；　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！”

“Well；　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