The Secret Admirer

Masks

After school ended I got off the bus as quickly as I could I ran to my house because I wanted to tell Ali everything. I quickly slammed my backpack onto my bed and ran to the kitchen.
"Dad, do you need me to get anything from Wegmans?" I asked my dad who was slouching at his desk typing on his computer.
"Sure I mean we could use some more paper towels, and orange juice." My dad answered sitting up.
He handed me the money and I ran out of the house.
Once I got to wegmans I totally forgot to grab any of the groceries and ran to Ali's cashier.
She was scanning an old women's food, who was talking up a storm.
"Pssst." I whispered to Ali as the elderly women took her last bag and a frantic mother with three kids came up to the cash register. "I need to talk to you, it's an emergency."
"Can't talk right now." She said through a fake smile.
"Please it's an emergency." I whispered.
As soon as the lady and her kids walked away and nobody was in Ali's line her fake smile fades away.
"Look I can't talk." She said " my shift isn't over for another hour."
"Hey Ali." Called a worker walking towards us " there are stacks of crates needed to be unpacked in the back, since there is nobody in your line, could you come and help us."
"Actually jerry." She said with a smile "I have an emergency mind if I take a break."
"Sure." Jerry said "but be back soon those crates won't unpack themselves."
"You betcha." Ali said grabbing my arm and running outside to the bench we always sit and talk.
"So what happened!" Ali asked sitting down on the bench "did you asked out Savannah, did she say yes"
"No." I said sadly " but then I had a second chance and... I bailed out again."
"Good job." She said sarcastically.
"But what I really came here to tell you is about these secret admirer notes I'm getting."
"Ooh." Ali said with sarcasm again "how romantically mysterious, cliche, and middle school like."
"Shut up, the point is Im almost one hundred percent sure it's Savannah the girl I like, but there is also a chance it is this annoying girl Silvia"
"Dude does it even matter." She asked.
"Not really but if I figure out that it's Savannah I'll know that she likes me and I'll finally be able to ask her out." I retorted.
"So has the secret admirer given you any hints or riddles."
"Here's the first one" I hand the pink piece of paper to Ali.
Ali's point of view
"I work where the young can turn old." I read out loud "I do best where masks are to be worn
I open up my heart when everybody is watching"
I looked up and laughed "is this for real."
This note was so cleverly made I couldn't figure it out I almost wished I could go to the same school as Justin so I could do something like this, but I quickly pushed that thought out of my mind. He likes another girl and didn't see me as more of a friend
"This can't be for real." I laugh.
"Yes it is," Justin said standing up "now what does it mean, you're a year older than me can you figure it out."
"Well, I am in art class and we make masks, but we hardly ever wear them." I said then glanced over at my stupid Samsung "damn, gotta go unpack some ramen noodles, see Ya."
"See ya." Justin said.
We did our little hand shake thing and he left, how I wished that he liked me more than a friend, but what could I do if he likes somebody else.

Justin's pov
I walked home in confusion of what the clue meant.
When I got home it was pretty late and I was so tired so I tried to go to sleep, but all I could do was think of Savannah. Her brown hair looked gorgeous today in the theatre room. I couldn't sleep for anything. I decided to text Instead, I didn't want to wake Savannah so I decided to ask Jessica one more time if she understood the clue yet.

Me: hey Jessica
Jessica: what are you doing up so late???😴
Me: sorry did I wake u up
Jessica: nah I'm studying my lines and making masks for romeo and Juliet. One down fifteen to go!!
Me: oh, hey I was wondering what does if you've figured out the note
Jessica: nope, but as soon as I do I'll be sure to tell you😜

I sat up in my bed then as if a light bulb came out of the top of my head and lit up, I knew what the clue was.
Me: meet me tomorrow in the library at lunch I have an idea
Jessica: okay???