use　at　least　that　way　he'd　have

something　to　do；　but　my　mom　positively　smoked　him　with　her

eyes　and　he　dropped　it。

So。　They　were　ing。　And　it　made　seeing　Juli　at　school　even　more　unfortable　than

usual。　Not　because　she　gushed　about　it　or　even　waved

and　winked　or　something。　No；　she　was　back　to　avoiding　me。　She'd　say　hi　if　we　happened　to

run　into　each　other；　but　instead　of　being；　like；　right　over

my　shoulder　anytime　I　looked；　she　was　nowhere。　She　must　have　ducked　out　back　doors　and

taken　roundabout　ways　through　campus。　She　was；　I

don't　know；　scarce。

I　found　myself　looking　at　her　in　class。　The　teacher'd　be　talking　and　all　eyes　would　be　up

front　…　except　mine。　They　kept　wandering　over　to　Juli。　It

was　weird。　One　minute　I'd　be　listening　to　the　teacher；　and　the　next　I'd　be　pletely　tuned

out；　looking　at　Juli。

It　wasn't　until　Wednesday　in　math　that　I　figured　it　out。　With　the　way　her　hair　fell　back　over　her

shoulders　and　her　head　was　tilted；　she　looked　like

the　picture　in　the　paper。　Not　just　like　it　—　the　angle　was　different；　and　the　wind　wasn't

blowing　through　her　hair　—　but　she　did　look　like　the　picture。　A

lot　like　the　picture。

Making　that　connection　sent　a　chill　down　my　spine。　And　I　wondered　—　what　was　she　thinking？

Could　she　really　be　that　interested　in　root

derivations？

Darla　Tressler　caught　me　watching；　and　man；　she　gave　me　the　world's　wickedest　smile。　If　I

didn't　do　something　fast；　this　was　going　to　spread　like

wildfire；　so　I　squinted　at　her　and　whispered；　“There's　a　bee　in　her　hair；　stupid；”　then　pointed

around　in　the　air　like；　There　it　goes；　see？

Darla's　neck　whipped　around　searching　for　the　be