Love's Autograph by Michele M. Reynolds Page A

thought process to realize that writing a love song for a girl was something only a lesbian would do. So my father came in and asked me if I knew what Natalie's father wanted. I nodded. He said that I should stay away from the family because they were very angry.”
    “ What were the papers that he gave your father?”
    “ Latter Day Saints pamphlets,” Ellie laughed. “Okay, happy ending of the story. I graduated with fewer than two hundred students. Our class was small. Somehow Natalie managed to avoid me during school, and I was thankful for being saved from the embarrassment. Every day I went to school after the serenade, I braced myself for peer ridicule or to find homophobic poems on the bathroom stalls. Nothing came. She was the real deal. She told nobody.”
    “ Wow, I wonder if she felt the same way. Maybe she was gay too and was afraid to tell her religious family.”
    “ I don't think so but here is what I was saying about a happy ending. After our graduation ceremony, everyone was walking around and hugging everyone and saying goodbye and wishing each other good luck. I turn around right into Natalie's embrace. We were close enough friends that we would've hugged if it wasn't for my concert three weeks prior. Then she whispers, ‘That was a beautiful song. I know you'll find someone who's great.’”
    “ Aww,” Ria was tearing up. “Did you?”
    “ What?”
    “ Did you ever find someone great?” Ria asked.
    “ Oh, we are so done with the question portion of this date,” Ellie replied.
    “ Oh, I didn't realize this was a date,” Ria said as she grinned at Ellie.
    “ Well, I meant lunch date,” Ellie said.
    “ Come on, did you ever find that girl?” Ria asked again.
    “ I thought I did,” Ellie said. “I've had my heart broken a bunch.”
    “ Like with Jazzie. You setting yourself up for a heartbreak?”
    “ No, like I said, Jazzie and I aren't dating,” Ellie started.
    She was interrupted by the waitress who handed Ellie a note, “This is from the hostess.”
    Ellie opened the note, Paparazzi in the parking lot and in the restaurant. I told them you were not here, but they are persistent.
    “ What is it?” Ria asked.
    Ellie scanned the place to find a way to avoid the paparazzi. She looked down at the note again. It was written on boat stationary. She remembered the boat rental place she saw on her way in.
    “ Umm… there is an old friend I want to avoid in the front of the restaurant,” Ellie told Ria.
    “ How does the hostess know that? You said this is your first time coming here,” Ria asked.
    “ How did you get here?” Ellie asked and avoided answering Ria’s question.
    “ I drove here,” Ria answered. “My car is out front.”
    “ I'm sorry. Are you done with your food?” Ellie asked as she threw money on the table.
    “ Yeah,” Ria said. “That's a hundred dollars. You're starting to freak me out a little. Is it a stalker or something?”
    “ Kind of,” Ellie said. “Come with me. If anything this will be fun.” Ellie jumped up and stretched her hand out to Ria. Ria grabbed her hand and Ellie pulled Ria out of her chair.
    “ Why do I feel like action movie music should be playing?” Ria asked.
    “ Because it always should be playing,” Ellie said. They made their way to the stairs leading to the boat shop below.
    “ You ever canoe?” Ellie asked. She walked up to the boating desk and threw money on the counter.
    “ ID?” the fifteen year old staffer asked.
    “ ID to rent a boat. It's not a motor boat,” Ellie said as she felt her chest get tight. Any minute now the Paparazzi would be upon them.
    “ Here, use mine. I think that he needs it in case something happens to the canoe or if it doesn't come back,” Ria said. Ellie grabbed two life jackets, two paddles, and flipped over the nearest canoe.
    “ You canoed before?” the boy asked.
    “ No, I haven't,” Ria answered politely and turned her attention to Captain Teenager.
    “ I'm an expert.