade) "Hi Riley!" I called to Riley Dawson Lawson. He waved, then turned back to the miniature football game the 3rd grade boys were playing. I started skipping to the jungle gym when I felt a tug on my violet sundress. I turned around and saw a tan face with emerald green eyes peeking out from behind curly brown hair. "Listen, Arty or whatever your silly name is." Riley's cousin, Harper, harshly whispered into my ear. "You stay away from Riley, or I will snip off every single piece of your ugly mop of hair, ya hear?" I thought for a moment, then turned away. Harper wasn't going to ruin my chance with Riley, not now, not ever. But all the same, her harsh words echoed through my head. Present Day A girl, around my age, came out of the boy's house in a dark green tank top and denim short shorts. The curly brown hair looked all too familiar. It can't be her, I thought. It can't! I finally built up the courage to go over to welcome the new neighbors. I called for Raegan and took her with me. The boy turned around and looked at me. Suddenly, my cardigan felt hot as lava. Sweat was pouring down my back, and my heart skipped a beat. This was him. This was Riley Dawson "Riley D." Lawson, my third grade crush, the one that I never got to know because of Harper Grace Carter. So many memories flooded my mind. Was I...falling in love again?