to　be　the　man。

But　in　my　heart　I　knew　the　old　Bryce　was　toast。　There　was　no　going　back。　Not　to　Garrett　or

Shelly　or　Miranda　or　any　of　the　other　people　who

wouldn't　understand。　Juli　was　different；　but　after　all　these　years　that　didn't　bother　me

anymore。

I　liked　it。

I　liked　her。

And　every　time　I　saw　her；　she　seemed　more　beautiful。　She　just　seemed　to　glow。　I'm　not

talking　like　a　hundred…watt　bulb；　she　just　had　this　warmth

to　her。　Maybe　it　came　from　climbing　that　tree。　Maybe　it　came　from　singing　to　chickens。

Maybe　it　came　from　whacking　at　two…by…fours　and　dreaming

about　perpetual　motion。　I　don't　know。　All　I　know　is　that　pared　to　her；　Shelly　and　Miranda

seemed　so…ordinary。

I'd　never　felt　like　this　before。　Ever。　And　just　admitting　it　to　myself　instead　of　hiding　from　it

made　me　feel　strong。　Happy。　I　took　off　my　shoes　and

socks　and　stuffed　them　in　the　basket。　My　tie　whipped　over　my　shoulder　as　I　ran　home

barefoot；　and　I　realized　that　Garrett　was　right　about　one　thing

—　I　had　flipped。

pletely。

I　trucked　down　our　street　and　spotted　her　bike　lying　on　its　side　on　the　driveway。　She　was

home！

I　rang　the　bell　until　I　thought　it　would　break。

No　answer。

I　pounded　on　her　door。

No　answer。

I　went　home　and　called　on　the　phone；　and　finally；　finally　her　mother　answers。　“Bryce？　No；　I'm

sorry。　She　doesn't　want　to　talk。”