enty　smart！”

“Yeah？”　Miranda　giggles。　“Can　you　spell　intellectual？”

“He　is　too　smart；　Miranda。”

“Oh；　stop　kissing　up；　Shelly。　You're　trying　to　tell　me　you're　after　his　brain？　God；　it's　making

me　sick　to　watch　you　grovel。”

“Grovel？　Excuse　me？”

“You　heard　me。　He's　not　going　to　take　you　to　the　grad　dance　anyway；　so　just　give　it　up；　why

don't　you？”

And　with　that；　it　was　all　over。　One　of　my　mom's　flaky　apple　tarts　got　ground　into　Miranda's

hair；　the　extra　ranch　dressing　got　smeared　into　Shelly's。

And　before　Mrs。　McClure　could　say；　In　the　name　of　Boosters！　What　are　you　doing？　they

were　rolling　on　the　floor；　scratching　each　other's　makeup

off。

I　took　this　opportunity　to　leave　my　table　and　head　for　Juli's。　I　grabbed　her　by　the　hand　and

said；　“I've　got　to　talk　to　you。”

She　sort　of　half…stands　and　says；　“What？　What's　going　on；　Bryce？　Why　are　they　fighting？”

“Excuse　us　a　minute；　would　you；　Jon？”　I　pull　her　away　from　the　table；　but　there's　no　place　to

go。　And　I've　got　her　hand　in　mine；　and　I　just　can't

think。　So　I　stop　right　there　in　the　middle　of　the　room　and　look　at　her。　At　that　face。　I　want　to

touch　her　cheek　and　see　what　it　feels　like。　I　want　to　touch

her　hair；　it　looks　so　incredibly　soft。

“Bryce；”　she　whispers。　“What's　wrong？”

I　can　barely　breathe　as　I　ask　her；　“Do　you　like　him？”

“Do　I…　you　mean　Jon？”

“Yes！”

“W