Meet Me By The Stage Door (Cameron/Joshua Colley)

Popko's Records

            

Saturday comes and I walk over to the theatre. Once I get there I spot Sawyer standing outside.  I run up to him and hug him, the impact of me running makes him step back to keep his balance.

"Hey!" he says enthusiastically. "What's up?"

"Oh not much, nothing new."

"So, we are going to see Spiderman at 3 and it is 11 right now so we have about 4 hours to kill. I was thinking getting some coffee and then heading to the old bookstore?"

"Oh my god that sounds awesome! How did you know I like books so much?"

"A couple little birdies told me." He says as he grabs my hand. We start walking down Lexington Ave towards Muggles Mug.

"I guess it's nice for a change. Cam always wants to go to Stumptown.  Which I guess I don't mind but its good for a change."

"Yeah, what are you going to order?"

"I'm gonna get the butterbeer latte because it is really good. You?"

"I'm just gonna get the chai latte."

"Ugh! You're boring!" I say with a warm laugh.

"Yeah, I'm glad you keep me interesting."

We get our coffee and walk up the street to the small bookstore called Down the Rabbit Hole. Once we stepped inside we were greeted by the welcoming smell of old paper.  I walk to the back of the store and pull out the book that I have wanted for a while.  I sit down on the shag carpet and open the book. Sawyer sits down next to me and reads over my shoulder.

"It's a book with all the sets and costumes from Broadway shows in the 1930s through 1960s."

"Wow, that's so cool."

"Yeah, I've wanted this book for like 3 years."

"Why haven't you gotten it yet?"

"It costs like $90. And I don't have that kind of money."

We sit in the quiet of the store just reading the book when sawyer stands up and asks me to give him the book.

"Why? But I'm reading it."

"I'm buying you this book."

"No, you aren't. I refuse to let you. I want to buy this book on my own."

"I am buying it for you."

"No you aren't I refuse to allow you." I say as I stand up, my head only reaches his chin.

"Fine. You're so stubborn, it's adorable." He says as he looks at the top of my head. "Do you want to head to another store?"

"Yeah, why not. You choose now." Sawyer leads us to this old recording studio that looks as if it has been closed down for 7 years.

"This is Popko's records, I practically grew up here. My dad's best friend ran this store, his name was Peter, but everyone called him Popko." Sawyer stutters and his voice cracks. "2 years ago, Popko was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Last January he passed away. Popko's store was his dream, and now it's my dream to own this store and run it in his memory."

"Sawyer, that's so sweet!" I say as I give him a huge bear hug. He sits down on the stoop of the store and starts muttering to himself.

"Why did I tell you this, I'm clearly still a mess. I'm such an idiot."

"You aren't a mess, and you most certainly are not an idiot. How do you think I felt when I lost my dad?"

"I'm sorry I ruined our date, with sadness."

"It's okay! This has been the best first date I've been on in a while. Do you still want to see that movie?"

"I don't know, I guess I kind of want to sit here for a little bit. Is that okay?"

"Yes, that's perfectly fine. I understand trust me." We sit on the stoop for a couple minutes in silence, when Sawyer speaks up.

"So how did you lose your father?"

"He was a soldier over in Iraq. He died in combat."

"Wow, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you did nothing wrong." He wraps me into a hug and I rest my head on his chest. "Lets skip the movie today, we can just chill at my house." I say looking up at him.

"Okay."

SO I"M SORRY THIS CHAPTER IS SO DEPRESSING BUT WE FIND OUT SOME INTERESTING INFO ON BOTH JORDY'S PAST AND SAWYERS. I KNOW SAWYER WASN'T ALWAYS FROM NYC, HE'S FROM LOUISIANA AND MOVED THERE IN LIKE 4TH GRADE (I THINK), I JUST NEEDED A PLOT POINT.