There was a largeish selection of backpacks in one aisle in the back corner of the store, between the bikes and electronics. Most of them were obviously meant for little kids with only about four choices in total meant for adults. The first one was a larger black bag with one strap. That design was popular back when I was in middle school, but no one seemed to have those anymore. If someone did have a bag with on strap, it was most likely a messenger bag

Donovan looked through them. “What color do you like? Your other one is blue.”

“Any color. I don't care.” I picked one of them, the black one, up. “Let's just take this one and go.”

“You don't want to look a little longer?”

“I don't care about the specific backpack.”

“No, I meant looking at other things. You said 'go’.”

“What else is there to look at?”

He smiled at me. “Do you have any little siblings?” He walked passed me down the aisle.

“Yes. She's a few months old. And technically Natalie counts.”

He nodded. “Okay. I'm trying to figure out what a six year old would want for their birthday.”

“Is it a boy or girl?”

He paused. “Does that matter?”

I frowned. “Not really. I guess. But it's a start.”

“It's for a boy, but he really likes dressing up. My sister is fine with it, but his dad is really upset about it. So Matthew is allowed to play with his sister's toys when his dad isn't home.” He sighed. “I don't really like my brother in law.”

“Then are you getting him something girly?”

Donovan nodded. “I want to give him a toy he loves, but is his and not his sister's.”

We went down one of the brightest aisles I've ever been in. Suffice to say I'd never been down the “girls” toy aisle before. In one corner there was a large plastic tea set with dresses above it. “Does he like to play tea?” I picked the tea set up and looked inside.

“He likes dressing up, makeup, dolls, and playing house. I don't think they have a tea set at all.” He took it from me to examine. “It's nice. I'll get him a dress, too.”

I watched as he mentally debated over the blue and yellow dresses. “You live with your sister, right?”

“That's right.”

“What about your parents?”

He let out a mild laugh. “They're in Japan studying ancient culture for their next book.” He paused. “Oh… no one was supposed to know about Japan.”

“I don't read the books so it's fine.”

“Oh. Ever tried? They're really good.”

I nodded. “Lucas loved the series. I wasn't much of a fan.”

He settled on the blue dress and faced me. “Did you like Lucas? Or did he like you?”

“He liked me.”

“So…” He sighed. “Let me see if I understand. You had a friend who had a crush on you. Did you reject him and that's why he killed himself?”

“I didn't reject him.”

It was the opposite.