ell；　sure。　He's　nice　and　—　”

“No；　do　you　like　him？”　My　heart　was　pounding　through　my　chest　as　I　took　her　other　hand　and

waited。

“Well；　no。　I　mean；　not　like　that…。”

No！　She　said　no！　I　didn't　care　where　I　was；　I　didn't　care　who　saw。　I　wanted；　just　had　to　kiss

her。　I　leaned　in；　closed　my　eyes；　and　then　…

She　broke　away　from　me。

Suddenly；　the　room　iranda　and　Shelly　stared　at　me　through　their　slimy　hair；

everyone　was　looking　at　me　like　I'd　blown　my　entire

circuit　board；　and　I　just　stood　there；　trying　to　reel　in　my　lips　and　pull　myself　back　together。

Mrs。　McClure　took　me　by　the　shoulders；　guided　me　to　my　chair；　and　told　me；　“You　sit　here；

and　you　stay　here！”　Then　she　hauled　Miranda　and

Shelly　outside；　scolding　them　and　telling　them　to　find　separate　bathrooms　and　clean　up　while

she　ran　down　the　janitor　to　mop　up　their　mess。

I　sat　there　by　myself　and　didn't　even　care　about　covering　up。　I　just　wanted　to　be　with　her。　To

talk　to　her。　To　hold　her　hand　again。

To　kiss　her。

Before　school　was　out；　I　tried　to　talk　to　her　again；　but　every　time　I　got　close；　she'd　dodge　me。

And　then　when　the　final　bell　rang；　she　disappeared。

I　looked　everywhere　for　her；　but　she　was　just　gone。

Garrett；　however；　wasn't。　He　tracked　me　down　and　said；　“Dude！　Tell　me　it　isn't　true！”

I　didn't　say　a　word。　I　just　headed　for　the　bike　racks；　still　hoping　to　find　Juli。

“Oh