；　man　…it　is　true！”

“Leave　me　alone；　Garrett。”

“You　get　hooked　up　with　the　two　finest　chicks　on　campus；　then　bail　on　them　for　Juli？”

“You　don't　understand。”

“You're　right；　dude。　I　pletely　don't　understand。　Did　you　seriously　try　to　kiss　her？　I　couldn't

believe　that　part。　We're　talking　Julianna　Baker？　Your

………　Page　80………

nightmare　neighbor？　The　know…it…all　nuisance？　The　coop　poop　babe？”

I　stopped　cold　and　shoved　him。　Just　laid　into　him　with　both　hands　and　shoved。　“That　was　a

long　time　ago；　man。　Knock　it　off！”

Garrett　put　both　hands　up；　but　moved　in　at　me。　“Dude；　you　have　flipped；　you　know　that？”

“Just　back　off；　would　you？”

He　blocked　my　path。　“I　can't　believe　this！　Two　hours　ago　you　were　the　man。　The　man！　The

whole　school　was　on　their　knees　before　you！　Now　look

at　you。　You're；　like；　a　social　hazard。”　He　snorted　and　said；　“And；　dude；　the　truth　is；　if　you're

gonna　be　like　this；　I　don't　need　the　association。”

I　got　right　in　his　face　and　said；　“Good！　'Cause　you　know　what？　Neither　do　I！”

I　shoved　him　aside　and　ran。

I　wound　up　walking　home。　In　my　pinchy　shoes；　with　dirty　dishes　clanking　inside　my　sticky

picnic　hamper；　this　basket　boy　hiked　all　the　way　home。

And　there　was　a　battle　raging　inside　me。　The　old　Bryce　wanted　to　go　back　in　time；　wanted　to

hang　with　Garrett　and　shoot　the　breeze；　wanted　to

hate　Juli　Baker　again。

Wanted