shut　up；　you　hear　me？　This　is　not

what　you　think。”

“Whoa；　kick　back；　will　ya？　I　wasn't　thinking　anything…。”　But　I　could　see　the　little　gears　go

click…click…click　in　his　brain。　Then　he　smirks　at　me　and

says；　“I'm　sure　you've　got　a　perfectly　reasonable　explanation　for　why　you're　carrying　a　picture

of　Juli　Baker　around　with　you。”

The　way　he　said　it　scared　me。　Like　he　was　playing　with　the　idea　of　roasting　me　in　front　of　the

whole　class。　I　leaned　over　and　said；　“Zip　it；　would

you？”

The　teacher　hammered　on　us　to　be　quiet；　but　it　didn't　stop　Garrett　from　smirking　at　me　or

doing　the　double…eyebrow　wiggle　in　the　direction　of　my

binder。　After　class　Darla　tried　to　act　all　cool　and　preoccupied；　but　she　had　her　radar　up　and

pointed　our　way。　She　shadowed　me　practically　all　day；

so　there　was　no　real　window　of　opportunity　to　explain　things　to　Garrett。

What　was　I　going　to　tell　him；　anyway？　That　the　paper　was　in　my　binder　because　I　was　trying

to　hide　it　from　my　sister？　That　would　help。

Besides；　I　didn't　want　to　make　up　some　lame　lie　about　it。　I　actually　wanted　to　talk　to　Garrett。　I

mean；　he　was　my　friend；　and　a　lot　had　happened　in

the　last　couple　of　months　that　was　weighing　on　me。　I　thought　that　if　I　talked　to　him；　maybe

he'd　help　get　me　back　on　track。　Help　me　to　stop　thinking

about　everything。　Garrett　was　real　reliable　in　that　arena。

Luckily；　in　s