There is no such thing as a social life in Colonial Heights. Once the mall shuts down at nine, everyone goes home. When you get off from the deli, there’s nothing to do—the mall’s already closed. So when you have a night off, you decide to hang out there. Since you don’t come every night, you think that makes you different from those who do.
It’s at the mall where you see Miranda Dublin.
For as long as you can remember, you’ve known of her. She stands in the choir at your parents’ church every Sunday, and though you’ve always meant to talk to her, you never have. You don’t even know why you want to talk to her—she’s younger than you, one of those quiet types who goes to school and seems to get good grades just by thinking about it. You, however…in high school you were lucky if you didn
