ins　a　lot；

doesn't　it？”

I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　“What？”

“You　know；”　he　says；　still　grinning；　“about　Juli。”

My　heart　started　pounding　and　my　hands　clenched　up。　And　for　the　first　time　since　I'd　learned

to　dive　away　from　trouble；　I　wanted　to　deck

somebody。

But　we　were　in　the　library。　And　besides；　it　flashed　through　my　mind　that　if　I　decked　him　for

what　he'd　said；　he'd　turn　around　and　tell　everyone　that　I

was　hot　for　Juli　Baker；　and　I　was　not　hot　for　Juli　Baker！

So　I　made　myself　laugh　and　say；　“Oh；　right；”　and　then　came　up　with　an　excuse　to　put　some

distance　between　him　and　me。

After　school　Garrett　asked　me　to　e　to　his　house　and　hang　for　a　while；　but　I　had　zero

interest　in　that。　I　still　wanted　to　slug　him。

I　tried　to　talk　myself　down　from　feeling　that　way；　but　in　my　gut　I　was　flaming　mad　at　the　guy。

He'd　crossed　the　line；　man。　He'd　crossed　it　big…time。

And　what　made　the　whole　thing　so　stinking　hard　to　ignore　was　the　fact　that　standing　right

next　to　him；　on　the　other　side　of　the　line；　was　my　father。

The　Visit

Sunday　mornings　are　peaceful　in　our　house。　My　father　lets　himself　sleep　in。　My　mother　lets

herself　not　fix　breakfast。　And　if　my　brothers　have　been

out　late　playing　with　their　band；　you　won't　even　know　they're　around　until　noon。

Usually　I　tiptoe　out　to　collect　eggs　while　everyone　else　is　asleep；　then　spirit　a　bowl　of